As a continuation of the qualitative monitoring and impact evaluation of the Eastern Indonesia National Roads Improvement Project (EINRIP), in 2015 SMERU conducted a study in Sumbawa Island (Kabupaten Dompu dan Kabupaten Sumbawa). There are four EINRIP projects in Sumbawa, covering 81 km of national road. SMERU’s study covered three EINRIP sections on the ENB-03 road (Kabupaten Dompu). The full baseline and monitoring surveys were conducted in 2008 and 2013, and on ENB-01AB and ENB-01C (Kabupaten Sumbawa) a construction impact study was conducted in 2011.
The 2013 monitoring study of ENB 03 found that the road improvements had reduced journey times and facilitated access to schools, medical services, and markets. In addition, the improved accessibility of previously remote areas facilitated the provision of government support for economic development. This social research was intended to follow-up on the earlier studies to establish if the benefits identified in 2013 had been sustained and whether similar benefits had been realized by the communities living alongside ENB 01AB, the Sumbawa Bypass, and ENB 01C: Lape – Plampang.
This social research comprised of semi-structured in-depth interviews with local officials and residents, and focus group discussions (FGDs), which were held in the villages of Nanga Tumpu (Kabupaten Dompu).