Results
The project results
4 training classes in biogas installment and operations were organised for 7 communes: 50 households received training and 7 groups of workers were trained to be technicians. 7 training classes in maintaining and using biogas for 42 participating households were organised. 14 classes were organised for 7 communes in animal husbandry and veterinary services. 7 demonstration biogas were built and 35 models were replicated.

A contract was signed with Ninh Binh provincial Veterinary Department to organise a one-month training course for animal veterinarians for 7 communes, 63 participants.

The income generating activities:
o model of raising Mong Cai productive pigs : 400 households in 7 communes, average income increase of 1,500,000 VND per household.
o The model of supporting for off-farm income: The households in the model maintained and developed the trade of bamboo mat making, earning an average additional income of about 200,000 VND and solving the unemployment issues during non-harvesting time.
The project budget for revolving loan programme was $23,164. The repayment was 100%.
One class in environment knowledge was organised, 3 classes in information collection for writing articles for Culture Office for 7 communes and 2 classes in management and operating broadcasting system for 25 people were organised. The project signed a contract with Gia Vien district Radio Station to upgrade the broadcasting station in the 7 participating communes under the technical counseling and support of the provincial Radio and TV station, the broadcasting systems were examined and put into effective use.
The material for 18 extracurricular lessons in ecology was developed for class 6, 7 and 9. 14 training classes in environment education were organised for school teachers.

The project cooperated with the Management Board of Hoa Lu Van Long Nature Reserve to:
o Organize 4 classes in forest protection
o Adjust and upgrade the regulations of the protected area
o Upgrading the 7 regulation signs on forest protection
o A training class was organised for 47 people who were representatives of the forest rangers, hamlet heads and Forestry committee of the 7 communes.
o 45 households were contracted to protect 2,000 ha of forest in the core zone and to plant 30 ha of indigenous trees.
The understanding and knowledge on environmental issues in general and on biodiversity conservation in particular, and capacity in project implementation and management and M&E of the project grantee organisation staff were considerably enhanced thanks to the project implementation and management, and training activities, such as training workshops, study tour, exchange on project management, provided by GEF/SGP office.

Sustainability
o The management and sustainable use and exploitation of natural resources of the wetland was enhanced; the pressure for natural resources exploitation was reduced through the building of economic development model to create alternative income for the community.
o The awareness and understandings on GEF and GEF/SGP in Vietnam for the project participants and beneficiaries were raised. The cooperation relationship between Farmers? Association in Gia Van commune and the local government and community of the communes participating in the project, different related organisations and sectors in bio diversity was strengthened.
o The capacity to design and implement project of the Farmers? Association of participating communes was enhanced.
o The extracurricular lessons on environment were introduced into the official curriculum in the junior secondary schools in Gia Vien district.

Replication
o The project models for income-generating were very potential for replication thanks to its suitability to the local context. The project will use the revolving loan programme to assist the community to replicate these models after the project ends.
o A total of 64 biogas was replicated by the community in the project area during the project implementation.

This is a second grant of GEF/SGP. The grantee will continue to use the project revolving loan to assist the community to replicate the project models.

There is potential that the local department of agriculture and rural development and the nature reserve will replicate the project models in their agro-extension programmes in the buffer zone of the nature reserve.

There is no linkage with GEF initiative.

There is no clear policy link.