06/18/2025
GIFA (Geneva Infant Feeding Association) – committed to the protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding since 1979.
Who we are
GIFA is a non profit organisation based in Geneva, Switzerland. GIFA is also member of IBFAN (International Baby Food Action Network) which counts 270 groupes and is present in 168 countries worldwide. This video of 7 minutes introduces you to IBFAN’s history and current activities. It was realized on the occasion oft the the celebration for the 40 years of the International Code international en 2021.
Our commitment
Breastfeeding is the most natural way to feed babies and young children. It helps prevent infectious diseases and contributes to the reduction of non-communicable diseases in both the child and the mother (cardiovascular diseases, overweight and obesity, diabetes, some cancers and some allergies).
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “breastfeeding is now the most effective preventive action to improve child survival and health… More than one million deaths of children under five years of age could be prevented each year if breastfeeding practices were improved …. “
As a public health measure, WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life, followed by continued breastfeeding for up to 2 years or more, with the introduction of safe and appropriate complementary foods from 6 months of age (World Health Assembly Resolution 54.2, 2001). The Lancet Breastfeeding Series 2023 reaffirms the importance of these recommendations.
Our principles and values
GIFA, as well as all groups of the IBFAN network, adopts the 7 guiding principles of IBFAN and does not receive finances, donations or presents in any form from the baby food industry or any other company not conform with the International Code of marketing of breastmilk substitutes.
IBFAN 7 principles
- Infants and young children everywhere to have the right to the highest attainable standard of health.
- Families, and in particular women and children, have the right to access adequate and nutritious food and sufficient and affordable water.
- Women have the right to breastfeed and to make informed decisions about infant and young child feeding.
- Women have the right to full support to breastfeed for two years or more and to exclusively breastfeed for the first six months.
- All people have the right to access quality health care services and information free of commercial influence.
- Health workers and consumers have the right to be protected from commercial influence that may distort their judgment and decisions.
- People have the right to advocate for change that protects, promotes, and supports basic health, in international solidarity.
Our mission and vision
Our mission is to protect, promote and support optimal infant and young child feeding practices at the global scale within the framework of the Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding and the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes, through networking, policy advocacy at all levels, capacity building and information sharing.
Our vision is a fair and healthy society, free from commercial pressures, where every child enjoys the highest attainable standard of health, where breastfeeding is the norm in infant and young child feeding, and where women and families have the opportunity to provide optimal care for their children.
Useful links
- IBFAN – Our History
- IBFAN – Our Governance
- This film of 7 minutes was shown at the Commemoration Ceremony for the 40 years of the International Code in 2021 sums up IBFAN’s activity and advocacy.
- IBFAN 7 Principles
- IBFAN Funding Policy
- IBFAN Mission and Vision
- IBFAN position sur les Parrainages et les conflits d’intérêt (in french)
History – more than 40 years of commitment
GIFA
GIFA (Geneva Infant Feeding Association) was established in 1979 as the first office of the IBFAN network. Since its creation, GIFA has been committed to defending a policy in favor of breastfeeding and to fighting, in Switzerland and in other parts of the world, against commercial practices that could be detrimental to it.
Way back in 1979, Nancy-Jo Peck was one of the three founding so-called GIFA Girls, together with Annelies Allain and Judith Philipona. Over the years she worked on almost every possible issue there was to work on in the Geneva office, she got to know almost everybody within the IBFAN entwork, exercised her brilliant critical view on most documents, and knew the intricacies and ins and outs of the numerous issues dealt with in the office – and beyond.
Nancy-Jo developed the «Useful Abstracts» into the better known and well respected Breastfeeding Briefs (translated into 5 langages), bacame their editor and scientific advisor ; she worked specifically on coordinating IBFAN’s technical inputs for the Codex Alimentarius standards ; she helped to integrate breastfeeding issues from IBFAN groups into the reports of the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) ; she followed World Trade Organisation issues and, in later years, became involved in the Code of Ethics for International Trade in Food.
Moreover, she participated actively in most of the major UN conferences of the 1990s, monitored the scientific literature, particularly concerning HIV and infant feeding and reproductive health, worked also on the Medical Textbook Project, and participated actively in the Nestlé Boycott.
Nancy-Jo was a wonderful teanworker, trainer, constructive critc, and a very lovely person, indeed.
IBFAN
Founded in 1979, IBFAN consists of more than 270 institutional members from some 168 countries around the world in 8 regions. These groups are independent and work in accordance with national needs. All IBFAN member groups strive to prevent conflicts of interest and maintain their independence. For this reason, they are committed to not receiving any funding, donations or gifts from the infant food industry, in any form whatsoever.
Funding
GIFA’s activities and functioning are mainly financed by government and non-governmental development grants for the entire IBFAN network. Other sources of income include membership contributions, publication income, as well as short-term grants for specific activities (research, publications, conferences). Our finances are without conflict of interest (see our principles).
Your donation is very valuable, thank you in advance!
Statutes
Executive Committee (2025)
- Dre Tatiana Giraud, President
- Christina Lombardo, Vice-President
- Sandrine Meier, Treasurer
- Marianne Grosjean, Communication
- Robert Peck, Honorary member
Executive Committee (2024)
- Robert Peck, President
- Cyril Ritchie, Vice-President,
- Bernard Nyffenegger, Treasurer