China-UNICEF Partnership Expands Nutrition Program in Papua

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - A joint assessment mission of China’s government and UNICEF to review Indonesia’s Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program took place on February 3–4 in Jayapura, the capital of Papua Province. The initiative, aimed at tackling child stunting and malnutrition, is bringing tangible benefits to vulnerable communities in one of Indonesia’s least developed regions.

Papua Provincial Secretary Christian Sohilait expressed gratitude for China’s support, noting that the assistance has enabled children and pregnant women to access healthier, more balanced meals. He added that school-aged children are also benefiting through improved nutrition and better educational opportunities.

Minister Counselor Li Hongwei of the Chinese Embassy in Indonesia highlighted the program’s impact, saying it has already reached nearly 140,000 people and delivered meaningful improvements for children, women, and local communities. 

He emphasized the importance of maintaining project quality, expanding its reach, and building a successful trilateral cooperation model. 

UNICEF’s representative in Indonesia, Maniza Zaman, underscored the long-term significance of the program. “Investing in children means investing in the future,” she said, reaffirming UNICEF’s commitment to supporting the Indonesian government’s MBG program through international partnerships to enhance the well-being of mothers and children. 

Since January 2025, the Indonesian National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has rolled out the MBG program nationwide. More than 60 million people have already benefited, with the figure expected to rise to over 82.9 million.

The initiative is rooted in high-level cooperation between Indonesia and China. During President Prabowo Subianto’s visit to Beijing in November 2024, the two countries signed a joint statement to strengthen their comprehensive strategic partnership, with China pledging support for MBG. 

A month later, the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA) and UNICEF China formalized an agreement to assist Indonesia in implementing the program. This marks the first cash assistance project jointly carried out by China and UNICEF in Indonesia, a pragmatic step to realize the consensus reached by both heads of state.

The MBG program seeks to reduce stunting and malnutrition during critical early childhood development, improve physical and cognitive growth, and promote overall health. For pregnant and breastfeeding women, access to nutritious food ensures essential intake for healthy pregnancies and child development.

Papua, where stunting affects 25 percent of children and malnutrition stands at 13 percent, both higher than the national average, has been a key focus of the program.

During the assessment visit, representatives from the Chinese Embassy, UNICEF Indonesia, and Indonesian government agencies, including the BGN, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Elementary and Secondary Education, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Transmigration, Ministry of National Development Planning, and the Papua provincial government, reviewed progress on food supplementation projects, central kitchen construction, MBG delivery, maternal nutrition services, and capacity-building initiatives. ***