World Bank-financed Project Gansu Revitalization and Innovation Project Social Assessment Report Gansu Project Management Office April 2019 Contents 1. Introduction ...........................................................................................................................1 1.1 BACKGROUND....................................................................................................................................... 2 1.2 SA TASKS ............................................................................................................................................. 3 1.3 SA METHODS ........................................................................................................................................ 3 1.3.1 Organizational interview and literature collection ............................................................................. 3 1.3.2 FGD ................................................................................................................................................... 4 1.3.3 Key informant interview ..................................................................................................................... 5 1.3.4 Questionnaire survey ........................................................................................................................ 6 1.3.5 Field investigation ............................................................................................................................. 7 1.4 KEY CONCERNS OF SA .......................................................................................................................... 8 2. Project Overview...................................................................................................................9 2.1 DEFINITION OF PROJECT AREA ............................................................................................................... 9 2.2 LOCAL SOCIOECONOMIC PROFILE ......................................................................................................... 10 2.2.1 Geographic location .................................................................................................................. 10 2.2.2 Economic status ......................................................................................................................... 11 2.2.3 Population .................................................................................................................................. 11 2.2.4 Minority population .......................................................................................................................... 12 2.2.5 Current situation of local reserves, cultural relics and infrastructure .............................................. 15 2.2.6 Baseline socioeconomic data ......................................................................................................... 23 2.2.7 Local organizations and IAs ............................................................................................................ 25 2.2.8 List of social sensitive sites ............................................................................................................. 26 3. Public Participation Process .............................................................................................27 3.1 STAKEHOLDER IDENTIFICATION .................................................................................................................. 27 3.1.1 Primary stakeholders ...................................................................................................................... 27 3.1.2 Secondary stakeholders ................................................................................................................. 29 3.2 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PROCESS ............................................................................................................... 29 3.2.1 Project information disclosure ......................................................................................................... 29 3.2.2 Field investigation ........................................................................................................................... 30 3.2.3 FGD ................................................................................................................................................. 30 3.2.4 Key informant interview ................................................................................................................... 31 3.2.5 Questionnaire survey ...................................................................................................................... 31 3.3 STAKEHOLDER DEMAND ANALYSIS ............................................................................................................. 33 3.3.1 Needs for the Project ...................................................................................................................... 33 3.3.2 Strong demand of local residents for small amount loans .............................................................. 35 3.3.3 High activity and willingness of low income population for the Project ........................................... 36 3.3.4 Strong participation willingness of women ...................................................................................... 37 3.3.5 Improved awareness of the Project among local officials and residents ........................................ 37 3.3.6 High support level of local residents for the Project ........................................................................ 37 4. Social Impact Analysis .......................................................................................................39 4.1 POSITIVE IMPACTS .................................................................................................................................... 39 4.1.1 Promoting local economic development and creating more jobs ................................................... 39 4.1.2 Improving infrastructure and living quality ...................................................................................... 39 4.1.3 Tapping local cultural tourism resources to promote poverty reduction.......................................... 40 4.1.4 Improving residents’ awareness of cultural heritage protection ...................................................... 41 4.1.5 Improving women’s participation in social labor and family status ................................................. 42 4.1.6 Changing farmers’ mind to promote urban-rural interaction and integration .................................. 42 4.1.7 Promoting cultural inheritance and innovation ................................................................................ 43 4.1.8 Protecting the ecological environment to promote human-nature harmony ................................... 43 4.2 NEGATIVE IMPACTS ................................................................................................................................... 43 4.2.1 Potential LA and HD impacts .......................................................................................................... 43 4.2.2 Potential increase of living costs and disintegration of social networks ......................................... 46 4.2.3 Potential traffic safety risks due to road construction or broadening .............................................. 46 4.2.4 Potential increase of the mental pressure and affordability of borrowers ....................................... 47 4.2.5 Potential impacts of external labor influx during construction ......................................................... 47 4.2.6 Potential natural and social impacts of construction ....................................................................... 48 5. Current Situation of Local Cultural and Intangible Heritage Inheritance, Protection and Utilization ..................................................................................................................................................53 5.1 CURRENT SITUATION OF LOCAL CULTURAL HERITAGE INHERITANCE , PROTECTION AND UTILIZATION ........... 53 5.1.1 Varying levels of willingness for cultural heritage protection among local residents ...................... 53 5.1.2 Differences in cultural heritage protection and utilization among local residents ........................... 53 5.1.3 Difficulties in cultural heritage protection and utilization ................................................................. 54 5.1.4 Perception conflicts in cultural heritage protection and utilization among residents....................... 55 II 5.2 CURRENT SITUATION OF LOCAL INTANGIBLE HERITAGE INHERITANCE, PROTECTION AND UTILIZATION ......... 55 5.2.1 Existing local intangible heritage ..................................................................................................... 55 5.2.2 Difficulties in intangible heritage inheritance ................................................................................... 56 5.2.3 Suggestions on intangible heritage development and utilization .................................................... 57 6. Poverty Analysis .................................................................................................................58 6.1 CURRENT SITUATION OF POVERTY ........................................................................................................ 58 6.1.1 Gansu Province............................................................................................................................... 58 6.1.2 Project area (county, township and village levels) .......................................................................... 58 6.1.3 Local low income population and distribution (below 40% of per capita income) .......................... 59 Table 6-2 Statistics of local poor population .......................................................................59 6.1.4 MLS ................................................................................................................................................. 59 6.2 CAUSES OF POVERTY .......................................................................................................................... 60 6.3 LOCAL POVERTY REDUCTION MEASURES .............................................................................................. 61 6.4 NEEDS OF THE POOR FOR THE PROJECT .............................................................................................. 62 6.5 IMPACTS OF THE PROJECT ON THE POOR ................................................................................................... 63 7. Social Gender Analysis ......................................................................................................65 7.1 LOCAL FEMALE POPULATION ................................................................................................................ 65 7.2 CURRENT SITUATION OF LOCAL WOMEN ................................................................................................ 65 7.2.1 Age composition .............................................................................................................................. 65 7.2.2 Educational level ............................................................................................................................. 66 7.2.3 Occupation composition .................................................................................................................. 66 7.2.4 Social status .................................................................................................................................... 66 7.3 ANALYSIS OF GENDER DIFFERENCES NEEDS IN PROJECT ....................................................................... 68 7.3.1 Women have a higher demand for cultural inheritance and innovation. ......................................... 68 7.3.2 Women support the Project more strongly and are more confident in the Project. ........................ 68 7.3.3 Women expect more employment and income increasing opportunities from the Project............. 68 7.3.4 Women have a strong demand for public participation. .................................................................. 69 7.4 PROJECT IMPACTS ON WOMEN................................................................................................................... 70 7.4.1 Positive impacts .............................................................................................................................. 70 7.4.2 Negative impacts ............................................................................................................................. 70 8 Social Action Plan and Implementation ............................................................................72 8.1 SOCIAL ACTION PLAN ............................................................................................................................... 72 8.1.1 Reducing LA and HD risks .............................................................................................................. 72 8.1.2 Offering temporary residences and reducing relevant charges during the transition period .......... 72 8.1.3 Improving traffic safety measures and awareness ......................................................................... 72 8.1.4 Establishing files, and reducing loan interests to reduce the financial pressure of the poor .......... 72 8.1.5 Making jobs first available to local female labor ............................................................................. 72 8.1.6 Strengthening the management of external laborers to reduce social risks ................................... 72 8.1.7 Taking appropriate measures to reduce construction impacts........................................................ 73 8.2 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PLAN ...................................................................................................................... 73 8.3 M&E ....................................................................................................................................................... 73 Appendix 1: Summary of FGDs with Residents ..................................................................78 Appendix 2: Summary of Interviewees.................................................................................80 III List of Tables Table 1-1 Summary of project cities (counties / districts) ................................................................... 5 Table 1-2 Summary of organizational interviews ................................................................................ 3 Table 1-3 Summary of FGDs and participants .................................................................................... 5 Table 1-4 Summary of key informant interviews ................................................................................. 6 Table 1-5 Distribution of questionnaire survey samples ..................................................................... 7 Table 1-6 Basic information of valid samples ..................................................................................... 7 Table 1-7 Information of field investigation ......................................................................................... 8 Table 2-1 Key social and economic development indicators of project counties / cities (2016) .......11 Table 2-2 Summary of population of project cities (counties / districts) ........................................... 12 Table 2- 3Statistics of local reserves and cultural relics ................................................................... 17 Table 2-4 Baseline socioeconomic data of the project area ............................................................. 23 Table 2-5 Local organizations and IAs .............................................................................................. 25 Table 2- 6 List of social sensitive sites .............................................................................................. 26 Table 3-1 Summary of direct beneficiary population ........................................................................ 27 Table 3-2 Summary of indirect beneficiary population ...................................................................... 28 Table 3- 3Summary of public participation activities ......................................................................... 32 Table 3-4 Demand analysis of small-amount loans .......................................................................... 35 Table 3-5 Do you need a small amount loan now? .......................................................................... 35 Table 3-6 Statistical analysis of demand for small amount loans by gender .................................... 35 Table 3-7 Demand of low income population for small amount loans .............................................. 36 Table 3-8 Willingness of women to participate in the Project after completion ................................ 37 Table 3-9 Willingness of local residents to participate in project operation ...................................... 37 Table 3-10 Modes of participation in project operation ..................................................................... 37 Table 4-1 Perceived positive impacts of the Project ......................................................................... 39 Table 4-2 List of local cultural tourism resources.............................................................................. 41 Table 4-3 Impacts of permanent LA and temporary land occupation ............................................... 45 Table 4-4 Summary of HD impacts ................................................................................................... 46 Table 4-5 Local rural roads ............................................................................................................... 47 Table 4-6 Summary of expected labor inputs in project construction ............................................... 47 Table 4-7 Perceived negative impacts of the Project........................................................................ 49 Table 4-8 Perceived impacts after project completion ...................................................................... 49 Table 4-9 Impacts of subprojects and countermeasures .................................................................. 50 Table 5-1 Protection and utilization awareness of local residents .................................................... 53 Table 6-1 Distribution of local poor population.................................................................................. 58 Table 6-2 Statistics of local poor population ..................................................................................... 59 Table 6-3 Local MLS population ....................................................................................................... 60 Table 7-1 Local female population .................................................................................................... 65 Table 7-2 Educational levels of samples by gender ......................................................................... 66 Table 7-3 Occupations of samples by gender .................................................................................. 66 Table 7-4 Willingness to receive cultural tourism skills training........................................................ 68 Table 7-5 Attitude to the future prospect of the Project .................................................................... 68 Table 8-1 Social Action Plan and Gender Action Plan ...................................................................... 74 Table 8-2 Public participation plan of the Project.............................................................................. 76 List of Figures Figure 1-1 FGDs (upper left: Maiji District; upper right: Qin’an County; lower left: Jiuquan City; lower right: Lintao County) .................................................................................................................... 4 Figure 1-2 Key informant interviews ................................................................................................... 6 Figure 1-3 Questionnaire survey ........................................................................................................ 7 Figure 1-4 Field investigation (upper left: Large Alley; upper right: Tongwei County; lower left: Majiayao Village; lower right: Longcheng Town) ......................................................................... 8 Figure 2-1 Distribution of subproject areas ......................................................................................... 9 Figure 2-2 Radiation range of the Project......................................................................................... 10 Figure 2- 3 Jieting ancient battlefield and Ming-Qing Ancient Street................................................ 19 Figure 2-4 Village infrastructure and houses .................................................................................... 20 Figure 2-5 Proposed land and attachments in Tongwei County ....................................................... 20 Figure 2-6 Ming granary and chief commander mansion ................................................................. 21 IV Figure 2-7 Residences and gate tower in ancient town ................................................................... 21 Figure 2-8 Proposed construction land for Jiuquan Silk Road Research Center ............................ 21 Figure 2- 9 Proposed construction land for Jiuquan Silk Road Research Center............................ 22 Figure 3-1 Project information disclosure ......................................................................................... 30 Figure 3-2 Field investigation ............................................................................................................ 30 Figure 3-3 FGDs ............................................................................................................................... 31 Figure 3-4 Key informant interview ................................................................................................... 31 Figure 3-5 Questionnaire survey ...................................................................................................... 32 Figure 3-6 Randomly dumped waste and waste collection point ..................................................... 33 Figure 4-1 Local road and drainage port .......................................................................................... 40 Figure 4-2 Electric meters and heating coal stove ........................................................................... 40 Figure 4-3 Xuanquanzhi site in Dunhuang and chief commander mansion in Zhangye ................. 42 Figure 5-1 Differences in willingness for cultural heritage protection among subproject area......... 53 Figure 5-2 Urban and rural per capita income and consumption levels of Gansu and China (2016) ................................................................................................................................................... 55 Figure 7-1 Age and gender distribution of samples .......................................................................... 