How to Conduct National Assessment

1. How to Conduct National Assessment

2. Objectives of National Assessment • Assessment of each country situation in implementation of the GSIYCF • Publishing the report of the assessment • Advocacy with policy makers and other agencies on the specific interventions to improve the status of breastfeeding indicators of policy programme and practices • Inclusion of the data into the web tool • Follow-up periodic re-assessment to see trends, gauge the change in the status of individual indicators and study what made a difference

3. Process

4. First Step: National Actions • Orientation meeting of key persons to discuss the whole process • Identification of a key person as ‘national IYCF assessment coordinator’ • Meeting to plan the process for assessment • Identifying a core group of 4-5 persons, preferably including representatives from the government, UNICEF, WHO, NGOs and other professional organizations, avoiding conflict of interest

5. First Step: National Actions • Facilitation of assessment according to guidelines • Fixing responsibilities who will do what on all 1-15 indicators • Preparing a work plan, followed by collection of information • Finalizing among core group and prepare a report • Presenting it to a wider audience for review and comments and consensus • Gap identification and brainstorming to frame recommendations and action plans • Incorporating comments or suggestions into the final outcome of the report

6. Second Step • Verification of data is done at this stage to check quality, national scope etc • Data is shared with the (WBTi) coordinating office • Use findings for input into the world breastfeeding trends initiative (WBTi) web- portal • Web tool kit takes on scoring, colour rating and grading and countries are ranked where they stand, making it more meaningful. The countries and regions are ranked in order of their performance • It allows universal access to this information thus generated

7. Third Step • Report cards generated and published, shared with the governments who are potential users • Reports are shared with donors for information where support might be best targeted • World breastfeeding trends initiative (WBTi) web data can be used by the advocacy groups wanting to showcase how well the country is doing in order to pinpoint improvements or for gathering support • Researchers can also effectively use these results • Media can effectively use for communication and help in advocacy

8. Example of the Process in India • The First Step • Coordination • IBFAN Asia • People’s Health Resources Network • Selection of Core Partners and data collection • People’s Health Resources Network • IBFAN Asia • Dr. Ajay Gaur • Dr. Anurag Singh • Analysis and recommendations • by policy makers, professionals, and civil society organisations at Workshop on 4th October 2008

9. Breastfeeding Promotion Network of India (BPNI) Federation of Obstetric & Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI) Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) Indian Association of Preventive and Social Medicine (IAPSM) Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN), Asia Jan Swasthya Abhiyan (JSA) Mobile Crechés National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) National Health Systems Resource Centre (NHSRC) Office of Commissioners to the Supreme Court on Right to Food ( CWP 196/2001). People's Health Resource Network (PHRN) Trained Nurses' Association of India (TNAI) United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Partner Organisations

10. WBTi Assessment at different Places

11. Additional Information • MDG-1 (Nutritional status of children under 5) • Percentage Low Birth Weight • Percentage Under Fives Stunted • Percentage Under Fives Underweight • MDG-4 (Child Survival) • Under Five Mortality • Infant Mortality Rate • Neonatal Mortality Rate • MDG- 5 (Improve maternal health) • The Maternal Mortality Ratio • Maternal Health • Deliveries attended by trained health personnel • Antenatal care coverage

12. Thank you