Malnutrition in Indonesia is still considered a public health problem as millions of children, adolescents, and adults in Indonesia are suffering from undernutrition, overnutrition, as well as micronutrient deficiencies. The Study of Nutrition Status in Indonesia (SSGI) conducted in 2019 and 2021 showed that, among children under five years of age, stunting was reduced from 27.7% to 24.4%, and wasting was reduced from 7.4% to 7.1%. However, underweight was slightly increased from 16.3% in 2019 to 17% in 2021. Similarly, the burden of malnutrition is also high among women of reproductive age. Data from a health survey (Riskesdas) in 2018 showed that as much as 22.7% of female adolescents aged 14 to 18 years were anemic, while 17.3% of pregnant women were categorized as underweight. Consequently, the nation’s economic development may be hindered due to its poor nutritional status.

South Sulawesi Province is the hub for economic activities in both central and eastern Indonesia. Although South Sulawesi has abundant natural resources, this province is still facing relatively similar nutrition problems to other provinces in Indonesia. Recent 2021 SSGI data showed that 27.4% of children under five years old were stunted, 6.2% were wasted, and 19.0% were underweight. South Sulawesi provincial and district governments have been putting their efforts into reducing the nutrition problems. An improved planning, budgeting, implementation, and monitoring process of the nutrition-specific programs would accelerate malnutrition reduction. 

UNICEF and Jenewa Madani Indonesia aim to support nutrition-specific interventions throughout the life cycle in South Sulawesi Province. This support covers the advocacy to strengthen stunting reduction efforts through policy development and/or update; capacity building to strengthen the planning, budgeting, implementation, and monitoring of eight nutrition-specific programs to prevent stunting; strengthening nutrition data and information system; support the communication campaign for stunting prevention; advocacy to improve the Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (IMAM) – a program to prevent and treat child wasting; provide technical support to strengthen capacity on IMAM program; support in strengthening maternal nutrition program; support in advocacy, monitoring, and evaluation of Healthy School Program (Program Sekolah Sehat); support the Weekly Iron Folic Acid Supplementation (WIFS) program for adolescent girls, and support the Nutrition in Emergency (NiE) sector in South Sulawesi. The Country Program Action Plan (CPAP) of the nutrition sector acts as a pillar of this partnership program in South Sulawesi.