Infant and young child feeding (IYCF) has a lifelong influence on health and is critically important during emergencies. Policies and guidance are designed to support IYCF in emergencies (IYCF-E), but are seldom fully implemented. Lebanon has a long history of national emergencies and is currently hosting 1.2 million Syrian refugees. Lebanese infant feeding practices are sub-optimal overall. To respond adequately in emergencies, there is a need to understand how best to address the nutritional needs of vulnerable infants and young children. This single-case study with three-level embedded units of analysis examines policies and programmes on IYCF-E in Lebanon. The study utilised a desk review comprising existing policies and guidance at all levels; a survey questionnaire targeting non-governmental organisations (n=54) (organisational level); semi-structured interviews with 12 stakeholders (central level), and focus groups with health care providers (n=8) and mothers (n=8) (service provision level). Descriptive analyses were used for survey data and thematic analysis for qualitative data. Existing policies were based on international guidance. However, despite notable efforts, these have not been fully implemented, disseminated or enforced at all levels. Policies were not part of a national strategy and IYCF-E was not integrated within national emergency preparedness plans. Programmes at each level lacked the necessary services to support mothers, notably an absence of counselling and support and a reliance on support from international organisations. Barriers include the lack of awareness and prioritisation of recommended IYCF practices and policies, gaps in human and financial resources, operational challenges and the influence of the infant formula industry which have combined to hinder the advancement of adequate IYCF policies and practices. Opportunities include the need to establish, organise, prioritise, and implement IYCF plans that are integrated within health and emergency plans, and disseminated. Any initiative needs to be evaluated and documented through rigorous implementation research.
