Public Policy Performance Evaluation: Free Nutritious Meal Program in Tambang District

The Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program is a government policy aimed at improving the nutritional quality of the population-particularly vulnerable groups-as part of efforts to enhance the quality of human resources. The program's success requires evaluation to determine the extent to which its implementation has achieved the established objectives. This study aims to evaluate the public policy performance of the MBG program in Tambang District based on the aspects of effectiveness, efficiency, adequacy, equity, responsiveness, and appropriateness. This study employs a quantitative approach using a descriptive method. Data were collected through questionnaires, interviews, observations, and document reviews involving government officials, healthcare workers, “Posyandu” (integrated health post) volunteers, program administrators, and beneficiaries of the MBG Program in Tambang District. Data analysis was conducted using descriptive statistics based on public policy evaluation indicators proposed by William N. Dunn. Research findings indicate that the public policy performance of the MBG Program in Tambang District falls into the "good" category. The adequacy aspect received the highest rating, demonstrating the program's success in helping meet the community's nutritional needs through the provision of proper, nutritious meals. The aspects of efficiency, equity, responsiveness, and appropriateness also yielded positive results, indicating that the program has been managed optimally, garnered community support, and aligned relatively well with the needs of the target groups. Conversely, the effectiveness aspect received the lowest rating compared to the others, suggesting that the program's impact on improving the community's nutritional and health status still requires enhancement. Based on the research findings, it can be concluded that the MBG Meal Program in Tambang District has demonstrated strong performance as a public policy initiative in the realm of public health and nutrition. However, the program's effectiveness needs to be enhanced through strengthened nutrition education, refined beneficiary targeting, improved inter-agency coordination, and robust monitoring and evaluation systems, ensuring that the program's benefits are realized more optimally and sustainably.