SBM ITB in collaboration with the Institute for Energy, Economics, and Finance (IEEF), conducted a community service program titled the “Integrated Financial Literacy Program for Increasing Village Economic Capacity.” This program took place in Mertak Village, Central Lombok, from January 9 to January 11, 2026. This program aims to strengthen the economic capacity of communities in the Mandalika buffer zone by improving financial literacy.
This program begins with a process of identifying village needs facilitated through the Desanesha application, a platform from the Directorate of Community Service and Expertise (DPMK) of ITB. Through Desanesha, village governments can convey their needs and challenges, while also connecting with ITB experts and lecturers.
“Through the Desanesha application, we communicate and engage in dialogue with the village government regarding bottlenecks experienced in Mertak Village. This serves as a formal tool for us to follow up on the needs of the village government and residents,” said Anisya Nurfitri Kustyani, a member of the SBM ITB & IEEF Research Team.
Through formal communication and discussions with the Mertak Village government, the team identified that the community’s financial literacy level remains relatively low. As a buffer village for the strategic Mandalika tourism area, Mertak Village enjoys a highly potential geographical location. However, the rapid growth of tourism has not yet fully delivered a significant economic impact to the local community. Low financial literacy, business management capacity, and institutional readiness are factors that limit community participation in the regional economic growth generated by Mandalika.
This program is a cross-university collaboration with academics from the Indonesian University of Education (UPI) and Padjadjaran University (UNPAD). It is supported by funding from the Education Fund Management Institute (LPDP). SBM ITB is the main driving force behind the program, playing a crucial role in developing a contextual financial literacy curriculum. This includes designing and implementing on-site training, providing mentoring throughout the program, and integrating academic, research, and practical approaches into community service. SBM ITB lecturer and IEEF Executive Director, Dzikri Firmansyah Hakam, led this activity.
The program lasted three days. On the first and second days, the IEEF–SBM ITB team conducted field observations and mapping to gain insights into the economic structure and development potential of Mertak Village. Discussions with the village government revealed that the local economy is supported by several sectors, including tourism (homestays, Batu Berang Beach, and the Mangrove Forest), agriculture (particularly corn), fisheries, and livestock. These activities are managed through Village-Owned Enterprises (BUMDes) and Tourism Awareness Groups (Pokdarwis).
On the third day, the observations were utilized in a workshop that included training in household financial management, basic business planning, simple financial record-keeping for micro and small businesses, and an introduction to low-risk investment instruments.
Approximately 40–50 participants attended the workshop. The Mertak Village community demonstrated strong enthusiasm for the activities, as reflected in the high level of participation throughout the series.
The IEEF team’s evaluation, using pre- and post-test methods, demonstrated an increase in participants’ understanding of more structured financial management and the importance of long-term financial planning.
The program subsequently produced several outputs, including a financial literacy module for the Mertak Village community, which is expected to serve as a reference for developing similar programs in other areas.
This financial literacy program is highly applicable because it addresses a cross-sectoral need and is relevant to the community’s daily lives. With a local-potential-based approach, this program model can be replicated in other villages, particularly those surrounding tourist destinations and national strategic projects. Through this program, SBM ITB and IEEF affirm their commitment to supporting village development through a financial literacy-based approach, as a crucial foundation for promoting community economic independence and sustainability.
