Image Source: Okezone Economy
The Free Nutritious Meal Program (MBG) launched on January 6, 2025 by the Prabowo-Gibran administration carries great hopes to improve the quality of people’s nutrition, as part of efforts towards a Golden Indonesia 2045. However, the Regional Research and Information Center (PATTIRO) considers that this program still faces various challenges, especially related to immature planning and the absence of a strong legal umbrella. Without clear regulations, the sustainability and accountability of the MBG Program is questionable.
Until the end of January 2025, the MBG Program has been implemented in 31 provinces. However, the implementation is considered to be rushed and without adequate preparation. Currently, this program only targets school-age children in formal schools, while children aged 0-3 years – who are also in a crucial period of nutritional growth and development – have not been seen to receive a clear intervention. In fact, nutrition problems are not only limited to school-age children, but also include toddlers who are vulnerable to stunting and other nutritional problems. These limitations in scope indicate the need for a deeper evaluation before the program is expanded.
PATTIRO highlighted that a program of this size should be based on careful planning and strong regulations to ensure its effectiveness and sustainability. Currently, the MBG Program does not have a clear legal basis, such as a Presidential Regulation or Presidential Instruction. In addition, the 2025-2029 National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN), which is supposed to be a guide for the implementation of the program, has not been ratified. In fact, in the 2025-2045 National Long-Term Development Plan (RPJPN), there is no clause that specifically regulates the MBG Program.
The absence of this regulation has an impact on weak governance and transparency in the implementation of the program. PATTIRO recommends that the government prioritize the ratification of the RPJMN and RPJPN before continuing the expansion of the MBG Program, to ensure a strong legal foundation and the sustainability of the program in the future.
On the other hand, the budget allocation for the MBG Program in the 2025 State Budget reaches IDR 71 trillion with a target of 19.47 million beneficiaries. Interestingly, even though it has only been running for three weeks, the government has planned an additional budget of Rp100 trillion for the MBG Program, which will be taken from the 2025 State Budget cut. The size of this budget adds to the urgency of the need for strong regulations to ensure the transparent and accountable use of funds.
Weak Governance and Accountability
PATTIRO’s Public Service Accountability Program Manager, Andwi Joko M, emphasized that transparency and accountability are very important in this program, considering that the funds used come from people’s taxes. “Legal certainty is important to ensure program accountability and synergize programs initiated by the center so that they have sustainability in the regions,” said Andwi.
In addition, cross-agency coordination in the MBG program has not been optimal. The establishment of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) as the main manager of this program is also considered to be disorderly in planning. BGN institutions are still limited at the central level and do not have a clear structure at the regional level. In fact, the synergy between the central and regional governments is very important to ensure that the implementation of the MBG Program runs effectively.
The management of this program has also not prioritized convergence across institutions and ministries. Although BGN was appointed as the coordinator in the MBG Program, efforts to improve nutrition should involve various parties, such as the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM), including the public. Until now, there is no clear Minimum Service Standard (SPM) in the MBG Program, so its success is difficult to measure and it is feared that it will not have a significant impact on improving community nutrition.
Responding to the still weak governance and accountability of the MBG Program, PATTIRO conveyed the following recommendations:
- The government needs to immediately develop a clear legal umbrella to ensure that the governance and transparency of the MBG Program runs well.
- There needs to be a coordination mechanism across relevant institutions and ministries to ensure a holistic approach in fulfilling nutrition and optimal child growth and development.
- In terms of institutional strengthening, BGN must have a clear institutional structure, including at the regional level to ensure synergy between the central and regional governments in the implementation of the MBG Program.
- The government needs to establish SPM in the nutrition improvement program so that the success of the program can be measured and evaluated objectively.
- PATTIRO encourages the government to involve civil society in the planning and implementation process of the MBG Program to ensure transparency of the program and strengthen public trust.
The MBG program has the potential to improve community nutrition. However, in order to achieve this goal, careful planning with a strong legal umbrella and transparent and accountable governance is needed.
