UN Supports Indonesian Free Nutritious Meal Program for Children

Jakarta, VIVA – The Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), Carl Skau, has expressed his support for Indonesia’s Free Nutritious Meals Program (MBG), which will soon be launched by the Indonesian government.

“WFP is very enthusiastic about supporting Indonesia’s nutritious meal program. This program is essential for education and economic empowerment, ensuring that children can focus on learning, improving educational outcomes, and supporting the local economy and communities,” said Skau on Tuesday (Nov 12).

Skau conveyed this support during his visit to Indonesia, where he met with representatives from the National Nutrition Agency.

He also visited model central kitchen facilities and schools participating in the pilot phase of the free nutritious meal program.

Then, he emphasized the shared goals of food security, resilience, and nutrition.

Skau further stated that WFP's support for the free nutritious meal program is part of the organization’s commitment to strengthening its long-term partnership with the Indonesian government.

He reiterated WFP’s commitment to providing technical support to the government while discussing with WFP’s partners in Indonesia.

Some of the technical support offered includes supply chain management, nutrition standards, and a monitoring framework for implementing the school meal program.

Notably, WFP has been a loyal partner to Indonesia. Through initiatives such as nutritious meal programs and disaster resilience, including early warning systems and anticipatory action tested in 2024, WFP has been helping Indonesia lay the foundation for rapid response and sustainable community resilience.

Moreover, under President Prabowo Subianto’s leadership, Indonesia will soon launch a national program to provide free nutritious meals to more than 80 million school-age children, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers.

This initiative aligns with the Golden Indonesia 2045 vision, which prioritizes human resource development and sustainable development.