Member since 2024

Prior to CoST: Infrastructure in context

Nusa Tenggara Barat (NTB) is one of the 38 provinces in Indonesia. In 2020, Indonesia scored 37 out of 100 on Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI). It was ranked 102 out of 180 countries, up by five places since 2012. According to the Global Corruption Barometer, 92% of people think government corruption is a big problem in Indonesia. Meanwhile, 30% of public service users surveyed said they had paid a bribe in the last 12 months. In addition, Indonesia’s competitiveness and infrastructure condition ranking ranks 50th out of 141 countries in the world in the Global Competitiveness Index 4.0 2019 issued by the World Economic Forum. As with many countries, infrastructure investment forms a key part of Indonesia’s development strategy. Projects such as Kertajati Airport – otherwise known as the” crown jewel” of Indonesian public-private partnerships – serve as strong examples of cooperation between the central government, provincial government, and the private sector. However, historical obstacles to infrastructure delivery remain, including a lack of transparency throughout the project cycle and a lack of clarity in the regulatory framework for project delivery.

How it all began

Indonesia consists of 416 regencies, 98 cities, and 38 provinces. Considering this and the diverse nature of the country, there has been a clear need for a strategy to help shape the expansion of CoST activities in Indonesia effectively and efficiently.

The output-based aid PRIM (Provincial Road Improvement and Maintenance) program, first piloted in NTB in 2013, was eventually expanded into the Program Hibah Jalan Daerah (PHJD) that ended in 2023. Data publication according to the CoST Infrastructure Data Standard was built into that programme manual. This, and a well-attended online event in 2022 at which other Regencies and Provinces heard about the experience of West Lombok since joining CoST in 2019, led to broader interest in the approach and applications to join CoST from the NTB Province, as well as from Regencies in several other Provinces. The early progress made by CoST Wet Lombok was helped by the fact that the Multi-stakeholder approach was able to build on the existing Road Traffic and Transport Forum (RTTF), and that basic publication of some project data was already taking place in line with the CoST Infrastructure Data Standard (IDS).

The official launch of CoST NTB

The CoST NTB programme was launched in April 2024, following an application from the Government of NTB, through the RTTF. The launch was officiated by the Acting NTB Provincial Secretary, Ibnu Salim, in NTB’s capital, Mataram. He was accompanied by H. Lalu Moh. Faozal, Head of NTB’s Provincial Transportation Service. The official launch attracted 50 stakeholders, including representatives from four other prospective provinces that have expressed interest in implementing an infrastructure transparency programme, using the CoST tools and standards.

The launch was preceded by a physical training on the CoST pillars, tools, and standards. The launch of CoST NTB was reported in nine respected Indonesian media publications. This served to highlight the very public commitment made by NTB to infrastructure transparency.

Multi-Stakeholder Working

CoST brings together stakeholder groups with different perspectives and backgrounds from across government, the private sector, and civil society. Through each member’s Multi-Stakeholder Group, these entities can guide the delivery of CoST and pursue infrastructure transparency and accountability within a neutral forum.

CoST NTB has already set out some ambitious plans, which include establishing a broader Multi-Stakeholder Group by co-opting private sector representatives to join the existing Road Traffic and Transport Forum. The new MSG was established in July 2024, comprising a Team of 16 sector representatives from government, private sector, and civil society. The Head of the Transportation Agency is the CoST champion, and the RTTF is the host of CoST NTB.

Data publication

The data publication process ensures that data about the purpose, scope, costs and execution of infrastructure projects is open and accessible to the public, and that it is data is published in a timely manner.

Their priority sectors included construction and maintenance of regional road infrastructure.

In its first year, CoST NTB focused on implementing a data publication framework, customizing the INTRAS developed by CoST West Lombok. The new MSG has developed a capacity-building programme to train stakeholders, including public officials, civil society, and the private sector, on how to use the published data to influence decisions in the infrastructure sector in NTB.

In September 2024, the Governor of NTB issued a decree providing a legal framework for implementing the INTRAS in NTB. The decree defines the composition of a team that will be responsible for managing the information platform, and those responsible for publishing data across the entities.

Get in touch

Ahmad Muharror, S.S.T(TD), M.Sc. Eng. – CoST West Lombok Manager

ntb@infrastructuretransparency.org

Useful Links

Annual workplan 2025 https://infrastructuretransparency.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/NTB-annual-workplan-2025.pdf