ADB Project: Social Surveys Were Carried Out Successfully in Hunan Xiangxi and Henan Xichuan

"One world, one fight". The control of coronavirus in China has achieved positive results. Since February, NAREE staffs had worked from home for two months, then gradually transitioning to a combination work pattern of online- and offline-office since March. Recently, NAREE staffs have come back to the office, restarted the normal working mode.

Under the premise of ensuring health and safety, all kinds of project management activities have been steadily promoted. NAREE team strives to complete the work of the technical assistance (TA) projects as originally planned, and to deliver high-quality deliverables as always.

From April 13^th to 24^th, 2020, the NAREE TA team have conducted field visits to the following two ADB projects: "Hunan Xiangxi Rural Vitalization and Special Industry Development Project" and "Henan Xichuan Integrated Ecological Protection and Environmental Improvement Project" in Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture of Hunan Province and Xichuan County in Nanyang City of Henan Province to carry out field surveys and successfully completed relevant activities as planned.

Within two weeks, the TA team visited 22 villages / communities of 7 cities / counties in Xiangxi Tujia-Miao Autonomous Prefecture, and 17 villages and 6 towns in Xichuan. The team have conducted Household Survey, Key Informant Interview and Focus Group Discussion with local residents, key project personnel and institutions in the project influenced areas. Under the on-site and online guidance of the TA specialists, the TA team investigated the current situation of each sub-project, and also deeply find the impact of the project's construction and operation on the residents. The team carefully considered residents' views on the project, especially the concerns and demands from poor households and female households for the implementation of the project. In summary, the survey laid the foundation for the smooth implementation of the project. It also contributes to the realization of the project object which could be concluded as: "precision poverty alleviation" and “people oriented”.

Although the epidemic situation prevented some specialist from visiting the site, NAREE staffs helped the experts to paid the close attention of the surveys from home without omitting any detail and adjusted the research direction through sustaining online communication. After the social surveys, the TA specialists will do further study according to the interviews and the analysis of the questionnaires.

The survey can be considered as a new mode for other ADB TA projects to carry out relevant work during the epidemic period by NAREE team, which laid a solid foundation for the timely delivery of future project outputs.