INTRODUCTION. A Vision for Accessible, Affordable, Quality Early Learning in Every Neighbourhood
In South Africa, the early childhood development (ECD) sector stands at a critical crossroads. Despite growing recognition of the foundational importance of the early years, systemic barriers continue to limit access to quality early learning, particularly in underserved communities. The 2021 ECD Census and the Thrive by Five 2024 report paint a sobering picture: the majority of children enrolled in Early Learning Programmes are not yet on track by the age of four for key developmental indicators. The 2024 results show that 42% of children assessed are On Track, 28% are Falling Behind, and 30% are Falling Far Behind.
The Department of Basic Education (DBE) 2030 ECD Strategy is a national framework aimed at achieving universal access to quality early childhood development by 2030, including two years of preschool. It calls for a new social compact between government, civil society, business, and communities to align efforts and resources behind a shared vision for children. This vision has five strategic priorities, which are a national imperative.
Five Strategic Priorities of the 2030 ECD Strategy:
- Universal Access: Ensure all children aged 0–5 have access to quality ECD programmes, with a focus on the most vulnerable.
- Workforce Development: Expand and professionalise the ECD workforce, recognising both formal qualifications and practical skills.
- Quality Assurance: Strengthen quality standards and monitoring systems, aligned to the National Curriculum Framework (NCF).
- Registration and Compliance: Simplify registration processes and reduce red tape to bring informal centres into the formal system.
- Sustainable Financing: Promote blended and outcomes-based financing models, bringing new forms of capital to the ECD sector.
Grow ECD is tackling these national priorities (and the challenges) head-on through a comprehensive full-service offering to ECD centres and ECD stakeholder partners.
Through our scalable, tech-enabled model that blends hands-on small business development, digital innovation, data-driven decision making, and educational excellence, Grow ECD is not only improving outcomes for children it is also creating jobs, empowering women entrepreneurs, and building a more resilient ECD ecosystem. Grow’s holistic model is a proven blueprint, and as a learning organisation, we implement robust monitoring and evaluation practices, continually assess our outcomes against our theory of change and impact management framework, iterating and adapting where needed.
This article briefly summarises Grow ECD’s service offering and then focuses on outlining the key challenges facing the sector, Grow ECD’s targeted interventions, and the measurable impact achieved to date (as of 31 August 2025). Statistics are drawn from internal monitoring and evaluation data (based on specially designed tools that track both the centre’s performance and the learners’ progress), external assessments using validated tools such as the ELOM suite, and self-reported data from ECD Centre owners, teachers and parents.
SUMMARY: A Summary of Grow ECD’s Programmes and Services Offered to the ECD Sector
Grow ECD is a non-profit social enterprise that works with ECD Centres across South Africa. We believe that building a successful early learning business requires a heart for children and a head for business. We focus on transforming under-resourced, informal ECD centres into sustainable, women-led social-enterprises that deliver high-quality early learning.
Our vision is to bring 5-star quality early learning to every neighbourhood, maximising human potential. We do this by equipping ECD small businesses with the skills, support and tools they need to provide quality early learning for every child while also operating their preschools more professionally and financially sustainably.
Grow’s holistic model is a full-service solution. Our programme makes running a sustainable 5-star ECD centre a possibility for all.
Currently (as at 31August 2025), 4,875 ECD centres are actively using our free mobile app and 266 ECD centres are part of our Small Business Programme, benefitting over 12,000 children every day. The mobile app is available nationally, across all 9 provinces and the Small Business Programme is available in the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Kwa-Zulu Natal and Gauteng.
GROW ECD'S SOLUTIONS FOR THE ECD SECTOR
- Free one-stop-shop ECD management app for ECD centre owners, teachers and parents. This easy-to-use app suite helps centres manage their admin, finances, enrolment, learner assessments, staff and learner attendance, parent communication, and provides access to our curriculum, resource centre, and online training.
- Free online curriculum: a multi-media online tool that provides teachers of all levels with step-by-step guidance to implement an NCF-aligned and play-based curriculum in their classroom. The curriculum is like having a mentor next to each teacher since it includes voice note summaries, video demos, recorded songs and rhymes, photos and detailed instructions for each age group, per theme, for the whole school year. Uniquely, the curriculum features a unique programme for 0-2 year olds and for 3-5 year olds. The curriculum has been approved by DBE and received a 93% Quality Pedagogy rating from Education Alliance Finland.
