The Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) Program is not only a strategic Government initiative to improve the nutritional status of communities, but also an opportunity to strengthen the economic resilience of coastal communities. This opportunity is being realized in the Red and White Fishing Village (KNMP) of Ohoi Labetawi, Tual City, through the Red and White Fishing Village Champion Initiative held from 30 July to 1 August 2026.

The initiative, facilitated by the Global Environment Facility-6 (GEF-6) Coastal Fisheries Initiative (CFI) Indonesia in collaboration with the Tual City Fisheries Service, brought together women's fish processing groups and managers of the Nutrition Fulfilment Service Unit (SPPG) of Tual City. The initiative aims to establish a high-quality, safe, and sustainable local fisheries supply chain to support the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) Program while creating new economic growth opportunities for coastal communities.

Over the course of the three-day programme, participants received training on fish processing techniques, product quality improvement, food safety, halal certification, business licensing, and strategies for establishing long-term partnerships with MBG kitchens. This approach is expected to prepare women's groups to become competitive entrepreneurs capable of meeting the demands of modern markets through the production of value-added fishery products.

Participants, resource persons, and the GEF-6 CFI Indonesia team gathered for a group photograph following the closing ceremony of the Red and White Fishing Village (KNMP) Champion Initiative, held from 30 July to 1 August 2026 at the Labetawi Village Office, Tual City. The initiative strengthened the capacity of women's fish processing groups through training on product diversification, quality improvement, halal certification, business licensing, and partnership development to support the fisheries supply chain for the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) Program.

Veronika D. Songjanan, Regional Coordinator of the MBG Program in Tual City, stated that the supply of fish required for MBG kitchens in Tual City remains far below demand.

“Each SPPG kitchen requires approximately 400 kilograms of fish every day, while the available supply is often only around 100 kilograms. The shortfall has to be compensated with alternative protein sources, such as chicken or eggs,” she explained.

During the activity, Veronika D. Songjanan delivered a presentation on partnership opportunities under the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) Program for fish processing groups at the Red and White Fishing Village (KNMP) of Ohoi Labetawi. The session formed part of broader capacity-strengthening efforts to prepare community groups to become suppliers of high-quality fishery products for MBG kitchens.

According to Veronika, this situation presents a significant market opportunity for women's business groups in the KNMP to meet an already established demand. MBG kitchens require a wide range of ready-to-cook fish products, including fillets, meatballs, nuggets, sausages, dim sum, sticks, shredded fish, and various frozen food products. However, all products must comply with quality and food safety standards, be halal certified, be produced under hygienic conditions, be properly packaged, and be supplied consistently according to demand.

Meanwhile, Ahadar Tuhuteru, Knowledge Management and Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) Specialist of the PMU GEF-6 CFI Indonesia, explained that the activities at KNMP Ohoi Labetawi are part of the implementation of the Champion Initiative across three pilot Red and White Fishing Villages in Indonesia. Similar activities have previously been conducted at KNMP Warmasen in Raja Ampat Regency, Southwest Papua, and KNMP Wailihang in Buru Regency, Maluku.

In his opening remarks, Ahadar Tuhuteru, Knowledge Management and Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) Specialist of the PMU GEF-6 CFI Indonesia, stated that the Champion Initiative at the Red and White Fishing Village (KNMP) of Ohoi Labetawi, Tual City, held on Thursday (30 July 2026), forms part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the capacity of fisheries MSMEs to become suppliers of processed fishery products for the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) Program.

The three pilot locations were selected because they already possess fisheries infrastructure, active fishing communities, and strong potential to be developed into production hubs directly linked to the supply needs of the Free Nutritious Meals Program.

“For years, the greatest challenge for these groups has not been production, but finding a market. Now the market already exists. The remaining challenge is ensuring that the groups can meet quality standards and maintain consistent production,” he said.