65 Figure 7-2 Willingness to attend project meetings............................................................................ 67 Figure 7-3 Are you willing to participate in the Project after completion?......................................... 69 Figure 7-4 What kind of family business do you plan to do? ............................................................ 69 V Abbreviations FGD - Focus Group Discussion M&E - Monitoring and Evaluation MLS - Minimum Living Security PMO - Project Management Office RAP - Resettlement Action Plan SA - Social Assessment Units Currency unit = Renminbi (RMB) US$1.00 = RMB6.33 1 hectare = 15 mu VI Definitions of Key Terms Stakeholders Stakeholders means individuals or groups that can affect or be affected by the realization of the project objectives, including local residents, store / guesthouse operators and other small and micro enterprise owners, intangible heritage inheritors, tourists, etc. Small and micro enterprise owners Small and micro enterprise owners mean owners of stores, restaurants, guesthouses, farmhouses, and other small and micro enterprises in the project area. Intangible heritage inheritors mean generally recognized representative, authoritative and influential inheritors responsible for intangible heritage at all levels. Intentional audiences of small-amount loans mean local residents who are willing to apply for small-amount loans to develop small and micro enterprises, or household cultivation or stockbreeding for poverty alleviation. Vulnerable groups For the purpose of OP4.12, vulnerable groups mean the disabled, five-guarantee households (targeting rural households with five guarantees including food, cloth, medical care, housing, and education), women-headed households, MLS households, etc., where attention should be paid to their appeals. Secondary stakeholders include the owner, design agency, construction agency, supervising agency, government agencies concerned. Interviews with Institutions were conducted with the local PMOs, IAs, HD management offices, land and resources bureaus, labor and social security bureaus, statistics bureaus, poverty alleviation offices, women’s federations, civil affairs bureaus, ethnic and religious affairs bureaus, etc. to collect relevant literatures. Focused Group Discussions were held to learn needs and suggestions of local APs (including women, the poor, vulnerable groups, intangible heritage inheritors, tourists, village officials, etc.). Key informant interview: Key informant interviews were conducted at the county (district), township (sub-district) and village (community) levels to provide inputs into project design and implementation, including local residents, potential borrowers, small business owners, intangible heritage inheritors, tourists, etc. Questionnaire survey: The task force conducted a questionnaire survey by probability proportionate to size sampling, with 384 samples at a confidence level of 95% and a maximum absolute error (d) of 5%. 410 copies were completed, and 401 valid copies recovered, accounting for 97.8%. Field investigation: The task force conducted a field investigation on the proposed subproject areas for a more practical and objective understanding. 1 1. Introduction 1.1 Background Gansu Province exemplifies the challenge of spatial inequality in China. Despite Gansu’s rich natural, cultural, and historical resources, it is China’s poorest province and significantly lags other provinces on most economic and social indicators. Gansu’s per capita income is less than half the national average and a mere 23 percent of that in leading provinces. Measured by per capita disposable income and access to and quality of infrastructure, Gansu also ranks last among all the provinces. About 65 percent of Gansu’s population belongs to the national bottom 40 percent group, compared with only 9.21 percent of Beijing’s population. Agricultural development alone has proved inadequate to lift Gansu’s poor out of poverty. The once-powerful heavy industries are declining. The province is turning to the service sectors to drive its economic growth but so far has had only limited success. Uneven development and significant disparities exist within Gansu Province—there are also striking disparities between rural and urban areas, and a wide gap between the capital city, Lanzhou, and secondary cities and towns. MSEs in rural areas across China face a critical challenge in gaining access to credit. According to the 2017 China Financial Inclusion Report and the 2017 Global Findex, about 86 percent of micro-enterprises and 65 percent of small and medium enterprises in China lack unconstrained access to finance, resulting in an MSE financing gap of US$1.9 trillion, equivalent to 17 percent of gross domestic product (GDP). Access to formal credit in China’s rural areas is only about 19 percent, compared to 44 percent in urban areas. The main barriers to access are the large physical distances to financial service providers, such as banks; limited credit records; lack of assets that can serve as collateral; short maturity of loans (12 months or less); and the informal nature of many MSEs, all of which render these businesses unable to meet banks’ lending requirements. Prospective borrowers in rural areas and small towns also lack basic financial knowledge and business experience. For those eligible to borrow, going through cumbersome procedures and waiting through a lengthy approval period is discouraging. Many MSEs turn to family and friends rather than rely on the formal financial sector. In Gansu Province, these barriers are exacerbated by underdeveloped financial markets and institutions. Gansu is one of the most underbanked provinces in China. As of 2016, Gansu, with a population of 26 million, had only about 470,000 MSEs. According to a market demand assessment survey of MSEs in the cultural, tourism, and creative industries conducted in the province in 2018 to underpin this project’s design, 80.2 percent indicated immediate or mid-term needs for financing. Only 23.8 percent of them, however, had borrowed from banks, among which less than 7 percent of the borrowers were women, while 49.3 percent had their financing needs satisfied through informal channels, such as loans from relatives or friends. About 54 percent of the MSEs surveyed felt credit constrained. Among the MSEs in debt, about 30 percent revealed that bank loans obtained could not fully meet their financing needs, with an average credit gap of RMB 894,000. Although women-owned or managed MSEs only accounted for about 30 percent of the MSEs that participated in the survey, their immediate financing needs were greater than those of MSEs owned by men. Financial institutions in Gansu lack the skills, methodologies, and tailored products to serve MSEs well. Operational costs of small and micro-loans are very high, and profitability is low. Internet penetration in rural areas and small towns is far lower than in big cities, which hinders the use of automated credit evaluation and approval based on big data. According to the market demand survey, the demand for credit by MSEs in Gansu concentrates on small but flexible loans, but current micro- and small-credit products are not diverse enough. To deal with MSEs profitably, financial institutions need to build capacity to use new approaches and develop new products. Tourism is one of the four pillars of Gansu’s poverty alleviation program. Known as the “golden section” of the ancient Silk Road, Gansu is ranked fifth among all provinces in China in terms of the richness and uniqueness of its natural, cultural, and historical resources. Globally, and in Gansu, the creative industries sector is growing, and it contributes increasingly to GDP and job creation, 2 employing more people between the ages of 18 and 29 than any other sector. The creative industries are defined as those which produce and distribute goods, services, or activities with intangible cultural content that conveys ideas, symbols, and ways of life, irrespective of their commercial value. Among Gansu’s prefecture-level cities, too, the more dominant the tourism industry, the smaller the gap in income relative to the national average. As a result of past investments by the government in tangible cultural and natural endowments, the number of tourists visiting Gansu each year increased from 43 million in 2010 to 239 million in 2017. Gansu’s revenues from tourism have also increased but are not yet commensurate with the increase in the number of visitors. Moreover, tourism remains concentrated in the big cities and, hence, does not yet contribute to reducing regional disparities. Despite the potential of its natural, cultural and historical endowments, Gansu’s institutional capacity for managing and promoting them is poor. Strategies, policies, and mechanisms to guide the development of the service sector, especially the cultural, tourism, and creative industries, are still weak. The provincial government is starting to gain experience in working with the private sector to leverage resources and manage public assets. These pilot experiences are important, as many municipal governments are unable to operate and maintain public facilities and services at many important attraction sites, which are, consequently, deteriorating. The lack of adequate infrastructure is one constraint holding back the creative industries in Gansu. Most products of the creative industries in Gansu are traditional arts and crafts, such as Chinese calligraphy, ink painting, jade carving, folk performance, and puppet show production and presentation. Knowledge of and skills for generating these creative products are passed on from one generation to another through the teaching and mentoring of apprentices by masters. Many masters and their workshops are located in decaying towns and villages that lack basic infrastructure. The dilapidation of these areas not only makes the younger generation reluctant to live in them and learn the skills, but it also limits their attractiveness to tourists. Many businesses in the creative industries are micro to small in size and often family based. Their business skills are insufficient, and they lack easy access to finance. Finally, lack of physical spaces, such as training facilities, business incubators, production centers, and marketplaces, limits the modernization and scaling up of creative industries. The proposed project strengthens institutions and private sector development in China’s poorest province. The project will enhance the capacity of selected local commercial banks and newly set-up government financial institutions to better serve MSEs’ growth. It will enhance the capacity of the local governments to provide business-enabling environments and strengthen the capacity of participating MSEs through startup advisory services to ensure business success and sustainability. The project intends to assist the least-developed province of China in mobilizing private sector financing and solutions for growth, easing financial pressure on the local governments, and reserving scarce public finance for vital needs. The project provides a global model of how small towns along major infrastructure networks can leverage their existing local endowments to benefit from, and contribute to, economic growth. The project will bring in global, national, and local financial resources for the creation of a sustainable credit market to support MSE development in Gansu and to narrowing the gender gap of in access to finance. The project will demonstrate how pockets of poverty can be reduced through vital improvements to local infrastructure, and by enabling MSEs to connect to the growing service economy. Provinces across China with similar challenges, as well as other developing countries, will learn through knowledge transfer on how to address such challenges effectively. The project contributes to reducing gender gaps. Currently, less than 7 percent of small loans in Gansu are to female entrepreneurs. The project has a minimum target of 10-14 percent of its micro- and small credits going to female borrowers. The project will have a special focus on women for business startup advisory services and workforce development. The project will reach out to prospective women entrepreneurs and provide targeted trainings on such topics as preparing a business plan and understanding the market and the application process to gain access to finance. 3 The project supports global public goods. Several project activities are designed to reduce risks from extreme weather events, especially flooding. This includes regulating water abstraction, protecting wastewater infrastructure from increased flooding, dredging rivers, and engaging in greening activities. On the mitigation side, project activities aim to reduce emissions by incorporating green design standards into new buildings and infrastructure; supporting non-motorized transportation; reducing heat loss in regenerated buildings; and installing more energy-efficient facilities, equipment, appliances, and street lights. Project investments will result in a significant parentage of climate co-benefits (Annex 2, Table 2.8), subject to verification by the Climate Co-Benefits Assessment Team of the Climate Change Group. The project supports China’s national policy priorities. It supports the 13th National Five-Year Plan (2016–20), the Development-Oriented Poverty Reduction Program for China’s Rural Areas (2011–20), and the Views on Promoting Rural Poverty Alleviation through Innovative Mechanism. The project is also aligned with the solutions for reducing poverty and stimulating local economy proposed in the Development-Oriented Poverty Reduction Program for China’s Rural Areas (2011–20). These include (a) expansion of the existing system of geographical poverty targeting national/provincial poverty counties and adoption of a broader regional development approach for investments; (b) investment by rural businesses in economic activities of comparative advantage in the poorest areas, conducive to environmental rehabilitation; (c) rural tourism; and (d) the complementary roles of the public and private sectors. This project is also in line with Gansu’s provincial strategies and programs for economic and social development, poverty alleviation, and development and promotion of the service sector including tourism and creative industries. The project aims to create employment and improve livelihoods for lower-income urban and rural residents in Gansu. It comprises three components: (i) providing increased access to financial services for MSEs in the cultural, tourism, and creative industries; (ii) urban-rural regeneration by targeted interventions in infrastructure and public services and support for the local creative industries; and (iii) institution building and transfer of knowledge globally. The project will help build institutions and capacity for Gansu’s development. Building on the success of completed and ongoing World Bank-supported projects in the province and on key lessons learned, as well as the Bank’s accumulated knowledge of and expertise in leveraging competitive cities and urban regeneration for economic growth and job creation, the project will focus on strengthening the capacity of Gansu’s institutions for economic and social development. It will take an integrated approach to creating economic opportunities for the poor and vulnerable through the regeneration of urban and rural settlements, bringing about essential improvements to local infrastructure, enabling MSEs to connect to the growing service economy, leveraging Gansu’s rich cultural and historical assets, and addressing underlying institutional and market weaknesses. The project focuses explicitly on learning and global knowledge transfer, as well as building replicable development models. The borrower has brought along international partners, such as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), and the China-supported World Tourism Alliance (WTA), to benefit from their experience in capacity building and their well-established global networks. The project will seek to develop models for other countries with similar endowments of creative industries and tourism that face difficulties in translating them into growth opportunities. It will support the establishment of a Gansu cultural and tourism knowledge hub, using existing underutilized facilities in Dunhuang Expo and Lanzhou to help share Gansu’s experience nationally and globally. The project will also co-sponsor, with the provincial government, the well-established Annual Gansu Silk Road (Dunhuang) Expo to bring in and disseminate knowledge. Project areas have been strategically selected on the basis of poverty levels, bottom 40 percent population, and underutilized endowments. Among all the fourteen prefectures in Gansu, specific counties, districts and towns in four prefectures along the Xi’an-Urumqi east-west corridor (the ancient Silk Road route) have been strategically selected to benefit from the project, based on the results of an economic geography and competitive cities analysis. These prefectures are Tianshui, Dingxi, Zhangye, and Jiuquan. The selection criteria used were (a) poverty level and size of the 4 bottom 40 percent of the population (that is, the portion of the population with per capita disposable income below the national poverty line and the national 40 percentile); (b) transformation from agriculture or manufacturing to a service-based economy; (c) having underutilized endowments with high potential for local economic development; (d) location (that is, located along or connected to Gansu’s main tourism routes); and (e) not having previously received sufficient funds under various government and donor development programs to implement their development plans. Data reveal the extent to which counties, districts and towns of the project’s prefectures lag compared to leading cities in China. Project counties, districts and towns where large investments are made have an average per capita GDP of RMB 21,000 which is significantly below the national average of RMB 59,660, and only a fraction of the per capita GDP in Beijing (RMB 118,198) or Shanghai (RMB 116,562). Similar trends exist for per capita household disposable income. Most project counties have high poverty rates. For example, Tongwei county has a poverty rate as high as 17.61 percent in comparison with the national average of 2.19 percent. Poverty rates in Tianshui and Dingxi prefectures, where most project investments are made, stand at 9.80 percent, and 14.30 respectively. Please see Table 1-1 for detailed project activities. Table 1-1 Summary of project cities (counties / districts) City County Subproject Scope of construction Lacquer Ware Skills Inheritance Construction of Tianshui Lacquer Ware Maiji District and Development Cultural Industry Park Dadiwan Site—Longcheng Famous Infrastructure construction and upgrading of Qin’an Historical and Cultural Dadiwan, Longcheng Town and Shangguan County Town—Shangguan Qing-Ming Qing-Ming Ancient Street Scenic Zones Tianshui Ancient Street Improvement Yuanyang Jade Culture Exhibition Experience Shandan Town Yuanyang jade Wushan Area, Shandan Town Street Renovation and origin characteristic cultural County Upgrading, Shandan River Town Street town project Regulation and Landscape Improvement Majiayao Culture Exhibition Center Infrastructure construction of Majiayao Culture Lintao County and Majiayao Site Scenic Zone Exhibition Center and Majiayao Scenic Zone Dingxi Tongwei Hanmo Pedestrian Street, Hanmo Square, and Hanmo Culture and Art Center County Hanmo Culture and Art Center Cultural Heritage Protection, Protection and utilization of existing cultural Ganzhou Inheritance and Development heritage Zhangye District Wulan Ancient Town Folklore Ancient village renovation and infrastructure Village improvement Suzhou Jiuquan Silk Road Research Jiuquan Silk Road Research Center and District Center and Library Library Jiuquan Dunhuang Xuanquanzhi Site Protection and Two demonstration sites, and two experience City Demonstration footpaths The Project consists of 8 subprojects, which have different social impacts, as summarized below: 5 Table 1-2 Impacts of subprojects and countermeasures Subproject Positive impacts Negative impacts Suggestions 1) This subproject will improve the local In Wuying Town, it is stipulated that 1) The Nuwa Temple is a very popular tourist destination. infrastructure, solve environmental problems, and sewers should be excavated by not Local residents highly identify themselves with Nuwa protect the physical health and drinking water more than 30cm, which does not meet culture, but the local government pays little attention to safety of downstream residents. the national standard. this. The government should be further involved to 2) This subproject will offer local jobs to women, promote the successful implementation of this 1) Dadiwan Site so that they can work while taking care of the subproject. family, thereby increasing their participation rate in 2) The Fuxi Temple, Dadiwan site and Nuwa Temple social labor, and improve their family status. should be integrated on a realistic basis for a synergetic 3) This subproject will carry forward local culture effect. and strengthen the cultural identity of the public. 1) This subproject will improve the local 1) Some residents will suffer losses 1) The local government should grant compensation to infrastructure, provide a good living environment due to LA. A dairy farm will be those affected by LA in strict conformity with the to local residents, and reduce the possibility of relocated for this subproject, thereby applicable policy, and provide development support to impoverishment due to diseases. affecting the income of the AHs. the APs, such as stockbreeding. 2) This subproject will offer local jobs to women, 2) The dairy farm has a strong smell, 2) The scenic zone environment should be monitored so that they can work while taking care of the which may affect tourist experiences. strictly and periodically to improve tourist experiences. family, thereby increasing their participation rate in 3) This subproject will bring higher 3) The PMO should improve local traffic facilities and social labor, and improve their family status. pedestrian and vehicular traffic, popularize traffic safety knowledge to improve local 3) This subproject will realize an economy of resulting in safety risks and exhaust residents’ awareness. scale in rural tourism in Hekou Village. pollution, especially for women, 4) Attention should be paid to the mental health of local 4) This subproject will promote the inheritance of children and old people. residents to reduce mental impacts arising from this 2) Majiayao intangible heritage and improve the economic 4) The liberalization impact on daily life subproject. The PMO may organize expert workshops Culture efficiency of the cultural industry. This subproject arising from this subproject will affect together with village committees. Exhibition will expand the existing painted pottery workshops local residents’ minds, and lead to 5) The rural infrastructure and environment should be Center in Hekou Village and attract more tourists. family conflicts. improved. 5) This subproject will help change local residents’ 6) Rural tourism brands should be built to increase minds and promote the integration of urban and income. rural areas. 7) Attention should be paid to the resettlement of female laborers. 