Amidst Planned MBG Moratorium, Kitchen Partners Urge Field Voices to Be Heard

The Golden Generation Kitchen Partners Association (HMD Gemas) has asked the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) to involve implementing partners in policy discussions for the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme, especially as the agency plans a moratorium on the construction of Nutritional Fulfilment Service Units (SPPG). Secretary General of HMD Gemas, Yusuf Supriadi, admitted that the discourse on the SPPG construction moratorium had been discussed for some time. He stated that the partners would comply with the moratorium policy to be implemented by the new BGN leadership, but requested that BGN invite partners for discussions before the policy is finalised. “We appeal to the new BGN leadership to invite partner organisations to discuss. This is a public service for the future of Indonesian children, so we hope to be involved in the policy-making process,” he said on Tuesday (9/6/2026). Yusuf noted that the moratorium policy should not be viewed as a negative step, considering that several sub-districts already have an excessive number of SPPG units. He therefore agreed that the BGN needs to implement a moratorium to improve the quality of services already in operation. “A moratorium does not mean a total halt. It just means the registration is stopped first,” he said. Nevertheless, Yusuf assessed that the implementation of the moratorium needs to be discussed openly with partners who have been running the programme on the ground. He expressed concern that a policy taken without considering real conditions in the regions could create new problems.