I. First progress report (October 16, 2006):
Activities undertaken:
1. Resource and energy inventories conducted; conservation action plans drafted
2. 2,000 black soap seedlings amassed for community planting
3. Biogas pits and solar water pump constructed
4. Experience-sharing meetings held
5. Energy conservation campaign launched

Results of activities:
1. Project members show increased institutional capacity via action plan formulation
2. 4,000 black soap seedlings planted
3. 12 biogas units constructed (nine using kitchen waste, three using animal manure)
4. 80% of project members show increased awareness and concern re: household energy consumption; families have energy use logs

II. Mid-course evaluation workshop (February 20-22, 2007):
After a brief presentation by the National Coordinator (NC) reiterating the objectives of the GEF SGP, representatives from each project spent 30 minutes explaining project background, activities undertaken, immediate results and challenges. The National Coordinator encouraged candid discussion of problems and problem-solving strategies, and each presentation was followed by a question-and-answer session. During the first day of the workshop, four projects were presented in this manner.

Eight projects were presented on the second day. In addition, the project representatives spent three hours interacting with community members from THA-05-14 (Local Scenes for Environment Protection). Workshop attendants learned about the old ways of life in the central area and how local ecologies had been altered. The third and final day was allotted to the two remaining project presentations, the National Steering Committee's observations and suggestions, and the National Coordinator's reminder of next steps.

Progress-related observations at Workshop:
--Of 14 projects, 12 were on time regarding activities and submission of reports. All were capable of articulating details of their activities and immediate results, which were deemed promising.
--Several projects secured financial support from other stakeholders.
--Leaders from at least four projects demonstrated increased capacity, both technically and institutionally. (National Steering Committee members expressed special satisfaction with this.)
--Eleven projects used Power Point and audio-visual equipment; the remaining three presented sets of photos.

III. Monitoring visit from NC (June 23, 2007):
On June 23rd, the National Coordinator visited Baan Tha Wang Kaen. The community?s receptivity to renewable energy technology was immediately apparent: one solar water pump was supplying water to 10 families; biogas, bio-energy and energy-efficient stoves were also in progress. (Every participating family had a logbook to record daily energy use.)

The National Coordinator also visited the other target location, Baan Na Moon Tun. Biogas-from-kitchen-waste production was further along than in the previous village, though overall community capacity seemed very similar. Project leaders in both communities expressed their enthusiasm about forthcoming activities, especially further biogas production, and using black soap oil to run their small farm tractors.

The coordinator of the Loei Peoples Organization (also the coordinator of THA-01-10) participated in the visit, and said the organization planned to produce and disseminate materials on alternative energy use. A youth group would spearhead this effort during the next holiday period (mid-October to November). The materials would include profiles of two GEF SGP climate change projects in the province (THA-05-27 and THA-05-12).

IV.Second progress report (November 17, 2007):
Activities undertaken:
1. Six meeting held as part of ongoing outreach to TAO
2. Compilation of resource and energy inventories continuing
3. Fabrication of jatropha oil squeezer completed, with accessories
4. 30 high-efficiency stoves manufactured
5. One solar heating unit built (2.5 m^3)
6. One training held re: reduction of household energy expenditures
7. Two participatory evaluations conducted
8. Dissemination materials produced re: solar water pumping, biogas from kitchen waste, and high-efficiency stoves

Results of activities:
1. Community shows active interest and uptake of techniques; 25% of households now participating
2. Short-term and long-term action plans formulated
3. Number of jatropha trees planted doubled
4. Solar water pumping unit delivering 2,500 liters water/day; this is used to supplement existing supply for 16 households
5. Oil squeezer producing fuel for agricultural machinery
6. Average 10% reduction in energy expenditures, per-family

Project expense: THB 437,716 out of THB 439, 928.37.


V.Completion report (November 12, 2008):

Date of Participatory Evaluation: 31 May 2008
Number of Beneficiary/ Participating personnel: Woman: 43
Man: 102
Children: 28
Number of person trained/ attending seminars, joining study tours: Woman: 52
Man: 180
Children: 40
Expense:
Amount received from SGP: Baht: 639,412.93
Expense to-date: Baht: 716,860
Amount received from other :
In cash:
In kind:
Time and labour of communities: Baht: 79,660
Srisongrak TAO : Baht: 155,540

Activities undertaken:
1. Conducting resources and energy inventories and formulating related action plans
2. Launching implementation as per action plans, i.e. collecting, building and procuring process leading to the application of energy ?saving stoves, bio-diesel, biogas from kitchen waste, and solar energy (both for heat and electricity for water pumping)
3. Conducting meetings and seminars for sharing experience and lessons learnt , especially on energy consumption and its effect upon socio-economic development and environment at all levels
4. Launching campaign on energy conservation amongst groups and local organizations
5. Establishing groups and organizations for the management of energy in communities
6. Selecting one village in each group as a demonstration and dissemination centre for up scaling and affecting wider public
7. Producing learning media and other communication materials for community members and wider public

Results and indicators:
1. Institutional emergence of the followings:
-Four implementing groups and committees
-Two action plans for both immediate and long ?term conservation
2. Increased capacity of target population witnessed through ability to carry out field activities- building ,fabricating and putting into practical use biogas facilities, solar dryers, biodiesel from Jetropha oil and modifying the use of solar lighting to water pumping,
3. Estimated conservation of conventional energy about 30 %
4. The two demonstration and dissemination centre being equipped with media on renewable energy technology, and trained resources persons from Loei Province?s Muang District , with about 250 visitors who are bachelor and master degree students from Rajabhat University Loei
5. The project provided a basis for self-reliance on energy consumption, even though the immediate result of conservation was not very appreciable. Now that, renewable energy technology had found its way to communities, more could be tried for forthcoming practical use under community context.
6.One by-product of the project was an increased capacity of community in producing bio-fertilizer which can be applied in cultivated fields

Experiences and lessons learnt:
1. Since renewable energy technology was new to communities requiring steps-by-steps of learning. Persistence is one of the key words to address the issue.
2. Economic and market fluctuation could produce negative effect to project activities requiring entire modification of activities ( changing from biogas from hog manure to solar dryer, for example)