“The Semarang Guidelines for Strengthening Local Government’s Contribution to the Implementation of the Makan Bergizi Gratis (MBG) Programme” are the results of the “National Dialogue on Good Practices on Free Nutritious Meals“, convened in Semarang from 28 to 30 April 2026, which brought together approximately 250 participants from 19 Indonesian cities, national ministries, universities, international organizations, and technical experts.

The Semarang Guidelines emphasize that local governments are central to ensuring the sustainability, accountability, and effectiveness of the MBG Programme through five strategic areas:

1) Food Supply, Accessibility, and Price Stability
2) Food Safety, Hygiene, and Nutrition Monitoring
3) Integrated Governance and Coordination
4) Waste Management and Environmental Sustainability
5) Capacity Building, Innovation, and Community Participation

The Guidelines call for stronger alignment between national and local governments, sustainable financing, standardized operational procedures, investment in logistics and coldchain infrastructure, and evidence-based policy implementation supported by integrated data systems.