Mercy Corps Ethiopia invites consulting firms/consultants to conduct an in-depth analysis of childcare service delivery models and the legal & regulatory framework governing them in Addis Ababa.

TERMS OF REFERENCE (TOR) FOR CONSULTANCY SERVICE FOR COMPREHENSIVE RESEARCH OF CHILDCARE SERVICE MODELS AND LEGAL & REGULATORY FRAMEWORKSFEBRUARY 25, 2026MERCY CORPS Introduction Access to quality, affordable childcare is essential for children’s development, women’s economic participation, and overall community well-being. Various childcare models, including community-based, private, Day-mother-run PPP, Franchise, CSO-led and other approaches are currently operating, often within fragmented or underdeveloped regulatory frameworks. To enhance quality, sustainability, and scalability, a comprehensive assessment of both service delivery models and the legal and regulatory environment governing them is required. The aim of studying the regulatory framework is essential because childcare services are expanding rapidly, while the rules guiding them have not always kept pace. Different models operate in various ways, and with minimal clarity and consistent standards, the quality and safety of care can vary. At such a critical stage in a child’s development, there must be no gaps in protection, staffing requirements, or supervision. Reviewing and strengthening the legal framework now will help and suggest ensuring that all children receive safe and high-quality care, while also supporting working families and promoting women’s economic participation. It is about putting appropriate systems in place and implementation so that childcare services can grow according to national standards and become reliable and sustainable over time. This Terms of Reference (ToR) outlines recruiting consulting firm/ consultant to conduct an in-depth analysis of the various childcare modalities and the legal & regulatory framework for childcare service; under the project titled 'Empowering Families, Enriching Lives: Evidence-Driven Scaling of LIWAY’s Childcare Models for Two-Generational Early Childhood Development (ECD)'. BACKGROUND Mercy Corps Ethiopia (MCE) Mercy Corps has been present in Et