8) More small amount loans should be granted to local residents to develop family stockbreeding, farmhouses, etc. 9) Site selection: Site 1 involves the acquisition of over 10 mu of farmland, and the demolition of 6 residential houses (3 used as stores) with a total area of about 1 20,000 m2; this site involves HD, LA and operating revenue losses. Site 2: 11.3 mu of land has been acquired, and the compensation paid; two residential houses used as stores are to be demolished; this site is located mostly in river flat, and floods should be considered. 1) This subproject will improve the awareness of 1) Construction will produce noise and 1) A lending procedure should be developed under Bank the Ming granary and chief commander mansion dust pollution. guidance. and promote local tourism development and 2) The modern buildings in front of the 2) The two scenic spots under this subproject should be poverty reduction. chief commander mansion are combined with other famous local scenic spots for a 2) This subproject will improve local residents’ incompatible in architectural style, and synergetic effect. 3) Cultural cultural heritage protection awareness. block the district library, and should be 3) The repayment period of small amount loans should Heritage 3) Small amount loans will improve the demolished. be extended, because the cultural industry has a long Protection, self-development capacity of local residents payback period. Inheritance and through financial support for business startup. 4) Loan uses should be controlled to maximize economic Development benefits. Loans should be used for the local cultural industry only. 5) The government should give greater support to the cultural industry, and encourage more people to participate, thereby promoting the stable and sustainable development of this industry. 1) This subproject will protect the Xuanquanzhi 1) This subproject will have limited The coverage of this subproject should be expanded to site as a witness of the Silk Road history since the economic benefits for local residents. benefit more local residents. 4) Xuanquanzhi Han dynasty. 2) With the increase of tourists after Site Protection 2) This subproject will give full play to the completion, buried relics may be and historical value of the site and promote the damaged. Demonstration tourism development of the whole city. In the long run, this subproject will generate economic, social and historical benefits. 1) This subproject will build the first library of 1) The subproject site is far away from 1) A special bus route should be set up for the Jiuquan City. the urban center, so that distant convenience of the public. 5) Jiuquan Silk 2) The library will be a good place for local residents cannot benefit from it due to 2) Noise and dust control measures should be taken Road Research residents (including children) to learn local culture. traffic inconvenience. during construction. Center and 3) Small amount loans under this subproject will 2) Noise and dust pollution may affect Library support intangible heritage inheritors and residents in Feitianlu Community. encourage more people to inherit and carry forward intangible heritage. 6) Lacquer 1) This subproject will offer jobs to local residents 1) A provincial highway is being 1) Noise and dust control measures should be taken Ware Skills to increase their income and inherit lacquer ware. constructed out of the subproject area, during construction. 2 Inheritance and 2) Small amount loans under this subproject will producing much dust. 2) The PMO should arrange a shuttle bus for inheritors Development help poor households eliminate poverty through 2) The subproject area is too far away every day. large-scale fruit tree cultivation. from the urban area, and inheritors 3) Employment contracts should be entered into with 3) This subproject will transform the lacquer ware have commuting difficulties. local laborers to protect their labor rights and interests. market to improve its economic efficiency. 3) Lacquer will cause environmental pollution. 1) This subproject will offer local jobs to women, 1) Such loans will give borrowers a 1) Loans should be free from interest, or the repayment so that they can work while taking care of the mental pressure, because they will not period be extended. family, thereby increasing their participation rate in necessarily make profits. 2) A brand should be established for Tongwei calligraphy social labor, and improve their family status. and painting to expand its market. This applies to all 2) This subproject will support traditional tangible and intangible cultural heritage in Gansu craftsmen to develop small businesses or train Province. 7) Pingxiang inheritors. 3) Calligraphy and painting brokers should be trained, Calligraphy and 3) Small amount loans under this subproject will and the e-commerce channel developed to promote its Painting Town help local residents increase income through trading. family cultivation and stockbreeding. 4) This subproject will help build correct values and social morals, because local residents pay more attention to the integrity of calligraphers and painters than to the quality of their works. 1) This subproject will promote mandarin duck 1) This subproject will generate noise 1) Noise and dust control measures should be taken jade culture, and solve such problems as and dust pollution. during construction. 8) Mandarin backward techniques, small scale, serious 2) External tourists will impact local 2) Town construction should be combined with local Duck Jade resource waste and scattered industrial layout. customs. culture. Origin Town in 2) This subproject will promote local economic 3) The population influx will increase 3) Supporting facilities should be suited to the local Shandan Town, development and employment. the local environmental capacity. environmental capacity. Wushan County 3) This subproject will promote local tourism development. 3 Project Development Objective PDO Statement. The project development objectives are to increase income-generating opportunities, improve access to infrastructure and services, and strengthen the institutional capacity of participating entities. PDO Level Indicators. These indicators include the following: • Number of new jobs created by project-supported MSEs and new centers and facilities (disaggregated by the national bottom 40 percent and gender) • Amount of co-financing leveraged by the Participating Financial Institutions (PFIs) • Number of people benefiting from urban-rural regeneration, including improved access to infrastructure and services in the project areas (disaggregated by the national bottom 40 percent and gender) • Number of PFIs that have completed and executed their institutional development plans with the project’s support • Number of integrated cultural and tourism strategies adopted and budgeted for in provincial and local plans • Citizen engagement—percentage of beneficiaries satisfied with project results (disaggregated by gender) Project Components Component 1: Increased Access to Financial Services for MSEs (total investment: US$150 million; IBRD: US$50 million equivalent; participating financial institutions (PFIs): US$100 million equivalent). This component supports private sector development through the provision of financing for new or existing MSEs engaged in the cultural, tourism, and creative industries. The component also seeks to support the creation of a sustainable credit market for MSEs by demonstrating the financial viability of the cultural, tourism, and creative sectors and by supporting the recently established provincial holding company to serve as a wholesale vehicle for meeting the demands of the underbanked segments in Gansu and for spurring financial innovation. IBRD financing will be on-lent to the Gansu Finance Holding Group (GFHG). Established in 2016, GFHG is the wholesale financial intermediary and the provincial project management office (PPMO) for this component. Through a subsidiary agreement, GFHG will extend to PFIs a line of credit to co-finance sub-loans to eligible MSEs in the cultural, tourism, or creative industries in Gansu Province. At this time, Bank of Gansu (BoG) has been qualified and selected as the first PFI after meeting compliance indicators with regulatory requirements reflective of capital adequacy and asset quality and following a call for expressions of interest. An allocation of US$25 million is committed to BoG, which leveraged US$50 million from BoG. The remaining IBRD unallocated amount (US$25 million) will be used to partner with additional PFIs through subsequent expressions of interest using transparent selection criteria (Annex 1, Table 1.1). Success with the first PFI in terms of sub-loans co-financing is expected to generate interest among subsequent qualified PFIs, with the expectation that co-financing of MSE sub-loans would reach at a minimum ratio of 1 (IBRD):2 (PFI). GFHG will support interested PFIs through outreach and technical assistance and may contribute its own funds in subsequent rounds of allocations. To ensure financing along the whole value chain, 40 percent of the financing under this component (that is, US$60 million equivalent) will be targeted toward the micro sector with a single credit limit of US$50,000. The remaining financing under the component will provide credits to small enterprises, with most credits around US$120,000. The component will increase the tenor of the average maturity for the MSE sector from the present one year to two years, corresponding to the need for longer-term financing identified in the market demand survey. A minimum of 40 percent of the component will finance interventions in project areas of Tianshui, Dingxi, Zhangye, and Jiuquan, while the remaining 60 percent may be used to finance enterprises in other prefectures of Gansu. The component is expected to create a minimum of 3,300 permanent jobs (40–50 percent for 1 women) in newly established and growing MSEs. In addition, a minimum of 10 percent of the financing is targeted toward women borrowers. Currently, less than 7 percent of small loans in Gansu are to female entrepreneurs. To ensure sustainability, capacity building for GFHG and selected PFIs, as well as business startup advisory services for MSEs, will be provided under component 3. In parallel, IFC will provide a senior loan of US$50 million equivalent, with additional syndicated loans, to expand lending by the China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation–Microfinance Management Co., Ltd (CFPA MF) to micro and very small enterprises (MVSEs). IFC aims to expand CFPA MF’s lending to women-owned/managed MVSEs in rural area in Gansu, and to support the growth of the tourism and service sector in Gansu. Working with CFPA MF, IFC will be targeting the micro and very small spectrum of the value chain with loan sizes ranging from below US$5,000 for micro-loans and below US$15,000 for very small-loans. Thus, collectively, the World Bank Group will cover the full range of enterprises that have expressed a need for credit. Also, in parallel, GFHG plans to invest US$50 million as paid-in capital. GFGC will use this investment to back up guarantees to be extended to financial institutions lending to MSEs, against the risk of payment default of such MSEs, up to an estimated amount equivalent to US$200 million. Technical assistance to GFHG under the project will help build its capacity to administer a credit guarantee facility, which may, over time, contribute significantly to improving financial access to MSEs and sustain project impact beyond the closing date. Component 2: Urban-Rural Regeneration (IBRD: US$114 million equivalent). This component will make critical investments in small- and medium-scale infrastructure in project areas that will improve living conditions for residents and enable the creation of more income-generating opportunities in creative industries. One focus of the component is on the regeneration of urban areas and villages with cultural endowments. Another is to expand the cultural, tourism, and creative industries by constructing exhibition sites, spaces for MSE incubation and training, and creating marketplaces. The two sub-components will benefit local residents and visitors and create income-generating opportunities (Annex 2 provides details about the component). (a) Regeneration of Historic Towns and Villages. The project will finance physical regeneration, including improved access to infrastructure and services and restoration of old houses and buildings, in four towns and nine villages located in four counties in Gansu. Each town or village is characterized by a distinct cultural or creative industry specialty, such as jade carving, calligraphy and ink painting, colored pottery, lacquerware, sculptures, or folk performance. Physical regeneration, together with the enablement of economic opportunities for MSE development provided under component 1, will stimulate social and economic regeneration of local communities and leverage private investments. (b) Development of Creative Industries. The project will develop the creative industries in Gansu and provide clustered and conducive spaces for production, research, presentation, sales, and exchange of knowledge and experience. Based on market demand analysis and the comparative advantages of Gansu Province and project counties and towns, this subcomponent will finance the development of eight creative industry centers (including incubators and marketplaces) and three tourism facilities, including tourist information centers; physical and virtual display of the ancient Silk Road history, cultural, and creative industries; display and sales of cultural and creative products; and performance space for shows by local performers, using modern technologies. Component 2 is expected to create 2,205 permanent jobs (40–50 percent of which will be for women) in newly constructed centers and facilities. All new centers and facilities will be connected to regenerated towns and villages by pedestrian pathways to enable visitors to engage with local cultures and experience the variety of performing arts, handicrafts, cuisines, and interpretations of local traditions. This, in turn, is expected to result in more tourism spending on local communities, as visitors buy handicrafts, dine, or stay overnight in homestays. All centers and facilities will be designed to use energy-efficient equipment and devices to reduce energy consumption and thus reduce operating cost. They will be leased out to professional operators to ensure sustainability of 2 operation and maintenance (O&M) and generation of net revenues to local governments. Component 3: Institutional Strengthening and Global Knowledge Transfer (IBRD: US$16.0 million equivalent). This component aims to strengthen the institutional capacity in Gansu to manage economic and social development, using cultural, tourism, and creative industries as a pillar for inclusive and sustainable economic growth and poverty alleviation. 1.2 SA tasks This SA aims to learn different stakeholders’ expectations and needs and identify the Project’s positive and negative impacts through fieldwork, thereby helping the owner take a series of measures to ensure the extensive and fair participation of stakeholders and maximize the Project’s benefits. Therefore, the main objectives of this SA are: 1) Identifying primary stakeholders, and learning their interests and needs through extensive participation; 2) Assessing the Project’s potential social impacts, including positive and negative impacts, and potential social risks; 3) Identify attitudes of women, poor population, etc. to the Project, and identifying the Project’s impacts on them; 4) Strengthening public participation, giving advice on optimizing the project design, and establishing information disclosure and grievance redress mechanisms; 5) Developing social and gender action plans to evade project risks and realize the project objectives. In addition, project awareness among the public will be increased and public participation promoted through project information communication, experience sharing, etc. during public consultation. 1.3 SA methods The task force conducted fieldwork in the 8 subproject areas in 8 counties (cities / districts) in 4 prefecture-level cities with the support of the Gansu PMO and local PMOs from January 18 to February 6, 2018; August 4 - 13, 2018 (Wushan County). 1.3.1 Organizational interview and literature collection 100 organizational interviews were conducted with the local PMOs, IAs, HD management offices, land and resources bureaus, labor and social security bureaus, statistics bureaus, poverty reduction offices, women’s federations, civil affairs bureaus, ethnic and religious affairs bureaus, county annals offices, township governments, village committees, etc., and relevant basic data and literatures collected. See Table 1-3. Table 1-3 Summary of organizational interviews Area Interviews Details of organizations PMO, culture, radio and television bureau, HD management office, land and Lintao resources bureau, labor and social security bureau, statistics bureau, poverty 13 County reduction office, women’s federation, civil affairs bureau, ethnic and religious affairs bureau, county annals office, Majiayao and Hekou Village Committees PMO, culture, radio and television bureau, HD management office, land and Tongwei resources bureau, labor and social security bureau, statistics bureau, poverty 12 County reduction office, women’s federation, civil affairs bureau, ethnic and religious affairs bureau, county annals office, Songbao Village Committee PMO, culture, radio and television bureau, HD management office, land and Maiji resources bureau, labor and social security bureau, statistics bureau, poverty 13 District reduction office, women’s federation, civil affairs bureau, ethnic and religious affairs bureau, county annals office, Ganquan Town, Xizhi Village Committee Wushan PMO, culture, radio and television bureau, HD management office, land and 12 County resources bureau, labor and social security bureau, statistics bureau, poverty 3 reduction office, women’s federation, civil affairs bureau, ethnic and religious affairs bureau, county annals office, Shandan Town, Hedian Village Committee PMO, culture bureau, HD management office, land and resources bureau, labor and social security bureau, statistics bureau, poverty reduction office, women’s Qin’an 15 federation, civil affairs bureau, ethnic and religious affairs bureau, county annals County office, Shaodian Village in Wuying Town, and Lueyang and Fengwei Villages in Longcheng Town PMO, culture, radio and television bureau, HD management office, land and resources bureau, labor and social security bureau, statistics bureau, poverty Ganzhou 13 reduction office, women’s federation, civil affairs bureau, ethnic and religious affairs District bureau, county annals office, Xilaisi Community Committee, Gucheng Village Committee PMO, culture, radio and television bureau, land and resources bureau, labor and Suzhou social security bureau, statistics bureau, poverty reduction office, women’s 11 District federation, civil affairs bureau, ethnic and religious affairs bureau, county annals office, Feitianlu Community Committee PMO, cultural relic administration bureau, land and resources bureau, labor and Dunhuang social security bureau, statistics bureau, poverty reduction office, women’s 11 City federation, civil affairs bureau, ethnic and religious affairs bureau, county annals office, Xindun Village Committee Total 100 — 1.3.2 FGD FGDs were held to learn local residents’ needs for the Project, the Project’s impacts on them, and their comments and suggestions, including women, the poor, vulnerable groups1, intangible heritage inheritors, tourists, village heads, etc. Figure 1-1 FGDs (upper left: Maiji District; upper right: Qin’an County; lower left: Jiuquan City; lower right: Lintao County) 1 Vulnerable groups for this project refer to people with disability, those who live in rural area with no working ability, no income source, no children, women headed households, and households on minimum living standards. Five guarantee includes food, cloth, medical care, housing and education. 4 94 FGDs were held in the 8 subproject areas, with 352 participants in total, including 97 women, accounting for 27.6%; 71 vulnerable people, accounting for 20.1%; 83 old people, accounting for 23.6%; 56 village officials and villager representatives, accounting for 15.9%; 29 intangible heritage inheritors, accounting for 8.2%; and 16 tourists, accounting for 4.5%. See Table 1-4. Table 1-4 Summary of FGDs and participants Participants Total Village officials Intangible Vulnerable Women Old people and villager heritage Tourists Area people Particip representatives inheritors FGDs ants FGD / FGDs / FGDs / / FGDs / FGDs / FGDs s Lintao 11 3 10 2 9 2 6 2 2 1 1 1 39 11 County Tongwei 12 2 11 2 10 2 8 2 3 1 2 1 46 10 County Wushan 11 3 9 2 11 2 7 3 3 1 3 1 44 12 County Maiji 10 3 9 2 7 2 8 2 3 1 2 1 39 11 District Qin’an 13 4 11 2 8 2 6 4 4 1 2 1 44 14 County Ganzhou 13 3 12 2 9 2 7 3 5 2 2 1 48 13 District Jiuquan 14 2 9 2 7 2 8 2 5 1 2 1 45 10 City Dunhuan 13 3 12 2 10 2 6 3 4 1 2 2 47 13 g City 1 Total 97 23 83 16 71 16 56 21 29 9 6 9 352 94 1.3.3 Key informant interview Key informant interviews were conducted at the eight counties (district), township (sub-district) and village (community) levels to provide inputs into project design and implementation, including local residents, potential borrowers, small business owners, intangible heritage inheritors2, tourists, etc. 2 Intangible heritage inheritors mean generally recognized representative, authoritative and influential inheritors responsible for intangible heritage at all levels. 5 Figure 1-2 Key informant interviews 198 key informants were interviewed in total, including 19 in Lintao County, 24 in Tongwei County, 26 in Wushan County, 24 in Maiji District, 26 in Qin’an County, 27 in Ganzhou District, 26 in Suzhou District and 26 in Dunhuang City. See Table 1-5. Table 1-5 Summary of key informant interviews Organization Village Small business Intangible heritage Area Borrowers Tourists Total heads officials owners inheritors Lintao County 7 2 4 3 2 1 19 Tongwei County 9 3 4 3 3 2 24 Wushan County 9 4 4 3 4 2 26 Maiji District 9 3 4 3 3 2 24 Qin’an County 9 4 4 3 4 2 26 Ganzhou District 9 4 4 3 5 2 27 Suzhou District 9 3 4 3 5 2 26 Dunhuang City 9 4 4 3 4 2 26 Total 70 27 32 24 30 15 198 1.3.4 Questionnaire survey The task force conducted a questionnaire survey by probability proportionate to size sampling, with 384 samples at a confidence level of 95% and a maximum absolute error (d) of 5%. 410 copies were completed, and 401 valid copies recovered, accounting for 97.8%. 