Government Ensures Absorption of New Workforce and Involves Private Sector in Optimizing MBG

By: Andi Mahesa

The government’s efforts to reduce stunting rates and improve the quality of public health through the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program are significant steps in improving the quality of life of Indonesia’s young generation. This program not only aims to provide nutritious food to vulnerable groups, such as children, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers, but also presents opportunities for various sectors to collaborate and strengthen food security at the local level. Cross-sectoral collaboration involving the central and regional governments, the private sector, community organizations, and the world of education, is the main key to ensuring the sustainability and effectiveness of this program.

The government has collaborated with various parties to support this program, including private companies and State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN). This support is not only in the form of funding, but also includes the provision of food ingredients and distribution of food that is right on target. This collaboration aims to create a mutually beneficial ecosystem, which not only pays attention to health aspects but also encourages local economic growth.

Head of the National Nutrition Agency, Dadan Hindayana, emphasized that the implementation of the MBG program will involve the private sector as one of the main pillars of the success of this program. According to Dadan, in addition to providing nutritious food to target groups, this program also aims to grow the local economy. Dadan added that his party will work closely with cooperatives, Village-Owned Enterprises (BUMDes), and various other sectors to run the MBG program optimally.

Through strong synergy between the public and private sectors, the government hopes to create a broader and more sustainable impact. The involvement of the private sector in the provision of food and its distribution also opens up opportunities to increase the competitiveness of local products and strengthen food security in areas in need. This collaboration not only targets the success of the program in terms of health but also opens up new jobs involving local workers.

Founder of the Kita Indonesia Penggerak (KIP) Foundation, Ari Kusuma, said that empowering BUMDes is one of the strategic steps in supporting the sustainability of the MBG program. According to him, the plan to empower BUMDesa based on food security which will be carried out throughout 2025 will greatly support the MBG program, especially in providing the required food raw materials. KIP Foundation, together with Sampoerna Untuk Indonesia, is ready to collaborate with the government to develop a Co-Production development model that involves all stakeholders, from village communities, local governments, to the private sector.

In this case, BUMDes has great potential to support the MBG program. As an institution that focuses on empowering the local economy, BUMDes can be at the forefront of providing quality and affordable local food ingredients. In addition, through training, empowerment, and business assistance, BUMDes can also open up job opportunities for village communities, which in turn will contribute to improving the local economy as a whole.

The government also ensures that the MBG program can have a positive impact on the local economy. The Indonesian Minister of Social Affairs, Saifullah Yusuf, emphasized that in addition to meeting the nutritional needs of children, the MBG program will also contribute to improving the local economy. He explained that around 80 percent of the MBG program budget is allocated for purchasing food raw materials, the majority of which are purchased from local markets.

This certainly creates a positive domino effect for small and medium business actors in the region. Micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) engaged in the food sector will directly benefit from the purchase of raw materials by the government. This positive impact will continue to increase people’s purchasing power, increase employment opportunities, and strengthen the regional economy. This is a concrete example of a program that focuses not only on health but also on community economic empowerment, which is an important aspect of sustainable development.

With this approach, the MBG program can become a successful economic empowerment model, where local communities are not only beneficiaries, but also contribute to the implementation of the program through various forms of economic activities.