I. First progress report (6 May 2010):
Undertaken Activities:
1. Reconfirming the course of project with and building technical capacity of target population on mini-hydro and biomass through study tours and seminars
2. Demonstration of uses of renewable energy and conservation of watershed
Results and indicators:
1. Increased awareness and capacity of targeted population with emerging plans for collective management, as detailed as daily in-kind contribution
2. Increased capacity of ten community representatives witnessed by ability to lead and retrain targeted population to put into practice
What were learnt
3. Completed and operational weir, of 3 m by 10 m, to store water for driving electric generator and irrigating cultivated land of about one acre
4. Twenty fabricated energy-saving stoves being put into use in twenty families
5. 52 electric poles being contributed by targeted population
6. Completed and effective fire-break zone of four-km long as planned ? no wildfire since then
Project Communication:
As the project had only begun, there has not been any substantial communication.
Experience , lessons Learnt, problem and issue:
The project referred to technical assistance and collaboration from both public & private sector as very outstanding, let alone genuine participation from targeted community. The only problem encountered was a difficulty in transportation of equipments and materials which was solved by contributed labour and motorbikes of the population.
Project Expense:
The project reported the expense of THB:186,740 out of the first disbursement of THB: 336,793.52

II. Second progress report (12 December 2010):
Undertaken Activities:
1. Procuring equipments and accessories for construction of the mini-hydro power plant
2. Building water supplying systems and access road for transport of equipment to the plant
3. Planning and erecting electric poles in the village

Results and indicators:
1.A water channel of 1x1x1.50 being completed and supplying water for 200-m distance
2. An access road of 1-km long being completed and facilitating the transport of power plant equipment to the site
3. The penstock of 200-meter long being laid down and ready to carry water to the plant
4. Required electric appliance arriving at site and being ready for installation

Project Communication:
The project did not carry out any substantial communication, except through coordination with public and private sector for technical assistance.

Experience , lessons Learnt, problem and issue:
Project leaders and communities learnt a lot from the activities, especially on addressing a very difficult technical issue. The original budget estimation was not able to cover planned activities. However, the issue was successfully addressed by making additional proposal and submitting to the Water Resources and Agriculture Information System Institute, a public organization, where THB: 270,124 was granted to the project. In addition, the Rakthai Foundation provided THB: 20,000.
Project Expense:
The project reported the accumulated expense of THB: 844,643 out of the sum of first and second disbursement of THB: 662,690.18.

III. Monitoring Visit (26 February 2011):
Findings and Observation:
Kalayaniwatthana District?s Baan (village) Huay Barbar is located in forest-mountain ecosystems. Home of a cultural group, Karen of 53 families,very limited infrastructure, the village had no grid connection, except solar home system for some, which was, reportedly, not very reliable and costly to maintain. As to livelihood activities, target population depends upon small agricultural practice, husbandry and the provisions of the forest ecosystems. The location is only about four kilometers from Baan Mae La-oop, the target location of an OP2 back project THA/04/06: Replicated Rice Milling by Water Power, which had seen its completion since 2006.

Construction of water storage and piping systems and power house to accommodate the turbo-generator of the mini-hydro plant was seen in progress-more than 50 %. In the construction, the community makes optimal use of pre-existing infrastructure, i.e. irrigation channel of indigenous design for conveying the water. Contribution of time and resources from communities was comparatively outstanding.

Other proposed activities,i.e., biomass energy promotion/energy efficiency , was also witnessed in good progress. The visiting team saw several high efficiency biomass stoves of two designs being used daily - cooking and boiling feeds for animal. Through discussion with a few families, the savings of firewood and time is about 30-40 %. This primary accomplishment resulting in a more production of the stoves by the project for wider distribution.

Since the project was a result of an outreach/replication of a back project THA/04/06 target community was quite convinced that the project would be successful. Piping the water for mechanical power was no more new to them. The one that would new or unfamiliar to them appeared to be the management systems once the construction of the mini-hydro sees its completion and is operational.

There was one major issue discussed among community leaders. This involved the possibility of extension of grid system to surrounding villages which would include the Huay Barbar Village. If the community was more attracted to this way of electricity from grid, the project power plant would become a ? graveyard of community effort?. The visiting team agreed to this possibility and encouraged the community to take the matter seriously so that making Huay Barbar Village ?sustainably renewable? would be realized.

IV. Completion report (24 August 2011):
Date of Participatory Evaluation( 29 March 2011):

Number of Beneficiaries/ Participating personnel:
Women: 135
Men: 142
Children: 90

Number of persons trained/ attending seminars, joining study tours:
Women: 150
Men: 138
Children: 50

Expense:
Amount received from SGP (3 disbursements): THB: 973,956.81
Total amount spent out of SGP budget: THB:1,339,117
Balance: THB : (-365,160.19)
Amount authorized for the final payment: US$: 3,363.25
Amount Received from others: THB: 499,278 (in cash)
THB: 196,440 (in kind)

Activities undertaken:
1. Building technical capacity of target population on mini-hydro and biomass through study tours and seminars
2. Demonstration of uses of renewable energy and conservation of watershed
3. Participatory Evaluation
4. Knowledge Management and outreach

Results and indicators:
1. Increased capacity of targeted population on renewable energy (biomass & water) and project activities witnessed by ability to eagerness to share thoughts & idea, to establish a working group to oversee the project, and to share labour and pre-existing facilities
2. Twenty fabricated high efficiency stoves being used resulting in the reduction of fire-wood by 37.29 % or equivalent to approximately 9 tons of CO2 being avoided monhtly
3. One completed and operational 15-kW mini-hydro plant supplying electricity to 52 households resulting in avoiding of CO2 by 1.5 ton per month
4. Demarcated 4-km long fire-break zone covering 56-ha community forest

Project Communication:
The project was made more visible by organizing the opening ceremony of the minihydro plant where representatives of civil society organization, public sectors , national NGOs and community leaders in surrounding communities participated to share experience in forest conservation.

Plans and Activities for Sustainability:
The project planned to
1. charge the energy used by targeted population. The charge will be used for system operation 7 maintenance as well as welfare for communities.
2. develop a proposal to procure electricity paddy mill to provide milling service for communities. A portion of revenue would be spared as a community fund.
3. upgrade the plan to an acceptable standard ( water intake, & prevention of soil erosion against the power house)

Experience , Lessons Learnt , Problems and Issues:
The project success reflected the cooperation and sacrifice of communities and other major stakeholders . For without them, the project would have to be terminated under a severe technical problem (land slide at the power station)