- Data-free online training to support the continuous professional development of ECD centre staff across business management, education and life skills topics. There are 15 online training courses currently available to centre owners and teachers, for free.
- Data-free ECD Resource Centre: a helpful library of over 450 free downloadable policies, procedures, templates, educational guides, classroom tools, songs, rhymes and more, created by Grow ECD and also curated from ECD experts.
- ECD Business Accelerator Training: A 6-part training programme for ECD centre owners and managers that teaches the crucial business mindset and skills they need to take their ECD business to the next level, achieve registration and compliance, and be more financially sustainable.
- Small Business Programme: a 3-year training and development programme partnership with the ECD centre. This comprehensive step-by-step programme is a proven recipe for success for running a successful preschool where children thrive. It includes teacher training and in-classroom mentorship, business training and mentorship, registration support, a beautiful classroom kit of equipment and curriculum, as well as access to low-cost finance and partnership opportunities.
- ECD Finance: Specially negotiated, affordable low-cost loans to help ECD centre owners invest in educational equipment, infrastructure upgrades, registration, compliance and growth opportunities. These loans are usually offered as blended finance (made up of a combination of cash and grant funding).
HOW GROW ECD ADDRESSES NATIONAL ECD CHALLENGES AND PROVEN IMPACT ACHIEVED
ECD Challenge 1: Limited Access to Quality Early Learning Opportunities
The Problem
Despite policy commitments to universal access, only 43% of children aged 0–5 are enrolled in an Early Learning Programme (ELP). An estimated 60% of 4-year olds are enrolled at an ELP (Thrive by Five 2024). This leaves millions of children without access to formal early learning opportunities. The Thrive by Five 2024 sub-study on children not enrolled at an Early Learning Programme also highlighted severe developmental deficits among non-enrolled children: 82% of non-enrolled children are Falling Behind or Far Behind, unable to do basic tasks expected of a child their age.
Grow ECD’s Solution
Grow ECD’s programmes improve access to quality early learning by supporting ECD centres to enhance their learning environments in a practical and accessible way. While Grow ECD does not focus on starting or opening preschools, our focus is on expanding access to quality as well as growing learner capacity within ECD centres that are already operating.
- It is free to download and data-light, ensuring low barriers to entry even for low-tech or rural users (ECD centre owners/managers, teachers and parents).
- It empowers teachers with access to free downloadable education resources, professional development training, and a DBE-approved curriculum that was specifically designed for entry-level teachers who may not have English as their home language.
Our Grow ECD Small Business Programme addresses the challenge:
- It equips ECD centres with comprehensive classroom kits of educational equipment to implement the curriculum, ensuring children have access to quality.
Our ECD Finance addresses the challenge:
- ECD centres are investing in classroom expansions, infrastructure upgrades, maintenance and outdoor play equipment, effectively growing their programmatic reach and quality.
Measurable Impact
- 4,875 ECD centres are actively using the Grow ECD apps with over 130,000 learners enrolled.
- 1,128 teachers used Grow’s online curriculum in the past 12 months to deliver structured, play-based learning to children aged 0–5.
- 332 educational kits have been distributed through blended finance, enabling effective curriculum implementation.
- 8 million in financial support has been disbursed to improve or expand infrastructure, outdoor play areas, and classroom environments.
- Grow ECD centres are also growing their capacity and reach: 30% of centres have increased their learner capacity since joining our programme, centres have seen an 8% increase in enrollment over the past 12 months, and the average learner retention rate is 91%.
ECD Challenge 2: Developmental Delays and Uneven School Readiness
The Problem
According to the Thrive by Five Index 2024, only 42% of children enrolled in Early Learning Programmes (ELPs) are developmentally On Track for early learning (as measured by the ELOM 4&5 Assessment Tool). This means that less than half of enrolled children have acquired the foundational skills needed for a successful start to formal schooling.
- 28% of enrolled children are Falling Behind, and 30% are Falling Far Behind the expected standard for their age.
- Children in higher-fee ELPs are twice as likely to be On Track (69%) compared to those in the lowest-fee ELPs (34%).
Grow ECD’s Solution
Grow ECD’s programme offerings ensure that ECD centres provide high-quality learning and nurturing environments that enable children to meet their developmental milestones and are school ready.
