Ministry of PPN/Bappenas, BGN, IPB University and UNICEF Launch National Centre of Excellence for the Free Nutritious Meals Programme

11 February 2025, BOGOR, Indonesia – The Ministry of National Development Planning/Bappenas and the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), in collaboration with IPB University and UNICEF, launched the National Centre of Excellence (NCoE) for the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme at IPB University, Bogor, on Tuesday (11/2).

Launched on 6 January 2025, the MBG programme aims to reach more than 92.78 million children under five, school-age children and Islamic boarding school students, as well as pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, in alignment with the targets set in the 2025–2029 National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN). 

As one of the Best Quick Result Programmes (PHTC) of President Prabowo Subianto, MBG seeks to build a healthy, intelligent and productive generation in support of Golden Indonesia 2045. Minister of National Development Planning/Head of Bappenas, Rachmat Pambudy, emphasised that MBG is a strategic initiative relevant to achieving the Trident of National Development 2029, which includes economic growth, poverty alleviation and the development of quality human resources.

“The MBG programme primarily aims to build a healthy, intelligent, and productive generation with several specific objectives. First, to fulfil the nutritional needs of pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, toddlers, and school children. Second, to enhance academic achievement, increase school participation and attendance, and reduce dropout rates. Third, to improve the welfare of farmers, livestock breeders, fishermen, MSME actors, and cooperatives. Fourth, to create jobs and alleviate the financial burden on the poor,” explained Minister Rachmat Pambudy in his speech.

The NCoE MBG will serve as a platform for developing and testing MBG programme designs through multi-stakeholder collaboration involving government agencies, academia, the food industry and civil society organizations. The NCoE MBG will focus on teaching and training, research and innovation, knowledge management and policy development. It will support BGN in formulating policies, regulations and guidelines at both national and regional levels to enhance programme coverage and quality. Additionally, the NCoE MBG will be responsible for monitoring and evaluating programme implementation to ensure its effectiveness.

Dadan Hindayana, Head of the National Nutrition Agency, emphasized that this initiative demonstrates a strong commitment to achieving food security and improving nutrition quality in Indonesia.

“The establishment of the MBG National Centre of Excellence is a strategic step to ensure the Free Nutritious Meals Programme is not only implemented effectively but also sustainably. We aim to ensure that all policies are data-driven and research-based, leading to tangible health benefits for the public,” said Dadan.

Dadan also stressed that the success of the Free Nutritious Meals Programme requires cross-sector support and a comprehensive approach.

“Our focus is not only on providing nutritious meals but also on ensuring public awareness of the importance of balanced nutrition. Therefore, the NCoE will serve as an information and education hub for various stakeholders,” he added.

In addition to the National Centre of Excellence managed by IPB University in Bogor, several Regional Centres of Excellence (RCoE) will be established and managed by a network of universities to support the implementation of the MBG programme at the local level. Minister Rachmat Pambudy reiterated the need for multi-sectoral support for the programme.

“MBG cannot succeed in isolation; it requires the collaboration of multiple sectors. With the launch of the NCoE MBG, we invite all stakeholders to actively participate in supporting and ensuring the success of MBG. Moving forward, this Centre of Excellence is expected to serve as a collaborative hub for advancing the Free Nutritious Meals Programme, supporting national nutrition goals through education and training, research and innovation, knowledge management and policy development,” said Minister Rachmat.

The Rector of IPB University expressed appreciation for the trust placed in the institution by Bappenas, BGN, and UNICEF in designating IPB as the National CoE for the Free Nutritious Meals Programme. IPB has previously been entrusted with Centre of Excellence status in various fields, most recently as the Inter-University Centre of Excellence for Climate-Resilient Food Security. The university is committed to mobilizing its faculty members as researchers, trainers, and innovators while leveraging laboratory facilities within its faculties, departments and research centres to support the success of the MBG programme.

Additionally, IPB is prepared to collaborate with various stakeholders to develop a food supply ecosystem, including Village-Owned Enterprises (Bumdes), cooperatives and farmer groups. The university will also develop kitchen models tailored to local characteristics, enhance the nutritional value of MBG menus, and innovate alongside BGN, other government agencies, the business sector, partner institutions and both national and international non-governmental organizations.

“The National Centre of Excellence brings a new perspective to the implementation of the Free Nutritious Meals programme, through the combination of research, knowledge management, innovations and capacity building,” said Maniza Zaman, UNICEF Indonesia Representative. “UNICEF is pleased to support this Centre as part of our comprehensive approach contributing to Indonesia’s efforts to improve children’s healthy growth and development. We work in various ways, including generating evidence on cost-effective and impactful interventions that reach pregnant women, children under five, and school-age children, even in hard-to-reach areas.”

Alongside the launch of the MBG NCoE, the MBG Programme Implementation Recommendation Book was also introduced. This publication, compiled by the Ministry of PPN/Bappenas and BGN in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, and UNICEF—with support from experts at IPB University—provides guidelines for implementing the MBG programme effectively. The establishment of the MBG NCoE marks a significant milestone in ensuring the programme's sustainability and effectiveness in improving the nutritional well-being of the Indonesian people.