WBTi: Evaluating National Policies and Programmes to Enable Breastfeeding

Executive Summary

This advocacy brief presents the World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative (WBTi) as an essential tool for countries seeking to strengthen their breastfeeding policies and programmes. The document provides evidence of the WBTi’s impact across 100 countries, outlines the systematic assessment process, and demonstrates how regular evaluations lead to measurable improvements in breastfeeding rates and policy environments.

About This Document

This advocacy brief is designed to inform policymakers, health authorities, development partners, and civil society organizations about the proven benefits of conducting systematic policy assessments using the WBTi framework. The document includes case studies from Bangladesh, El Salvador, and Uganda, showing how countries have used WBTi findings to drive policy improvements and increase breastfeeding rates.

Key Messages

The brief communicates four core messages:

1. Regular policy assessment is critical for improving breastfeeding outcomes
2. The WBTi provides a systematic, evidence-based framework for evaluation
3. Countries using the WBTi experience measurable improvements in policies and rates
4. A coordinated call to action is needed to scale up WBTi implementation globally