Jakarta. The World Bank has raised concerns about the potential ineffectiveness of Prabowo Subianto's flagship program, Free Nutritious Meals (MBG), in combating stunting. In response, Indonesia's Coordinating Ministry of Human Development and Culture Coordination (PMK) affirmed ongoing evaluations of the President-elect's initiative ahead of its implementation in the new administration.

Jelsi Natalia Marampa, Assistant Deputy of Nutrition Security and Health Promotion at the Ministry, emphasized the program's importance in addressing stunting from an early age, particularly targeting schoolchildren and adolescents.

"Free nutritious meals are crucial in providing balanced nutrition from elementary school onward," she said, citing data indicating that 60 percent of Indonesian children skip breakfast, underscoring the potential benefits of the program for child development.

"With this initiative, we aim to bridge gaps in learning caused by breakfast-skipping," she explained.

She disclosed ongoing discussions with relevant ministries and agencies regarding the program's continuation, highlighting considerations for targeted groups and regional disparities in Indonesia.

"It's still under review, considering recommendations for various alternatives such as targeted groups, regional considerations based on specific Indonesian conditions, or children from economically disadvantaged backgrounds," she said.

The initiative aims to gradually cover approximately 82.9 million students by 2029, requiring an estimated total budget of Rp 400 trillion ($24.5 billion). The current government has allocated Rp 71 trillion in the 2025 Draft State Budget (RAPBN) for this purpose.

The World Bank's June 2024 Indonesia Economic Prospect report noted that while school meals promote dietary diversity and combat anemia among schoolchildren, they are insufficient in addressing stunting as they do not target the critical first 1,000 days of life.

School meals are widely embraced interventions. According to the World Food Programme's State of School Feeding Worldwide report for 2022, 418 million children globally benefited from school meals, exceeding pre-pandemic levels. These programs aim to enhance health and nutrition, boost school attendance and learning outcomes, and provide social protection.