6 Figure 1-3 Questionnaire survey See Table 1-6 for the distribution of the samples of the questionnaire survey. Table 1-6 Distribution of questionnaire survey samples Area Number of copies Percent (%) Lintao County 80 19.95 Tongwei County 32 7.98 Wushan County 35 8.72 Maiji District 34 8.47 Qin’an County 93 23.2 Ganzhou District 61 15.2 Jiuquan City 32 7.98 Dunhuang City 34 8.47 Total 401 100 The questionnaire database was established and analyzed using the IBM SPSS software. See Table 1-7. Table 1-7 Basic information of valid samples Indicator Values Gender Male, 48.1%; female, 51.9% 18-24 years, 3.0%; 25-34 years, 8.5%; 35-44 years, 22.7%; 45-54 years, Age 39.7%; 55-64 years, 16.2%; 65 years or above 10% Urban/rural Rural, 78.1%; urban 20.9% Educational Illiterate, 5.2%; primary school, 16.2%; junior high school, 47.4%; senior high level school / secondary technical school, 22.4%; junior college or above, 8.7% Civil servant, 2.0%; worker of public institution, 4.5%; worker of enterprise, Occupation 2.5%; self-employer, 5.7%; freelancer, 8.0%; unemployed, 6.2%; student, 1.7%; retiree, 2.0%; farmer, 65.1%; other, 2.2% 1.3.5 Field investigation The task force conducted a field investigation on the proposed subproject areas for a more practical and objective understanding of proposed sites, land, sensitive sites, influencing factors, practical conditions, local socioeconomic profile, etc. See Table 1-8. 7 Figure 1-4 Field investigation (upper left: Large Alley; upper right: Tongwei County; lower left: Majiayao Village; lower right: Longcheng Town) Table 1-8 Information of field investigation City County / district Townships Villages / groups Maiji District Xizhi Village, Ganquan Town Xizhi Village, Ganquan Town Wohuang, Fengwei and Lueyang Wohuang Village; Groups 1-4 of Qin’an County Villages, Longcheng Town Fengwei Village; Lueyang Village; Tianshui Shaodian Village, Wuying Town Groups 1-6 of Shaodian Village Group1-4 of Hedian village; Group3、 Shandan Town, Hedian village, Wushan County 5 of Shandan village; Group1、3 of Shandan village, Chechuan Village Chechuan village. Majiayao, Hekou, Qijiatan, Wangjiazui, Hekou, Yaotou, Yaonan and Shilipu Lintao County Yangjiadian, Lijiafan, Cheliujia and Groups of Hekou Village; Majiayao Dingxi Yanwujia Villages, Taoyang Town Group of Majiayao Village Baijiazhuang, Ligou, Dongjiazhuang, Tongwei County Songbao Village, Pingxiang Town Zhangzhuang and Chakou Groups Zhangye Ganzhou Xilaisi and Donghu Communities Xilaisi and Donghu Communities City District Gucheng Village Groups 1-6 Feitianlu Community, Youtian Jiuquan Suzhou District Feitianlu Community Sub-district City Dunhuang City Xindun Village, Mogao Town Groups 1-4 1.4 Key concerns of SA This SA has the following key concerns: 1) Identifying primary stakeholders, and learning their attitudes to and needs for the Project; 2) Identifying the Project’s potential social impacts; 3) Analyzing the Project’s impacts on poor population, especially their willingness and ability to participate in intangible heritage protection and inheritance, cultural heritage protection and utilization, etc.; 4) Analyzing the Project’s impacts on women and their needs for the Project; 5) Learning information disclosure and public participation, including the APs’ awareness of, support for and participation in the Project; 6) Including social factors in the project design, and proposing measures to evade or reduce negative impacts; and 7) Developing a participation plan for beneficiaries, so that urban and rural residents are aware of and participate in the Project as much as possible. 8 2. Project Overview 2.1 Definition of project area The Project will be implemented in Maiji District, Qin’an County and Wushan County in Tianshui City; Lintao and Tongwei Counties in Dingxi City; Ganzhou District in Zhangye City; Suzhou District and Dunhuang City, Jiuquan City. Based on agreed project design, project activities will cover the same counties and townships as the eight subprojects and one financial subproject. Specifically, the project area includes Lacquer Ware Cultural Industry Park in Maiji District, Ming-Qing Ancient Street and Longcheng Ancient Town in Qin’an County, Shandan Town Yuanyang jade origin characteristic cultural town project in Wushan County; the Majiayao site in Lintao County, the calligraphy and painting town in Tongwei County, ancient streets and Wulan Ancient Town in Zhangye City, Silk Road Research Center in Jiuquan City, and the Xuanquanzhi site in Dunhuang City. The subprojects are Lacquer Ware Skills Inheritance and Development, Dadiwan Site—Longcheng Famous Historical and Cultural Town—Shangguan Qing-Ming Ancient Street Improvement, Yuanyang Jade Culture Exhibition Experience Area, Shandan Town Street Renovation and Upgrading, Shandan River Town Street Regulation and Landscape Improvement; Majiayao Culture Exhibition Center and Majiayao Site Scenic Zone, Hanmo Culture and Art Center, Zhangye Cultural Heritage Protection, Inheritance and Wulan Ancient Town Folklore Village Development; Jiuquan Silk Road Research Center and Library, Xuanquanzhi Site Protection and Demonstration. See Figure 2-1. Figure 2-1 Distribution of subproject areas 9 The Project will create more development opportunities for low income population, and integrate community development, transport, natural and cultural tourism, environmental rehabilitation and capacity building. See Figure 2-2. Figure 2-2 Radiation range of the Project 2.2 Local socioeconomic profile 2.2.1 Geographic location Gansu Province, with Lanzhou being its capital, is located in northwestern China, between north latitude 32°31′-42°57′ and east longitude 92°13′-108°46′, and in the junction of the Loess, Qinghai-Tibet and Inner Mongolia Plateaus, bordered by Shaanxi on the east, Sichuan and Qinghai on the south, Xinjiang on the west, and Ningxia and Inner Mongolia on the north. Gansu is a cradle of the Chinese civilization and traditional Chinese medicine, and governs 12 prefecture-level cities and two autonomous prefectures, with a land area of 425,900 km 2. The Project will be implemented in Maiji District and Qin’an County in Tianshui City; Lintao and Tongwei Counties in Dingxi City; Ganzhou District in Zhangye City; Suzhou District and Dunhuang City, Jiuquan City. Maiji District is affiliated to Tianshui City and located in southwestern Gansu, governing 14 towns, 3 townships and 3 sub-districts, with a land area of 3,480 km 2. Qin’an County is affiliated to Tianshui City and located in southwestern Gansu, with a land area of 1,601 km2, governing 12 towns and 5 townships. Wushan County is affiliated to Tianshui City and located in southwestern Gansu, with a land area of 2,011 km 2, governing 13 towns/townships and 343 villages. Lintao County is affiliated to Dingxi City and located in central Gansu, with a land area of 2,851 km2, governing 12 towns and 6 townships. Tongwei County is affiliated to Dingxi City and located in central Gansu. Ganzhou District is affiliated to Zhangye City, located in the central Hexi Corridor and northwestern Gansu, and renowned as a land of fish and rice. Suzhou District is affiliated to Jiuquan City and located in northwestern Gansu, with a land area of 3,353.74 km2. Dunhuang City is affiliated to Jiuquan City, and located in the western Hexi Corridor, and the junction of Gansu, Qinghai and Xinjiang, with a land area of 31,200 km 2. Dunhuang is an important 10 node on the Silk Road, and is known for the Mogao Grottoes and the Dunhuang Murals. 2.2.2 Economic status Among the 8 project counties (cities / districts), Ganzhou District has the highest GDP of 16.877 billion yuan, while Tongwei County has the lowest of 3.848 billion yuan; Ganzhou District has the highest fiscal revenue of 2.46 billion yuan, while Tongwei County has the lowest of 324.88 million yuan. The annual per capita income of urban residents of Jiuquan City (30,072 yuan) and Dunhuang City (29,467 yuan) is higher than the provincial average (25,693.5 yuan), while that of the other 6 project counties (cities / districts) is lower than the provincial average. The annual per capita income of urban residents of Ganzhou District (12,218 yuan), Suzhou District (14,226 yuan) and Dunhuang City (15,311 yuan) is higher than the provincial average (7,456.9 yuan), while that of the other 5 project counties (cities / districts) is much lower than the provincial average. Generally, the 8 project counties (cities / districts) represent different economic levels of Gansu Province. See Table 2-1. Table 2-1 Key social and economic development indicators of project counties / cities (2016) Fiscal Percent of Disposable Disposable Land area GDP (00m revenue fiscal revenue Division income of urban income of rural (km2) yuan) (00m to provincial residents (yuan) residents (yuan) yuan) total (%) Lintao County 2851 20923 6594 64.06 4.9288 0.9 Tongwei County 2908.5 19691 5696 38.48 3.2488 0.6 Maiji District 3480 23006 6503.7 163.74 9.755 1.8 Qin’an County 1604.07 22333.83 6584.18 54.78 1.0584 0.2 Wushan County 2011 23154 7320 58.1428 5.1762 1.1 Ganzhou District 3661 22067 12218 168.77 24.6 4.7 Suzhou District 3353.74 31742 14226 168.71 17.3278 3.2 Dunhuang City 267.18 29467 15311 106.4 14.01 2.6 Gansu Province 453700 25693.5 7456.9 7152.04 525.97 / Source: statistical yearbooks or statistical bulletins on national economic and social development 2.2.3 Population At the end of 2016, Gansu Province had 8,344,897 registered households with 26.0995 million persons, including 13.3186 million males, accounting for 51.03%; 12.7809 million females, accounting for 48.97% (male to female ratio 104.2:100), an agricultural population of 14.4356 million, accounting for 55.3%; a nonagricultural population of 11.6639 million, accounting for 44.7%, and a population density of 57.5 persons / km 2. At the end of 2016, Lintao County had 164,139 registered households with 551,730 persons, including 282,299 males, accounting for 51.1%; 269,474 females, accounting for 48.9% (male to female ratio 104.7:100), an agricultural population of 392,118, accounting for 88.3%; a nonagricultural population of 159,655, accounting for 11.7%, and a population density of 193.5 persons / km2. Tongwei County had 122,900 registered households with 405,100 persons, including 206,723 males, accounting for 51.03%; 198,377 females, accounting for 48.97% (male to female ratio 104.2:100), an agricultural population of 316,900, accounting for 78.23%; a nonagricultural population of 88,200, accounting for 21.77%, and a population density of 139.2 persons / km 2. Maiji District had 178,377 registered households with 642,000 persons, including 333,840 males, accounting for 52%; 308,160 females, accounting for 48% (male to female ratio 108.3:100), an agricultural population of 308,000, accounting for 47.9%; a nonagricultural population of 334,000, accounting for 52.1%, and a population density of 184.4 persons / km 2. Qin’an County had 157,478 registered households with 625,539 persons, including 317,531 males, accounting for 50.7%; 308,008 females, accounting for 49.3% (male to female ratio 102.8:100), an agricultural population of 549,649, accounting for 87.9%; a nonagricultural population of 75,890, accounting for 12.1%, and a population density of 389.9 persons / km 2. 11 Wushan County had 135,600 registered households with 438,700 persons, including 224,800 males, accounting for 51.2%; 213,900 females, accounting for 48.9% (male to female ratio 105.1:100), an agricultural population of 313,900, accounting for 71.6%; a nonagricultural population of 114,800, accounting for 28.4%, and a population density of 218.2persons / km 2. Ganzhou District had 178,724 registered households with 512,928 persons, including 263,293 males, accounting for 51.3%; 249,635 females, accounting for 48.7% (male to female ratio 105.3:100), an agricultural population of 310,210, accounting for 60.4%; a nonagricultural population of 202,718, accounting for 39.6%, and a population density of 140.1 persons / km 2. Suzhou District had 136,360 registered households with 413,375 persons, including 206,311 males, accounting for 49.9%; 207,064 females, accounting for 50.1% (male to female ratio 99.6:100), an agricultural population of 193,240, accounting for 55.6%; a nonagricultural population of 220,135, accounting for 44.4, and a population density of 123.3 persons / km 2. Dunhuang City had 51,900 registered households with 189,400 persons, including 94,268 males, accounting for 49.7%; 95,132 females, accounting for 50.3% (male to female ratio 98.9:100), an agricultural population of 135,412, accounting for 71.4%; a nonagricultural population of 53,988, accounting for 28.6%, and a population density of 707.2 persons / km 2. See Table 2-2. Table 2-2 Summary of population of project cities (counties / districts) Source: 2016 statistical yearbooks or statistical bulletins on national economic and social development Gansu Lintao Tongwei Maiji Qin’an Wushan Ganzhou Suzhou Dunhuan Indicator Province County County District County County District District g City Year-end households 834.4897 16.4139 12.29 17.8377 15.7478 13.56 17.8724 13.636 5.19 (0,000) Year-end population 2609.95 55.1773 40.51 64.2 62.5539 43.87 51.2928 41.3375 18.94 (0,000) Male population 1331.86 28.2299 20.6723 33.384 31.7531 22.48 26.3293 20.6311 9.4268 (0,000) Female population 1278.09 26.9474 19.8377 30.816 30.8008 21.39 24.9635 20.7064 9.5132 (0,000) Population density 57.5 193.5 139.2 184.4 389.9 218.2 140.1 123.3 707.2 (persons / km )2 Agricultural population 1443.56 39.2118 31.69 30.8 54.9649 31.39 31.0210 19.324 13.5412 (0,000) Nonagricult ural 1166.39 15.9655 8.82 33.4 7.589 12.48 20.2718 22.0135 5.3988 population (0,000) 2.2.4 Minority population Gansu is a province in which minority residents are scattered in all counties, cities and districts. Gansu has a minority population of 2.199 million, accounting for 8.7% of gross population. In the 8 project counties (cities / districts), there are scattered minority settlements (such as Sunan Yugur Autonomous County in Zhangye City). In view of this, the task force identified minority impacts in the 8 project counties (cities / districts) carefully with the assistance of the local PMOs and authorities. 12 The PMOs, and the SA task forces conducted fieldwork from December 2017 to March 2018 to learn each subproject area’s population, ethnic composition, minority villages, minority habitats, etc. according to the 4 identification criteria. 1) Questionnaire survey: with 410 copies in total, including 401 valid copies and 0 minority copy; 2) FGD: 94 village-level FGDs were held to discuss topics related to the Project, with 352 participants in total, including 97 women, 83 old people and 5 minority residents; 3) Key informant interview: 198 key informant interviews were conducted at the village, town and city levels, including 52 men-times of in-depth interviews, including 5 minority residents and 31 women; 4) Stakeholder discussion: 4 stakeholder discussion meetings were held with different municipal and township departments on the Project’s potential impacts, measures to reduce risks and suggested actions. 5) Literature collection and review: Literatures on local population, ethnic groups, culture, customs, etc., including statistical yearbooks, reports, annals, etc. were collected to learn local minority features, and differences from Han people in production and living. The survey findings are as follows: There is no minority population that triggers OP4.10 in the 8 subproject areas, so it is impossible to organize eligible minority population for project identification, public participation and analysis, and to analyze the Project’s positive and negative impacts on minority residents, and the free, prior and informed consultation process does not apply. Although there is a Yugur autonomous county (Sunan) in Zhangye City, OP4.10 does not apply to it because it is not within the project area, and there is no need to prepare an EMDP. According to the survey: 1) The minority population in the project area of 531 is scattered, it accounts for 0.67% of the total population of the project directly affected area 78417.mostly being Hui, Mongolian, Zhuang and Yugur people entering the project area for marriage and work. However,  This minority population is very small, and have no fixed community  No common language  No common culture  Show no difference from the mainstream ethnic group of Han people in terms of social welfare, rights, protection, cultural customs and lifestyle.  In addition, local minority residents enjoy the same public services as the Han people. 2) Minority residents are scattered, and there is no fixed minority settlement or ancestral estate in the project area. 3) No minority population will be affected by LA and HD for the Project. Minority residents will benefit from the Project indirectly other than directly, and the Project will have almost no negative impact on them. Therefore, no ethnic minority development plan will be developed for the Project. However, Gansu province has been known as having multiple ethnic minorities throughout China’s long history, especially when the trade route was active for centuries. Even project counties have no ethnic minority concentration, project activities under microcredits component might involve taking advantage of ethnic minority cultural heritage. It is important to ensure this cultural heritage will be developed in a proper way acceptable to ethnic minorities. Even in the absence of ethnic minorities based on criteria set out by OP4.10, local commissions/authorities in charge of ethnic minority affairs will be consulted when certain cultural heritage has been regarded as from ethnic minority origin. If any centralized minority group is identified due to any change in the project area in future implementation, the Bank operational policy OP4.10 will be triggered, and an ethnic minority development plan will be developed to protect the rights and interests of minority residents. Please refer to the Ethnic Minority Development Framework (EMDF) prepared for this project. 13 Table 2-3 Screening of Minority Population Affected by the Project Minority Project Village / Minority Gross Dongx- Mong population / district / Subproject Township Hui Salar Bao’an Tibetan Other community population population iang olian gross county population 1) Qin’an Wuying Dadiwan Shaodian Village 0 1847 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 County Town Site Wohuang Village 0 1624 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Longcheng Fengwei Village 0 2447 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Town Lueyang Village 0 1636 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2) Majiayao Lintao Taoyang Culture Majiayao Village 0 1585 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 County Town Exhibition Center Hekou Village 0 2264 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Qijiatan Village 0 1521 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Yangjiadian 0 1504 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Village Cheliujia Village 0 1810 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Lifanjia Village 0 1760 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Yanwujia Village 0 1715 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Wangjiazui 0 1946 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Village 3) Cultural Heritage Protection, Zhangye Nanugan Donghu Inheritanc 137 7840 30 0 9 0 70 13 15 1.75% City Sub-district Community e and Developm ent Xilaisi Community 57 12010 50 0 0 0 7 0 0 0.475% Jiantan Gucheng Village 0 1753 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Town Dunhuang 4) Mogao Xindun Village 5 1894 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0.26% City Xuanquan Town 14 zhi Site Protection and Demonstr ation 5) Jiuquan Silk Road Jiuquan Research Feitian Road 319 24700 257 0 0 0 27 0 35 1.29% City Center Community and Library 6) Lacquer Ware Skills Tianshui Ganquan Inheritanc Xizhi Village 0 1902 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 City Town e and Developm ent 7) Hanmo Tongwei Culture Pingxiang Songbao Village 0 1636 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 County and Art Town Center 8) Mandarin Duck Jade Origin Shandan, Wushan Shandan Town in Chechuan and 13 5023 13 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.25% County Town Shandan Hedian Villages Town, Wushan County 1 Total 531 78417 350 0 9 0 0 13 50 0.67% 9 2.2.5 Current situation of local reserves, cultural relics and infrastructure 1. Local reserves and cultural relics: Cultural relic protection has always been a focus of the provincial government, with the main tasks of cultural relic protection, major site protection, and intangible cultural heritage protection and inheritance. The current situation of some local reserves and cultural relics covered by the Project is as follows: 15 1) Majiayao Culture Exhibition Center and Majiayao Site Scenic Zone: Basic facilities of cultural relic protection (boundary markers, signs, etc.) are provided for this site, but there is still much farmland around it, and the scenic zone needs upgrading and improvement in function. 2) Wulan Ancient Town Folklore Village: The ancient gate tower and residences are well conserved, but the infrastructure is backward. 3) Xuanquanzhi Site Protection and Demonstration: The site is partly exposed due to wind and flood erosion in recent years. In 2013, the Dunhuang Municipal Cultural Relic Bureau took protective measures for the site, such as soil covering, fencing and flood protection. 4) Lacquer Ware Skills Inheritance and Development: The lacquer ware art that has continued for centuries is now on the verge of being lost. See Table 2-4. 16 Table 2- 4Statistics of local reserves and cultural relics Indicator Protection Nature Value Level Boundary Authority Current situation Subproject requirements 1) Dadiwan Cultural relic Culturally and National key Wuying and No blasting, drilling Qin’an County Under planning and construction Site—Longcheng historically protected cultural Longcheng Towns, or excavation, Culture, Radio and Famous Historical diversified, relic, state-level Qin’an County without damaging Television Bureau and Cultural extensive, and well famous historical the historical outlook Town—Shangguan conserved, good to and cultural town; Qing-Ming Ancient cultural inheritance and provincial Street and economic protected cultural Improvement development relic 2) Majiayao Culture Cultural relic Scientific, historical, national key Mayu Ditch, Qijia No pollution to the Lintao County Basic facilities of cultural relic Exhibition Center cultural and social protected cultural Ditch, west bank of site and Culture, Radio and protection (boundary markers, and Majiayao Site value in studying the relic the Taohe River, and environment, and no Television Bureau signs, etc.) are provided for this Scenic Zone late Neolithic Age Wajia Mountain, with activity that may site, but there is still much a land area of 2.19km2 affect safety farmland around it, and the scenic zone needs upgrading and improvement in function. 3) Cultural Heritage Cultural Generating Provincial 20m east of east wall, Intangible culture Zhangye Municipal Under planning and construction Protection, heritage economic and social protected cultural 30m south of south inheritance, scenic Culture, Radio, Inheritance and benefits, and relic and Provincial wall, 30m west of west zone construction, Television and Wulan Ancient promoting cultural intangible cultural wall, and 20m north of and relic renovation Journalism Bureau Town Folklore inheritance heritage site north wall Village Promoting the Gucheng Village, Culture inheritance Ganzhou District The ancient gate tower and Development effective protection Jiantan Town, and protection, Modern Agriculture residences are well conserved, and inheritance of community Development & but the infrastructure is intangible cultural development, and Investment Co., backward. heritage original state Ltd. renovation 4) Xuanquanzhi World Only post house World cultural Desolate desert at the Protection first, Dunhuang The site is partly exposed due to Site Protection and cultural among the 33 heritage, national junction of Dunhuang minimum Municipal Cultural wind and flood erosion in recent Demonstration heritage heritage sites on the key protected City and Guazhou intervention, and Relic years. In 2013, the Dunhuang Silk Road cultural relic County in the western landscape Administration Municipal Cultural Relic Bureau Hexi Corridor maintenance Bureau took protective measures for the site, such as soil covering, fencing and flood protection. 