Stunting Reduction Policy Strategies and Their Implications for Human Capital Development: An Analytical Approach

Abstrak

Stunting remains a critical public health issue that significantly affects human capital quality and long-term development outcomes. This study aims to analyze policy strategies for stunting reduction in order to improve the quality of human resources toward long-term development targets. This research employs a descriptive qualitative method using a policy analysis framework based on William N. Dunn, with data collected through in-depth interviews and document analysis. The findings indicate that existing policy strategies have not been fully effective, as evidenced by persistent challenges such as limited budget allocation, low public awareness of nutritional practices, and insufficient cross-sectoral collaboration. Although various interventions have been implemented, their impact remains suboptimal due to gaps in implementation capacity and coordination among stakeholders. Therefore, this study proposes several policy recommendations, including strengthening the role of nutrition-based small and medium enterprises (SMEs), enhancing inter-agency collaboration, and improving community-based nutrition education. The study contributes by offering an inclusive and collaborative policy perspective in addressing stunting as a multidimensional issue and highlights the importance of integrated and context-sensitive strategies to improve human capital quality in the long term.