Nutrition International (NI) stands as the main development partner actively collaborating with the Indonesian government to advance the cause of Universal Salt Iodization (USI). Since the initiation of this collaboration in 2010, NI has played a pivotal role by providing substantial technical assistance to support the government's efforts in salt iodization. This engagement involves enhancing the capacities of 170 small and medium-scale salt processors, as well as several large-scale salt processors, with a specific focus on adopting appropriate iodization practices in three key salt-producing regions: Central Java, East Java, and West Nusa Tenggara province (Bima and Lombok District).
Political commitment to eliminating iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) and achieving universal salt iodization appears low. Misinterpretation of RISKESDAS data on iodine status has raised concerns within the Ministry of Health about excess iodine intake, despite no evidence of this. The coordination structure for salt iodization is inactive, and there has been little national government coordination, oversight, or implementation guidance in recent years. There is also no connection between efforts to increase domestic salt production and salt iodization initiatives. Enforcement of national standards for salt iodization has been limited to retail-level monitoring by BPOM.
The withdrawal of the Ministry of Home Affairs Decree number 63 / 2010 on the prevention of Iodine deficiency disorder at the sub-national level led to the lack of independence of the provincial GAKI (USI-IDD) team to allocate their budget. As a result of the lack of allotted finances, Team GAKI found it challenging to independently allocate the budget for activities. As NI project area, regular meetings for the GAKI team in Central and East Java have been suspended because of this government priority decrease impacting the monitoring of salt consumption iodization, which is supposed to be handled by the DITO.
Despite numerous regulations on salt iodization in Indonesia, weaknesses and ambiguities remain. Current legislation focuses on the conditions for salt iodization rather than mandating iodization for all salt. Additionally, the requirements for using iodized salt in food processing are unclear. Recent updates to the SNI for raw salt used in iodized salt production (SNI 4435) and a new SNI for salt used in food processing (SNI 8207) aim to address some of these issues, particularly if the SNI for food processing salt becomes mandatory.
Another problem is that the current SNI for iodized salt sets potassium iodate levels at the production stage but not at retail or household levels. Monitoring uses the same potassium iodate requirement at all levels, despite known losses of potassium iodate from production to household. This could explain why the iodine content in household salt is often found to be inadequate in most Indonesian households.
Given this situation above, NI believes it is necessary to continue national advocacy by developing a policy brief, disseminating it, and supporting the LSFF working group to re-prioritize USI in the national program of the Ministry of Health.
NI is seeking agency/firm to conduct National Advocacy Activities which include: the development policy brief and conduct national advocacy activities to priorities the USI Program.
Kindly find detailed RFP along with TOR and Budget Template in the link as follows:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/12rwNWeE3MpR52TsgLxYmVbByl3F2RAr6?usp=sharing
The submission deadline for proposals is Sunday, July 21, 2023 by 24:00 HRS. West Indonesia Standard Time. The Technical and Financial Proposal in two separate files put into a covering email specifically indicating the subject line "National Advocacy Activities" and should be sent by email to: proposalsindonesia@nutritionintl.org
Regards,
Nutrition International
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