Project Description
The course was designed to equip policymakers with the knowledge and tools needed to identify, design, monitor, and implement effective interventions to combat malnutrition in pregnant and breastfeeding women, infants, and young children. It addressed improved dietary patterns and challenges related to undernutrition and overweight. It built understanding of best practices in nutrition interventions, policy and regulation across sectors, and supported good nutrition in line with cultural preferences and practices. The course shared experiences from First Nations organisations that had supported improved maternal and child nutrition in their communities. It took an integrated approach, encouraging collaboration between sectors including health, education, and the food industry.
The short course included a three-day pre-course workshop in Indonesia, a two-week program in Australia, and a three-day post-course workshop back in Indonesia. Developed in consultation with the Australian Embassy in Jakarta and key Indonesian stakeholders, the course’s learning objectives were refined during the pre-course workshop to align with participants’ individual goals. Participants applied their learning through an Award Project, either individually or in small groups, focused on a specific topic related to the course. The course equipped participants with the knowledge and tools to identify, design, monitor, and implement effective interventions; evaluate existing policies, systems, and practices to combat malnutrition and improve dietary patterns; and benchmark best practices in areas such as dietary habits, caregiving, food diversification, advocacy, and WASH. It also explored First Nations approaches to maternal and child nutrition, cross-sectoral strategies for tackling malnutrition, innovations and future directions in nutrition—including climate-related issues—and mapped stakeholders in Indonesia, Australia, and the region to identify potential collaborations.
Project Personnel and Beneficiaries
The cohort for the Feeding the Future: Maternal and Children’s Nutrition Short Course includes 25 mid- to senior-level professionals from a broad range of government agencies, academic institutions, non-profit organizations, and international agencies. Many participants hold leadership or strategic roles, such as directors, project leads, policy analysts, and department heads. Their affiliations span key institutions like the Ministry of Health, National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas), National Food Agency, Coordinating Ministry for Food Affairs, UNICEF, CISDI, and multiple provincial and district health offices. Several participants are also affiliated with universities or polytechnics as lecturers or researchers, bringing academic rigor to the group. A number of them hold advanced degrees (MPH, MSc, or PhD), often from international institutions, indicating a high level of expertise and global exposure.
Outcomes to Date
A major strength of the program was the structured Award Project, developed with experts and peers and supported through ongoing mentoring, enabling participants to refine, contextualise, and strengthen their project designs from the pre-course stage through to the post-course workshop. Mentoring sessions played a critical role in helping participants sharpen their problem statements, develop feasible interventions, and build confidence in presenting their ideas. The evolution of Award Projects reflected clear growth in analytical thinking and practical application, with several participants leveraging existing institutional programs to enhance feasibility and impact. Participants produced well-structured and achievable plans and demonstrated strong commitment to continuing their work beyond the program, fostering professional growth, cross-sectoral collaboration and leadership, equipping participants to serve as capable advocates and innovators within Indonesia’s nutrition landscape.
Project Significance
Indonesia faces significant nutritional challenges, including stunting, wasting, underweight, and micronutrient deficiencies. Additionally, the burden of overweight, obesity, and dietary-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is growing. There are widespread micronutrient deficiencies particularly among children and pregnant women. Diets often lack diversity, increasingly depend on low nutrition processed foods, and the price of nutritious food is out of reach for many families. Indonesia is now invigorating efforts to tackle malnutrition through key initiatives, including the nutritious free meals program (Makan Bergizi Gratis/ MBG) which aims to enhance access to healthy meals for children and pregnant and breastfeeding mothers. A short course on nutrition and dietetics, could help the government address these challenges. This supports priorities of the national medium-term plan (RPJMN) for improving maternal and children health, contributing significantly to SDG 2; Zero Hunger and SDG 3; Good Health and Well-Being.