Community-Based Sensitive Nutrition Assistance Strategy to Accelerate Stunting Reduction in Disadvantaged Areas

Abstract

Stunting remains a challenge for human resource development in Indonesia, despite the national prevalence falling to 19.8 percent in 2024. Accelerating the decline in hotspot areas relies heavily on nutrition-sensitive interventions, namely drinking water, sanitation, social security, food security, caregiving, and basic services, the provision of which is outside the health sector and often does not reach at-risk families. This article aims to formulate a community-based nutrition-sensitive assistance strategy in hotspot areas. The study uses a qualitative literature study with policy analysis of official documents (Presidential Decree 72/2021, Stranas P3S 2025–2029, SSGI 2024 results) and scientific literature published in 2020–2026, which are analyzed thematically using a social ecology, social capital, and collaborative governance framework. The study results indicate that (1) stand-alone sensitive interventions more consistently improve dietary diversity than children's height, so they need to be packaged with behavior change communication; (2) community facilitators (Family Support Team, Posyandu cadres, PKK, and village midwives) act as liaisons between families and cross-sectoral services, but are limited by capacity, incentives, social resistance, and symbolic participation; and (3) village leadership, budget flexibility, and institutional continuity differentiate mobile loci from those that merely comply administratively. The article proposes a framework of six strategies along with monitoring indicators. This framework is conceptual and requires empirical testing