Media Release
21 March 2025
Australian Chargé d’Affaires, Gita Kamath, and Acting UNICEF Indonesia Representative, Jean Lokenga, today signed an agreement to fund Centres of Excellence to support Indonesia’s Free Nutritious Meals or Makan Bergizi Gratis (MBG) program.
“Australia is pleased to support the Government of Indonesia’s MBG program through our partnership with UNICEF,” said Ms Kamath. “Good nutrition underpins progress in health, education, gender and social equality, and reducing poverty. These Centres of Excellence will support a sustainable, evidence-based free nutritious meals program with tangible health benefits for Indonesia.”
"UNICEF is grateful for the Government of Australia’s funding for the Centres of Excellence for the Free Nutritious Meals program (MBG) by the Government of Indonesia,” said Mr Lokenga. “The Centre of Excellence is a knowledge hub that will bring together diverse expertise to drive research, training and innovation to help ensure the effectiveness of the MBG, ultimately improving access to quality services for children and women.”
Hosted by the Bogor Institute of Agriculture as the National Centre of Excellence and several other universities across the country, these centres will generate evidence through research, capacity building, and piloting innovative approaches to inform the rollout of the MBG program across Indonesia.
Australia’s support for the Centres of Excellence is part of a broader package of support for the MBG program, including research on how school meals can help improve learning outcomes, and delivering Australia Awards short courses on nutrition.
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