Infant and Young Child Feedingin Emergencies. Operational Guidance.
VERSION 3.0 – UPDATEThe Operational Guidance on IFE
AimTo provide concise, practical guidance on how to ensure appropriate infant
and young child feeding in emergencies (IFE)

ScopeApplies to emergency preparedness, response and recovery worldwide

Target Groups

Infants and young children aged 0-23 months and pregnant and lactating
women (PLW)Intended for

Policy-makers, decision-makers and programmers working in emergency
preparedness, response and recovery across sectors and disciplines.

Version 3
Updated by:
Co-led:Coordinated by:Funded by:

The IFE Core Group
ENN and UNICEF
ENN
USAID/OFDA (ENN)

2001

2006

2007

2010

2017

Version 1.0

Version 2.0

Version 2.1

Addendum

Version 3.0

V 3.0 Process
March 2016

• IFE Core Group
Meeting:
Interviewfindings shared,
gaps in contentand processagreedFeb 16 – Sept 17

Dec 2017• Consultation

IFE CoreGroup

Experts

Experiences &resources
SPHERE• IFE Core Group
Meeting:
Dissemination& roll out
action planV 3.0 What has stayed the same?
• Layout• Headings• Most of existingguidance• Terminology of IFE• Availability in English,
French and Arabic

KEY POINTSPRACTICAL STEPS (1 – 6)
1. Endorse or develop policies
2. Train staff
3. Co-ordinate operations
4. Assess and monitor
5. Protect, promote and support optimal IYCF with integrated
multi-sector interventions
6. Minimise the risks of artificial feeding

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS  New
KEY CONTACTSREFERENCES  Expanded
DEFINITIONS  Expanded
ANNEX 1: Multi-sectoral content  New
ACRONYMS  New

V 3.0 Revisions - Programming• Updated to reflect latest global guidance (published and upcoming)• Greater programmatic detail in all sections• Greater and more balanced content to address needs of non-breastfed infants• More comprehensive content on complementary feeding• Introduction of new concepts e.g. human milk banks• Considers situations where OG-IFE recommendations cannot be immediately met• More content on emergency preparedness• Summary key points updated

V 3.0 Revisions – Roles & Responsibilities• Greater emphasis on the lead role of government in preparedness and response• Greater clarity on the respective roles and responsibilities of UN agencies• Greater coverage of sectors beyond nutrition and more explicit actions to take
• Incorporated accountability to affected populations• Reflects significantly evolved operational environmentV 3.0 Revisions – References, Resources, Terminology• More extensive list of supporting references and resources• Greater referencing of recommendations and definitions• More extensive list of definitions• Changes, and additions, to terminology• Optimal IYCF → Recommended IYCF
• HIV Risk Assessment• Donor Human Milk
• Human Milk Bank
• Cluster Lead Agency• Lipid-based nutrient supplement (LNS)1: Endorse or develop policies
Key provisions regarding IFE should be reflected in government, multi-sector and agency
policies and should guide emergency responses.

2: Train staff
Sensitisation and training on IFE is necessary at multiple levels and across sectors.

3: Coordinate operations
Capacity to coordinate IFE should be established in the coordination mechanism for every
emergency response. Government is the lead IFE coordination authority. Where this is notpossible or support is needed, IFE coordination is the mandated responsibility of UNICEF
or UNHCR, depending on context, in close collaboration with government, other UN
agencies and operational partners.
Where all provisions of OG-IFE cannot be immediately met, context-specific guidance on
appropriate actions and acceptable ‘compromises’ should be provided by the IFE
coordination authority and mandated UN agencies.
Timely, accurate and harmonised communication to the affected population, emergency
responders and the media is essential

4: Assess & Monitor
Needs assessment and critical analysis should determine a context specific IFE response▪ Pre-crisis data
▪ Rapid decision-making and action▪ Early needs assessment▪ In depth assessment▪ Monitoring
It is essential to monitor the impact of humanitarian actions and inaction on IYCF
practices, child nutrition and health; to consult with the affected population in planningand implementation; and to document experiences to inform preparedness and future
response.