5) Jiuquan Silk New Promoting cultural — Southeast of the — Jiuquan Municipal Under planning and construction Road Research construction inheritance, and junction of Zhengda Culture, Radio, 17 Center promoting economic Road and Yumen Television and development West Road in Jiuquan Journalism Bureau City, with a planned land area of 10 mu 6) Lacquer Ware Intangible Visual, use, cultural National intangible Maiji District Xizhi Lacquer ware Tianshui Municipal The lacquer ware art that has Skills Inheritance cultural and historical value cultural heritage Village, Ganquan technique collection, Culture, Radio and continued for centuries is now on and Development heritage site Town research and Television Bureau the verge of being lost. inheritance 7) Hanmo Culture Cultural Generating National intangible Songbao Village, Construction of the Tongwei County Under planning and construction and Art Center incubation ecological, social cultural heritage Pingxiang Town, Chinese Civilization Urban Construction base and economic (Tongwei opera Tongwei county, Inheritance and Investment & benefits and shadow Dingxi City Innovation Management Co., puppet play) Demonstration Zone Ltd. 8) Shandan Town New It has economic — Northwestern corner Transforming and Shandan town The local mandarin jade industry Yuanyang jade featured benefits to drive of Chechuan village upgrading ancient government in was backward in technology, origin characteristic town cultural residential area, streets, integrating Wushan County small in scale, low in technology, cultural town development. Shandan Town, Yuanyang jade serious in waste of resources project Wushan County industry and and scattered in industrial creating distribution. characteristic towns Source: fieldwork data and cultural relic evaluation reports. 18 2. Current situation of local infrastructure 1) Dadiwan Site—Longcheng Famous Historical and Cultural Town—Shangguan Qing-Ming Ancient Street Improvement: The Dadiwan site became a national key protected cultural relic in 1988, Longcheng Town became a state-level famous historical and cultural town in 2008, and Shangguan Qing-Ming Ancient Street became a provincial protected cultural relic in 2016. There is an urgent need for infrastructure improvement, such as water and power supply, and heating. The Dadiwan Palace site needs to be improved to attract tourists. Longcheng Town, located 40km northeast of the Qin’an county town and 8km away from the Dadiwan Site is a historic battlefield, and is short of tourist service facilities, resulting in poor tourist experiences and low market awareness. Therefore, its infrastructure needs improvement urgently. Shangguan Qing-Ming Ancient Street is located in the south part of the county town and is suffering from ground subsidence and wall breakage. Over 90% of houses are dilapidated in the Wenchuan earthquake in 2008, and the existing infrastructure is inadequate, such as bad sanitation, shortage of drainage facilities, limited landscaping, inadequate building maintenance, uneven street pavements and disorderly wiring. Figure 2- 3 Jieting ancient battlefield and Ming-Qing Ancient Street 2) Lacquer Ware Skills Inheritance and Development: Tianshui’s lacquer ware is a time-honored local characteristic cultural element. Although the lacquer ware technique in Tianshui City has been included in the list of national intangible cultural heritage, it is on the verge of being lost, because many old craftsmen have died, and young people are unwilling to study this technique. On the other hand, this technique has a limited target group, and compared to modern production, it is time-consuming and expensive, so many lacquer ware enterprises and workshops are forced to close down, and many craftsmen are unemployed and live in difficulty. In the Project, this technique will be extended and developed based on Tianshui’s rich tourism resources and good infrastructure to train more inheritors and provide job opportunities to the unemployed. 3) Majiayao Culture Exhibition Center and Majiayao Site Scenic Zone: The Majiayao site is located west of the Taohe River, 12km south of the Lintao County town, and became a national key protected cultural relic in 1988. Since its discovery in 1924, it has not been formally excavated, but has been stolen and robbed extensively, reflecting that it has not been well protected. Although basic facilities of cultural relic protection (boundary markers, signs, etc.) are provided for this site according to the applicable regulations, these facilities are seriously damaged and are not fully operational, especially the 19 boundary markers on the south. In the 8 villages in Taoyang Town where this subproject is located, the infrastructure is inadequate, such as public service facilities, streetlamps, signs and public toilets, and should be constructed under unified planning. Figure 2-4 Village infrastructure and houses 4) Hanmo Culture and Art Center The cultural influence of calligraphy and painting is limited to the locality, and there is no brand effect yet. This subproject is the core of the Pingxiang Calligraphy and Painting Town Project, and aims to build the 4 tourism brands of calligraphy and painting tour, red sacred land tour, central Gansu customs tour and hot spring vacation tour. However, local cultural tourism resources are scattered and fragmented, and have not been fully explored and utilized. No effective mechanism has been established to integrate calligraphy and painting, tourism, and targeted poverty reduction. The Project will promote the aggregation of cultural tourism resources, local economic restructuring and industry development, and improve local residents’ living standard. Figure 2-5 Proposed land and attachments in Tongwei County 5) Cultural Heritage Protection, Inheritance and Development, involving two provincial protected cultural relics – Ming granary and chief commander mansion (2003). The Ming granary is located in the northeast corner of Zhangye City and has been well renovated. It will be further planned, renovated and decorated to become an operational tourist destination. In addition, supporting infrastructure will be constructed as necessary. The chief commander mansion is a large ancient building complex on Minzhu West Street and is now in good condition. There is an unused library north of the mansion, which will be exteriorly renovated and interiorly decorated to be put into operation. 20 Figure 2-6 Ming granary and chief commander mansion Wulan Ancient Town Folklore Village: Wulan Ancient Town is an ancient town along the Silk Road, with a well conserved ancient gate tower. There are 207 residences in the town, mostly in earth timber structure, built since the 1950s. These residences mostly have traditional appearances, but the supporting infrastructure is backward, and there is no gas supply. These residences will be reinforced, renovated and reconstructed to be put into operation. The Folklore Village will attract 500,000-800,000 tourists per annum, and have nearly 200 restaurants, workshops, guesthouses, farmhouses and small businesses. Tertiary industries based on tourism will be developed here to improve villagers’ living standard. Figure 2-7 Residences and gate tower in ancient town Figure 2-8 Proposed construction land for Jiuquan Silk Road Research Center 6) Jiuquan Silk Road Research Center: Jiuquan City is an important node on the Silk Road, and is known for its rich cultural heritage, such as grottos, temples, passes and fortresses. In addition, Jiuquan City is a major city in northwestern China with a population of 1.11 million but has no cultural research center suited to its status as a prefecture-level city. 7) Xuanquanzhi Site Protection and Demonstration: The Xuanquanzhi site was first discovered in 1987, and became a national key protected cultural relic in 2001, and a world cultural 21 heritage in 2014. The site is partly exposed due to wind and flood erosion in recent years. In 2013, the Dunhuang Municipal Cultural Relic Bureau took protective measures for the site, such as soil covering, fencing and flood protection. Due to traffic restrictions, this site has not been opened to the public yet. The Dunhuang Municipal Cultural Relic Bureau has set up signs, trash bins and other tourist service facilities in and around the site. This site needs further improvement to be opened as a culturally meaningful site. Figure 2- 9 Proposed construction land for Jiuquan Silk Road Research Center 8) Wushan County Shandan Town Yuanyang jade Origin Culture Town Project, including Yuanyang jade Culture Exhibition Experience Area Project, Shandan Town Street Renovation and Promotion Project and Shandan River Town Street Management and Landscape Promotion Project. Shandan Town is one of the famous ancient towns in the northwest of China. In recent years, it is famous for producing serpentine as the raw material of luminous cup. It is the most important origin of luminous cup on the market at present. But in Shandan Town, the technology level of Mandarin jade industry is backward, the scale of industry is small, the technology level is low, the waste of resources is serious, and the industrial distribution is scattered. In addition, Wushan County, where the project is located, is rich in tourism resources and has a high potential for tourism industry development. However, the historic streets in Shandan Town are lack of overall planning, the supporting facilities are not perfect, and the river course is poorly regulated, and the water body regulation, waterfront treatment and greening still need to be improved. 22 2.2.6 Baseline socioeconomic data Table 2-5 Baseline socioeconomic data of the project area Qin’an Maiji Wushan Tongwei Lintao Ganzhou Suzhou Dunhuang No. Indicator Total County District County County County District District City 1 Gross population (0,000) 62.5539 64.2 43.87 40.51 55.1773 51.2928 41.3375 18.94 377.8815 2 Female population (0,000) 30.8008 30.816 21.39 19.8377 26.9474 24.9639 20.7064 7.22 182.6822 3 Direct beneficiary population 70439 139753 26504 37189 103764 88471 36875 14230 517225 4 Female beneficiary population 35987 72123 14123 18902 53899 45345 18812 7321 266512 5 Poor population 102500 56700 10495 87500 90000 40800 12100 23 400118 6 Expected poor population to be reduced (0,000) 6.48 4.4 0.53 5.45 8 3.99 1.16 / 30.01 7 Per capita disposable income (yuan) 22683.8 23006 6035.1 19691 7434 22067 31742 29467 162125.9 8 Number of jobs generated 391 457 343 370 260 674 220 135 2850 9 Number of jobs for women generated 213 241 254 192 144 389 121 70 1624 Number of tangible cultural heritage sites 10 3 0 0 0 1 3 0 1 protected 8 Number of intangible heritage sites protected and 11 22 6 1 69 44 18 71 53 upgraded 284 12 Number of scenic spots upgraded 3 1 3 1 3 1 1 13 Number of relic management plans prepared and 13 implemented for sustainable development under 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 the Project 8 GDP (00m yuan) 54.78 163.74 58.1428 38.48 64.06 0.46 168.71 106.39 654.7628 Economy Agriculture (0,000 yuan) 158649 130622 22.0766 93932 148640 51.38 279071 145870 956857.46 Industry (0,000 yuan) 120578 703135 9.232 50895 182650 169.35 411741 270600 1739777.6 Services (0,000 yuan) 268528 803635 27.043 239922 309340 193.19 996319 647565 3265529.2 23 Coal (0,000 tons) 9.29 132.80 150.36 Petroleum (0,000 liters) 291.64 121.72 28.53 Natural gas (00m m3) 0.12 Energy Nuclear energy (Mew) / / / / / / / / Generated electricity (00m kWh) 1.40 4.73 19.59 Renewable energy (wind, solar, biomass, etc.) Solar: 1.27; (00m kWh) wind: 14.16 Source: feasibility study reports, and basic data provided by local governments, Research methods and coverage see the project feasibility report. 24 2.2.7 Local organizations and IAs The Gansu PMO has been established at the provincial department of culture under the Gansu Project Leading Group to take charge of the leadership, implementation and supervision of the Project. Subproject leading groups have been established by the local governments of the 8 project counties (cities / districts) for project coordination. PMOs have been established in the 8 subproject areas, composed of relevant government officials, responsible for subproject construction under the unified coordination and direction of the Gansu PMO. See Table 2-6. Table 2-6 Local organizations and IAs Province City level Subproject County (district) leading group IA level Lacquer Ware Skills Inheritance and Tianshui Municipal Culture, Radio Maiji District PMO Development and Television Bureau Dadiwan Site—Longcheng Famous Historical and Cultural Qin’an County Culture, Radio and Tianshui Subproject Qin’an County PMO Town—Shangguan Qing-Ming Television Bureau Leading Group Gansu Project Leading Group Ancient Street Improvement Shandan Town Yuanyang jade Shandan town government in origin characteristic cultural town Wushan County PMO Wushan County project Majiayao Culture Exhibition Center Lintao County Culture, Radio and Lintao County PMO Dingxi Subproject and Majiayao Site Scenic Zone Television Bureau Leading Group Tongwei County Urban Construction Hanmo Culture and Art Center Tongwei County PMO Investment & Management Co., Ltd. Zhangye Municipal Culture, Radio, Cultural Heritage Protection, Zhangye Subproject Television and Journalism Bureau Inheritance and Wulan Ancient Town Leading Group Ganzhou District PMO Ganzhou District Modern Agriculture Folklore Village Development Development & Investment Co., Ltd. Jiuquan Silk Road Research Center Jiuquan Municipal Culture, Radio, Jiuquan Subproject Leading Group Jiuquan Subproject and Library Television and Journalism Bureau Leading Group Xuanquanzhi Site Protection and Xuanquanzhi Site Protection and Dunhuang Municipal Cultural Relic Demonstration Demonstration Leading Group Administration Bureau 25 2.2.8 List of social sensitive sites Noise, dust, tail gases, domestic wastewater, domestic waste, etc. produced during project construction may affect nearby residents and schools to some extent. Appropriate measures should be taken to reduce such impacts. The Project will also involve road expansion, and bring higher pedestrian and vehicular traffic, thereby posing potential threats to the personal safety of local residents, especially school students. Safety education should be given to ensure personal safety. The Project will affect one school – Tongwei County Wenquan Road Primary School. See Table 2-7. Table 2- 7 List of social sensitive sites Social sensitive sites District / county Residential area School Hospital Maiji District Xizhi Village, Ganquan Town — Fengwei, Wohuang and Lueyang Villages, Longcheng Qin’an County — Town; Shaodian Village, Wuying Town Shandan town Chechuan village, Hedian village, Shandan Wushan County — Village Wenquan Road Tongwei County Songbao Village, Pingxiang Town Primary School Majiayao, Hekou, Qijiatan, Wangjiazui, Yangjiadian, — Lintao County — Lijiafan, Cheliujia and Yanwujia Villages, Taoyang Town Xilaisi Community, Nanijie Sub-district; Donghu Ganzhou District — Community, Beijie Sub-district Wulan Ancient Gucheng Village, Jiantan Town — Town Jiuquan City Feitianlu Community, Youtian Sub-district — Dunhuang City Xindun Village, Mogao Town — Source: fieldwork 26 3. Public Participation Process 3.1 Stakeholder identification Stakeholders refer to individuals or groups that can affect or be affected by the realization of the project objectives. Stakeholders can be divided into primary and secondary stakeholders. Primary stakeholders of the Project include local residents, small business owners, intangible heritage inheritors, vulnerable groups, tourists, persons affected by LA and HD, etc., and secondary stakeholders include the owners, design agency, construction agencies, supervising agencies and government agencies concerned. 3.1.1 Primary stakeholders Primary stakeholders of the Project include direct beneficiaries and those affected negatively by the Project. 1. Direct beneficiaries: Direct beneficiaries of the Project are78,417 persons in 23 villages in the 13 project townships in the 8 subproject areas (mainly including local residents, small business owners, intangible heritage inheritors, potential borrowers, beneficiaries and managers of cultural heritage protection, women, the poor, and local and non-local tourists). In addition, 517,225 residents in the 13 project townships will benefit from the Project, including 266,512females, accounting for about 51.5%. See Table 3-1. 1) Local residents: 517,225 local residents in the 8 subproject areas will benefit from the Project through infrastructure improvement, the development of cultural tourism and related industries, and financial support. 2) Small business owners: Local small businesses, such as stores, restaurants, guesthouses and farmhouses, will also benefit directly from the Project. Infrastructure improvement and cultural tourism development will attract more tourists to the project area, thereby promoting the development of relevant local industries. 3) Intangible heritage inheritors: Intangible heritage inheritors are inheritors of state-level intangible cultural heritage generally recognized to be representative, authoritative and influential as identified by the State Council. The Project will involve as many as 284 intangible heritage items, such as lacquer ware in Tianshui, Shehuo in Ganzhou District, Zhangye City, and paper cutting and straw patchworks in Tongwei County. In the Project, intangible heritage inheritors can make handicrafts with small amount loans for sale to tourists to generate income. 4) Potential borrowers: Potential borrowers are local residents with the intention of applying for small amount loans. They will use loans to develop small businesses, family cultivation or stockbreeding to alleviate poverty. 5) Vulnerable groups: Vulnerable groups for this project refers to people with disability, those who live in rural area with no working ability, no income source, no children, women headed households, and households on minimum living standards. Five guarantee includes food, cloth, medical care, housing and education.Cultural tourism development and small amount loans under the Project will undoubtedly provide them with extensive development opportunities by bringing in more customers. However, they are exposed to the risk of bankruptcy due to limited financial strength. 6) Tourists: After the completion of the Project, more and more tourists will be attracted to the project area to experience the silk road in person. How successfully the Project is implemented will determine how many tourists will be attracted. Table 3-1 Summary of direct beneficiary population Beneficiary Percent of Township / District / county Population female female Village Population sub-district population beneficiaries Wohuang Village 1624 Longcheng Town 32221 16433 51% Fengwei Village 2447 Qin’an County Lueyang Village 1636 Wuying Town 38218 19554 51% Shaodian Village 1847 Ganquan Town 45660 23900 52% Xizhi Village 1902 Maiji District Huaniu Town 56824 28980 51% / / 27 Zaojiao Town 37269 19243 52% Shandan Village 1917 Wushan County Shandan Town 26504 14123 53% Chechuan Village 1919 Hedian Village 1187 Tongwei County Pingxiang Town 37189 18902 51% Songbao Village 1636 Majiayao Village 1585 Hekou Village 2264 Qijiatan Village 1521 Wangjiazui Village 1946 Lintao County Taoyang Town 103764 53899 52% Yangjiadian Village 1504 Lijiafan Village 1760 Cheliujia Village 1810 Yanwujia Village 1715 Jiantan Town 20281 Gucheng Village 1753 Ganzhou District Nanijie Sub-district 37439 45345 51% Xilaisi Community 12010 Beijie Sub-district 30751 Donghu Community 7840 Suzhou District Youtian Sub-district 36875 18812 51% Feitianlu Community 24700 Dunhuang City Mogao Town 14230 7321 51% Xindun Village 1894 Total 13 townships 517225 266512 51.5% 22 villages 78417 Source: feasibility study reports, and basic data provided by local governments 2. Indirect beneficiary population: Indirect beneficiary population refers to the beneficiary population in accessible surrounding areas indirectly covered by the Project. The Project has an indirect beneficiary population of 1,889,409, including a female population of 956,612, a poor population of 413,535, an urban population of 709,680 and a rural population of 1,179,679. See Table 3-2. Table 3-2 Summary of indirect beneficiary population Qin’an Maiji Wushan Tongwei Lintao Ganzhou Suzhou Dunhua Indicator Total County District County County County District District ng City Beneficiary 312770 321000 219350 202550 275887 256464 206688 94700 1889409 population Female 156541 161578 106950 112354 138243 129578 103689 47679 956612 population Poor 102500 56700 23912 87500 90000 40800 12100 23 413535 population Urban 63551 167000 68064 44100 79827 101359 110068 75711 709680 population Rural 249219 154000 151286 158450 196010 155105 96620 18989 1179679 population Source: feasibility study reports, and basic data provided by local governments The Project with all eight subprojects involves the acquisition of 70.2 mu of collective land, affecting 34 households with 168 persons, the allocation of 12,362.9 mu of state-owned land, and the temporary occupation of 63.74 mu of land, affecting 14 households with 42 persons. Rural residential houses of 4,070 m2 will be demolished for the Project, affecting 12 households with 48 persons, and entities and stores of 330 m 2, affecting 6 households with 10 persons, and an abandoned schoolhouse of 500 m 2. See Tables 4-3 and 4-4. 3. Those affected negatively by the Project: including residents, enterprises and stores affected adversely by construction, LA and HD, as well as vulnerable groups 40 households with 184 persons will be affected by permanent LA (333.7 mu of collective land), and 31 households with 94 persons affected by temporary land occupation (6 mu of state-owned land and 25 mu of collective land). 28 27 households with 116 persons affected by the demolition of residential houses (8,484 m 2), and 9 households with 22 persons affected by the demolition of non-residential properties (994.4 m2). 3.1.2 Secondary stakeholders Secondary stakeholders include the owners, design agency, construction agencies, supervising agencies and government agencies concerned. 