Why Has Indonesia's Stunting Policy Not Yet Performed Optimally? A Qualitative Multiple Case Study of High Burden Provinces, Budget Commitment, and Policy Outcomes

Abstract Stunting remains a major challenge in Indonesia despite decade long policies and increased budgets. This study explores why progress varies across regions, selecting four contrasting provinces: three high burden and one comparison province, and using qualitative case studies within a theoretical framework. National prevalence dropped from 24.4% in 2021 to 19.8% in 2024, but high burdens persist in Highland Papua, East Nusa Tenggara, and West Sulawesi. Four main issues hinder progress: uneven implementation capacity, weak translation of budgets into services, gaps in nutrition and WASH coverage, and persistent local factors like remoteness and poverty. Budget growth alone is insufficient; increased allocations in 2023–2024 resulted in a reduction in realization rates, from 97% to 78%. Insights from other countries suggest Indonesia needs better targeting, institutional stability, monitoring, and intergovernmental coordination. The article advances policy analysis by integrating theory with empirical and qualitative approaches to understand solutions to stunting.