WCR and PAM Jaya Promote Nutrition and Clean Water Resilience to Accelerate Stunting Reduction in DKI Jakarta

WCR Indonesia

08 September 2026

Through the GEMANTARA Program, education on nutrition, clean water, sanitation, and healthy living practices is strengthened across five sub-districts in North Jakarta

Jakarta — Efforts to reduce stunting cannot rely solely on nutritional interventions. Access to clean water, adequate sanitation, infection prevention, and the adoption of clean and healthy living practices are also essential to creating an environment that supports children’s growth and development.

In response to these needs, Woman & Children Resilience (WCR) Indonesia, together with PAM Jaya, implemented the Gerakan Masyarakat Peduli Gizi dan Ketahanan Air Nusantara (GEMANTARA) Program in several areas of DKI Jakarta. The program integrates education on balanced nutrition, clean water, sanitation, Clean and Healthy Living Behaviors (PHBS), and stunting prevention through a community-based approach.

The GEMANTARA Program was implemented through community outreach activities in five sub-districts in North Jakarta: Rorotan, Semper Timur, Penjaringan, Semper Barat, and Kebon Bawang. Each area has distinct characteristics and challenges, including issues related to access to clean water, sanitation, population density, and environmental conditions that may affect family health.

Connecting Nutrition, Clean Water, and Stunting Prevention

GEMANTARA is based on the understanding that stunting prevention requires a comprehensive approach. Adequate nutrition needs to be supported by access to clean water, proper sanitation, and consistent hygiene practices at the household level.

Through the outreach activities, community members received education on balanced nutrition and the First 1,000 Days of Life (1,000 HPK), the importance of clean water for family health, sanitation, infection prevention, and the implementation of PHBS in everyday life. The educational materials were adapted to the characteristics and needs of each community.

The approach also recognizes women and mothers as key actors in stunting prevention at the household level. In addition to receiving information, participants were encouraged to understand the interconnectedness of dietary practices, environmental hygiene, water quality, and child health.

Community-Based Education Shows Increased Knowledge

GEMANTARA outreach activities engaged community members from various groups, including mothers, community health cadres, health workers, and the general public.

In Rorotan, the activity held on 12 February 2026 was attended by 150 participants. Evaluation results showed an increase in the average knowledge score from 6.2 before the activity to 8.5 afterward, representing an increase of 2.3 points.

In Semper Timur, 150 participants took part in the activity on 10 February 2026. The average knowledge score increased from 6.3 to 8.6, also representing a 2.3-point increase.

Meanwhile, in Penjaringan, the outreach activity reached 86 participants in an area facing sanitation challenges and tidal flooding. Participants’ average knowledge score increased from 6.4 to 8.7, an increase of 2.3 points. The educational materials covered balanced nutrition, clean water, safe drinking-water treatment, and PHBS.

In Semper Barat, the activity held at RPTRA Satria Biru involved 72 participants. Participants’ average knowledge increased from 62.9 percent to 86.7 percent, representing a 23.8-percentage-point increase following the educational session.

In Kebon Bawang, an area characterized by high population density and challenges related to access to clean water and sanitation, 64 participants took part in the activity. The average knowledge score increased from 62.3 percent to 87.0 percent, an increase of 24.7 percentage points.

Overall, the outreach activities across the five sub-districts engaged more than 600 participants and demonstrated a consistent increase in knowledge following the educational sessions.

Using an Education Approach That Resonates with Communities

GEMANTARA does not rely solely on conventional methods of delivering information. One of the approaches developed through the program is the use of creative educational media to help communities better understand and retain key health messages.

One example is the “Air Sehat Kite” movement and song, developed as an educational medium to promote awareness of clean water and family health. The song and accompanying movements were used to convey key messages in a more participatory way, making the educational activities more interactive and accessible to community members.

This creative approach forms part of broader efforts to diversify health communication methods, particularly to ensure that health education goes beyond knowledge-building and can be more easily translated into everyday practices.

Collaboration as a Key to Program Sustainability

The implementation of GEMANTARA demonstrates that stunting prevention requires the involvement of multiple stakeholders. Collaboration among WCR, PAM Jaya, sub-district governments, community health cadres, health workers, and community members is essential to expanding the reach of health education and fostering collective awareness of nutrition and water resilience.

Lessons from the program indicate that community-based education can strengthen public participation, while the involvement of women and mothers can reinforce stunting prevention practices at the household level. Integrating education on nutrition, clean water, sanitation, and PHBS is also important to ensure that stunting prevention messages are understood in a more comprehensive manner.

Looking ahead, the program report recommends several follow-up measures, including expanding outreach and education to areas with a high risk of stunting, strengthening collaboration with local governments and health cadres, developing digital educational materials, conducting regular monitoring, and ensuring that beneficiaries continue to have access to sustained health education.

From Education to a Sustainable Community Movement

GEMANTARA positions stunting prevention as part of a broader effort to build more resilient families and communities. Knowledge about nutrition needs to go hand in hand with awareness of the importance of clean water, sanitation, hygiene, and a healthy environment.

Through a community-centered approach, the program aims not only to increase knowledge but also to encourage behavioral change and strengthen the role of communities in safeguarding family health.

These efforts are also part of a broader commitment to building healthier, more empowered communities that are better equipped to address health and environmental challenges.

WCR Indonesia: Building Resilience, Health, and Well-Being for Women and Children through Community Collaboration.

Nutrition and water resilience education to support stunting prevention in Rorotan Subdistrict, North Jakarta.

Ibu Lya, Chairperson of Daya Wanita PAM Jaya, and Dr. Margaretha Hanita, Director of WCR Indonesia, pose for a group photo during the nutrition and water resilience education activity in Semper Timur Subdistrict, North Jakarta.