National Nutrition Agency (BGN) is taking steps to promote local employment by recruiting workers from underprivileged households for the Nutritional Fulfillment Service Units (SPPG). Redy Hendra Gunawan, Special Staff to BGN, revealed that 30% of personnel in each SPPG will be selected from individuals in extreme and general poverty. This initiative aligns with the President’s directive to create job opportunities through the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) Program, aiming to support families in the lowest economic deciles.
As of now, 2,378 SPPG units have been established in collaboration with 6,076 local economic institutions. These institutions, including cooperatives, village-owned enterprises (BUMDes/BUMDesma), and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), play a crucial role as suppliers for the program. Furthermore, 93,572 local community members are actively involved as volunteers in the SPPG initiative.
The MBG Program has benefitted a total of 7,444,238 individuals nationwide, with beneficiaries categorized into various groups such as students from different educational levels, pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, toddlers, and more. To expand the program’s reach, BGN plans to launch an additional 2,401 SPPG units in the next 10 days, increasing the total number of operational units to 4,788. This expansion is expected to cater to approximately 15 million beneficiaries across the country, further strengthening the impact of the MBG Program.