The Grow ECD mobile app addresses the challenge:
- It empowers teachers with access to free downloadable education resources, professional development training, and a DBE-approved curriculum that was specifically designed for entry-level teachers who may not have English as their home language.
- It includes a free, online NCF-aligned daily curriculum for 2–5-year-olds that integrates the Grow ECD educational equipment.
- It includes a free, online baby curriculum for 0-2-year-olds that integrates the Grow ECD educational equipment.
- It includes a free learner assessment tool with a downloadable instruction guide and support videos on how to conduct the assessments.
Our Grow ECD Accelerator addresses the challenge:
- It includes a specific module on what it takes to provide quality early learning using the National Curriculum Framework and education best practice.
- Our ECD Accelerator is highly subsidised (in some cases it is offered for free), making it more affordable for ECD Centre owners from low-fee Early Learning Programmes to attend
Our Small Business programme addresses the challenge:
- It equips ECD centres with comprehensive classroom kits of educational equipment to implement the curriculum, ensuring children have access to quality.
- ECD centres receive visits from qualified education mentors who observe programme implementation and provide coaching and advice.
- Teachers receive in-person training on education implementation.
- Centre owners are equipped with a professional teacher evaluation tool and receive mentor recommendations based the results.
Our ECD Finance addresses the challenge:
- ECD centres can acquire an educational kit containing all the equipment and toys needed to implement the NCF-aligned curriculum available for free on the Grow ECD mobile app.
- ECD centres can acquire the baby educational kit that supports the implementation of the baby curriculum.
- Blended finance options makes investing in educational equipment more affordable, since it includes low-interest and low-cost loans as well as grant subsidies (usually between 25 and 75%).
Measurable Impact
- 70% of Grow ECD learners aged 4–5 are developmentally on track, as measured by external assessors using the ELOM 4–5 Years Assessment Tool (2024).
- 76% of learners demonstrated age-appropriate emotional functioning according to the ELOM Social-Emotional Functioning Rating Scale (2024).
- 1,015 ECD teachers accessed the free learner assessment tool via the Grow ECD app in 2024, assessing thousands of learners against their age groups’ developmental milestones.
- 4,427 learners at Grow ECD centres, learners, were assessed between June and Dec 2024 using the learner assessment tool on the Grow ECD app
- In 2024 Grow ECD centres in the Small Business Programme received 498 in-person mentoring sessions that included feedback and action plans based on learner observation reports submitted via the Grow ECD app.
ECD Challenge 3: Underqualified ECD Practitioners
The Problem
A significant proportion of ECD practitioners in South Africa remain underqualified, undermining the quality of care and learning for young children:
- 26% of ECD practitioners have no formal ECD qualification at all (not even an accredited skills programme or NQF Level 1).
- Just 17% of practitioners have completed an NQF Level 5 qualification (the minimum required for ECD centre managers under current policy).
- 31% of practitioners identified a lack of training as a major barrier to effectively performing their role.
Grow ECD’s Solution
Grow ECD makes holistic training accessible, equipping ECD practitioners with and without formal qualifications with the skills and resources to deliver quality early learning. While Grow ECD does not offer formal ECD qualifications, we focus on continuous professional development of teachers to help them bring theory to life.
The Grow ECD mobile app addresses the challenge:
- The Grow ECD mobile app offers 15 free online courses to enhance teachers’ personal and professional development. These courses include data-free online training focused specifically on teacher development, with a certificate awarded upon completion.
- The Grow ECD mobile app includes a free self-assessment tool for teachers to evaluate their own performance against professional standards. The app also includes a free teacher assessment tool for ECD owners to evaluate the quality of their staff’s performance. These tools are supported by training to help centre owners have developmental and performance discussions with teachers and help to set development goals and plans.
- The Grow ECD mobile app includes a free, downloadable step-by-step teacher’s guide, supported by online videos, to help implement the curriculums, which supports teachers of all levels and experience.
Our Small Business programme addresses the challenge:
- ECD centres that are part of Grow ECD’s Small Business Programme receive in-person training on teacher development.
- ECD centres that are part of Grow ECD’s Small Business Programme are assessed by qualified assessors using the STAR Assessment Tool to identify development areas and track improvements, including teaching standards and qualifications. Centres are supported to set and track qualifications goals and connected with qualifications institutes and opportunities where possible.