Ade Wiguna, Head of the Strategic Planning Working Team of the Bureau of Planning at the MMAF, observed the implementation of the Champion Initiative at the Red and White Fishing Village (KMNP) in Tual City, which involved three women fishers' groups as part of the implementation of Gender Mainstreaming in the marine and fisheries sector.

Representing the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF), Ade Wiguna emphasized that the initiative is fully aligned with the Ministry's Gender Mainstreaming Roadmap 2025–2029, as stipulated under Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Decree No. 10 of 2026.

According to him, all participants are women's groups that are not only acquiring new skills in processing fishery products, but are also being prepared to become part of the supply chain for the Free Nutritious Meals Program.

“This mentoring initiative is a tangible example of the synergy between the government and development partners in strengthening women's economic empowerment. We expect these groups not only to supply the needs of SPPG kitchens, but also to consistently meet quality standards so that their products can access broader national markets,” he said.

Participants in the GEF-6 CFI Indonesia Champion Initiative practice fish-based product processing at the KNMP in Ohoi Labetawi, Tual City. The training aimed to prepare women's groups to produce fishery products that meet quality standards and are ready to be marketed as suppliers to the Nutritional Fulfilment Service Units (SPPG) in support of Indonesia's Free Nutritious Meals Programme (MBG).

Echoing this objective, GEF-6 CFI Indonesia Gender Specialist Faridatun Amalia emphasized that women's empowerment is not only intended to increase household income, but also to strengthen women's leadership, expand their access to business opportunities, and ensure that women play a leading role in advancing an inclusive and sustainable blue economy.

To strengthen the groups' readiness, the programme brought together resource persons from the Regional Office of the Ministry of Religious Affairs to provide guidance on halal certification, the Tual City Health Office to explain the licensing procedures for Home Industry Food (PIRT), and a fishery product processing instructor from Tual State Fisheries Polytechnic.

Sri Fani Mony, a GEF-6 CFI Indonesia Champion from Southeast Maluku Regency (Dulla Tama Group, Watkidat Village), shared best practices in developing fish processing enterprises while training participants to produce fishery products that meet market standards and have the potential to become suppliers for the Free Nutritious Meals Programme (MBG).

As part of peer-to-peer learning, GEF-6 CFI Indonesia also invited two Champions supported by the program from Southeast Maluku Regency—Sri Fani Mony from the Dulla Tama Group in Watkidat Village and Zulfa Hayer from the SID SARMAV Snack Group in Ohoidertawun Village. They shared their experiences in developing fish processing businesses that have successfully entered modern retail markets. The Champion approach is expected to accelerate the replication of good practices in Tual City’s KNMP while strengthening the sustainability of programme outcomes beyond the completion of GEF-6 CFI Indonesia's assistance.

The Head of the Tual City Fisheries Service, Rustam Serang, officially closed the Champion Initiative activities at Red and White Fishing Village (KMNP) in Ohoi Labetawi on Friday (1 August 2026). In his remarks, he expressed appreciation for the collaboration between the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries and GEF-6 CFI Indonesia in strengthening the capacity of fisheries business groups to become prospective suppliers of fishery products for the Free Nutritious Meals Programme (MBG).

On the same occasion, Rustam Serang also expressed appreciation to the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries and GEF-6 CFI Indonesia for their collaboration in supporting the development of Red and White Fishing Village as a fisheries-based economic growth centre. According to him, Tual City is endowed with abundant fisheries resources, making the key challenge not only to increase production, but also to ensure that fisheries products generate greater value through processing, promote the sustainable management of fisheries resources, and expand market access for coastal communities.

Through the Red and White Fishing Village Champion Initiative, GEF-6 CFI Indonesia aims to develop a collaborative model that integrates women's empowerment, the strengthening of local fisheries enterprises, improved community nutrition, and the sustainable management of coastal resources. If successful, the model is expected to be replicated in other Red and White Fishing Villages across Indonesia, enabling the Free Nutritious Meals Programme not only to improve community nutrition but also to serve as a driver of an inclusive, equitable, and sustainable blue economy for coastal communities.