Better Governance for Indonesia’s Free Nutritious Meal Program (MBG)

Indonesia’s Free Nutritious Meal Program (MBG), launched under President Prabowo Subianto, has expanded rapidly through a highly centralized governance model led by the National Nutrition Agency (BGN). Despite its ambitious nationwide rollout, several implementation challenges have emerged, including concerns related to food safety incidents, monitoring capacity, nutritional standards, and uneven regional targeting that continues to concentrate more heavily in urban areas than in disadvantaged regions. International experiences from Brazil, India, China, and Japan highlight the importance of localized, school-based governance models with stronger community participation. Key recommendations include decentralizing implementation, expanding local stakeholder involvement, and prioritizing vulnerable populations to improve accountability, efficiency, and long-term nutritional outcomes.

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