Evaluation Report for Environmental Project in Youngshun Hunan

Background:
Yongshun County is located in the central part of Wuling Mountain, in the northern part of Tujia and Miao Minority Autonomous Prefecture of Western Hunan.

In March and October of 2007, with the company of local government and water conservancy authorities, Amity Foundation conducted field investigations and interviews with local people and agriculture and technical officials. After taking a comprehensive investigation on local economic, social, energy development, population growth and other information, Amity Foundation decided to try to help the local residents in improve their basic production and life facilities, and enhance their abilities, and proposed the Yongshun Environmental Project (referred to as “the Project”) to Norwegian Mission Society (NMS) for funding. The Project was permitted by NMS and a total of 1,243,500 RMB was invested in Yongshun County to perform the projects. Water conservancy, awareness building and skills training and renewable energy were the three main working areas.

The Project was aimed to address local people’s problems such as drinking water, irrigation and energy, and to improve agricultural production facilities and living conditions, so that the villagers can resist drought and floods in extreme weather conditions and improve their scientific and technological capacity, and eventually to improve their health condition and quality of life.
The Project involved a total of 15,881 people of 3,046 households in 217 villages under the administration of 23 townships in Yongshun.

Purpose/objective:
The main purposes of the evaluation include:
1) Applying a comprehensive assessment on the completion of scheduled project indicators;
2) Summarizing the useful experience and practical approach of the project in promoting local environmental protection, enhancing the ability of farmers and the development of women, children and community in rural areas;
3) Proposing any issue that may need further improvement and refinement, providing guidance and reference to the future work of Amity Foundation.

Methodology:
Baseline survey method, comparative analysis, logical framework analysis and comprehensive assessment analysis method were applied in this evaluation.
Through clear targets for investigation, field investigation, data queries and questionnaire survey, the evaluation assessed the contents and objects. 7 copies of the questionnaires were made separately directing at construction of reservoirs, drinking water for human and animals project, construction of biogas digesters, agricultural technician training, biogas technology and health training, women’s questionnaire and village cadres’ questionnaire.

Key findings:
1. Correct policy planning and content
2. Enormous economic benefits
3. High efficiency of projects
4. Projects’ long-lasting influence
5. Increased participation and development of community through project activities
6. Practical relevance of training and its outstanding effects

Recommendations:
1. Look for more sources of water
2. Complete further associated construction work in the irrigation canal system of Yadong reservoir
3. Complete local villagers’ sustainable running schemes
4. Continue educating and training biogas technicians and users
5. Enhance local villagers’ information about market and knowledge of marketing
6. Improve basic facilities for collecting and transporting agricultural products
7. Supporting garbage collection and disposal project
8. More input of “Intellectual Nutrition”