1) PMOs: The Gansu PMO have been established at the provincial department of culture under the Gansu Project Leading Group to take charge of the leadership, implementation and supervision of the Project. Subproject leading groups have been established by the local governments of the 8 project counties (cities / districts) for project coordination. PMOs have been established in the 8 subproject areas, composed of relevant government officials, responsible for subproject construction under the unified coordination and direction of the Gansu PMO. 2) Owners: responsible for project construction, operation, maintenance, coordination and management 3) Government agencies concerned: including local culture, radio and television bureaus, tourism bureaus, land and resources bureaus, development and reform bureaus, women’s federations, civil affairs bureaus, poverty reduction offices, township governments, village committees, etc. See Table 2-6. In addition, secondary stakeholders also include the design agency, construction agencies, etc. 3.2 Public participation process Since the beginning of project preparation in 2017, the Gansu and local PMOs have organized a series of public participation and consultation activities. At the preparation stage, the feasibility study agency, SA agency and environmental impact assessment agency conducted information disclosure, public participation and consultation. 3.2.1 Project information disclosure 1) From the pre-identification stage in 2017, the local PMOs, township governments and village committees have disclosed the scope of construction, site selection criteria and small amount loan policy, and conducted a need and willingness survey by means of village meeting, village congress, meeting of household heads, interview, notice, brochure, banner, WeChat, etc. 2) From December 2017, the local PMOs have disclosed project information to local residents and collected their attitudes and comments. 3) From December 2017 to March 2018, the task force conducted a field investigation, and collected comments and suggestions on the Project from local residents by means of questionnaire survey, FGD, organizational interview and personal interview, including local production and living conditions, socioeconomic profile, willingness to borrow loans, potential project impacts, scope of construction, LA compensation and restoration measures, etc. These results will be incorporated into the RAP. From 2017 to date, the Gansu and local PMOs have released the Project’s latest information online many times. See Figure 3-1. 29 Figure 3-1 Project information disclosure 3.2.2 Field investigation The task force conducted a field investigation on the proposed subproject areas for a more practical and objective understanding of the Project’s impacts, including LA and HD impacts, local residents’ socioeconomic conditions, their expectations for loan application or small business development, main concerns, etc. Figure 3-2 Field investigation 3.2.3 FGD In order to learn needs, suggestions, expectations and concerns of local residents (including urban and rural residents, women, and vulnerable groups), 94 FGDs were held in the 8 subproject areas, with 352 participants in total, including 97 women, accounting for 27.6%; 71 vulnerable people, accounting for 20.1%; 83 old people, accounting for 23.6%; 56 village officials and villager representatives, accounting for 15.9%; 29 intangible heritage inheritors, accounting for 8.2%; and 16 tourists, accounting for 4.5%. 30 Figure 3-3 FGDs 3.2.4 Key informant interview Key informant interviews were conducted at the county (district), township (sub-district) and village (community) levels to provide inputs into project design and implementation, including heads of county (district) agencies concerned, such as culture, radio and television bureaus, tourism bureaus, land and resources bureaus, women’s federations, poverty reduction offices, statistics bureaus, civil affairs bureaus and poverty reduction offices, township (sub-district) and village (community) officials, potential borrowers, small business owners, intangible heritage inheritors, and tourists. 198 key informants were interviewed in total, including 70 heads of county (district) agencies concerned, accounting for 35.3%; 27 village (community) officials, accounting for 13.6%; 32 potential borrowers, accounting for 16.2%; 24 small business owners, accounting for 12.1%; 30 intangible heritage inheritors, accounting for 15.1%; and 15 tourists, accounting for 7.6%. See Table 1-4. Figure 3-4 Key informant interview 3.2.5 Questionnaire survey The task force also conducted a questionnaire survey and personal interviews in the 8 subproject areas. 31 Figure 3-5 Questionnaire survey In this 3-month survey, 410 copies were completed, and 401 valid copies recovered, accounting for 97.8%, including 80 copies in Lintao County, 32 in Tongwei County, 93 in Qin’an County, 35 in Wushan City, 61 in Zhangye City, 32 in Jiuquan City, 34 in Dunhuang City, 34 in Maiji District. Table 3- 3Summary of public participation activities Type Date Venue Key points Participants Information disclosure PMOs, township First half of Willingness survey on small governments, Affected villages 2017 amount loans village committees, APs Project Information disclosure, and PMOs, owners, information collection of attitudes and township and disclosure Nov. 2017 Affected villages comments village officials, APs, feasibility study agency Dec. 2017 Websites Latest project information PMOs, APs Dec. 26, 2017 Sampling socioeconomic survey PMOs, owners, – Jan. 7, 2018, RAP preparation Affected villages Jan. – Mar. agency 2018 Dec. 26, 2017 Collecting local residents’ PMOs, owners, Field – Jan. 7, 2018, comments and suggestions by field SA agency Affected villages investigation Jan. – Mar. investigation, questionnaire, 2018 interview, etc. Dec. 26, 2017 Consultation on project SA agency – Jan. 7, 2018, preparation, and collection of Proposed sites Jan. – Mar. suggestions on project optimization 2018 Jan. 18 – Feb. 410 copies distributed and 401 APs, SA agency Questionnaire Affected villages, 4, 2018, Jan. – valid copies recovered (48.1 % survey homes Mar. 2018 male and 51.9 % female) 94 FGDs were held, with 352 APs, SA agency participants in total, including 97 women, 71 vulnerable people, 83 Jan. 18 – Feb. FGD Affected villages old people, 56 village officials and 4, 2018 villager representatives, 29 intangible heritage inheritors and 16 tourists. 32 198 key informants were Government interviewed in total, including 70 officials, APs, heads of county (district) agencies intangible heritage Jan. 18 – Feb. Agencies Key informant concerned, 27 village (community) inheritors, tourists, 4, 2018, Jan. – concerned, interview officials, 32 potential borrowers, 24 SA agency Mar. 2018 affected villages small business owners, 30 intangible heritage inheritors, and 15 tourists. 3.3 Stakeholder demand analysis 3.3.1 Needs for the Project 1) Local residents have an urgent need for improving infrastructure and public service facilities. The local infrastructure is backward, and the living environment is bad, such as unsound water supply and drainage systems, waste collection and treatment facilities, roads and public toilets, so residents have an urgent need for improving infrastructure and public service facilities. ① Unsound supply and drainage systems: Part household’s domestic wastewater cannot be drained properly; 12 villages around the Majiayao site in Lintao County do not have wastewater treatment facility. ② Shortage of waste collection and treatment facilities: In Wuying and Longcheng Towns, Qin’an County, waste is usually filled in nearby mountains, and wastewater would be produced on rainy days, polluting groundwater, affecting the village appearance, villagers’ physical health and tourist experiences, so villagers strongly expect the solid treatment problem to be solved through the Project. Figure 3-6 Randomly dumped waste and waste collection point ③ Incomplete local road facilities, resulting in potential traffic safety risks: 1) Roads near Majiayao Culture Exhibition Center have no deceleration strip; with the increase of vehicle traffic after project completion, deceleration strips and traffic signs should be set up on roads in the 8 nearby villages to prevent traffic accidents. 2) The road from Qinan City to Longcheng town runs through three Villages where children often play on the road. Villagers expect this road to be reconstructed to ensure safety. 3) Shandan Town old street traffic is inconvenient, the existing narrow roads, poor River management, lack of corresponding road facilities, the need for landscape upgrading. ④ Unsound bus routing: 1) Jiuquan Silk Road Research Center is not easily accessible for those living far away from it, affecting its influence and coverage directly, so special bus routes should be set up. 2) Tianshui Lacquer Ware Cultural Industry Park is far away from Qinzhou District, so lacquer ware inheritors and local residents expect a direct access bus route to be set up after its completion. 2) Intangible heritage operators expect to improve the awareness and economy of intangible heritage through the Project. ① Tongwei County is a land of calligraphy and painting, but its influence is not extensive 33 enough, so operators expect to build a brand of calligraphy and painting through the Project. ② Tianshui lacquer ware is locally well known, but is rarely known out of Gansu Province, and is sold on the domestic market mainly, and rarely exported, so lacquer ware operators expect to build a brand of lacquer ware to expand its market and train lacquer ware inheritors through the Project. ③ Majiayao is known for its painted pottery culture, and there are many painted pottery operators there. For them, the Project will bring direct economic benefits to them by attracting tourists, and also promote the development of this culture. 3) Intangible heritage inheritors expect opportunities of intangible heritage inheritance, demonstration and lending. Local cultural heritage inheritance and protection is not only the responsibility of the government, but also the expectation of local residents. Intangible heritage inheritors are the core force of intangible culture inheritance and protection and are generally willing to contribute to intangible heritage inheritance and protection. They expect opportunities of intangible heritage inheritance, demonstration and lending to inherit intangible heritage and make profits. ① Zhangye ditty and Majiayao painted pottery inheritors expect terms of small amount loans for intangible heritage to be extended, because it will take a long time for these forms of intangible heritage to generate economic benefits. Interview 3-1: Mr. Zhang, intangible heritage inheritor, Xilaisi Community, Ganzhou District, Zhangye City (46 years) “I play ditty, and run a company of my own. I’m willing to raise a small amount loan to deal with handicrafts. As you know, the cultural industry has a long payback period. I will probably begin to repay the loan before making a profit. For this reason, the term of the loan should be longer.” ② Intangible heritage in dynamic forms should be kept by video. Shehuo in Wulan Ancient Town is a rural worship ceremony in the Hexi Corridor and bears local people’s expectation for favorable weathers and a good harvest. However, it has lost its worship and symbolic significance gradually in modern society and evolved into a mode of daily entertainment. Since Shehuo inheritors have low income, and its development potential is limited, its inheritors expect this intangible heritage to be kept by video for better communication. Inheritors of intangible heritage in Tongwei County (paper cutting, calligraphy, painting and straw patchworks) expect to increase the influence and awareness of such intangible heritage through the annual Tongwei Calligraphy and Painting Festival, and attract more people for visits or exchanges, thereby generating more economic benefits. 4) Tourists expect one-stop cultural tourism experiences in the project area. Tourists (especially non-local tourisms) visit Gansu mostly to experience traditional Chinese culture and the Silk Road. They wish to experience more vivid elements related to the ancient silk road, and expect that different scenic zones in the project area be connected to gain one-stop cultural tourism experiences. For example, according to tourist interviews, tourists think that the Ming granary and chief commander mansion in Zhangye City are not as famous as the Big Buddha Temple, and should be bundled with the temple for publicity, exhibition and brand building to attract more tourists, and improve their cultural tourism value. Interview 3-2: Zhong Weiwen, tourist from Guangdong Province in Zhangye City (26 years) “From the perspective of appreciation, there is nothing to see here at the Big Buddha Temple, chief commander mansion and Ming granary. I come here simply to experience the Silk Road and its culture……” Tourists to the Fuxi Temple in Qinzhou District think that the story of ancestor Fuxi presented at the Fuxi Temple is too simple and dull and should be associated with the Dadiwan site and the Wohuang Temple for a more vivid presentation. 34 Interview 3-3: Mr. Liu, tourist of Fuxi Temple, Qinzhou District (39 years) “I think that the Fuxi Temple is not interesting at all and there is too little explanation, so I spent less than an hour visiting it. I hope to learn more about Fuxi, but feel very disappointed!” 3.3.2 Strong demand of local residents for small amount loans All local residents have a strong demand for and a strong interest in small amount loans, including ordinary residents, low income population, women and intangible heritage inheritors. 1) Local residents have strong demand for small amount loans. 89.5% of the respondents are aware of small amount loans, 71.6% need small amount loans, and 89.3% would apply for small amount loans when necessary. Table 3-4 Demand analysis of small-amount loans Question “Yes” Percent “No” Percent Are you aware of small amount loans? 359 89.5% 42 10.5% Do you need a small amount loan now? 287 71.6% 114 28.4 Will you apply for a small amount loan 256 89.3% 31 10.7% when necessary? Residents in Tongwei County have a strong demand for small amount loans, because they want to develop farmhouses, guesthouses and other small businesses, and those far away from the subproject site want to develop cultivation or stockbreeding. Residents near project also need small amount loans strongly to develop farmhouses, restaurants and other small businesses, or even deal with transport. 2) Past borrowers have strong demand for small amount loans. In Majiayao and Hekou Villages where the Majiayao site is located, past borrowers of small amount loans have a strong demand for loans, because most rich families in Hekou Village have become rich by dealing with family stockbreeding (cows, pigs, sheep, etc.) or running farmhouses, thereby setting an example for other villagers. In Songbao Village, Tongwei County, farmhouses with local characteristics have been built under unified planning and run well, making nearby villagers highly willing to borrow loans to build similar farmhouses to generate income. 3) Local women also have strong demand for small amount loans. Local women also have a strong demand for small amount loans, and 66.8% of the female respondents need small amount loans, which will be used for family cultivation, stockbreeding, restaurant, guesthouse, etc. See Table 3-5. Table 3-5 Do you need a small amount loan now? Indicator Do you need a small amount loan now? Total Gender Don’t know Yes No N 2 139 67 208 Female % 1.0% 66.8% 32.2% 100.0% Gender N 3 148 42 193 Male % 1.6% 76.7% 21.8% 100.0% N 5 287 109 401 Total % 1.2% 71.6% 27.2% 100.0% 83.2% of the female respondents who need small amount loans will apply for loans when necessary. Although this proportion is lower than that of the males, it reflects that local women expect personal and family development by participating in the Project. This will in turn improve their social status. See Table 3-6. Table 3-6 Statistical analysis of demand for small amount loans by gender Indicator Will you apply for a small amount loan when necessary? Total Gender Other Yes No Don’t know Don’t care N 4 185 4 0 0 193 Gender Male % 2.1% 95.9% 2.1% .0% .0% 100.0% 35 N 2 173 28 4 1 208 Female % 1.0% 83.2% 13.5% 1.9% .5% 100.0% N 6 358 32 4 1 401 Total % 1.5% 89.3% 8.0% 1.0% .2% 100.0% 4) Low income population Among the 401 respondents, 118 are covered by MLS. 58.5% of the MLS respondents need small amount loans, and 80.5% of those who need small amount loans will apply for loans when necessary. These proportions are much lower than those of the sample population, because low income population worries more about loan repayment, and their risk resistance is low due to lower educational levels. However, their willingness is consistent with the purpose of alleviating poverty and supporting low income population of the Project. Therefore, their needs should be fully considered in project implementation. See Table 3-7. Table 3-7 Demand of low income population for small amount loans Indicator Yes No Don’t know Total Question N Percent N Percent N Percent N Percent Do you need a small 69 58.5% 46 39% 3 2.5% 118 100% amount loan now? Will you apply for a small amount loan 1 1.43% 57 80.5% 12 18.1% 70 100% when necessary? 5) Willingness level and purpose varying with distance Residents in Village near Dunhuang project have a stronger demand for small amount loans, because they want to develop farmhouses, restaurants and other small businesses, or even deal with transport. However, in Changcheng Village farther away from the park, residents have a weaker demand, and they want to use such loans to purchase personal items such as private cars, other than to do business. 6) Microfinance demand analysis and support for project activities According to the field investigation, the overall situation of the small and micro-economic development of the cultural tourism industry in Gansu Province is better, the demand for enterprise credit is stronger, and there is stillroom for improvement in enterprise credit satisfaction.  From the industry point of view, the catering industry, wholesale and retail industry, accommodation industry and tourism commodity processing industry have higher credit demand; the proportion is 57.7%, 48.3%, 46.4% and 47.6% respectively. The largest demand for credit in accommodation industry was 865 thousand yuan, followed by 396 thousand yuan in the catering industry.  From the regional distribution of credit demand, the demand for credit in Zhangye is higher, accounting for 60.5%, followed by Tianshui, Dingxi and Jiuquan. For the detailed distribution of small and micro credit projects, this will refer to the feasibility study report that will be prepared for financial subprojects.  The credit demand of start-ups reached 60%, and the ratio of corporate credit demand to 50-100 thousand yuan was 62.2%. Therefore, it is necessary to further develop the micro-credit market and increase the credit support for basic tourism industries, start-ups and small-scale enterprises to better promote the development of small and micro-enterprises in cultural and tourism industry from the perspective of financial support. 3.3.3 High activity and willingness of low income population for the Project Local low-income population generally supports the Project, with a support rate of up to 88%. If possible, they are willing to input labor at the construction and operation stages to increase their income. Most MLS and poor households are willing to participate in the Project. For them, the Project is a good opportunity to increase income and eliminate poverty. They can either participate directly in the Project by labor input, or receive small amount loans or skills training to run small businesses, 36 such as calligraphy and painting, paper cutting, lacquer ware processing, and straw patchwork shops, restaurants, family guesthouses, etc. 3.3.4 Strong participation willingness of women 98.6% of the 208 female respondents in the 8 subproject areas are willing to participate in the Project. See Table 3-8. Table 3-8 Willingness of women to participate in the Project after completion Indicator Cumulative Frequency Percent Valid percent Option percent Willing 205 98.6 98.6 98.6 Valid Unwilling 3 1.4 1.4 100.0 Total 208 100.0 100.0 Although local women are willing to participate in the Project, their possibility of participation may be limited. It is found that there is an obvious division of labor by gender in the project area, where males deal with external affairs, while females with internal affairs (e.g., doing housework, taking care of children and old people) mainly. For example, a young woman in Qin’an County has never worked outside. It can be seen that most local women are still affected by the traditional division of labor, and if they can participate in the Project effectively and actively is not decided by themselves, but by their husbands and parents in law. Interview 3-4: Ms Zhang, Wohuang Village, Longcheng Town, Qin’an County (26 years) “I have been married for 3 years and have never worked outside. I don’t know what to do outside. I have to take care of my child and parents in law, cook, and wash clothes every day. I want to work outside, but that must be approved by my husband and parents in law. In my leisure time, I would visit the neighborhood.” 3.3.5 Improved awareness of the Project among local officials and residents 87.5% of the respondents are aware of the Project. 32.6% of those aware of the Project hear of the Project by means of television, broadcast, newspaper, Web, etc., 31.0% by means of village / community committee, and 25.8% by means of the government. Local government officials are more aware of details of the Project, but ordinary residents know little about the Project. Therefore, publicity on the Project should be strengthened to involve the public in the Project. 3.3.6 High support level of local residents for the Project 87.3% of the respondents are optimistic about the future prospect of the Project, 84.8% think that the Project is important for their families, 88.0% think that local residents will benefit from the Project after its completion, 98.5% are very willing to participate in the Project, and 97.5% think that the Project will generate considerable economic benefits. Table 3-9 Willingness of local residents to participate in project operation Indicator Cumulative Frequency Percent Valid percent Option percent Yes 395 98.5 98.5 98.5 Valid No 6 1.5 1.5 100.0 Total 401 100.0 100.0 88.3% of the respondents are willing to participate in the Project by borrowing small amount loans, and only 11.7% will participate by raising funds themselves. Table 3-10 Modes of participation in project operation Indicator Cumulative Frequency Percent Valid percent Option percent Small amount loan 354 88.3 88.3 88.3 Valid Self-raised funds 47 11.7 11.7 100.0 Total 401 100.0 100.0 37 Residents near the project sites generally support the Project after learning more about it. Interview 3-5: Ms Zhou, Feitianlu Community, Suzhou District, Jiuquan city (32 years) “It is good to build a library. As you see, all people, whether adults or children, would use mobile phones in leisure time. In particular, mobile phones would affect children’s vision and academic performance. This is a great concern of parents.” “The library will be a good reading place for the public. At weekends or in vacations, we can read there together with our children to learn knowledge.” 