Coordination, Goals and Monitoring Examples

Example:Brazil has a National Coordination of Child Health and Breastfeeding which is composed by a core technical team responsible to coordinate nationally all issues related to the promotion, protection and support to breastfeeding, under the umbrella of Ministry of Health.

In 2006 a National Breastfeeding Committee (CNAM) was established to (1) support the process of articulation of the National Coordination of Child Health and Breastfeeding, (2) mobilize and sensitize sectors of government and civil society for the development of actions inherent to breastfeeding. This Committee is consulted by the Ministry of Health about breastfeeding promotion and protection issues.

The CNAM meets regularly once per month. This committee includes representation from government, universities, and civil organizations and can include specialists beyond health and nutrition whose presence is considered necessary to comply the provisions of the law (portaria 111, January 19, 2012).

Annually, Brazil’s National Coordination of Child Health and Breastfeeding develop a work plan setting specific time bound breastfeeding objectives which is discussed and validated with the National Breastfeeding Committee.

Score: Major Progress
Domain- Existence: Yes
Domain- Volume: Committee meets regularly
Domain- Quality: Committee includes strong representation from civil organizations and representation of sectors beyond health and nutrition and has set specific time bound breastfeeding objectives.
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Example: Annually, Brazil’s National Department of Child Health and Breastfeeding develop a work plan setting specific time bound breastfeeding objectives, which are then discussed and validated with the National Breastfeeding Committee at an intensive 2-day meeting.

At the end of each year, a management report from Ministry of Health is published describing the activities accomplished and the budget plan for the National Department of Child Health and Breastfeeding.

Score: Major Progress
Domain- Existence: There is a work plan in place.
Domain- Effective: The work plan is reviewed and monitored annually.

Example: The Mexico BBF Committee reviewed the National Breastfeeding Strategy 2014-2018 and the internal regulations of the Committee of Fair Start in Life and interviewed the CEO of the National Centre of Gender Equality and Reproductive Health. The evidence showed that recommendations issued by the Breastfeeding Committee are used to make decisions such as prioritizing actions, identifying needs and managing/allocating financial resources. However, the information is not made public and therefore cannot be used for advocacy.

The BBF Committee therefore recommended that the public be invited to the Permanent Interinstitutional Group on Support for the Breastfeeding (GIPALM) sessions and encourage unrepresented groups to collaborate and vote. Decisions and advances in GIPALM sessions should also be publicly communicated.

Score: Minimal Progress
Domain- Volume: Data and information related to breastfeeding program progress are used for decision-making but not for advocacy.