About

The World Breastfeeding Trends initiative (WBTi) Assessment tool was launched by the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) in 2004. It was devised as a simpler way for nations to measure how effectively they are implementing the Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding.  As of March 2025,  100 countries have completed the WBTi report. These published reports can be found here.

The WBTi process and its outcomes are based on the following principles:

•  participatory – it involves stakeholders while avoiding conflicts of interest, governments, and NGOs. Participants gain networking skills, investigative techniques, and reporting methods.
• action-oriented – the goal of the WBTi process is to stimulate action rather than just collect information. The information gathered can be used as a tool for change to improve situations.
• evaluative of the current context – with the aim to stimulate research, and ask questions. This leads to comprehensive analysis to advocate for change.

The Australian WBTi team was formed at a workshop at the Australian National University (ANU) in September 2017, supported by funding from the ANU Gender Institute and the College of Asia and the Pacific. The first Australian evaluation report was completed in 2018. The assessment was conducted and reported on by a core group of 10 people, including representatives from three organisations – the Lactation Consultants of Australia and New Zealand (LCANZ), Breastfeeding Advocacy Australia and the Australian Breastfeeding Association. In 2019 the Australian National Breastfeeding Strategy was published with numerous references to the WBTiAUS report. 

The WBTiAUS core group is supported by a reference group, which includes the Breastfeeding Coalition of Tasmania and the South East Qld Breastfeeding Coalition and many interested individuals. If your organisation would like to become a part of our team, please contact wbtiaus@gmail.com

A second report was published in 2023.

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If you have any questions, please use the comments section or email Naomi at wbtiaus@gmail.com

Photo courtesy of Sally Robinson ♥

Naomi Hull RN, IBCLC, MPH (Nutrition)

WBTi Country Coordinator, Australia

PhD Candidate, University of Sydney