Summary of the Terminal Evaluation
I．Outline of the ProjectPrefecture：the Peoples’ Republic of China

Sector：Nature Conservation－Sustainable
Use of Natural Resources
Office in charge: JICA China Office

Project Title: The Project on Eco-environment
Rehabilitation
andPoverty
ReductioninYanmenguan Region, Shanxi Province
Cooperation scheme: Technical Cooperation Project

Cost (as of November 2010)：Three hundred andninety million yen
Period of Cooperation: (R/D) March2007- Implementing Organization in China: The Shanxi
March 2011
Science and Technology Department
Supporting Organizations in Japan: Ministry ofAgriculture and Fisheries
Related Cooperation:
1-1 Summary and Background of Corporation
In China, reduction of disparity between economically growing urban areas and rural areas thathost 70 % of the national population has been a significant issue. In rural areas, ecologicalenvironment is severely damaged due to overwhelming agriculture, livestock, and deforestation. The
Yanmenguan Region, the target area of this project, locates in the Loess Plateau of the Northern
China and is a region of arid sandy terrace where rain-fed farming (wheat, potato, sesame, andlivestock farming) is the major style of agriculture. Net income par capita among the farmers is 150
USD, and 18 prefectures out of 30 in the region are designated the nations’ poorest prefecture,indicating concentration of poor population in this region. In lands where reclamation reaches tomountain summits, soil erodes after each heavy rainfall in summer, and this reduced land
productivity further accelerates poverty.
In consideration of these circumstances, the Shanxi Provincial Government developed a regional
development strategy in an aim to protect ecological environment and sustainable economic
development, and in 2001, proposed the Yanmenguan Ecological Livestock Economic Zone
Construction Plan(hereinafter Yanmenguan Construction Plan) that targeted improvement of
ecological environment and of farmers’ livelihood. This project aimed to improve livelihood of the
farmers by increasing the ratio of livestock farming, protecting soil surface through cultivation of
perennial plants mainly on the sandy lands as well as slopes, and promoting grass-fed livestock
farming in this agriculture-dependent region.
Nevertheless, this region lacks human resources capable of initiating and implementing the above
project, as well as grass seeds, livestock, and initial investment cost for livestock-house construction,
causing major delays on transition from agriculture to livestock farming. Thereupon, this project was
designed to support project expansion for protection of ecological environment and livelihood
improvement by project planning based on natural resource availability and farmers’ needs and by
establishment of technological diffusion system, followed by proposal of this implementation as amodel system.

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1-2 Project Overview
This project aims at eco-environment rehabilitation and poverty reduction in Yanmenguan Region,
Shanxi Province, through promoting grass-fed livestock farming and building technical support
system.
(1) Overall Goal
To diffuse the model system created in the project, improve the ecological environment, and to
improve livelihood of the farmers in the Yangmenguan Region.
(2) Project Purpose
To construct a model* system for improvement of both ecological environment and livelihood of
farmers and to establish a system for diffusion in the Yangmenguan Region.
*This Project’s Model：The Model refers to a series of activities including project planning through the participatory
approach, improvement of ecological environment and of livelihood through transition of livestock farming fromgrazing to housing.

(3) Outputs(O/P)
O/P1: The prefectural land utilization plans are formulated to promote improvement of ecologicalenvironments and sustainable development of livestock farming.
O/P2: The village development plans are formulated in a participatory manner, in order to realize
improvement of ecological environment and sustainable development of livestock farming
based on the prefectural land utilization plans, and to establish activity plans of the pilot
project.
O/P3: Pilot Project is implemented based on the village development plan.
O/P4: The technical support system for the model villages is strengthened.
O/P5: Outcome of the project activities are consolidated and then shared among organizations
concerned improvement of both ecological environment and livelihood in the Yangmenguan
region.
(4) Outputs（as of November 2010）
Japanese Side：Cost (as of November 2010)：Three hundred and ninety million yen
Short-term Experts - 6(Project Coordinator/Rural Development, Livestock Promotion, Participatory
Development, Pasture Management/Market Research, Water Utilization, Soil
Conservation）
Trainees received – 25 (20 from the Province, 2 from Youyu Prefecture, and 3 from Loufan
Prefecture）
Equipment - 12,848,000 yen （eq. 1,056,232 Yuan by JICA official rate November 2010）
Project Cost - 66,050,000 yen （eq. 5,429,957 Yuan by JICA official rate November 2010）
Chinese SideCounterpart(herein after C/P) – 52*1 (31 from the Province, 11 from Youyu Prefecture, and 10 from
Loufan Prefecture）
Land and Facilities – 3 Office spaces and necessary facilities and its’ utility costs
Local Cost – 6,560,000yuan*2 (eq 79,795,840yen）

