Indonesia's Free Nutritious Meal Program: One-Year Review

Program Overview

Indonesia's Free Nutritious Meal Program (MBG), launched with ambitious goals to improve nutrition and stimulate economic growth, has completed its first year. The program was designed not only to enhance nutritional quality for children and pregnant women but also to act as a national economic driver and job creator ²

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Current Status

As of November 2025, the program has:

• Reached 50.7 million beneficiaries out of a target 82.9 million ³
  Source 3

  https://nasional.kontan.co.id/news/realisasi-belanja-program-mbg-baru-terserap-746-per-november-2025
• Utilized 74.6% of its Rp 71 trillion budget for 2025 ³
  Source 3

  https://nasional.kontan.co.id/news/realisasi-belanja-program-mbg-baru-terserap-746-per-november-2025
• Engaged 17,555 nutrition fulfillment service units (SPPG) across various regions ³
  Source 3

  https://nasional.kontan.co.id/news/realisasi-belanja-program-mbg-baru-terserap-746-per-november-2025

Economic Impact Assessment

Senior researcher Deni Friawan from CSIS notes that while theoretically the program should stimulate economic activity through labor-intensive sectors like agriculture and food processing, the aggregate economic impact remains insignificant after one year ²

. The program's supply chain, involving food preparation and distribution, should potentially create substantial employment opportunities ²

Source 2

https://nasional.kontan.co.id/news/setahun-berjalan-dampak-ekonomi-program-mbg-dinilai-belum-signifikan

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Challenges and Criticisms

The Center of Economic and Law Studies (CELIOS) highlights the lack of credible and data-driven evaluation of the program ¹

. Media Wahyudi Askar from CELIOS emphasizes that the government's success claims are primarily based on coverage numbers rather than rigorous policy assessment ¹

Source 1

https://nasional.kontan.co.id/news/survei-celios-satu-tahun-mbg-65-masyarakat-sebut-tak-ringankan-beban-keluarga

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Future Directions

To enhance effectiveness, experts recommend implementing independent monitoring mechanisms and data-based policy evaluation ¹

. The program's long-term success will depend on its ability to demonstrate both nutritional and economic benefits through transparent and systematic assessment.