Humanitarian emergencies pose unique challenges related to infant and young child feeding (IYCF). As climate-related disasters become increasingly common, mothers and their young children must be well supported to continue optimal IYCF practices in emergency settings. Protecting, supporting, and promoting breastfeeding and encouraging optimal complementary feeding behaviors are effective strategies for supporting IYCF during ongoing emergencies, climate-related or otherwise. In an upcoming virtual event hosted by the Global Breastfeeding Collective and Infant Feeding in Emergencies Core Group event, experts will share more about Strategies for IYCF in Climate-Related Emergencies.

Lesley Oot, technical advisor for USAID Advancing nutrition, will join this panel of experts to expand on why breastfeeding needs to be a part of food system discussions and how protecting, promoting, and supporting breastfeeding is critical to creating a more equitable, sustainable, and climate-friendly food system. Protecting and supporting breastfeeding and creating a more climate-friendly food system requires understanding and acting on the aggressive marketing of formula milk companies and ensuring that caregivers have access to family-friendly policies (e.g. parental leave, paid lactation breaks), as both dramatically influence infant feeding decisions.

To join the event on March 21, 2022 at 8:00am EDT, fill out the registration form linked on the Global Breastfeeding Collective website.