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The China side also paid for costs for project implementation (i.e. construction of livestock facilities,
sheep purchase, water facilities and road construction)*1：total number of members in the Project Offices and the Instruction & Coordination Group*2：Total Direct Input Cost to this project paid by the Shanxi Science and Technology Department, Ministry of Agriculture
Livestock Department, Department of Science and Technology Taiyuan City, Department of Science and TechnologyShuòzhōu City, and Loufan Prefecture.

II. Evaluation Team
Members of Chinese Side
Evaluation
Mr. Zhang Yuan Gong (Deputy Director, International Cooperation Office, Shanxi
Team
Science and Technology Department)
Mr. Sun Zhen (Director, Office of Science and Research, Shanxi Academy ofAgricultural Sciences)
Japanese side:
Mr. Masaru Uoya, Team Leader (Senior Representative, JICA China Office)Dr. Masahiko Ohkubo (Environmental Management and Poverty Reduction ),Emeritus Professor(Animal Production), Hokkaido University
Ms. Kanako Adachi, Cooperation Planning, (Representative, JICA China Office)
Ms. Tang Jian, Assistant Cooperation Planning, (Assistant Resident
Representative, JICA China Office)Ms. Naomi Ichimiya(Evaluation Analysis), Program Officer, Dept.of Planning andProgram, FASID
Periodof 9/Nov/2010 – 18/Nov/2010
Typeof Terminal Evaluation
Evaluation
Evaluation
III. Results of Evaluation
1 Project Performance(1) Achievement of Project Purpose
The Project Purpose is expected to be achieved before termination of the project according toattainment level of indicators.
[Indicator 1] Based on the village development plan, indicators of improvement of ecologicalenvironments and of residents’ livelihood in the model villages are simultaneously achieved. Two
sub-indicators attached to this Indicator 1 were archived.
Sub-indicator1-1 Planted grassland areas increase by 50 % compared to the 2006 level has
already been achieved since the increase rate of the planted grassland in the six model villages was
53 % compared to the 2006 level. This indicator is on improvement of ecological environment. In the
project, in the scope of promoting soil conservation and house farming of sheep, areas of planted
grassland had been expanded through encouraging cultivation of livestock-feed plants, mainly the
perennial alfalfa. At the time of post evaluation survey, the planted grassland areas had shown an
increase from 2010 m in 2006 to 3080 m in 2009, an increase by 1070 m, whose increase rate is of
53 %.
Sub-indicator1-2 Income from livestock farming par capita in model farmer increases by 50 %has been achieved. Income from livestock farming par capita in model farming households was1808 yuan in 2009, an increase of 84 % compared to the 2006 level (the figure was collected
through project monitoring). This indicator is related to livelihood improvement. The project aimed toincrease farmers’ income by incorporating house farming of sheep into farming activity. At the time ofpost evaluation survey, actual farming income par capita increased from 985 yuan in 2006 to 1,808

