WFP Indonesia: Working Together to Solve Hunger

When the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) was created, Indonesia was one of the first countries to receive WFP assistance. In 1964, food valued at US$ 1 million was provided for the relief of victims of the Mount Agung eruption in Bali. The relief was followed by support for restoration of roads and landlots, reconstruction of houses, rehabilitation of irrigation canals and growing of food crops. WFP continued its operations for 33 years focusing on woman empowerment programmes through training and income generating activities and food assistance for conflict affected victims. The office closed in 1996 when Indonesia showed significant progress towards food self-sufficiency.

WFP returned in 1998 to respond to the drought caused by El Niño and to the Asian Financial Crisis with a clear shift towards subsidized rice for the poor and targeted nutrition interventions.

Since then, WFP also shifted the emphasis of its support from predominantly Food For Work programmes to a subsidized rice programme focused on urban areas and from income support to a greater emphasis on targeted nutritional interventions (focus on micronutrients) among vulnerable populations.

Under the current operation ending in December 2011, WFP addresses micronutrient deficiencies through fortified food interventions targeting children 12-59 months, pregnant and lactating women and primary school chidlren aged 6-13. The school activities have also included complementary activities of hand washing campaigns, dietary diversity awareness, school gardens and de-worming. Smaller scale community development activities through Food For Work has also contributed to increased access to land with improved soil and water conservation and enhanced livelihoods subsistence farmers. The programme focused on rural and suburban areas of NTT, NTB, East Java and Greater Jakarta. Capacity Development and Logistics Support (Port Capacities in Aceh) is also an integral part of the Indonesia operation.

Since 1998, WFP has supported more than 20 million food insecure Indonesians, primarily in the aftermath of natural disasters and economic shocks.

• Population: 237.55 million (2010 BPS)
• Children Under Five 9.2% (2010 BPS)
• Human Development Index Rank: 108 (2010 UNDP report)
• Gender-related Development Index: 100 out of 138 countries (2010 UNDP report)
• Per Capita GDP: US$ 2,349 (2009 World Bank report)
• National Poverty Line: 14.15% below the National Poverty Line (US$ 1.55 ppp/person/day)
• Adult Literacy: Men - 94.56% Women - 88.39% (total, 92.6%) (2010 BPS)
• Primary School Attendance: Boys - 94% Girls - 95% (Male: 97,68% Female: 98,24%) (2010 BPS)
• Maternal Mortality Ratio: 228 per 100,000 live births (2007 MDG report)
• Malnutrition in Children Under Five: Underweight- 18.00% (Poor, 10-19%) (2010 RISKESDAS)
• Stunting: Chronic Malnutrition - 35.60% (Serious, 30-39%) (2010 RISKESDAS)
• Wasting: Acute Malnutrition - 13.30% (Serious, 10-14%) (2010 RISKESDAS)