Prabowo Wants MBG to Focus on Malnourished Children, BGN Prepares Optimisation Team

JAKARTA - Following President Prabowo Subianto’s directive for the MBG programme to focus on malnourished children and underprivileged groups, the National Nutrition Agency is preparing a team. Deputy Head of BGN, Nanik S Deyang, stated that this team will be tasked with selecting beneficiaries for the MBG programme. Nanik explained that the formation of this team is intended to realise Prabowo’s desire for MBG to be distributed to the right targets. “Next week, surveys will begin in Jakarta to identify beneficiaries,” she said, as reported by Kompas.com on Wednesday (15/4/2026). She added that a needs-based approach will be key to the future effectiveness of the MBG programme. Initial coordination will also be conducted with the Ministry of Social Affairs and the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen). This coordination will involve exchanging data on beneficiaries from both ministries. Nanik emphasised that BGN wants to ensure MBG reaches the right targets and delivers real impact. Therefore, supervision and evaluation will be continuously strengthened to ensure the programme runs optimally. “Yes, the data will come from us,” Nanik said briefly. Meanwhile, Prabowo’s request for MBG to focus on children from underprivileged families was also conveyed by Nanik in her official statement on Thursday (9/4/2026). The President also stressed that distribution should not be forced. Students from affluent families are not required to receive the assistance. “The President stated that this programme must not be imposed. MBG should be focused on children who truly need nutritional improvement,” Nanik said. BGN is preparing a team to select beneficiaries. This step aims to ensure more precise and efficient distribution. “We want to ensure MBG reaches the right targets and delivers real impact. Therefore, we will continue to strengthen supervision and evaluation so that this programme runs optimally,” she added.