38 4. Social Impact Analysis 4.1 Positive impacts According to the questionnaire survey, local residents think that the Project will have the following positive impacts: 1) 17.7% of the respondents the Project will create job opportunities; 2) 16.6% think that the Project will promote local tourism development; 3) 16.45% think that the Project will promote local economic development; 4) 13.6% think that the Project will promote cultural heritage inheritance and protection; 5) 13.4% think that the Project will increase the income of poor population; 6) 8.7% think that the Project will improve the living environment; 7) 8.2% think that the Project will improve infrastructure; and 8) 4.9% think that the Project will improve the ecological environment. Table 4-1 Perceived positive impacts of the Project Indicator Potential positive impacts of the Project Option tourism development heritage inheritance Improving the living Promoting cultural Promoting local Promoting local income of poor and protection Increasing the Improving the infrastructure opportunities development environment environment Creating job population No impact ecological Improving economic Other Perception Sample size 209 255 272 205 252 133 126 75 5 2 Percent (%) 13.6 16.6 17.7 13.4 16.4 8.7 8.2 4.9 0.3 0.1 4.1.1 Promoting local economic development and creating more jobs 17.7% of the respondents think that the Project will create job opportunities, and 16.45% think that the Project will promote local economic development. It can be seen that local residents are optimistic about the economic and social benefits of the Project, such as improving local infrastructure and scenic zones, attracting more investors and tourists, promoting local cultural tourism development, reducing poverty, and more importantly, promoting the inheritance and protection of cultural heritage. For example, Tianshui Lacquer Ware Cultural Industry Park will attract a large number of lacquer ware craftsmen, and train local residents on the lacquer ware technique, thereby increasing the income of craftsmen, and promoting the inheritance and development of this technique. In addition, some unskilled jobs will be generated at the construction and operation stages, such as material transport, construction and catering at the construction stage, small businesses supported by small amount loans, and scenic zone management and service jobs at the operation stage. These jobs will be first made available to surplus laborers in the project area and surrounding areas, especially old people, women, the poor and other vulnerable groups to help them eliminate poverty as soon as possible. Interview 4-1: head of Xizhi Village, Ganquan Town, Maiji District, Tianshui City (43 years) Jobs at the lacquer ware factory include skilled and unskilled jobs. Skilled jobs (such as painting) have to be done by specialized craftsmen. Since such craftsmen can hardly be recruited, we plan to train some local villagers on lacquer ware. They are willing to get trained, because this can make money. 4.1.2 Improving infrastructure and living quality 22.1% of the respondents think that the Project will improve the living environment and 39 infrastructure. The task force has found that the existing infrastructure (water, electricity, roads, etc.) in the project area is inadequate. 1) Roads: In Lintao County, Qin’an County, Tongwei County, Ganzhou District and Wushan County, roads vary in width, are rugged and rough, and have no streetlamps and traffic signs, posing potential risks. In Longcheng Town, Qin’an County, some rural roads are earth roads, which are dusty on sunny days and muddy on rainy days. 2) Drainage facilities: Local residents complain much about drainage. In Qin’an County, domestic wastewater is not drained via a sewer, but poured out, often directly at the gate or on the road, resulting in water logging or icing. There is ice in front of the gate in winter, threatening the personal safety of pedestrians and polluting the living environment. 3) Electricity: In some alleys to be renovated in Qinzhou District, power supply lines are disorderly, and posing potential risks. 4) Heating: In Tongwei County and Qin’an County, local residents heat with small coal stoves in winter, resulting in bad indoor air quality, unsmooth breath and environmental pollution, and threatening physical health. It can be seen that infrastructure is unsound in most parts of the project area. The Project will improve the local infrastructure greatly, provide better public services to the public, improve their living quality and well-being, and give tourists a good impression. Figure 4-1 Local road and drainage port Figure 4-2 Electric meters and heating coal stove Interview 4-2: Ms Li, Fengwei Village, Longcheng Town, Qin’an County (41 years) Domestic wastewater is not drained via a sewer, but poured out, often directly at the gate. There is ice in front of the gate in winter, so we have to take care when going out. 4.1.3 Tapping local cultural tourism resources to promote poverty reduction Poverty reduction by cultural tourism is an integral part of industry and targeted poverty reduction in the 13th Five-year Poverty Reduction Plan of Gansu Province. The project area has rich cultural, tourism and natural resources, so cultural tourism development is an effective way of poverty reduction. 16.6% of the respondents think that the Project will promote local tourism development. In recent years, local governments have taken measures actively to promote the integrated development of local culture and tourism and made some achievements. For example, 40 the Maiji District Government in Tianshui City is building an ancestral worship place based on Fuxi culture, integrating grotto culture with tourism, improving the rural environment based on new countryside building, constructing rural public service facilities, and developing characteristic cultural tourism products with the aim of turning cultural tourism into a strategic pillar industry of the district. The Project will promote the integrated development of local culture and tourism to improve the service level and promote poverty reduction on the basis of “diversified mix, industrial development and normative management”. Table 4-2 List of local cultural tourism resources Subproject area Cultural tourism resources Xiyan Temple, Majiayao site, painted pottery culture, Sanyi Flower Garden, Lintao County West Lake Park, Fogui Temple Ecological Park, Nanping Mountain, etc. Maiji Mountain Grottoes, Maiji Mountain, Chongfu Temple, Guatai Mountain, Maiji District Buddha's Birthday Festival, etc. Yuexin International Calligraphy and Painting Village, Bangluo Conference Tongwei County Memorial Hall, Tongwei Hot Spring Resort, Xujiao Park, etc. Yugur Folklore Resort, Big Buddha Temple, Danxia Geological Park, Zhangye City Biandukou Scenic Zone, Zhangye National Wetland Park, etc. Fengshan Mountain, Yuntai Mountain, Dadiwan site, Kequan Temple, Nuwa Qin’an County Hall, Shangguan Qing-Ming Ancient Street, etc. Watercurtain cave, Muti temple, Longtai Ciyun temple, Woniu Mountain, Wushan County Laojunshan Forest Park, Wolf Call Lang Site, Luban Mountain Geopark, etc. Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, Yadan Geological Park, Guazhou Suoyang Jiuquan City City, Wang Jingxi’s Former Residence, Chijin Canyon, etc. Mogao Grottoes, Shaming Mountain – Yueya Spring Scenic Zone, Yangguan Dunhuang City Scenic Zone, Movie and Television Town, Leiyin Temple, etc. 4.1.4 Improving residents’ awareness of cultural heritage protection Some project sites, such as the Majiayao site in Lintao County, the Dadiwan site in Qin’an County, the Ming granary and chief commander mansion in Zhangye City, and the Xuanquanzhi site in Dunhuang City, are important relics of the Chinese civilization, and witness the evolution of Chinese culture, handicrafts, architecture, etc. However, pitifully, these sites are rarely known to the public, and may have been damaged inadvertently to some extent. Current practices of intangible cultural heritage protection, such as Maiji lacquer ware, Zhangye ditty, and Tongwei calligraphy and painting, are far from meeting the statutory requirements. In addition, some courtyards in the project area have a history of hundreds of years and are out of repair due to long-term weathering. Some residents have erected illegal buildings in these courtyards and caused some damages. In the Project, such hidden heritage will be uncovered and renovated to show their historical and cultural value and share traditional Chinese architectural culture with worldwide scholars. In this process, the heritage protection awareness of residents will also be improved. Interview 4-3: Mr. Zhang, Xilaisi Community, Ganzhou District, Zhangye City (53 years) Many locals don’t know the chief commander mansion as a historical scenic spot, let alone tourists. This is due to insufficient publicity by the government. In fact, this mansion can be used as a valuable base of patriotic education. 41 Figure 4-3 Xuanquanzhi site in Dunhuang and chief commander mansion in Zhangye 4.1.5 Improving women’s participation in social labor and family status Local women usually do housework and farm work and take care of the family in daily life. Few women work at local restaurants and guesthouses. Their overall social participation rate is low. Men mostly work outside to earn money. Due to the division of labor by gender in the project area, where males deal with external affairs, while females with internal affairs, women have to stay at home as housewives, and their social status is low. The Project will help women get employed locally by offering jobs and improve their social status by increasing their income. For example, in Gucheng Village, Wulan Ancient Town, the time-honored folklore cultural activity “Yellow River Lamp Festival” is held around January 15 in the lunar calendar and lasts 10 days. During the festival, numerous non-local tourists (about 100,000) would come here for celebration. An application for world intangible cultural heritage has been filed for this cultural event. The Project will further expand its influence and bring more tourists. Local women can do business to make money during the festival, such as selling local snacks and souvenirs. Interview 4-4: Ms Yang, Taoyang Town, Lintao County (35 years) I also want to work outside to earn money and share the burden of my husband. However, I have to stay home to take care of my child and old people. 4.1.6 Changing farmers’ mind to promote urban-rural interaction and integration In the project area, rural tourism and tertiary industries (farmhouse, accommodation, catering, etc.) are developed energetically to help local farmers get rich, such as in Qin’an County, Lintao County, Maiji District, Tongwei County and Wushan County. However, these businesses are mostly run by villagers independently, and are small in number and scale, and scattered, so their social and economic benefits are limited. Local residents will receive financial support under the Project to develop small businesses, such as farmhouse, accommodation and catering, thereby attracting more tourists into the project area. For example, scattered farmhouses in Hekou Village, Lintao County will be developed rapidly, and with brands and local characteristics. In this process, local residents will change their minds to eliminate poverty and purpose higher quality of life, and local rural areas will become more civilized. This will eventually realize the integrated development of urban and rural areas and promote urbanization. 42 Interview 4-5: Mr. Li, Hekou Village, Taoyang Town, Lintao County (46 years) There are 7 or 8 farmhouses in our village, but they are scattered and small. They should join forces to operate on a larger scale and better. A loan is preferred. 4.1.7 Promoting cultural inheritance and innovation The project area has a long history and a cradle of geniuses, and boasts a brilliant traditional culture created by the working people, including consummate folklore handicrafts and colorful folklore customs. However, pitifully, due to the marginal status and long payback period of the cultural industry, many traditional handicrafts are on the verge of being lost. In the Project, financial support will be provided for cultural inheritance and innovation. Specifically, special funds will be used to establish special research and training agencies, and support academic exchanges, and small amount loans will be granted to support intangible heritage inheritors and small businesses, such as calligraphy and painting in Tongwei County, lacquer ware in Maiji District, and paper cutting in Zhangye City. The Project will support intangible heritage inheritors to pass down traditional handicrafts to later generations and expand the domestic international influence of local culture. Interview 4-6: Mr. Li, Songbao Village, Tongwei County (33 years) In our county, there are calligraphy and painting works in every house, whether a family is rich or literate or not. The annual calligraphy and painting festival is the most important festival for the Tongwei people, where people would buy and sell calligraphy and painting works. In addition, our county has some members of China Calligrapher and Painter Association, who serve local people all the year round, and carry calligraphy and painting culture forward. 4.1.8 Protecting the ecological environment to promote human-nature harmony 4.9% of the respondents think that the Project will improve the ecological environment. In particular, residents in Jiayuguan City generally think that the Project will promote wetland and biodiversity conservation greatly. In the context of ecological development, wetland conservation and rehabilitation is a major measure, especially for dry and ecologically vulnerable inland provinces like Gansu, which has a total wetland area of over 1.7 million hectares, accounting for 4% of its land area. The ecological significance of wetlands determines the great environmental value of Caohu National Wetland Park, which has a unique bio-diverse ecosystem of grassland, swamps and ponds, and provides an ideal habitat for birds migrating from central Asia to India. In addition, Caohu National Wetland Park has important ecological and other functions, such as sandstorm protection, desertification prevention, water storage, irrigation, and climate improvement. The park is an integral part of the green ecological barrier of the Hexi Corridor. Its conservation and rehabilitation will protect and improve its habitat and give full play to its ecological functions. There is no minority population that triggers OP4.10 in the 8 subproject areas, so it is impossible to organize eligible minority population for project identification, public participation and analysis, and to analyze the Project’s positive and negative impacts on minority residents, and the free, prior and informed consultation process does not apply. Although there is a Yugur autonomous county (Sunan) in Zhangye City, OP4.10 does not apply to it because it is not within the project area, and there is no need to prepare an EMDP. 4.2 Negative impacts 4.2.1 Potential LA and HD impacts 43 LA impacts: Hanmo Culture and Art Center, Majiayao Culture Exhibition Center, Dadiwan site, some car parks, some tourist service centers, etc. will involve the acquisition of collective land and the occupation of state-owned land. 333.7 mu of collective land will be acquired permanently, affecting 40 households with 184 persons; 12,753.5 mu of state-owned land will be allocated; 31 mu of land will be occupied temporarily, affecting 31 households with 94 persons. LA will reduce land-based income and affect some local residents’ livelihoods. In view of this, the households affected by permanent LA and temporary land occupation, and their impacts should be identified as early as possible, such impacts notified to the APs in advance, and compensation paid to them in full according to the prevailing policies. 44 Table 4-3 Impacts of permanent LA and temporary land occupation Tongwei Jiayugua Dunhuan Lintao County Zhangye City Tianshui County n City g City Road Research Inheritance and Hanmo Culture and Art Center Wulan Ancient Qin’an County Town Folklore Majiayao Site Xuanquanzhi Scenic Zone Jiuquan Silk Maiji District Protection, Exhibition Majiayao Heritage Qinzhou No. Item Unit Total Grand total Culture District Center Village Center site Acquisition of 1 mu / / / / / / / 62.1 / 8.1 70.2 collective land Occupation of 100, 12433.1 12258.9 2 state- owned mu / / / / 2 acquired 2 / / 12362.9 Desert land in 2014 11 Temporary land 3 mu / / /） / / / / (collec / 52.74 63.74 63.74 occupation tive) Directly affected Permane HH / / / / / / / 34 / 34 34 population nt LA Person / / / / / / / 168 / 168 168 4 Temporar HH / / / / / / / 14 / 14 14 Temporarily y land affected occupatio Person / / / / / / / 42 / 42 42 population n 45 Demolition of residential houses: This is caused by Hanmo Culture and Art Center in Tongwei County, and Cultural Heritage Protection, Inheritance and Development in Ganzhou District, Zhangye City. Rural residential houses of 4,070 m 2 will be demolished, including 3,470 m 2 in masonry concrete structure, 730 m2 in masonry timber structure and 250 m 2 in earth timber structure, affecting 12 households with 48 persons. Demolition of non-residential properties: This is caused by Cultural Heritage Protection, Inheritance and Development in Ganzhou District, Zhangye City, and Mandarin Duck Jade Origin Town in Shandan Town, Wushan County. Non-residential properties of 330 m 2 will be demolished for Cultural Heritage Protection, Inheritance and Development in Ganzhou District, Zhangye City, all in masonry concrete structure, affecting one public house and 6 stores with 10 persons. An abandoned schoolhouse of 500 m 2 in earth timber structure will be demolished for Mandarin Duck Jade Origin Town in Shandan Town, Wushan County, affecting no one. See the table below for details: Table 4-4 Summary of HD impacts Tongwei Jiayugu Dunhua Lintao County Zhangye City Tianshui County an City ng City Xuanquanzhi site Exhibition Center Majiayao Culture Cultural Heritage Qinzhou District Inheritance and Caohu National Hanmo Culture and Art Center Wulan Ancient Qin’an County Town Folklore Wetland Park Majiayao Site Development Scenic Zone Maiji District Protection, No. Item Unit Total Village Rural HH 6 / / / 6 / / / / / 12 1 residential Person 24 / / / 24 / / / / / 48 houses m2 2630 / / / 1440 / / / / / 4070 Urban HH / / / / / / / / / / / 2 residential Person / / / / / / / / / / / houses m2 / / / / / / / / / / / Non- HH / / / 6 / / / / / / 6 3 residential Person / / / 10 / / / / / / 10 properties m2 / / / 330 / / / / / 500 830 4.2.2 Potential increase of living costs and disintegration of social networks While promoting local economic development, the Project will also drive up living costs of local residents. In most parts of the project area, rural residents heat with small coal stoves in winter, and would spend 1,000-2,000 yuan on heating per winter. After the completion of the Project, the heating cost of a winter will rise to about 3,000 yuan in the centralized heating mode. In addition, local economic development will also result in inflation. After the completion of ancient residence renovation, with the improvement of housing and infrastructure, rental rates will rise, thereby increasing the financial burden of tenants, and forcing some tenants to move. Some tenants have lived here for over 20 years and have established close relations with house owners and other tenants. It will take time for them to reestablish social networks. 4.2.3 Potential traffic safety risks due to road construction or broadening With the completion of the Project, more scenic zones will be open, and roads will be broadened, resulting in much higher pedestrian and vehicular traffic. The large vehicular traffic will pose threats to the personal safety of local residents who still lack traffic safety knowledge and awareness, especially children and old people, and increase the incidence of traffic accidents. 46 Interview 4-7: head of Shaodian Village, Wuying Town, Qinan County (42 years) Children are allowed to run and play everywhere, and there are few vehicles on the road. Parents hardly worry about them. When there are more vehicles on the roads after project completion, children will be at risk. Table 4-5 Local rural roads 4.2.4 Potential increase of the mental pressure and affordability of borrowers In the Project, small amount loans will be offered to help local residents develop small businesses, family cultivation or stockbreeding. Even though the interest rate of such loans is much lower than that of commercial loans, they are still debts for residents. Since there are great uncertainties in business operations, especially for some poorly educated and ill-informed villagers who deal mainly with purely physical labor in Chechuan Wushan County, Hekou and Majiayao Villages, Lintao County, and Shaodian Village, Qin’an County, there is a concern about loan repayment. Interview 4-8: Villager of Chechuan Village, Wushan City (39 years) We would like to have the funds to expand the processing of Yuanyang jade, but we have been running a small workshop in the village these years. We do not know much about the changes in the external market and small loans, for fear of what happens after the loan. Therefore, for local residents, if they are not 100% certain about making profits, such loans will not make them rich; on the contrary, such loans will give them a mental pressure. 4.2.5 Potential impacts of external labor influx during construction The Project will involve extensive construction, which will be conducted by specialized teams. These teams will introduce labor from other provinces, cities or counties to meet qualification or construction requirements. It is expected about 676 non-local laborers and 836 local laborers will be recruited. The influx of non-local laborers will lead to some social and health risks, including disseminating epidemic and infectious diseases (AIDS, influenza, etc.), and causing conflicts with local residents due to the lack of understanding of local customs (religions, festivals, etc.). Table 4-6 Summary of expected labor inputs in project construction Indicator Non- local Main types of work Local laborers Main types of work Total Subproject laborers Archeology, project Construction, material management, financial 1. Dadiwan Site 121 132 transport, cooking, 253 management, contract cleaning, etc. management, machinery 47 operation, etc. Archeology, project Earth transport, 2. Majiayao management, financial material transport, Culture Exhibition 45 management, contract 80 125 construction, cooking, Center management, machinery cleaning, etc. operation, etc. Earth transport, Project management, 3. Cultural material transport, financial management, Heritage 35 75 construction, material 110 contract management, Protection, transport, cooking, machinery operation, etc. Inheritance and cleaning, etc. Wulan Ancient Project management, Earth transport, Town Folklore financial management, material transport, Village 100 contract management, 100 construction, material 200 Development machinery operation, transport, cooking, handicrafts, etc. cleaning, etc. Archeology, project Earth transport, 4. Xuanquanzhi management, financial material transport, Site Protection 43 management, contract 47 construction, material 90 and management, machinery transport, cooking, Demonstration operation, etc. cleaning, etc. Earth transport, 5. Jiuquan Silk Project management, material transport, Road Research financial management, 51 96 construction, material 147 Center and contract management, transport, cooking, Library machinery operation, etc. cleaning, etc. Project management, Lacquer ware, earth 6. Lacquer Ware financial management, transport, material Skills Inheritance 112 contract management, 120 transport, construction, 232 and Development machinery operation, material transport, lacquer ware, etc. cooking, cleaning, etc. Calligraphy and Calligraphy and painting, painting, earth 7. Pingxiang project management, transport, material Calligraphy and 42 financial management, 79 121 transport, construction, Painting Town contract management, material transport, machinery operation, etc. cooking, cleaning, etc. Yuanyang jade 8. Shandan Project management, processing, earthwork Town Yuanyang financial management, transportation, material jade origin contract management, 127 107 transportation, 234 characteristic Yuanyang jade processing construction workers, cultural town personnel, large machinery cooks, cleaning staff, project operation, etc. etc. Total 676 / 836 / 1512 4.2.6 Potential natural and social impacts of construction Noise, dust, tail gases, domestic wastewater, domestic waste, etc. produced during project construction may affect nearby residents and schools to some extent. Construction may also damage cultural relics to some extent, especially those buried in the ground at the Majiayao and Dadiwan sites. This is reflected in the questionnaire survey. Potential negative impacts of the Project perceived by local residents mainly include: ①22.4% of the respondents think that construction will produce noise; ②21.4% think that construction will produce dust; ③14.2% think that construction will produce construction and domestic waste; ④9.7% think that construction will affect nearby infrastructure (water, electricity, roads, etc.); ⑤8.8% think that construction will affect cultural relics or historical buildings; ⑥7.6% think that construction will affect nearby stores’ operations. 