5: Protect, promote and support optimal IYCF with integrated multi-sector interventions
Immediate action to protect recommended infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices
and minimise risks is necessary in the early stages of an emergency, with targeted support
to higher risk infants and children▪ General▪ Breastfeeding support▪ Infants who are not breastfed – incl. relactation, wet nursing, donor human milk, BMS▪ Complementary feeding▪ Micronutrient supplementation▪ HIV and infant feeding▪ Infectious disease outbreaks

5: Protect, promote and support optimal IYCF with integrated multi-sector interventions

In every emergency, it is necessary to assess and act to protect and support the nutritionneeds and care of both breastfed and non-breastfed infants and young children. It is
important to consider prevalent practices, the infectious disease environment, culturalsensitivities and expressed needs and concerns of mothers/caregivers when determining
interventions

In every emergency, it is important to ensure access to adequate amounts of appropriate,
safe, complementary foods and associated support for children and to guarantee
nutritional adequacy for pregnant and lactating women.

5: Protect, promote and support optimal IYCF with integrated multi-sector interventions
Multi-sector collaboration is essential in an emergency to facilitate and complement
direct infant and young child feeding (IYCF) interventions. Actions are included for:HealthAdolescentServices

WASH

FSLChildProtection

ECD

Disability

ShelterCashSocialProtection

Agriculture

Logistics

WASH: Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, FSL: Food Security and Livelihoods, ECD: Early Childhood Development

6: Minimise the risks of artificial feeding
In emergencies, the use of breastmilk substitutes (BMS) requires a context-specific,
coordinated package of care and skilled support to ensure the nutritional needs of nonbreastfed children are met and to minimise risks to all children through inappropriate use▪ Donations in emergencies▪ Artificial feeding management▪ BMS supplies▪ BMS specification▪ Procurement of BMS supplies, feeding equipment and support▪ Distribution of BMS
Donations of BMS, complementary foods and feeding equipment should not be sought or
accepted in emergencies; supplies should be purchased based on assessed need. BMS,
other milk products, bottles and teats should never be included in a general distribution.

Emergency preparedness…is critical to a timely, efficient and appropriate IFE response
Examples from Box 1: Emergency Preparedness Actions
POLICYTRAINING

COORDINATION

Develop preparedness plans on IFE Prepare orientation material foruse in early emergency response

Develop terms of reference for IFE
coordination in a response

ASSESS AND MONITORARTIFICIAL FEEDING

MULTI-SECTOR INTERVENTIONS

Prepare key questions to include in Examine national legislation
early needs assessment
related to food and drugs,
particularly importation

Communicate government
position on not seeking or
accepting donations

**INSTRUCTION SLIDE**
The following slides cover implications of the revisions in the Operational Guidance on
IFE for stakeholders involved with Food Security and Livelihoods in Emergencies.
Please delete slides that are not applicable to your audience and cross reference tointernal documents and processes where relevant.

Implications for…FSL
FSL is a key sector to sensitise and work with on IYCF.
3.6 Coordinate with other sectors to identify opportunities for multi-sector
collaboration in needs assessment and programming and to inform sector policies,
actions plans and risk management regarding IFE.
3.4 The level of coordination, including whether a dedicated IFE coordinator isnecessary, will depend on the context. Wherever possible, support government tofulfil their IFE coordination responsibility and work with existing country-levelstructures and mechanisms. Identify or locate IFE coordination capacity within themost relevant sector coordination mechanism, such as nutrition, health or foodsecurity.

Implications for…FSL
4.2 Explore opportunities to include IYCF questions in other sector needs assessments
and draw on relevant multi-sector data. In multi-sector assessment teams, ensure one
person has received basic orientation on IFE.
4.5 Nutrition information may also be obtained through joint nutrition and foodsecurity assessments such as Joint Approach to Nutrition and Food Security
Assessment (JANFSA); Comprehensive Food Security and Vulnerability Analysis(CFSVA); and Food Security and Nutrition Monitoring Systems (FSNMS).
4.6.1 Key contextual data to consider for an IFE response includes household foodsecurity - incl. access to appropriate complementary foods

Implications for…FSL
5.22 Key considerations in determining complementary feeding response
include pre-existing and existing nutrient gaps; seasonality; socio-culturalbeliefs; food security; current access to appropriate foods; quality of locallyavailable complementary foods, including commercial products; compliance tothe Code and with WHO Guidance on ending inappropriate promotion of foods
for infants and young children of available products; cost; proportion of nonbreastfed infants and childrenhh; reports of children with disability-associatedfeeding difficulties; maternal nutrition; WASH conditions; the nature andcapacity of existing markets and delivery systems; national legislation related tofood and drugs, particularly importation; and evidence of impact of different
approaches in a given or similar contexts.

