1. World Breastfeeding Costing Initiative (WBC i )

2. Breastfeeding has been recognized as the most important intervention for child survival and optimal growth and development. However, throughout the world, optimal breastfeeding rates are abysmally low, stagnating for over a decade, because of the lack of the enabling environment where women can practice optimal breastfeeding successfully WBC i

3. Protecting, promoting and supporting breastfeeding is not free. It costs money. As the World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative (WBT i ) analysis of the implementation of the Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding shows, very few of the 51 countries that conducted the assessment could implement all the strategies. The primary obstacle was lack of adequate resources, especially financial resources. WBC i

4. The few estimates existing consider only some aspects of promotion, even though there is evidence that several actions, including effectively enforcing the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes and Maternity Protection need to be taken concurrently if breastfeeding rates have to improve. WBC i

5. In 2012, International Baby Food Action Network Asia (IBFAN Asia) took on the challenge of trying to estimate the minimal cost of implementing the Global Strategy in its entirety through the World Breastfeeding Costing Initiative (WBC i ). WBC i

6. The WBC i has two components –  The Need to Invest in Babies  The Financial Planning Tool WBC i

7. Supported by:

8. The Need to Invest in Babies This advocacy document gives the rationale behind the need to invest in breastfeeding, what interventions to invest in as a priority, and an estimate of the global costs of universalizing the enabling environment where women can successfully breastfeed optimally. Interventions that have been costed include:  Development of policies and plans, coordination;  Health and nutrition care system: This has two components - BFHI and the training of health workers;  Community services and mother support;  Media promotion;  Maternity Protection;  Implementing the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes; and  Monitoring and research.

9. The Current Estimates Behavior change interventions Breastfeeding promotion and support CF promotion Hand washing with soap and promotion of hygiene behaviors US$2.9 billion 15 USD/Per household in 36 high burden countries Reflects only “Behaviour change interventions to promote breastfeeding.” 9

10. Action AreaIBFAN estimates USD in billions (214 countries) One Time Cost2.08 billion IYCF policy devp & review0.004 International Code drafting and legislative proccess0.479 Trainings HW Community support Code implementation 1.599 Annual Cost15.48 billion BFHI Implementation2.01 Media Promotion0.722 Monitoring0.081 Maternity Entitlement12.6 Total17.56 billion 10 How Much to Invest

11. Recognizing that countries are at different stages in implementing the Global Strategy, as well as the wide variance in salaries, infrastructure costs, etc., IBFAN Asia also developed the WBC i Financial Planning Tool to assist countries plan and budget for protecting, promoting and supporting breastfeeding. It follows the principles and structure of the World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative (WBT i ) The Financial Planning Tool

12. The tool is excel based, flexible, user friendly and countries can easily customize it to meet their needs and generate annual as well as multi year estimates for IYCF It is intended for programme managers and partners to initiate advocacy with national govt. and donors It will assist planners, MCH/nutrition coordinators, public health practitioners, and finance personnel in developing budget The Financial Planning Tool

13. WBT i assessment completed Identify Gaps Develop Plan of action WBC i WBT i assessment not completed Accomplish WBT i Identify Gaps Develop Plan of action WBC i WBT i and WBC i Policy & Programme Indicators (indicator 1-10) 1.National Policy, Programme and Coordination 2.Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (Ten steps to successful breastfeeding) 3.Implementation of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes 4.Maternity Protection 5.Health and Nutrition Care Systems (in support of breastfeeding & IYCF) 6.Mother Support and Community Outreach - Community-based Support for the pregnant and breastfeeding mother 7.Information Support 8.Infant Feeding and HIV 9.Infant Feeding during Emergencies 10.Mechanisms of Monitoring and Evaluation System

14. The report has been launched worldwide 1.INDIA 2.CANADA 3.MEXICO 4.COLOMBIA 5.COSTA RICA 6.GUATEMALA 7.BANGLADESH 8.NEPAL 9. ​ AUSTRALIA 10.INDONESIA 11.EGYPT 12.AFGHANISTAN Plan to introduce / use of tool in 20 more countries in 2014 Worldwide launch and action

15. In March 2014, in India, at a regional workshop, 7 countries made use of the financial planning tool and found this to be truly useful. There were total of 23 participants from 5 governments and 2 civil society groups. Lessons learnt South Asia Workshop Dr. Hedayetul Islam Director IPHN, and Line Director National Nutrition Services Institute of Public Health Nutrition, Dhaka Bangladesh said “It is an innovative tool I have seen and so easy to operate …we can make use in doing budgeting of IYCF activities, thank you IBFAN” Dr.Homayoun Ludin of MOH Afghanistan “The tool is very user-friendly and we have made use of this to make plans and given to donors.” Dr.Mohammed Saeed retired MOH, Maldives said “It is excellent tool, easy to use and user friendly. It generates automatic IYCF estimate budget. Application can be used for planning, calculating and monitoring IYCF activities at all levels.” Dr.Sila Deb, Deputy Commissioner (Child Health), Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India said “It’s very easy and flexible to calculate budgets. It can be standardized software and can be very useful in planning for program implementation plan (PIP).”

16. The Financial Tool with the filename WBCi_Release_1.1 can be downloaded at http://ibfan.org/upload/files/WBCi_Releases_ 1.1.XLSM or copied from any Usb or CD that contains the programme file. http://ibfan.org/upload/files/WBCi_Releases_ 1.1.XLSM Please note that for the programme to open, the Excel 2007 programme should be set at “ENABLE MACROS”. DOWNLOADING, SAVING AND OPENING THE FINANCIAL TOOL