The Centre of Excellence for the Makan Bergizi Gratis programme

Highlights

Indonesia’s economic growth has elevated the country to upper middle-income status but malnutrition remains a pressing public health concern. Undernutrition (stunting and wasting) persists, micronutrient deficiencies are widespread, and overweight and obesity rates are rising. As part of the Government’s ‘quick-win’ approach, President Prabowo has prioritized nutrition through a flagship initiative called Makan Bergizi Gratis (MBG) or Free Nutritious Meals. The programme employs a comprehensive strategy to deliver a range of nutrition interventions to vulnerable populations through schools and community-based platforms.

To support the successful implementation of the MBG programme, Bappenas, the National Food and Nutrition Agency (Badan Gizi Nasional- BGN), UNICEF and IPB University have jointly launched the National Centre of Excellence (NCoE). NCoE’s mission is to foster innovation and excellence in the implementation of the MBG programme, and strengthen government efforts by providing cutting-edge research, advocating for evidence-based policies and programming, and raising awareness of the programme’s importance and objectives.