Commentary

The leadership transition at Indonesia’s National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has renewed debate over the future of the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program. While discussions have largely focused on budgets and beneficiary numbers, the more important question is whether the program’s design, governance, and implementation are effectively improving nutritional outcomes for those who need it most.

MBG program's rapid expansion and its shortcomings increasingly show a familiar development trap of a 'form without function' program. Indonesia needs a paradigm shift toward building a governance framework to potentially sustain MBG and actually realize its impacts.