Dear Chris, I think you just got it wrong. First the very expensive transport in the area is getting even more expensive and more inaccessible for the locals because some rich white westerners are willing to pay huge amounts of money to have their precious and fragile motorbikes over this somewhat rough stretch. Not to mention the possible extortion of any other white traveler, who from any other reason need this transport (mechanical failure or medical reason).
I find a bit naive to think that a paved road will dramatically change the situation in the area. It will commercially... and that is the only reason that road will get tared (Or haven't got tared so far - no commercial necessity). Let's put it differently. Would you be ok with the highway through Serengeti couse this way some remote villages will get more access to primarily unnecessary things? The NGO workers are getting the help in remote communities no mater the road conditions. "Coca cola" type of consumerist things will get in that community only with the "help" of a tared road. "God grew tired of us" is a good movie some what on this subject.
There are other ways to help a poor community and an tared road isn't necessary the best one. The road could be upgraded to a good sealed gravel road and the huge difference invested in water wells in the remote areas for example, or schools, or clinics or... But no; it has to be tared. This way you can have commercial traffic (lorries full of containers from Mombasa) to Ethiopia. Is the only reason why the road will get tared.

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Crazy Oyibo - From Romania Into the World.
Part I - Africa Full Circle http://blog.intotheworld.eu