COVID-19 RESPONSE
Photo story: COVID-19 relief in Viet Nam
As COVID-19 surged in Viet Nam, hospitals faced shortages of critical equipment and needed support to adopt appropriate guidance for breastfeeding. With funding from the Embassy of Ireland, Alive & Thrive supported the health system on both fronts. Read more.
IN THE NEWS
Innovative blended learning program supports SBC strategies in West Africa
In response to the constraints imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Alive & Thrive has developed an innovative blended learning program in West Africa that is addressing gaps in SBC capacity. This is an important step toward improving MIYCN outcomes in the region. Read more.
Assessment: Centers of Excellence model is strengthening health systems in Southeast Asia
Separate external assessments show that the Centers of Excellence model innovated by Alive & Thrive in Southeast Asia improves government-led efforts to scale up early essential newborn care and breastfeeding-friendly health services. Read more.
COMMENTARY
Putting profits before child health: New WHO report will reveal formula companies’ exploitative marketing
On Wednesday, Feb. 23, UNICEF and WHO will release a major multi-country report on the exploitative marketing of breastmilk substitutes. What does it mean for efforts to eliminate this harmful marketing? Read more.

Alive & Thrive's annual research summary
In 2021, Alive & Thrive-supported research was published in leading peer-review journals. We've summarized the more than two dozen published articles in our annual research summary. Read more.
NEW RESOURCES
Factors influencing the practice of exclusive breastfeeding and other infant feeding practices in the first six months of life in West and Central Africa
This comprehensive review of the literature written by Alive & Thrive and UNICEF provides nutrition stakeholders with findings from research on the social and behavioral determinants of infant feeding practices in West and Central Africa. Read more.
The International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes: A quick guide
This brochure by UNICEF and Alive & Thrive, newly updated, provides health workers with a summary of the Code and relevant resolutions passed by the World Health Assembly that help protect breastfeeding. Read more.
The technical guideline for establishing and operating human milk banks
This technical guideline developed by Alive & Thrive provides health facility administrators technical guidance on establishing and operating human milk banks in Viet Nam, providing a basis for health facilities providing maternity and newborn services. Read more.
NEW RESEARCH
SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT



The nutrition community is lighting up Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook with insightful conversations. The BMS Code, breastfeeding guidance during COVID-19, and human milk banks have been trending over the last few months.

We invite you to follow Alive & Thrive and engage on these and other important topics!
UPCOMING WEBINARS & VIRTUAL EVENTS
Submit your webinars and other virtual public events to Mackenzie Mayo. Be sure to include the date, time, and a link.

Marketing the $55 billion formula milk industry
Wednesday, Feb. 23 at 11 am EST in English with translation in Spanish and Portuguese
Wednesday, Feb. 23 at 10 am CET in English with translation in Arabic, Chinese, French, Spanish, and Russian
A global webinar launching a new report on how marketing of formula milk influences decisions on infant feeding and what can be done about it. Learn more and register here.

Advancements in Understanding Breastmilk: Learning from the Breastmilk Ecology: Genesis of Infant Nutrition (BEGIN) project
Friday, Feb. 25, 9:30am EST / 2:30pm GMT
A webinar on understanding the biology of human milk. The Breastmilk Ecology: Genesis of Infant Nutrition (BEGIN) project takes an ecological approach to analyzing the unique biology of human milk by exploring it as a complex biological system and examining its interactions with its internal (parental biology) and external (infant interactions) environments. This webinar will present the findings of the BEGIN project and provide an opportunity for a conversation about its implications moving forward. Register here.

iLactation 20th Online Breastfeeding Conference
The 20th iLactation conference, entirely online, features international speakers addressing a wide variety of topics. All presentations will be available to view for three months. Register here.

Investing in Child Nutrition, Alive & Thrive's IYCF e-learning course, has moved to Agora
UNICEF's Agora learning platform now hosts "Investing in Child Nutrition," the e-learning course developed by Alive & Thrive for health professionals. Access available here (you must register on Agora to enroll in the course).