Implications for…FSL
5.23 Complementary food support options/considerations include:• Cash or voucher schemes to purchase nutrient-rich foods and/or fortified foods that are locally available.
• Distribution of nutrient-rich foods or fortified foods at household level.
• Provision of multiple-micronutrient fortified foods to children aged 6-23 months and PLW through BSFP
• Home fortification with micronutrient supplements, e.g. MNPs or other supplements.
• Livelihood programmes and safety net programmes for families with children < 2 and/or PLW.
• Use of animal milk and products. (see 5.25)• Provision of non-food items and cooking supplies (including domestic energy);• Access to communal food preparation areas where household facilities are lacking;• Advice on safe food handling;• Protected eating and playing spaces.

Implications for…FSL
5.25 Where animal milk is a significant feature of childdiets, such as in pastoral communities, it is important toestablish how to safely include milk products as part of acomplementary diet. Milk products can be used toprepare complementary foods for all children over six
months of age. Recommend to breastfeeding mothers
not to displace or substitute breastmilk with animalmilk. Pasteurised or boiled animal milk may be provided
to non-breastfed children over six months of age and tobreastfeeding mothers to drink in controlledenvironments . Animal milk should not be distributed
outside of such controlled environments.

Implications for…FSL
5.6 Collaborate across multiple sectors to maximise synergies and opportunities tosupport recommended IYCF and minimise risks
5.32 Examples of two-way multi-sector collaboration include:• Integrate breastfeeding support into community-based and inpatient services treating acutemalnutrition and sick children and into community health worker networks. Integrate skilled
complementary feeding support into acute malnutrition treatment services.
• Where fresh animal milk is used by a population, collaborate with animal welfare to facilitate accessto safe animal milk supplies and with WASH/FSL providers regarding hygienic milk product processing
and storage. Ensure initiatives act to protect recommended IYCF practices.
• Accompany cash transfer programmes that include mothers in targeting with context-specific IYCF
and maternal nutrition messaging• Ensure livelihood programmes are child friendly; e.g. providing day care arrangements and feeding
breaks. Include IYCF questions in post-distribution monitoring.
• Consider complementary foods in crop selection of agriculture programmes.

Further reading for FSL
Protect, promote and support optimal infant and young child feedingwith integrated multi-sector interventions
For more information on how to work together to jointly achieve shared objectives:

1. Go to: Operational Guidance on IFE V3.0a) Annexe 1: Guide to content by sectorb) Resources – FSL

2. Watch:

IYCF Framework

INSTRUCTION SLIDE
You may find it useful to have a discussion on how the revised guidance can be dissemination withinyour working group / cluster / agency etc.
Suggestions have been made for roll out at:
1.

Individual agency level

2.

National level3.

Regional level

Select the appropriate slide. Suggested roll out actions will have to be contextualised prior topresenting. Following the discussion, it is recommended to set SMART objectives and work out atimeline to implement the recommended roll-out actions. Consider what resources are required tosupport the roll-out.

Recommendations for dissemination (Agency)• Wide dissemination of Ops Guidance on IFE within <agency>• What does this mean for you and your agency? Roles, responsibilities, agency activities,programming, strategies, position papers etc.

• Training for technical staff from health, nutrition and other sectors• Sensitisation for all staff including senior management and communication, logistics,
resource mobilization, rapid response and volunteer teams• Inclusion of V 3.0 in induction reading materials, agency resource libraries, training
materials etc.
• Dissemination and roll out to regional, country and field offices• Update training materials

Recommendations for dissemination(National/Cluster)• Wide dissemination to <NiEWG / nutrition cluster members, all other sectors, intercluster,relevant government agencies and authorities, advocacy groups, policymakers>• What does this mean for you? Preparedness and response plans, roles and responsibilities etc.
• Dissemination of / sensitisation on update• Translation of Operational Guidance on IFE text into local language• Adaptation of Operational Guidance on IFE to local context• Incorporation of V 3.0 revisions into national guidance & policy• Inclusion into background reading materials

Recommendations for dissemination (Regional)• Wide dissemination of Ops Guidance on IFE at <regional level>• What does this mean for you? Preparedness and response plans, roles and responsibilities etc.
• Training and sensitisation for regional offices• Translation into regional languages• Dissemination to country offices• Incorporation of V3.0 updates into regional strategies, funding etc.

Appropriate and timely support of infant and young child feedingin emergencies (IFE) saves lives, protects child nutrition, healthand development and benefits mothers.