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Indonesia is the fourth most populated country in the world and has been the largest economy in Southeast Asia for the past decade. The country is facing considerable health challenges, including a double burden of malnutrition, with high incidences of under-nutrition, stunting and wasting, at the same time as an increasing prevalence of obesity and diet-related diseases.
The country’s natural ecosystems – one of the earth’s most biologically and culturally rich landscapes – have suffered the impacts of food production for export and will face growing pressure from domestic dietary demands.
Leading the way
Despite these challenges, the Government of Indonesia has shown exemplary leadership to take a different pathway and shift the course towards healthy diets based on sustainable production.
This policy brief was informed by discussions at the multi-stakeholder roundtable at Universitas Indonesia in February this year.
Based on the feedback received from key constituencies and government officials, the brief was revised and presented to the Indonesian government, who incorporated its recommendations in the outcome document of the National Workshop on Food and Nutrition (WNPG).
It has also been indicated that the policy brief will feed into the National Medium Term Development Plan (RPJMN). Patricia Ohnmacht, EAT’s Head of International Policy was honored to present the policy brief to the global community during a side event of the World Bank and IMF Annual Meetings in Bali in October this year.
Healthy people and planet
“I enthusiastically welcome this work as a significant contribution to shaping the future of Indonesian people’s health as well as the conservation and restoration of our ecosystems […] Together, we need to implement a true “food systems approach” to meeting goals for food security, health, agricultural development and environment, all in parallel” – Nila Moeloek, Minister of Health of the Republic of Indonesia
Important policies that are aligned with the proposed action points in the brief have already been put in place by the Government, including the Indonesian Healthy Program through Healthy Paradigm and the Healthy Living Community Movement.
Action for a better future
EAT is excited to follow up this momentum for food system action in Indonesia and will together with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of National Development Planning (Bappenas) of Indonesia host a launch of the report from the EAT-Lancet Commission on Food, Planet, Health, in Jakarta, 25 January 2019.
Bappenas is also co-hosting the first Food Systems Dialogue in Indonesia with the World Food Prize Winner, David Nabarro, on 28 January 2019. The dialogue will support the development of the National Medium Term Development Plan (RPJMN) based on key messages from the EAT-Lancet Commission as well as recommendations from the policy briefs
Learn more: The EAT-Lancet Summary Report.