JAKARTA – The Indonesian government is expanding its free meal program to include pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and toddlers starting in 2025, aiming to address malnutrition and stunting across the country.
Originally launched as the Free Nutritious Meal Program, the initiative initially targeted preschoolers and school-going students. However, during a plenary session of the Indonesian House of Representatives on August 27, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati announced the expansion of the program, underscoring its broader impact on improving nutritional standards and combating stunting.
The Indonesian government has allocated 197.8 trillion rupiah (US$12.8 billion) to its health budget for 2024, with stunting prevention highlighted as a top priority. Indonesia has made significant strides in reducing stunting rates from 37.2% to 21.5% over the past decade, and the government is pushing to accelerate this progress.
The program, a flagship initiative of President-elect Prabowo Subianto, aims to enhance not only nutrition but also cognitive development, school attendance, and academic performance. Originally called the Free Lunch Program, it was rebranded earlier this year to reflect its comprehensive approach.
In addition to improving the health and educational outcomes of children, the initiative is expected to have economic benefits. By empowering local micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and involving them in the operation of public kitchens, the program is projected to stimulate economic growth by 0.10% and create around 820,000 job opportunities.
For 2025, the Indonesian government has allocated 71 trillion rupiah to cover food costs, distribution, and operational expenses under the newly established National Nutrition Agency. The program is currently being piloted in regions such as Jakarta, West Java, Central Java, and East Java ahead of its nationwide rollout next year.
This expanded initiative underscores Indonesia’s commitment to tackling malnutrition and fostering healthy development for its younger generations.