Measurable Impact
- 100% of Grow ECD centre owners hold at least an NQF Level 4 qualification.
- In 2024, 4,749 centre owners and 4,527 teachers completed online courses via the Grow ECD app.
- 972 centre owners and teachers attended Grow ECD’s in-person training programmes in 2024. Thus far, in 2025 (as at July) 695 principals and teachers have attended in-person training.
- To date 1,169 centre owners have completed the Grow ECD Business Accelerator Programme, with 79% reporting stronger entrepreneurial thinking, business knowledge, and practices.
ECD Challenge 4: Infrastructure and Resource Shortages
The Problem
Infrastructure and resource shortages are common, with only 61% of ECD centres having at least ten children’s books and 34% lacking playground equipment. These deficits compromise the quality of early learning environments.
Many centres cannot get registered due to infrastructure non-compliance and they cannot provide quality education due to resource shortages.
The majority of principals (83%) report using some type of curriculum, but only half indicated that they have the support materials and educational resources to successfully implement the curriculum.
Grow ECD’s Solution
Grow ECD enables ECD centres to improve their infrastructure and learning environments by providing access to blended financing, affordable high-quality educational equipment, and partnerships that connect them to essential resources
The Grow ECD mobile app addresses the challenge:
- The Grow ECD mobile app is accessible since it is free to download, uses very little data and is easy-to-use even for low-tech users.
- The Grow ECD mobile app includes a free, downloadable step-by-step teacher’s guide, supported by online videos, to help implement the curriculums.
- The App connects teachers to digital classroom resources such as songs, rhymes, and online storybooks
Our Grow ECD Resource Centre addresses the challenge:
- Teachers can download classroom decor, posters, puzzles, educational games and even “make your own equipment” guides to help them resource and equip their classrooms using minimal investment.
- The Resource centre includes digital classroom resources such as professionally recorded songs and rhymes which teachers can use to enrich the classroom environment.
Our Grow ECD Small Business Programme and Blended Finance addresses the challenge:
- Through our blended finance model we help ECD centres that are part of our small business programme invest in educational equipment (a classroom kit), a baby programme, and relevant infrastructure upgrades and outdoor equipment.
Measurable Impact
- In 2024, 54,746 free educational resources were downloaded from the Grow ECD app, enhancing the quality of learning environments at ECD centres.
- Through blended finance, to date, ECD centers have received 332 comprehensive educational kits of classroom and outdoor equipment (which includes over 340 items)
- 8 million in blended financial support has been disbursed to improve infrastructure and classroom environments.
- Partnerships with organisations such as Breadline Africa, Amazeballs, Book Dash, Care for Education, and the LEGO Foundation provide centres with additional resources and support.
ECD Challenge 5: Registration Compliance
The Problem
39% of ECD centres are not compliant with Department of Basic Education registration requirements, excluding them from eligibility for formal funding or curriculum support.
According to Thrive by Five 2024, Only 44% of ELPs in their study received the government subsidy, and just 39% of those say that subsidies were always paid on time and in the expected amounts.
Grow ECD’s Solution
Grow ECD supports ECD centres to achieve registration compliance by identifying areas for improvement and providing the guidance, training, and resources needed to meet Department of Basic Education requirements
The Grow ECD mobile app addresses the challenge:
- The Grow ECD mobile app includes a free ECD Centre Registration checklist, detailed how-to guide, documents, policies, and registration training module.
- The Grow ECD mobile app includes a free HR Toolkit with all the essential policies, documents, and templates an ECD centre owner needs to meet HR compliance requirements.
- The Grow ECD mobile app includes a free MyBusiness suite with an income and expenses tracker that enables the ECD owner to manage their centre’s finances as well as financial reporting, for government subsidies.
Our Grow ECD Resource Centre addresses the challenge:
- ECD centre owners can download registration guides, and supporting documents which they need to prepare for registration (including policies, procedures and templates)
Our Grow ECD Accelerator addresses the challenge:
- The Accelerator includes a full day module on compliance and registration
Our Grow ECD Small Business Programme and Blended Finance addresses the challenge:
- ECD centres that are part of Grow ECD’s Small Business Programme are assessed by qualified assessors using the STAR Assessment Tool to identifydevelopment areas (including registration and compliance gaps). The STAR assessment is used to develop practical action plans to help centres achieve registration requirements.
