Human Resource Management in Free Nutritious Meal Programs: A Scoping Review with Evidence from Aceh, Indonesia

Background: Government-led free nutritious meal programs have gained global prominence as key public policy instruments to improve child nutrition and strengthen human capital development. While policy design, financing, and food logistics have been widely examined, the role of human resource management (HRM) in ensuring effective and sustainable implementation remains underexplored.  Objective: This scoping review aims to map existing evidence on how HRM is addressed in the policy formulation and implementation of government-led free nutritious meal programs, with particular attention to workforce roles, capacity development, and governance mechanisms, and to draw implications for implementation in Aceh, Indonesia.  Methods: A scoping review was conducted following the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Relevant literature was identified from major databases (Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed) and grey literature sources, including government reports and policy documents. Evidence was synthesized narratively and organized according to key HRM domains.  Results: The review identified diverse HRM approaches across countries, encompassing workforce role allocation, training and certification systems, intersectoral coordination structures, and accountability mechanisms. Common challenges included capacity gaps, high workload, limited professionalization of frontline workers, and weak coordination across implementing agencies.  Conclusion: Human resource management plays a critical yet underemphasized role in the success of free nutritious meal programs. Strengthening workforce governance, competency standards, and inter-agency coordination is essential to enhance policy fidelity and ensure sustainable program delivery.