The UNICEF West and Central Africa Regional Office led the development of this regional report as part of the Stronger with breastmilk only initiative, to mark the 40th anniversary of the World Health Assembly’s (WHA) adoption of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes (the Code). The report looks at developments in the West and Central Africa Region (WCAR) in relation to two of the seven essential actions identified by the Global Breastfeeding Collective (GBC) as necessary at government level in order to achieve the WHA goal of increasing the global rate of exclusive breastfeeding to at least 50 per cent by the year 2025. The first of these actions is to adopt and monitor the Code, while the second is to implement paid family leave and workplace breastfeeding policies. The report also examines the challenges faced by governments, new developments, knowledge and available resources related to improving the implementation of the Code and maternity protection in the region.