Strengthening The Integration Of Specific And Sensitive Interventions In Regional Planning And Budgeting To Prevent And Accelerate The Reduction Of Stunting In Gianyar Regency

Abstract

Stunting represents a major human development challenge with long-term consequences for human capital quality, economic productivity, and regional competitiveness. Efforts to accelerate stunting reduction require the integration of nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions across sectors within regional planning and budgeting systems. Although Gianyar Regency has achieved relatively low stunting prevalence compared to the national average, challenges remain in ensuring systematic policy integration within regional development planning documents. This policy paper aims to analyze issues related to cross-sectoral integration of stunting interventions and to formulate the most effective policy alternatives for strengthening convergence in regional planning and budgeting. This study employs a public policy analysis approach using qualitative methods based on a review of national and regional policy documents. Alternative policy options are assessed using Bardach’s analytical framework. The analysis focuses on regulatory linkages, institutional governance, and regional planning and budgeting mechanisms in supporting accelerated stunting reduction. The findings indicate that the main challenges lie in weak regulatory binding at the regional level, sectoral approaches in local agency planning, and budgeting practices that are not yet performance- or outcome-oriented toward stunting reduction. These conditions result in fragmented implementation of specific and sensitive interventions, limiting the effectiveness of public expenditure in reducing stunting prevalence. Three policy alternatives are compared: maintaining the status quo, issuing an executive circular, and establishing binding regional regulations supported by annual executive decrees. The analysis shows that the regulatory approach provides the highest effectiveness in integrating cross-sectoral policies, improving budget efficiency, and strengthening implementation accountability. Therefore, the paper recommends the formulation of binding regional regulations to ensure the integration of stunting interventions into planning and budgeting documents, thereby enhancing convergence-based governance and accelerating sustainable stunting reduction outcomes.