I. Progress report (15 July 2013):
Activities undertaken:
1.Launching capacity building through training & learning centre
2. Launching demonstration of activities: biogas construction

Results of activities:
1. Increased capacity & awareness of targeted population witnessed by formation of network of CSO in project location covering 21 communities, establishment of committee & community development regulations and display of additional interest in biomass energy, apart from biogas
2. Locations and equipment for biogas and biomass energy being prepared and procured for 64 households

Project Visibility and Communication by other organizations/individuals:
None during the period

Emerging problems and issues:
Project leaders and targeted population had rather limited knowledge and experience on alternative energy management ?resulting in rather slow progress of activities. The leaders thus began Coordinating with other relevant stakeholders for additional learning and skill.

Project experience and lessons learnt :
Due to limited knowledge and experience on alternative energy mentioned earlier, in order for the project to fare smoothly, the following findings and recommendations should be focused:
1. Capacity-building should be focused to core leaders of communities first, before launching actual practices among other targeted groups.
2. Any decision making should be made clear and subsequently in 3 stages. i.e. during planning stage of proponents, during participatory approach and during actual practice in the field.

Project expense:
The project reported the expense of THB: 347,630 out of the first disbursement of THB: 381,752.34.
II. Project Site Visit (September 4, 2013):
Findings and Observation:
At Baan (village) Pla Bu, one of the 12 participating villages and the office of the grantee, the visiting team was briefed by a group of project leaders on undertaken activities and some evinced results. Nearly all proposed capacity-building activities on renewable energy were carried out and core project leaders seemed to possess, to a degree, technical knowledge on renewable energy, especially, biomass, and eager to put into practice what had been learnt from the activities. However, these leaders expressed uncertainty about biogas from animal manure which is the main proposed renewable energy of the project, and had not yet begun building any system. So, the visiting team shared additional data & information to convince the leaders. It appeared that this uncertainty was dealt with.

A next visit was in Baan Song Hong, another participating village, the visiting team witnessed a premises on one project leader who had been given 2 water buffaloes and one hogs from major stakeholders, Heifer, an international development agency, and the Department of Husbandry. The premises resembled an integrated farming plot and was a targeted location of a back SGP project of OP 4 ,THA/SGP/OP4/Y3/CORE/10/04: Promoting and Developing Community Food Resources for Self-reliance which aimed to contribute to reversing the rate of land degradation in agricultural ecosystems. It was related that the plot had been producing favourable results under this back project, i.e. turning a portion of semi-degraded paddy field into an integrated farming grown with native species to ensure food security. Under the new project, and with given animals, the project leader promised to proceed with biogas system construction to reduce consumption of canned gas and fire-woods.

As to biomass energy using fire-woods, the leaders appeared eager to put into practice-witnessed by some fabricated high-efficiency charcoal producing kilns , placed and ready to use in the office of the grantee.

Based on this brief interaction, the visiting team agreed to confirm the availability and potentiality of biogas resources in project location. Technical capacity-building carried out earlier through study tours by the project seemed to be slightly irrelevant, since SGP projects had several types of biogas requiring detailed consideration before applying in several different contexts. Advice from the team to the leaders seemed to be aptly welcomed.

III. Completion report (September 8, 2014 ):
Date of Participatory Evaluation( June 20, 2014 ):

Number of Beneficiaries/ Participating personnel:
Women: 850
Men: 550
Children: 200

Number of persons trained/ attending seminars, joining study tours:
Women: 150
Men: 200
Children: 100

Expense:
Amount received from SGP (2 disbursements): THB: 693,433.88
Total amount spent out of SGP budget: THB: 779,630.00
Balance: THB: (-86,196.12 )
Amount authorized for the final payment: US$: 2,491.86
Amount Received from others: THB: 75,000 (in cash)
THB: 5,650,000 (in kind)
Activities undertaken:
1.Launching capacity building through training & learning centre
2. Launching demonstration of activities: biogas construction
3. Launching dissemination of project results
4. Launching participatory evaluation

Results and indicators:
1. Increased capacity & awareness of at least 50 % of target population (project members in 21 villages) witnessed by ability to establish renewable energy group (biomass and biogas) continuously monitor and following up of activities and put into practical use
2. Compilation of one local curriculum on renewable energy to be applied in 3 local schools and emergence of 3 learning centres
3. Reduction of CO2 emission (LPG) at approximately 5 tons/years from 40 biogas pits located in 8 villages
4. Two dissemination materials being produced for communication to wider public during an exhibition jointly organized with Mahasarakham Provincial Civil Society Network.


Project Communication:
After the completion of biogas pit construction, there had been several individual visit to witness and ask for more information about construction materials and how to maintain the pits.

Problems and Issues:
The project referred to both technical and institutional problem regarding the construction and application of biogas facilities. Technically, the bags containing biogas in several location were of inferior quality and began to break requiring close supervision in repair. Institutionally, some members did not maintain the system properly, due to insufficient experience. Both problems were reported to be taken care of closely.

Experience , Lessons Learnt :
The project mentioned satisfaction of project members for opening their eyes to renewable energy as one of the positive experience. Majority of them systematically learnt more about environment and natural resources situations. The project quoted satisfaction of several members in the report.

Plans and Activities for Sustainability:
The project planned to continue to convince members on the use of alternative energy and build more model families to increase their efficiency. In a longer term, the project would push and propose to local administrative organizations to approve relevant local acts for the promotion of renewable energy at local scale.