- ECD centres receive mentoring on business sustainability, registration, and compliance topics with hands-on support for the registration journey.
- Centres can attend Grow ECD’s registration clinics where we support centres and help them complete online registration (bronze level)
- ECD centres that are part of Grow ECD’s Small Business Programme receive access to ECD finance. If required, low-cost loans are available to assist centres in investing in infrastructure upgrades, outdoor equipment, and registration requirements.
Measurable Impact
- 1,286 ECD centre owners across South Africa have completed the free online “How to Get Your ECD Centre Registered” course on the Grow ECD mobile app.
- 4,550 ECD centres using the Grow ECD app have access to a free ECD Centre Registration tool with a checklist, toolkit, documents, policies, and instructional videos to meet DBE requirements.
- In 2024, 149 ECD centres were assessed using the STAR Assessment Tool, received quality improvement plans, and mentorship support, resulting in a 56% improvement in governance and legal compliance after three years on the programme.
- 50% of Grow ECD centres are conditionally or fully registered, with 21% of Small Business Programme centres improving their registration status since joining.
- 80% of Grow ECD centres are conditionally or fully registered by graduation from the Small Business Programme (and 10% have applied for registration).
ECD Challenge 6: Financial Viability and Sustainability of ECD Centres
The Problem
62% of ECD centres operate without receiving a government subsidy, leaving them financially vulnerable to closure or learner dropout (ECD Census 2021).
97% of Early Learning Programmes (ELPs) rely on parent fees as their primary source of income (Thrive by Five 2024) but fee recovery is a major challenge. Only 20% of ELPs reported that all parents had paid their fees in the previous month, with lower recovery rates in poorer communities.
90% of practitioners earn below the minimum wage. Only 57% have formal employment contracts, and fewer than half receive paid leave.
Grow ECD’s Solution
Through the Small Business Programme Grow ECD strengthens the financial sustainability of ECD centres and improves quality, making them more resilient and attractive to parents
The Grow ECD mobile app addresses the challenge:
- The Grow ECD mobile app includes a free MyBusiness suite with an income and expenses tracker that enables the ECD owner to set financial targets (budgets), manage their centre’s finances as well as view and download financial reporting, for financial management and government subsidies.
- The Grow ECD mobile app offers free, data-free online training courses on business development including how to Budget for an ECD centre and how to run a Sustainable ECD centre with a certificate awarded upon completion.
Our Grow ECD Resource Centre addresses the challenge:
- ECD centre owners can download business plan templates and quality resources for free, helping to reduce their costs.
Our Grow ECD Accelerator addresses the challenge:
- The Accelerator Programme includes a module on how to manage your money, how to run your preschool like a business and how to achieve business sustainability.
Our Grow ECD Small Business Programme and Blended Finance addresses the challenge:
- ECD centres received a site visit, STAR assessment and break-even analysis to help them understand what financial sustainability looks like for their centre uniquely and together with our business mentors they set action plans and goals to achieve financial sustainability.
- ECD centres receive mentoring on business sustainability.
- ECD centres that are part of Grow ECD’s Small Business Programme receive access to low-cost ECD finance making investments in their centre more affordable. Low-cost loans are available to assist centres in investing in educational equipment, infrastructure upgrades, outdoor equipment, and registration requirements.
- Centre owners and principals receive in person training on HR management, marketing, fundraising and business skills.
Measurable Impact
- 266 ECD centres in the SBP receive regular mentoring focused on sustainability and compliance.
- Grow ECD-supported centres achieve an average learner retention rate of 91%.
- 79% of centres have increased their fees, boosting income.
- 64% of centres have increased staff salaries.
- 46% of centres have increased their staff teams.
- 26% of centres now pay staff above the minimum wage.
ECD Challenge 7: Low Parental Engagement in Early Learning
The Problem
Parental engagement in early learning is low, particularly in under-resourced areas, limiting the continuity of developmental support between home and centre. This limits the continuity of developmental support between home and ECD centre, and is a significant barrier to children’s holistic development.
- While most caregivers report playing with their child, activities like reading, storytelling, and drawing are much less common. For example, 36% of caregivers reported never telling stories to their child in the past week, and a substantial proportion never read books or drew with their child.