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yuan in 2009, recording an increase rate of 84 %. The income record of 2010 is to be obtained at theend of the year 2010, which necessitates inclusion of the 2010 record in the project’s final-year
report.
[Indicator 2] C/Ps acquires skills to diffuse the project outcome throughout the Yangmenguan
Region through active implementation of project activities at the provincial, municipal, and prefecturelevels.
Sub-indicator2-1 At least One teaching material is produced for each project activity areas wasachieved. One or more than one teaching material has been produced in each subject. The total
number of produced teaching materials is 32. In the project, through the participatory approach,establishment of models for rehabilitation of ecological environment and livelihood improvement had
been implemented. After identification of necessary technical fields, all activities in the fields weredone as On-Job-Training for technology transfer from the Japanese experts to the provincial as wellas prefecture C/Ps. Materials produced through these processes were put into guidelines andtechnical guidance by the Japanese experts and the C/Ps as follows: i) Rural Development Guideline, ii) Livestock Farming - Sheep Breeding and Raising, iii) Grassland Utilization - Cultivationand Utilization of Grass plants, iv) Participatory Development - Formulation of Participatory Planning,v) Soil Conservation - Planting of Shrub and Monetary Timbers and vi) Water Utilization Plan Maintenance of Water Facility.
Sub-indicator2-2 At least six training sessions targeting at the model villages and prefectures
are held annually by the Chinese C/Ps was achieved. At least one training session was held in eachyear in above mentioned six technical fields, resulting in at least six times of training sessions par
year throughout the project duration, and the total of 47 times of training sessions in four years were
held. In this project each level of C/P implemented technical training on farmers in the model villages
for structural establishment for technological transfer (from the Japanese experts to the provincial
and prefecture C/Ps) and diffusion (from the provincial C/P to prefecture C/P, or from the provincial/prefecture C/Ps to the farmers).
[Indicator 3]To set up roles of each related agency for diffusion, which is done by the Diffusion
Office composed mainly of Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanxi Province.
At the time of post evaluation survey, the Diffusion Plan had been formulated, specifying roles
on diffusion of project outputs, and is currently waiting for an approval by the Joint Coordination
Committee. It is expected to be approved by the end of the project.
(2) Achievement of Outputs
Output1 The two indicators in the third version of PDM have been achieved, consequently
presuming achievement of Output 1. In both Youyu and Loufan prefectures, through negotiation with
province C/Ps, prefecture C/Ps formulated prefecture plans including land utilization plans andlivestock farming plans. These plans were later approved by the prefecture governments afternegotiations with related agencies (August 2010).
Output2 The two indicators in the third version of PDM have been achieved, consequently
presuming achievement of Output 2. In the six villages that had been selected as model villages, thevillage development plan were formulated through participatory assessment methods such as
Participatory Rural Assessment (PRA), and the plans were approved by village committeesxiv(February 2008). Also, based on the village-level development plan, plans of operation for pilot
projects (hereinafter referred to as PP) were formulated through the participatory approach (January2008).
Output3 The two indicators in the third version of PDM have been achieved, consequently
presuming achievement of Output 3. The PP was implemented in duration between June 2008 and
September 2010. Also, monitoring on the PP was done on a monthly basis by the prefecture C/Ps.
Results were recorded on monitoring sheets, and submitted from the country C/P to Japaneseexperts, based on which the Japanese experts developed monthly reports, progress reports, andannual reports, and also reported to the Joint Coordination Committee. Additionally, depending on
areas of monitoring, results were reported from the country C/P to the province C/P.
Output4 The two indicators in the third version of PDM have been achieved, consequently
presuming achievement of Output 4. 10 kinds of training materials were produced. Training sessions
for improvement of ecological environment and for diffusion of a model system for livelihood
improvement were held in the model prefectures, which were attended by 300 farming households
out of 593 in the six model villages.
Output5 Presuming from the current status of the two indicators in the third version of PDM, it
is highly probable that the output 5 is to be achieved by the end of the project period.The project had
produced, at the time of post evaluation survey, drafts for the following documents: one guideline,
five sets of technical guidance, and 16 sets of diffusion tools, and these documents would be
finalized after reflecting results of post evaluation survey on them. At the time of post evaluation
survey, a seminar had been held for three times aiming to introduce contents of the project and its
outcomes. By the time of the project termination, two times of seminar sessions were planned to beheld.

2 Summary of Evaluation Results(1) RelevanceThe relevance of this project is high for the following reasons:1)Priority
This project is in accordance with the Yanmenguan Ecological Livestock Economic Zone
Construction Plan which the Shanxi Province places as its regional development strategy and themodel establishment for diffusion and system construction are necessary assistance for the activities
in the Yanmenguan Region. In Japan’s Development Plan for China, assistance for global issues
such as environmental problems is set out as one of the prioritized areas, and this includes
conservation of ecological environment in the arid areas.
2) Needs
Ecosystem deterioration and poverty are serious threats in the Yanmenguan Region, which has
many prefectures designated the nations’ poorest prefecture and contains concentrated populationof the poor making needs of this project, which aims to rehabilitate the ecological environment andreduction of poverty, very high.
3)ApproachThis project made use of participatory approach for formulation of the village development plan,xv

