Indonesia Launches AI-Powered ZeroStunting to Combat Child Malnutrition

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A new AI-powered initiative has been launched to combat stunting among Indonesian children, a condition that affects nearly one in five due to chronic malnutrition.

The program, called ZeroStunting, is a collaboration between the Edu Farmers International Foundation and AI technology provider KeyReply, supported by a grant from Infoxchange. It aims to use artificial intelligence to track children’s nutrition, especially egg consumption, and empower parents with tools and guidance to improve their children’s diets.

A key element of the initiative is encouraging the consumption of protein-rich foods, particularly eggs, which play a vital role in a child’s physical development. Studies have shown that eating one egg per day, paired with adequate nutrition education, can help reduce the risk of stunting.

Through ZeroStunting, parents can report their child’s nutritional intake via an AI-powered platform integrated with WhatsApp, creating a real-time database for health and nutrition stakeholders.

“Our ZeroStunting platform harnesses AI-powered WhatsApp tools to automatically collect real-time data on daily egg consumption and child growth. This immediate feedback loop enables us to pinpoint nutritional gaps and deploy targeted interventions swiftly ensuring that every child at risk receives the critical support they need,” said Lukmanul Hafiz, Head of Stunting Program & Operations at Edu Farmers Foundation.

Since its pilot in 2022, ZeroStunting has reached nearly 2,000 children in 66 subdistricts and villages. The program currently sees a 70 to 80 percent compliance rate among parents providing eggs to their children. With continued use of AI tracking and targeted engagement, it aims to boost participation by 10 to 15 percent.

The platform not only collects and analyzes nutritional data but also provides automated insights and personalized guidance. The AI detects trends, predicts risks, and flags cases requiring intervention. It also delivers reminders and nutrition education directly to parents.

“Our solution enables EduFarmers to implement a more efficient and scalable approach to addressing malnutrition. By leveraging Generative AI, EduFarmers is empowered to deliver personalized guidance and empathetic communication tailored to each parent's concerns,” said Peiru Teo, CEO of KeyReply.

The program also features the One Day, One Egg campaign, which distributes subsidized or donated eggs to children at risk of stunting. The six-month intervention aims to reduce stunting rates by 20 percent among participants, an improvement over the baseline 17 percent reduction achieved without digital tools.

The campaign targets an additional 3 to 7 percent reduction through AI-supported monitoring and education.

During its first year, a single two-hour workshop led to a 13 percent increase in parental nutrition knowledge.

The AI-driven platform is projected to boost this figure to between 25 and 35 percent, alongside a 30 percent increase in adoption of recommended nutritional practices.

The program’s structure includes validating children’s nutritional data, distributing eggs, engaging local stakeholders, monitoring health metrics, and evaluating outcomes using AI analytics. Supported by healthcare professionals,

NGOs, and local governments, the initiative marks a significant step in Indonesia’s fight against childhood malnutrition.

Editor’s Choice: UNESCO Urges Schools to Prioritize Nutritional Value of School Meals

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