Ambassador of Japan visits Biak, Papua, to observe children’s nutrition and learning activities as part of Government of Japan, UNICEF and National Nutrition Agency partnership

Biak, Papua, 11 September 2025 – H.E. Mr. MASAKI Yasushi, Ambassador of Japan to Indonesia, along with Mr. Jean Lokenga, UNICEF Indonesia Deputy Representative, and Mr. Sarwono, Secretary General of the National Nutrition Agency visited Biak in Papua province yesterday to observe how children are benefiting fromthe ongoing partnership between the Government of Japan, UNICEF and the National Nutrition Agency to improve their learning, nutrition and overall wellbeing.

During the visit, the delegation joined primary school children in their classrooms, where they participated in literacy and numeracy learning activities nutrition education, and observed the school meal time. The delegation also toured a central kitchen – established with primary support from the Government of Indonesia, complemented by technical assistance from UNICEF and financial support from the Government of Japan – to provide nutritious meals to school children.

The Ambassador of Japan also visited the Biak fishing port and market, upgraded with direct support from Japan, which will play a vital role in supporting the local economy and supplying nutritious locally sourced foods such as fish for school meals.

During the visit, a ceremonial event was organized to officially commemorate the partnership, following the initial signing that took place earlier this year in February. Through this collaboration, the Government of Japan and UNICEF have joined hands with the Government of Indonesia to support efforts aimed at improving childhood nutrition and learning in Papua.

The event was attended by JICA, government representatives from Biak Numfor district, Papua Provincial government, and principals, teachers, and students from schools that will be receiving support through the programme.

In his opening remarks, Ambassador MASAKI said: “School lunches in Japan have a history of over 100 years, and food and nutrition education “Shokuiku” has been promoted. Students not only receive a nutritionally balanced meal, but also learn about healthy eating habits. Seeing students enjoying nutritious meals at school in Biak, I reaffirmed the importance of ensuring that more children receive nutritious school meals and promoting “Shokuiku” that supports lifelong health. Japan has also supported the development of the Biak fishing port through JICA. By coordinating these two forms of cooperation by Japan and using locally caught fish in school meals for children, we can encourage local production and consumption and contribute to revitalizing the local economy.”

During the event, Jean Lokenga, UNICEF Indonesia Deputy Representative, said: “Every child has the right to quality education, good nutrition, and healthcare—essentials for their wellbeing and development. Realizing these rights is at the core of UNICEF’s mission, and we are proud to support children in Biak through services that enhance their learning, nutrition, and overall wellbeing. We also hope that this integrated service approach, combined with efforts to build the capacity of service providers and community members, will serve as a valuable example for setting standards that can be replicated elsewhere.”

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Note to the editor:

Children in the Papua provinces continue to face significant challenges to their education, wellbeing and development. About one in four children under five are stunted, one in ten suffer from wasting and nearly 30 percent of school-age children are either malnourished or overweight. These nutritional challenges, coupled with barriers to education, including teacher absenteeism, gaps in teacher capacity, a lack of quality learning materials, and low participation in early childhood education - leave children in the Papua province significantly behind their peers nationwide.

The two-year partnership between the Government of Japan, UNICEF Indonesia, and the Government of Indonesia, signed in February 2025, will directly benefit 7,500 children in pre-primary and primary schools in Biak. It supports the upgrading of centralized kitchens used by the National Nutrition Agency to prepare meals, while also improving the quality of teaching and learning in literacy, numeracy, and nutrition awareness. More than 150 teachers and principals will be trained, and 50 government officials will be supported to plan, budget, and monitor school meals on a large scale.