- Over 60% of fathers (including biological, adoptive, foster, or stepfathers) had no involvement in learning activities with their child in the previous week.
Grow ECD’s Solution
Grow ECD provides ECD centres with a digital platform and practical resources that enable them to engage parents more effectively
The Grow ECD mobile app addresses the challenge:
- The Grow ECD mobile app includes a free parent portal (the Grow Lion App) where parents can access information about their child, child development resources, and other relevant updates from the ECD centre
- The app includes a professional learner assessment tool. Once a learner is assessed the results (a development report) can easily be shared with parents electronically via the parenting app or downloaded and shared via chat apps or even printed and shared in a physical format.
- The app includes data-free training to help centres owners plan and host a parent workshop.
Our Grow ECD Resource Centre addresses the challenge:
- Teachers can download parent engagement resources such as a report card template, parenting tips and curriculum-theme based bulletins to share with parents every week.
- Our Resource Centre includes specific resources and guidance to support father-friend ECD centres and help centres develop father inclusion strategies.
Our Grow ECD Small Business Programme and Blended Finance addresses the challenge:
- Grow ECD hosts a parent satisfaction and feedback survey on behalf of our centres every year.
- Grow ECD hosts “Fathers Matter” training and “How to create a father Friendly ECD Centre” training for centre owners and teachers.
Measurable Impact
- 909 parents are currently using the Grow ECD mobile app’s free parent portal to access information about their child, developmental resources, and centre updates, strengthening parent involvement in learning.
- In 2024, 79% of parents reported being satisfied with the quality of education and care at Grow ECD centres, reflecting improved engagement and communication between centres and families.
ECD Challenge 8: Digital Access and Data Literacy Barriers
The Problem
Digital and data literacy is a barrier for many ECD centre owners, with the majority of the 60% of centres operating informally lacking functional systems for record-keeping or reporting.
Grow ECD’s Solution
The free, low-data Grow ECD mobile app provides centre owners with a user-friendly, one-stop platform to manage records, track reporting, and streamline operations:
The Grow ECD mobile app addresses the challenge:
- The Grow ECD mobile app is accessible as its free to download
- The Grow ECD mobile app is accessible as it uses very little data
- The Grow ECD mobile app’s uptake and use are supported by in-person training in multiple languages.
- The Grow ECD mobile app is supported by a staffed helpdesk to assist with uptake and usage.
- The Grow ECD mobile app is a one-stop-shop that allows a centre owner to manage their learner enrollment and attendance, staff records and attendance, financial recordkeeping and reporting, learner assessments, curriculum implementation, parent communication and staff development.
Our Grow ECD Resource Centre addresses the challenge:
- The resource centre provides numerous downloads to support smooth business operations including step-by-step guides, templates, policies, and procedures.
Our Grow ECD Accelerator addresses the challenge:
- During the Accelerator we train centre owners on basic operational best practices and help them use the Grow ECD app effectively.
Our Grow ECD Small Business Programme and Blended Finance addresses the challenge:
- ECD centres that are part of Grow ECD’s Small Business Programme are assessed by qualified assessors using the STAR Assessment Tool to identify development areas and track improvements.
- Centre owners receive in-person training on business management skills, compliance and management.
- With the support of our business advisors and mentors the centre owner and principal receive guidance regarding operational best practices
Measurable Impact
- 3,575 ECD centres across South Africa actively used the Grow ECD App’s MyBusiness suite to simplify record-keeping, financial management, and reporting, reducing the administrative burden on centre owners (Jun 2025).
- The Grow ECD mobile app is supported by in-person assistance and a responsive helpdesk via phone and WhatsApp, ensuring centre owners can confidently adopt and use the technology.
- In the last 90 days, 93% of Grow ECD centre owners (on the Small Business Programme) actively used the MyBusiness feature, demonstrating strong uptake and effective use of digital tools for centre management.
Conclusion
Grow ECD’s impact-driven model demonstrates that scalable, sustainable solutions are possible in the South African ECD sector. By addressing systemic challenges with targeted interventions, Grow ECD is not only improving outcomes for children but also creating jobs, empowering women entrepreneurs, and strengthening the broader ECD ecosystem.
As Grow ECD continues to scale, its commitment to evidence-based practice, digital innovation, and community partnership positions it as a key contributor to national development goals — and a compelling candidate for JOBS FUND support.