Deadline: 10-Feb-2026
UNICEF is inviting expressions of interest to support the update of the Global Breastfeeding Investment Case, a flagship evidence-based advocacy tool that quantifies the health, human capital, and economic returns of investing in breastfeeding. This short-term, high-impact assignment will integrate the latest global data to strengthen policies and financing for breastfeeding protection, promotion, and support worldwide.
Opportunity Overview
The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) is seeking qualified organizations to contribute to the update of the Global Breastfeeding Investment Case. This initiative supports global advocacy and policy reform by providing robust economic evidence on why investing in breastfeeding is essential for child survival, nutrition, and long-term development.
The assignment will build on the 2017 Global Investment Case and incorporate updated 2025 Cost of Not Breastfeeding (CONBF) estimates to align with global nutrition and health targets for 2030.
Implementing and Partner Organizations
The update is initiated by the Global Breastfeeding Collective, supported by UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO). Nutrition International has been commissioned to lead the technical work in close collaboration with UNICEF, WHO, and the Global Breastfeeding Collective to ensure scientific rigor and policy relevance.
Project Timeline and Budget
The project is scheduled to run from November 2025 to April 2026.
The indicative total budget for this assignment is USD 30,000.
Focus Areas and Thematic Scope
The work will address interconnected nutrition and health priorities, including:
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Breastfeeding and infant and young child feeding
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Malnutrition prevention and treatment
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Micronutrient nutrition
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General nutrition systems strengthening
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Nutrition in emergency and humanitarian contexts
Purpose of the Global Breastfeeding Investment Case
The Investment Case provides decision-makers with clear, comparable economic evidence on the costs of underinvesting in breastfeeding and the benefits of scaling proven interventions. It supports governments, donors, and development partners in prioritizing breastfeeding within national health and nutrition strategies.
Key Breastfeeding Interventions Covered
The updated analysis will assess investments in:
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Implementation of the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes
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Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI)
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Community-based breastfeeding support programs
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Workplace breastfeeding protection and accommodation policies
All interventions will be assessed against progress toward achieving at least 60% exclusive breastfeeding by 2030 and alternative scale-up scenarios.
Expected Outputs
The assignment will produce the following deliverables:
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A 10–20 page Global Breastfeeding Investment Case report
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A 3–4 page Investment Case policy brief
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Optional infographic or social media assets for advocacy and dissemination
Key Activities and Methodology
Core activities under this assignment include:
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Designing policy and investment scenarios
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Conducting Cost of Inaction analysis using updated CONBF data
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Costing scale-up pathways for breastfeeding interventions
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Estimating health, human capital, and economic benefits
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Performing benefit–cost and return-on-investment analyses
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Drafting and revising reports based on expert review
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Validation with UNICEF, WHO, and the Global Breastfeeding Collective
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Supporting dissemination and global advocacy planning
Who Is Eligible
Eligible organizations should demonstrate:
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Strong technical expertise in nutrition economics, public health, or maternal and child nutrition
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Experience with global investment cases or cost-effectiveness analysis
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Capacity to work with UN agencies and international partners
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Proven ability to deliver high-quality analytical outputs within short timelines
Why This Assignment Matters
Breastfeeding is one of the most cost-effective public health interventions, yet it remains underfunded globally. This updated Investment Case will equip policymakers and funders with compelling, current evidence to accelerate investments that save lives, improve nutrition outcomes, and strengthen human capital worldwide.
How the Process Works
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UNICEF issues the expression of interest to identify qualified organizations
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Selected partners contribute to analytical modeling and drafting
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Draft outputs undergo technical review and validation
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Final products are endorsed by UNICEF, WHO, and the Global Breastfeeding Collective
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Outputs are used for global advocacy and policy engagement
Tips for Strong Submissions
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Clearly demonstrate experience with economic modeling and nutrition policy
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Show familiarity with breastfeeding interventions and global health frameworks
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Highlight prior work with UN agencies or international initiatives
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Propose a clear, realistic approach aligned with the stated timeline
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main goal of the Global Breastfeeding Investment Case update?
It aims to quantify the economic, health, and human capital returns of investing in breastfeeding using updated global data.
Who is leading the technical work on this assignment?
Nutrition International is leading the work in collaboration with UNICEF, WHO, and the Global Breastfeeding Collective.
What time period does the project cover?
The assignment runs from November 2025 to April 2026.
What is the total budget for this work?
The indicative budget is USD 30,000.
What kind of outputs will be produced?
Outputs include a full investment case report, a policy brief, and optional advocacy assets.
What data will be used in the analysis?
The work will integrate the 2025 Cost of Not Breastfeeding estimates and updated global health and nutrition data.
Who will endorse the final Investment Case?
The final outputs will be endorsed by UNICEF, WHO, and the Global Breastfeeding Collective.
Conclusion
The UNICEF Global Breastfeeding Investment Case update is a high-impact opportunity to shape global nutrition policy through rigorous economic evidence. By strengthening the case for investing in breastfeeding, this initiative supports healthier children, stronger economies, and progress toward global development goals by 2030.
For more information, visit UN Partner Portal.
