We believe that breastfeeding infants with the best nutritional and emotional start of their lives.

Did you know?  WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life, but only 48% of babies are exclusively breastfed at this age.

Unfortunately, it can be difficult to establish or continue this journey due to lack of awareness, knowledge, and support.

As a practical step toward protecting the survival and health of babies and women, breastfeeding is a central part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and is linked to many of the Sustainable Development Goals. Breastfeeding is, for example, a critical aspect in achieving SDG2 and SDG3, which include ending hunger, improving nutrition, and promoting health and well-being.

The Global Breastfeeding Education Initiative (Global BFEI) was launched in March 2023, to contribute to improving breastfeeding education through training and education to advance toward the achievement of 70% of babies breastfed exclusively by 6 months of age by 2030. To reach this goal, the Global BFEI offers a variety of educational tools that provide impartial information on the benefits of breastfeeding and practical training aimed at increasing women’s practical knowledge, skills, and confidence to breastfeed.

During the breastfeeding journey, parents may have several questions or encounter some challenges along the way. Fortunately, Health Care Professionals, including pediatricians, family doctors, midwives, nurses, and community health care workers, are well-equipped to provide guidance and support to parents during these times of uncertainty.

Through the Breastfeeding Education Initiative (BFEI), UNITAR aims to:

1. E-learning courses:

(Learn more about E-learning courses here)

• Increase awareness about breastfeeding through learning and training products.

2. Learning Platform: 

(Learn more about the learning platform here)

• Raise awareness about best practices that advance breastfeeding initiation and duration rates through activations and communication campaigns.

3. Conferences & Training of Trainers: 

(Learn more about conferences & training of trainers here)

• Enhance the capacity of government agencies and municipal authorities through practical knowledge and skills to implement pilot projects in targeted locations.
• Develop a minimum set of indicators to monitor progress in locations where there is a pilot project.

4. Stakeholder Engagement: 

(Learn more about stakeholder engagement) 

• Make learning products accessible to policymakers, practitioners, and to the general public, while linking them to other assets.

1. No poverty

Breastfeeding is low-cost, yet easily meets the nutritional needs of young babies. In other words, breastfeeding promises food security for babies and eases some of the household’s financial burdens.

2. Zero hunger

Every year, 3 million children die due to undernutrition. Breastfeeding could help avert many of these unnecessary deaths, since breastmilk provides all nutrients that infants need. Without exclusive breastfeeding, we cannot achieve food security for infants 0-5 months.

3. Good health and well-being

Breastfeeding is one of the keys to reducing under-five mortality. Increasing rates of breastfeeding to target levels could save the lives of 820, 000 children under 5 every year. Likewise, it can contribute to improved health outcomes for children and mothers.

4. Quality education

Breastfeeding is an essential part of a healthy early childhood – supporting both physical and cognitive development. It could be beneficial to strengthen cognitive ability, high I.Q. scores as well as learning and literacy outcomes. Higher IQ levels are the building blocks for greater academic achievement, long-term earnings and productivity later in life.

5. Gender equality

In settings where gender discrimination exists at economic, social, and cultural levels, birth spacing can contribute to the physical and mental wellbeing of women, such as through labor opportunities and revenue generation, which can be positive for self-confidence and state of mind. Breastfeeding has an important role to play in natural birth spacing.

6. Clean water and sanitation

Exclusive breastfeeding provides babies with all the water they need. Formula feeding, on the other hand, requires having access to clean water, hygiene and sanitation.

7. Affordable and clean energy

Breastfeeding is considered energy efficient since it reduces the need for water, firewood and fossil fuels.

8. Decent work and economic growth

Breastfeeding is associated with adding US$302 billion annually in additional income to the world economy- nearly 0.5 per cent of world gross national industry.

10. Reduced inequalities

Breastfeeding levels the playing field so that every girl and boy can get the best start in life. Breastmilk is free, and interventions can reach communities with limited access to health systems and infrastructure, thus narrowing the gap in accessing health services.

12. Responsible consumption and production

Breastmilk is a natural and renewable food source that requires no packaging, storage, transportation, or fuel, thereby contributing to environmental sustainability.

13. Climate action

Breastmilk is created and consumer with a minimal ecological footprint.