The Ministry of Women, Family and Children (MFFE) is taking things to the next level. A bill is currently being drafted to structure and regulate early childhood care (0 to 8 years old) in Côte d'Ivoire.

Announced by Ms. Koutouan Félicité, technical advisor to Minister Nassénéba Touré, during a validation workshop in Yamoussoukro, this reform pursues a major dual objective: to stimulate the economic empowerment of women and to guarantee the development of human capital from a young age .

A major economic and social issue

For the government, the lack of suitable childcare solutions directly hinders the national economy.

"When a woman is forced to give up a professional activity to take care of her child, it is a workforce that is taken out of the economic circuit, with an impact on national productivity," stressed Ms. Koutouan.

This law therefore aims to offer an essential balance between family life and professional ambition for Ivorian mothers.

X-ray of a deficient area

Observations on the ground highlight a glaring lack of infrastructure for early childhood:

1. 4.5 million children aged 0 to 5 have no access to any suitable childcare arrangements.
2. 12.7% : this is the low rate of preschool enrollment for 3 to 5 year olds.
3. Barely 1% of children under 2 years old are cared for in dedicated facilities.
4. A shortage of infrastructure : The country currently has only 6 public nurseries and about ten private establishments.

Furthermore, the sector has hitherto suffered from a complete legal vacuum concerning children aged 0 to 8. This future legislation will fill this gap by imposing strict safety and supervision standards.

Next steps: Target date: end of 2026

The draft bill, the result of three months of intensive work, has just passed the technical validation stage. The legislative timetable is now set.

1. Transmission of the text to the Government .
2. Review and vote by Parliament .

The ministry hopes for final adoption and entry into force of this new legal framework by the end of 2026 , thus paving the way for enhanced protection of children and better inclusion of women in the Ivorian economic fabric.