TII urges swift completion of evaluation framework for MBG programme
Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Indonesian Institute (TII) has urged the government to swiftly complete an evaluation framework for the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme to measure its impact on improving recipients’ nutritional status and eating habits.
“Alongside monitoring, the government needs to finalise an evaluation framework that can measure the quality of nutritional intake, whether menus meet recipients’ needs, changes in nutritional status and healthy eating habits,” said Made Natasya Restu Dewi Pratiwi, a social affairs researcher at TII, when contacted in Jakarta on Wednesday.
Natasya said the findings should provide a basis for regular improvements to menus and the programme’s implementation.
She added that the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), together with the Health Ministry, the Ministry of Population and Family Development, and the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, should ensure the evaluation measures the benefits received by the public.
She said the programme’s success should not be judged solely by the number of beneficiaries or the reach of food distribution, but should also take account of nutritional quality and the programme’s impact on recipients.
“The government must ensure that the meals distributed are safe and nutritious, and reach those in need or at risk, including lower socio-economic groups and people suffering from malnutrition,” Natasya said.
She also stressed the importance of transparency and public participation in evaluating MBG. The government, she said, should communicate how it responds to public feedback during the programme so that the evaluation can inform policy improvements.
A measurable evaluation, she said, should enable the programme’s results to underpin ongoing improvements in menu quality and implementation.
Earlier, the National Nutrition Agency said it was continuing to improve the governance of the Free Nutritious Meals programme by strengthening discipline among civil servants and staff at Nutrition Fulfilment Service Units (SPPGs).
BGN spokesperson Tysa Novenny said that improvements had been made throughout the first two years of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice-President Gibran Rakabuming Raka’s leadership. These included dismissing SPPG heads and MBG kitchen staff found to have committed crimes, violence or corruption, or to have caused food-safety incidents.
“Improvements to MBG governance are ongoing. Under the new leadership, we are addressing shortcomings, including strengthening discipline among civil servants, regional coordinators and SPPG heads. We have now set SPPG heads’ working hours to match kitchen operations: 2am to 8am and 5pm to 7.30pm,” she said.
She added that the BGN had also made it compulsory to label meal trays with the consumption deadline and a notice that meals must be eaten on site and may not be taken home.