Care is deeply rooted in specific cultural, social, and economic contexts. This is particularly evident in early childhood development across the Global South, where hyperlocal approaches—tailored to the unique needs of individual communities—are essential for creating effective and sustainable care systems. One-size-fits-all models, often borrowed from Global North frameworks, frequently fail to address the structural realities, caregiving norms, and informal economies that shape early childhood care in these regions.

Even within a single city, the demands and contexts for care vary significantly. Take Bangalore, for example—families in Whitefield, where a high concentration of IT professionals work long hours, require extended daycare facilities with structured learning programs. In contrast, in a locality like Malleswaram, where multigenerational households are more common, informal caregiving networks within families and communities still play a dominant role, making formal daycare a supplementary rather than primary need. Failure to account for such hyperlocal variations results in care policies that are either underutilized or ill-equipped to meet real community demands.

Why Standardized Care Models Fail

Global care models have long assumed that professionalized daycare centers are the gold standard for early childhood development. However, this assumption often ignores the community-driven caregiving traditions that define childcare across much of the Global South.

For instance, in Bangladesh, traditional childcare practices are deeply embedded in community life. However, the introduction of formal, center-based childcare services has faced challenges. A study conducted in Dhaka found that while there is a demand for center-based childcare, uptake is limited due to factors such as cost, quality, and alignment with community values. The study concluded that sustainable provision of center-based care requires careful design sensitive to the working lives of poor families and must respond to the dynamics of the urban environment and community values.

In Colombia, government-funded childcare programs have faced challenges in rural areas, particularly among indigenous communities that value outdoor, intergenerational learning. There lies tension between standardized educational models and indigenous caregiving practices. The research indicates that imposing rigid curricula can disrupt traditional knowledge transmission, which often involves community storytelling and nature-based learning. To address this, integrating formal education with indigenous practices has proven more effective, fostering environments where children benefit from both educational frameworks.

The Power of Hyperlocal Adaptation

Hyperlocal models thrive because they integrate with, rather than disrupt, existing caregiving ecosystems. In Brazil, particularly within favelas, community-run childcare initiatives have emerged to address the unique needs of these communities. For instance, the “Territories of Care” project in Favela dos Sonhos mobilized local residents to foster early childhood development, resulting in 50% of residents reporting a positive change in how the community interacts with children.

In Kenya’s informal settlements, such as Kibera, flexible childcare solutions have emerged to support women engaged in market or domestic work with unpredictable schedules. Daycare providers in these areas offer flexibility in pick-up times and payment, accommodating the variable needs of parents. This adaptability is crucial for families with irregular work hours. Additionally, many caregivers in these centers are from the same community, fostering trust and cultural continuity between families and care providers.

Even in urban India, these hyperlocal differences shape how care is accessed. In a rapidly gentrifying locality like Indiranagar, Bangalore, where nuclear families and dual-income households are the norm, high-end daycare centers with structured, Montessori-style learning programs are in demand. Meanwhile, in Old Bangalore neighborhoods like Basavanagudi, where family-run businesses still dominate, childcare solutions are often embedded within extended family structures, leading to lower demand for formal daycare but a higher reliance on domestic caregivers. Policies that ignore these distinctions fail to address real childcare needs effectively.

Environmental and Social Realities Shape Care

Care is also deeply shaped by environmental and social factors. During the COVID-19 pandemic, localized childcare solutions became even more critical. In South Africa, the closure of childcare facilities forced many women informal traders to bring their children to markets or leave them in inadequate care arrangements, underscoring the critical need for accessible childcare solutions during such crises.

In Bangladesh, seasonal flooding often disrupts daily life and hampers access to education. To address this challenge, organizations like Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha have introduced solar-powered floating schools. These innovative boats serve as mobile classrooms, each accommodating around 30 students, and are equipped with solar panels, internet-linked laptops, and libraries. Beyond providing education, these floating schools function as community resource centers during extreme weather events, offering services such as libraries and training centers.

In Nairobi, transportation infrastructure significantly impacts childcare accessibility. Long commutes and congested roads make centralized daycare centers impractical for many families. Caregivers often travel to destinations outside central business districts and face limited transportation options, underscoring the need for accessible childcare solutions within residential neighborhoods. Additionally, the Nairobi City County Childcare Facilities Act, 2017, emphasizes the importance of providing childcare services within communities, aiming to reduce the burden on parents navigating the city’s challenging transport system. By establishing distributed childcare hubs within residential areas, parents can access care close to home, avoiding the challenges posed by Nairobi’s traffic congestion.

Towards Context-Responsive Care Economies

For early childhood care to be truly effective, we must challenge the entrenched notion that conventional daycare is the ultimate solution. Policymakers, funders, and organizations need to shift their focus from rigid, one-size-fits-all models to dynamic, hyperlocal solutions that are deeply embedded in the realities of the communities they serve. Investment should prioritize scalable, context-driven care ecosystems that:

1. Embed within existing social structures: Rather than displacing extended family caregiving, successful models enhance community care networks.
2. Adapt to local environmental and economic conditions: Care solutions must account for climate, infrastructure, and workforce realities in each locality.
3. Provide flexible, community-driven solutions: Rigid care models fail in informal economies where working hours are unpredictable.

Hyperlocal care is not just about decentralization—it is about agency. It recognizes that care is a relational, culturally embedded practice, not a standardized service to be rolled out indiscriminately. When we design care from the ground up—centered on local needs and knowledge systems—we create economies of care that are not only effective but just, sustainable, and transformative.

In a world increasingly shaped by top-down interventions, care economies remind us that the most impactful solutions are often the ones rooted in place, people, and context.

Voices of Care is a Bachpan Manao Collabaction seeded by EkStep Foundation in 2025. It is an ongoing inquiry into the caregiving systems that shape childhood in India. By understanding what enables care to thrive, we uncover what allows children to flourish. This work is anchored by Devina S. at mudito.