purposing a model construction to incorporate farmers’ needs. There are two land types in
Yanmenguan Region and one prefecture was selected for each land type as a model prefecture,and three villages of different economic levels in each of the model prefecture were selected asmodel villages. In each model village, in a purpose to study model cases for development of
livestock farming and poverty reduction, model farmers were selected from three categories
according to their relative economic status: the upper-class households, the lower-class households,
and the ones in between the two classes. Verification of the diffusion model by implementing pilot
projects is considered an appropriate approach to assure diffusion in the Yanmenguan Region.
(2) Effectiveness
Effectiveness of this project is considered high for the following reasons:1)Achievement of the Project Goal
Judging from the progress (or predicted progress in part) of the project’s indicators, it isprobable that the project goal would be achieved by the end of the project duration. This project
aimed to construct a model that would realize dual purposes: improvement of ecologicalenvironment and of livelihood among the farmers in poverty. In so doing through a participatory
approach, the project plan was designed in such a manner to meet national policy on forest
rehabilitation, regional specifications, and farmers’ necessities. The project progressed withplantation of livestock feeds, transfer of the style of livestock farming from grazing to housing, forestry
plantation of shrubs and economic timbers, water resource development, and training sessions. The
C/Ps understood the series of methodologies and techniques, major objectives (such as income
increase through sales of raised sheep, soil conservation, and water resource development) wereachieved in the model villages, and models for both improvement of ecological environment andpoverty reduction were developed. Additionally, the above approaches and techniques verified
through the PP were put together in the China-Japan Technology Jointed – Rehabilitation of
Ecological Environment and Poverty Reduction in Yanmenguan Region, Shanxi Province Project
Manual is soon to be complete. This manual includes diffusion plans that make use of the models
constructed in the project.
2)Contribution of the Outputs
The project goal is brought about by achievements of the five outputs: the prefecture land
utilization plan, development plan of the model villages, implementation of the PP to practice thedevelopment plan, training for capacity development of C/Ps and production of training programs,
and consolidation of project outputs. This composition is appropriate to construct model, which was
the major objective, and to construction diffusion system, in terms of its contents as well as
chronological arrangements, and therefore, contribution of outputs for the goal achievement is high.
(3) Efficiency
Efficiency of this project is high for the following reasons:1) Timing, quantity, and quality of inputs
Inputs from both Japan and China were mostly done as planned in terms of contents, quantity,and quality.
2) Achievement of outputs
Judging from the current OVI achievement status and predicted achievement status, outputs

xviwere produced almost as planned.
(4) Impact
As for impacts of this project, positive impacts were observed.
1) Impacts at the Overall-Goal Level
The Overall Goal is “To improve ecological environment and livelihood of farmers throughdiffusion of a model developed in the project in the Yangmenguan Region.” From the below
indicators achievement prediction, probability of the project outputs diffusing to outside the target
group is high. First indicator “To implement a case referring to this project in prefecture(s) and/or
village(s) of the Yangmenguan Region”, has already produced two such cases, and so forecast of
this OVI to be achieved is very high (Case 1: in the Youyu prefecture a poverty reduction plan inreference to this project constructed a livestock housing facility. Case 2: in the Youyu Prefecture an
activity for poverty reduction aided by Hong-Kong was initiated in reference to this project’s
participatory approach).
For second indicator “Income from livestock farming par capita increases by 50 % in three
years in villages in Yangmenguan Region after incorporation of this project’s model*”, considering
the 84 % increase of income of livestock-farming households practically in three years, theprobability of this indicator to be achieved is high if large scale natural disaster does not occur andmean price does not fall sharply.
For third an indicator, “The area of planted grassland increases by 10 % in three years invillages in Yangmenguan Region that incorporated this project’s model”, considering that livestock
house facility for sheep and cultivation of livestock feed are in accordance with such policies of theChinese government as prohibition of grazing and rehabilitation of ecological environment, theprobability of achievement is high if large scale natural disaster does not occur.
2）Additional Impacts
In the model villages, as a result of livelihood improvement, school attendance is improving.
Through planning by the participatory approach, ownership of the farmers was promoted. This
project ran in the cycle of plan-do-monitor-feedback-modify, through which the project plan continued
to increase its practicality. Project members such as prefecture C/P have shown their intentions toapply this approach in different fields, spreading the concept of project cycle management.
6.5 Sustainability
Sustainability of this project is considered high for the following reasons.
1) Institutional Aspects
As for the institutional aspects, as discussed in 6.1(1), the Yanmenguan Construction Plan is
expected to continue.
2) Organizational Aspects
As for the organizational aspects, each agency that worked for the project is expected to utilize
the project outputs. The Shanxi Science and Technology Department is currently considering apermanent organizational system for diffusion of the outputs.
3)Financial Aspects
As for the financial aspects, to reduce disparity in the rural areas, the Chinese government has
been implementing the New Rural Village Construction Plan and the Poverty Reduction Plan, andxvii

