Salvador, S., Lara, C. & Ríos, V. (2026) Socio-educational inclusion scholarship program in Uruguay: Evaluating the triple dividend of investment in childcare. [Policy brief]. Initiatives Project to Strengthen Care Policies in Latin America and the Caribbean.

This policy brief brings together the conclusions of the evaluation of the Socio-Educational Inclusion Scholarship (BIS) Program for early childhood. The study shows that funding access to childcare centers generates a “triple dividend”: it promotes early development in children, provides personal time for training or labor market entry for young mothers in vulnerable situations, and boosts quality standards in the centers. At the same time, the evaluation points out bottlenecks in scholarship management and referral, follow-up by the state after enrollment that often becomes inconsistent, and the risk of interruption in the educational trajectory after graduation. Based on these conclusions, the document proposes recommendations to speed up scholarship allocation, coordinate support with employment services, link with ANEP for post-graduation school continuity, and recognize the rest and life projects of caregivers within the goals of the National Care Plan 2026-2030.