Henan Xichuan Integrated Ecological Protection and Environmental Improvement Project

Client: Asian Development Bank

Duration: 2019-2021

Location: Xichuan C, PRC

Contract Value: USD 419,980

Loan Project Value: USD 405 Million

Catalogue: Environment

Project Description

Being located in the forefront of the Danjiangkou Reservoir and recognized as national key ecological functional areas by the central government in 2017, Xichuan County Gorvernment (XCG) has a huge pressure to adopt green growth approach, address the environmental degradation arising from poverty and climate change, and prevent the pollution to the Danjiangkou Reservoir. As part of the rural vitalization objective set by the PRC Government to enhance livelihoods, attract investments, and accommodate the growing population, XCG will support local towns, and villages in development planning and implementation. Xichuan County in the middle Yangtze River Basin, being nestled in the mountains of less-developed region, can demonstrate an environmentally sustainable growth model that can be replicated in other part of the basin and in the PRC.

The impact of the project will be: rural vitalization in the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB) realized (YREB Development Plan, 2016–2030). The outcome of the project will be water quality and sustainability of agricultural production systems in Xichuan County improved. There are three outputs under the project: 1) soil and water conservation practices improved, 2) rural water service improvement measures implemented, and 3) resource management capacity enhanced.

Services Provided by NAREE

NAREE provides the transaction technical assistance (TRTA) to prepare the loan project, undertaking due diligence in technical, safeguards, economic and financial, and poverty and socials. NAREE ensures the project in compliance with the domestic and ADB’s requirements and incorporation of international best practices in the project design. Detailed tasks conducted by NAREE during the TRTA includes the followings:

• Assessment on the technical feasibility of the project

• Due diligence on the economic and financial feasibility of the project

• Review of safeguard requirements

• Social survey and consultations

• Capacity development of the project management of XCG

• Project document preparation, including feasibility study reports (FSRs), safeguard documents, and ADB’s draft report and recommendations of the President (RRP)

• Institutional capacity building