also the Yanmenguan Construction Plan possesses its own budget. In these related programs, it ispossible to utilize outputs of this project that aimed rehabilitation of environment and poverty
reduction (In the Youyu Prefecture, an implemented case is on-going).
4) Technical Aspects
As for the technical aspects, sustainability of techniques and approaches adopted in this projectis high. Prefecture C/Ps are familiar with needs assessment through the participatory approach andhow to identify specific activities and to design action plans for improvement of ecologicalenvironment and of livelihood. Technical training on farming households is also being appropriately
done. The diffusion manual, which consolidates the project outputs, discusses how to cope withecological rehabilitation and poverty reduction simultaneously and how to train on techniques, andthough still in a process of drafting, the manual is very well received by the model farmers andprefecture C/Ps with such comments as “comprehensive” and “always in hand for reference”. The
manual is expecting a wide range of users as a diffusion catalyst.
3-3 Factors that promoted realization of effects(1) Factors concerning to Planning
N.A.
(2) Factors concerning to the Implementation Process
1) Utilization of Participatory Approach
In this project, planning of the pilot project was established after comprehension of farmers’
needs through participatory research methods. So, the ownership and participation of the farmers
were promoted through planning upon needs of the farmers, and this led to the remarkable
outcomes.
2) PDCA Cycle
In this project, monitoring was regularly conducted and monitoring results were reflected onrevision of the project plan. This use of the PDCA cycle allowed planning to be more practical andappropriate.
3-4 Factors that impeded realization of effects(1) Factors concerning to Planning
N.A.
(2) Factors concerning to the Implementation Process
N.A.
3-3 Conclusion
This project, in terms of the 5 evaluation criteria, is superior in relevance, effectiveness, andefficiency. Possibility of project outputs to be achieved is high, from a perspective of this project’s
genre on rehabilitation of ecological environment and livelihood improvement. Positive impacts are
already observed in improved school attendance and promoted awareness among the farmers andthe C/Ps, and therefore, sustainability is also high. From above, the project is conclusively expectedto achieve its project goal.

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3-6 Recommendations(1) Actions to be done by the end of the project1) Completion of the Diffusion PlanAt the present moment, the Diffusion Plan is being designed mainly by the Shanxi Science andTechnology Department. It is desired that the Shanxi Science and Technology Departmentcompletes this Diffusion Plan by the end of the project and roles of each agency responsible for
diffusion of outputs are clarified.
2) Completion of the Diffusion Manual
At the present moment, in the project, production of a diffusion manual is taking place byintegrating project-produced teaching materials and a draft of this manual has been made. It is
desired that Japanese experts and Chinese counterparts examine and complete its contents by theend of the project to be utilized for the diffusion described above.
3) Output Report Seminars and Publicity Strengthening
This project is yielding notable outputs for income increase for farmers and rehabilitation of
ecological environment, attracting interests from areas of similar land characteristics. Therefore it isdesired that by the end of the project, Japanese experts and Chinese counterparts hold seminars toreport outputs widely, following production of such publicity tools as DVDs and pamphlets.
(2) Factors to assure sustainability of project outputs after project termination.
1) Implementation of the Diffusion Plan.
By the end of the project the Joint Coordination Committee is expected to approve the Diffusion
Plan for project outputs, which was designed mainly by the Shanxi Science and Technology
Department. After project termination, based on this plan, related agencies on the Chinese side are
expected to disseminate the outputs.
2) Output Diffusion in the Loufan and Youyu Prefectures
In this project, income increase among the farmers and rehabilitation of ecological environment
have been observed in the six model villages, and improvement of farmers’ skill and knowledge isremarkably apparent. Already these villages host study tours from other villages. Cases of utilizationof this project’s outputs are already seen in some of other projects by the Chinese Government.
Even after project termination, it is desired that through such exchange programs, each prefecture
diffuses project outputs into areas other than these model villages in the two prefectures. It is evenbetter if Shanxi Science and Technology Department and other related organizations take necessary
measurements to facilitate output diffusion by each prefecture.
3-7 Lessons Learned(1)Utilization of Participatory Approach
In this project, planning of the pilot project was established after comprehension of farmers’ needs
through participatory research methods. This type of methodology was done for the first time in themodel prefectures but the ownership and participation of the farmers were promoted throughplanning upon needs of the farmers, and this led to the remarkable outcomes.
(2)PDCA Cyclexix

In this project, monitoring was regularly conducted and monitoring results were reflected onrevision of the project plan. This use of the PDCA cycle allowed planning to be more practical andappropriate.

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