Summary

This is an evaluation of a project to complement national and local efforts to eliminate absolute poverty in rural communities of Qinghai Province. (2000, 99pp)

Description

This is the 2000 Evaluation Report for the Qinghai Community Development Project (China). The Project aimed to:

1. establish income generating activities among local poor households through cash-for-work programs to improve access and water supply for households
2. assist poor households to participate in farming and nonfarming income generation activities by improving their savings and access to credit
3. improve community development through training service institutions associated with improvement of living standards in poor villages, and to enable technical personnel to deliver appropriate agriculture and livestock extension, credit services, health and educational services.

This evaluation assessed:

1. appropriateness of the project goal
2. extent to which the activity achieved its stated goal and objectives
3. outcomes and impact (both intended and unintended) of the project
4. efficiency of project implementation
5. sustainability of benefits, including the extent to which the Agricultural Bank of China's (ABC) provision of microfinance services covered its costs.

The evaluation concludes that this was a good project with a well balanced set of inputs and remarkable results. Previously very poor villages have 'opened up', with access to markets and microcredit. Official statistics and investigation conducted by the evaluation team indicated per capita income rose from Y300 in 1992 to over Y700 in 1998, and that inflation was not significant in this rise. The evaluation notes that the four components of the project were effective, with the microcredit component exceeding expectations by a factor of four–a revolving fund of Y13 million was lent out through 38,000 micro-loans to a total of over 15,000 villagers, with a cumulative volume of Y23 million. The evaluation reports that the project benefited from good management and flexibility. Where relevant, areas for improvement and lessons learned are documented.

Qinghai Community Development Project Evaluation Report [PDF 366kb]

Available: Electronic Version.

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