48 Table 4-7 Perceived negative impacts of the Project Indicator Potential negative impact during project construction Item Affecting Affecting Affecting Affecting Noise Dust Water Constructi None Other nearby nearby cultural nearby pollution and on and Perception stores’ institutions’ relics or infrastruc loss, and soil domestic operation operations historical ture erosion waste s buildings Sample size 70 44 81 89 205 196 53 130 47 2 Percent (%) 7.6 4.8 8.8 9.7 22.4 21.4 5.8 14.2 5.1 0.2 Other potential negative impacts of the Project perceived by local residents include: exhaust emission (17.9%), producing domestic waste in scenic zones (17.4%), loss of land (12%), and increased expenditure (10.7%). In addition, with the influx of non-local laborers and tourists, some local residents (8.9% of the respondents) worry about conflicts with them. Besides, since the Project is demonstrative other than generally applicable in nature, and not all areas will benefit from it, there may be conflicts between villages covered and not covered by it. The survey shows that 5% of the respondents have this concern. Table 4-8 Perceived impacts after project completion Potential negative impact after project completion Loss of Increase Exhaust Exhaust Producing Conflicts Conflicts Affecting None Other land d emissio pollution at domestic between among cultural Perceptio expendit n car parks waste in floating local relics n ure scenic population residents zones and local residents Sample 105 94 157 136 152 78 44 67 37 6 size Percent 12 10.7 17.9 15.5 17.4 8.9 5.0 7.6 4.2 0.7 (%) 49 The Project consists of 8 subprojects, which have different social impacts, as summarized below: Table 4-9 Impacts of subprojects and countermeasures Subproject Positive impacts Negative impacts Suggestions 1) This subproject will improve the local In Wuying Town, it is stipulated that sewers 1) The Nuwa Temple is a very popular tourist destination. Local infrastructure, solve environmental problems, and should be excavated by not more than 30cm, residents highly identify themselves with Nuwa culture, but the protect the physical health and drinking water safety which does not meet the national standard. local government pays little attention to this. The government of downstream residents. should be further involved to promote the successful 1) Dadiwan 2) This subproject will offer local jobs to women, so implementation of this subproject. Site that they can work while taking care of the family, 2) The Fuxi Temple, Dadiwan site and Nuwa Temple should be thereby increasing their participation rate in social integrated on a realistic basis for a synergetic effect. labor, and improve their family status. 3) This subproject will carry forward local culture and strengthen the cultural identity of the public. 1) This subproject will improve the local 1) Some residents will suffer losses due to LA. 1) The local government should grant compensation to those infrastructure, provide a good living environment to A dairy farm will be relocated for this affected by LA in strict conformity with the applicable policy, and local residents, and reduce the possibility of subproject, thereby affecting the income of provide development support to the APs, such as stockbreeding. impoverishment due to diseases. the AHs. 2) The scenic zone environment should be monitored strictly and 2) This subproject will offer local jobs to women, so 2) The dairy farm has a strong smell, which periodically to improve tourist experiences. that they can work while taking care of the family, may affect tourist experiences. 3) The PMO should improve local traffic facilities, and popularize thereby increasing their participation rate in social 3) This subproject will bring higher pedestrian traffic safety knowledge to improve local residents’ awareness. labor, and improve their family status. and vehicular traffic, resulting in safety risks 4) Attention should be paid to the mental health of local residents 3) This subproject will realize an economy of scale and exhaust pollution, especially for women, to reduce mental impacts arising from this subproject. The PMO 2) Majiayao in rural tourism in Hekou Village. children and old people. may organize expert workshops together with village committees. Culture 4) This subproject will promote the inheritance of 4) The liberalization impact on daily life arising 5) The rural infrastructure and environment should be improved. Exhibition intangible heritage, and improve the economic from this subproject will affect local residents’ 6) Rural tourism brands should be built to increase income. Center efficiency of the cultural industry. This subproject minds, and lead to family conflicts. 7) Attention should be paid to the resettlement of female laborers. will expand the existing painted pottery workshops 8) More small amount loans should be granted to local residents to in Hekou Village, and attract more tourists. develop family stockbreeding, farmhouses, etc. 5) This subproject will help change local residents’ 9) Site selection: Site 1 involves the acquisition of over 10 mu of minds, and promote the integration of urban and farmland, and the demolition of 6 residential houses (3 used as rural areas. stores) with a total area of about 20,000 m2; this site involves HD, LA and operating revenue losses. Site 2: 11.3 mu of land has been acquired, and the compensation paid; two residential houses used as stores are to be demolished; this site is located mostly in river flat, and floods should be considered. 50 1) This subproject will improve the awareness of the 1) Construction will produce noise and dust 1) A lending procedure should be developed under Bank guidance. Ming granary and chief commander mansion, and pollution. 2) The two scenic spots under this subproject should be combined promote local tourism development and poverty 2) The modern buildings in front of the chief with other famous local scenic spots for a synergetic effect. reduction. commander mansion are incompatible in 3) The repayment period of small amount loans should be 3) Cultural 2) This subproject will improve local residents’ architectural style, and block the district extended, because the cultural industry has a long payback period. Heritage cultural heritage protection awareness. library, and should be demolished. 4) Loan uses should be controlled to maximize economic benefits. Protection, 3) Small amount loans will improve the 3) The Project may affect the traditional Loans should be used for the local cultural industry only. Inheritance self-development capacity of local residents through ceremonial custom of the ancient town, which 5) The government should give greater support to the cultural and Wulan financial support for business startup. is held in January in the lunar calendar. Once industry, and encourage more people to participate, thereby Ancient Town 4) This subproject will encourage more people to it is commercialized, its piety, holiness and promoting the stable and sustainable development of this industry. Folklore learn folklore culture, such as stilt walking and lion sense of ceremony will disappear. 6) The folklore village should be developed with characteristics of Village dancing, thereby promoting culture inheritance and northwestern China and the ancient Silk Road without following Development local economic development. suit. 5) This subproject will improve the local 7) Option selection for road expansion (from 6m to 12m): Option 1: infrastructure and local residents’ living quality. The existing road is renovated without expansion, involving the 6) This subproject will offer jobs to surplus laborers acquisition of 2 mu of river flat and young crop compensation. to increase their income. Option 2: A bridge is erected across the banks without LA. 1) This subproject will protect the Xuanquanzhi site 1) This subproject will have limited economic The coverage of this subproject should be expanded to benefit as a witness of the Silk Road history since the Han benefits for local residents. more local residents. 4) dynasty. 2) With the increase of tourists after Xuanquanzhi 2) This subproject will give full play to the historical completion, buried relics may be damaged. Site Protection value of the site, and promote the tourism and development of the whole city. In the long run, this Demonstration subproject will generate economic, social and historical benefits. 1) This subproject will build the first library of 1) The subproject site is far away from the 1) A special bus route should be set up for the convenience of the Jiuquan City. urban center, so that distant residents cannot public. 5) Jiuquan Silk 2) The library will be a good place for local residents benefit from it due to traffic inconvenience. 2) Noise and dust control measures should be taken during Road (including children) to learn local culture. 2) Noise and dust pollution may affect construction. Research 3) Small amount loans under this subproject will residents in Feitianlu Community. Center and support intangible heritage inheritors, and Library encourage more people to inherit and carry forward intangible heritage. 1) This subproject will offer jobs to local residents to 1) A provincial highway is being constructed 1) Noise and dust control measures should be taken during 6) Lacquer increase their income, and inherit lacquer ware. out of the subproject area, producing much construction. Ware Skills 2) Small amount loans under this subproject will dust. 2) The PMO should arrange a shuttle bus for inheritors every day. Inheritance help poor households eliminate poverty through 2) The subproject area is too far away from 3) Employment contracts should be entered into with local laborers and large-scale fruit tree cultivation. the urban area, and inheritors have to protect their labor rights and interests. Development 3) This subproject will transform the lacquer ware commuting difficulties. 51 market to improve its economic efficiency. 3) Lacquer will cause environmental pollution. 1) This subproject will offer local jobs to women, so 1) In winter (off-season) there is a little 1) Loans should be free from interest, or the repayment period be that they can work while taking care of the family, number of shops idle on the second floor, extended. thereby increasing their participation rate in social small and micro-enterprise loans, fear of small 2) A brand should be established for Tongwei calligraphy and labor, and improve their family status. returns, greater psychological pressure. painting to expand its market. This applies to all tangible and 2) This subproject will support traditional craftsmen 2) The painting and calligraphy market has intangible cultural heritage in Gansu Province. 7) Pingxiang to develop small businesses or train inheritors. obvious seasonality. In the peak season 3) Calligraphy and painting brokers should be trained, and the Calligraphy 3) Small amount loans under this subproject will (August) held in each year's painting and e-commerce channel developed to promote its trading. and Painting help local residents increase income through family calligraphy festival, the market purchases Town cultivation and stockbreeding. large quantities, easy to make money. The 4) This subproject will help build correct values and off-season passenger traffic is small in the social morals, because local residents pay more winter, and more depends on export. Training attention to the integrity of calligraphers and for export business skills is needed for painters than to the quality of their works. practitioners. 1) It is conducive to inheriting and developing the 1) Project construction will bring noise and 1) During construction, dust prevention and noise reduction should culture of Mandarin jade, solving the problems of dust pollution, affecting the lives of the be well prepared to minimize negative effects. backward technical level, small industrial scale, low surrounding residents. 2) The construction of characteristic towns should be combined technical level, serious waste of resources and 2) The increase of foreign tourists will bring with local culture. Avoid blindly follow suit and protect local culture. 8) Shandan scattered industrial distribution of the local mandarin impact to the local living habits and folk 3) During the construction process, the supporting facilities should Town jade industry, and promoting the transformation and customs. be combined with the local environmental carrying capacity, and Yuanyang upgrading of the industry. 3) With the construction of characteristic avoid excessive exploitation. jade origin 2) Drive the local economic development, provide cultural towns, the increase of floating characteristic more jobs for the local residents, and promote the population will increase the burden of local cultural town local anti-poverty work. environment. project 3) Promote the sustainable and healthy development of the local tourism industry, further integrate the tourism resources and form the agglomeration advantage. 52 5. Current Situation of Local Cultural and Intangible Heritage Inheritance, Protection and Utilization 5.1 Current situation of local cultural heritage inheritance, protection and utilization 5.1.1 Varying levels of willingness for cultural heritage protection among local residents Gansu Province has rich tourism resources and many world cultural heritage sites, and is a cradle of the Chinese civilization and the Chinese nation, and an important place of exchanges between China and the West in ancient times. The Project involves a wide range of cultural heritage, including 5 national key protected cultural relics, and some intangible heritage techniques on the verge of being lost, such as Tianshui lacquer ware. Most of the respondents are willing to contribute to local intangible heritage inheritance, and those in Tongwei County have the highest willingness level, which is attributed to the strong local calligraphy and painting atmosphere. The respondents in Maiji Districts have the highest unwillingness level, because such techniques are mostly mastered by the old generation, while young people have no patience and time to learn. Figure 5-1 Differences in willingness for cultural heritage protection among subproject area Interview 5-1: Mr. Zhao, Maiji District, Tianshui City (42 years) Lacquer ware is our unique technique, and we take pride in it. However, we have not mastered it, and those old lacquer ware craftsmen are leading a hard life. 5.1.2 Differences in cultural heritage protection and utilization among local residents 75.3% of the respondents think that cultural heritage protection is the responsibility of individuals, where the respondents in Ganzhou District have the strongest awareness of public protection. Many respondents don’t know how to protect and utilize cultural heritage. 22.4% of the respondents think that cultural heritage protection is the responsibility of the government, and that policy support is very important. See Table 5-1. Table 5-1 Protection and utilization awareness of local residents Who is responsible for cultural heritage? County / district Total Individuals Percent Government Percent Experts Percent Lintao County, Dingxi City 54 65.9% 22 26.8% 4 7.3% 80 Maiji District, Tianshui City 28 78.6% 6 21.4% 0 0% 34 Qin’an County, Tianshui City 67 72% 23 24.8% 3 3.2% 93 53 Tongwei County, Dingxi City 18 56.2% 14 43.8% 0 0% 32 Ganzhou District, Zhangye City 56 91.8% 5 8.2% 0 0% 61 Wushan County, Tianshui City 26 74.3% 9 25.7% 0 0% 35 Jiuquan City 24 75% 8 25% 0 0% 32 Dunhuang City 26 76.5% 8 23.5% 0 0% 34 Total 299 74.5% 95 23.7% 7 1.7% 401 5.1.3 Difficulties in cultural heritage protection and utilization 1) Lack of financial support and backward basic facilities Cultural heritage protection and utilization in the project area is still at a low level, especially in terms of basic protection facilities, safety management and heritage site functioning. The protection of the Majiayao site has been affected by the shortage of protective facilities. For the heritage sites applied for successfully recently, such as the Xuanquanzhi and Dadiwan sites, only boundary markers, signs and fences are available, and there is no footpath, reception center or exhibition center. The shortage of protection facilities will reduce the value of these sites greatly, and endanger their future safety. Interview 5-2: Mr. Wang Majiayao Village, Lintao County (38 years) All villagers are aware of the Majiayao site, but the government has not taken any protective measure in the past, so it has been damaged to some extent. 2) Residents have strong protection awareness but are unable to take any effective action. Local residents can do nothing to protect cultural heritage, though they know the importance of protection. For example, some buildings at the Dadiwan site have been damaged due to landslides and improper protection. Some nongovernmental research organizations have taken away some cultural relics in the name of research. Interview 5-3: Mr. Wu, Fengwei Village, Longcheng Town, Qin’an County (56 years) Our Nuwa culture has a long history, and a worship activity would be held every year. Since the site is on the mountain, we don’t know how to protect it. In recent years, some buildings have been damaged by landslides, and some non-locals have taken away many cultural relics. 3) In some areas, residents have poor protection and inheritance awareness due to the lack of publicity. Although Gansu has rich cultural heritage resources, some remote heritage sites are rarely known, such as the Xuanquanzhi site in Dunhuang City. Interview 5-4: Ms Yang, Mogao Town, Dunhuang City (47 years) I seem to have heard of the Xuanquanzhi site from others, but it has nothing to do with us, because it is very remote and not managed. 4) There is no financial support for protection and inheritance. Gansu is one of the most underdeveloped provinces and the second poorest of China. Due to the shortage of funds, some cultural relics are seriously damaged and cannot be properly protected. There is an urgent need for external financial support for cultural heritage protection and inheritance, especially the Dadiwan site in Qin’an County. 54 Figure 5-2 Urban and rural per capita income and consumption levels of Gansu and China (2016) 5.1.4 Perception conflicts in cultural heritage protection and utilization among residents 1) There are sharp conflicts in cultural heritage protection and utilization. The most critical factor is the unclear land ownership of world cultural heritage sites. Some residences are owned jointly by the government and residents, resulting in conflicts during renovation. Many residents expect demolition in view of monetary compensation, but the government wants to renovate and protect these residences. 2) Development and utilization remain at a superficial level. Many heritage sites in the project area witness the history of the Silk Road and east-west cultural exchanges. However, cultural heritage development and utilization remains at a superficial level. Some heritage sites have undergone road renovation but are not organically integrated with nearby villages and scenic zones, resulting in deficiencies in cultural heritage exhibition, tourist experience, and shopping and accommodation facilities, so that diversified tourist needs cannot be fully met. For example, the city walls of Wulan Ancient Town are well conserved, but are incompatible with surrounding residential buildings, resulting in short tourist stays; the infrastructure of the villages near the Majiayao site is poor, so that it can hardly attract tourists; the Dadiwan site is affected by inconvenient local traffic. Interview 5-5: Mr. Wang, tourist in Wulan Ancient Town (36 years) I have come here by self-driving. However, the tourist experience and supporting facilities are not good. If it is not well developed, I will not come here a second time. 3) The exploration of the historical value of cultural heritage is superficial. This is a weakness in local cultural development. Due to the lack of continuous research and investment, the research on heritage sites is confined to these sites themselves, while extended historical, social, economic, military, folklore, ecological and other research is very limited, so that these sites cannot generate considerable economic benefits, such as the Dadiwan and Xuanquanzhi sites. 4) Cultural heritage development is not adequately integrated with economic and social development. Local cultural relic authorities conduct cultural heritage development and utilization alone, and cross-channel and cross-industry cooperation has not been realized, so that cultural heritage development and utilization has not been truly combined with local customs, cultivation, stockbreeding and tourism, and public participation level is low. Although different authorities share the same goal, they can hardly be coordinated effectively in practice. 5.2 Current situation of local intangible heritage inheritance, protection and utilization 5.2.1 Existing local intangible heritage 1) A cultural census has been conducted in all subproject areas, and the lists of protected heritage have been expanding. With the deepening of the cultural census, some intangible cultural heritage items with high social, historical, cultural and artistic value have been further uncovered. 55 Interview 5-6: Mr. Li, Lintao County Culture Bureau (43 years) In recent years, the government has attached great importance to intangible cultural heritage. Our bureau would conduct a cultural census every year and revise the intangible heritage list timely. 2) Demonstration and exhibition is conducted to expand social influence. In recent years, all local governments have organized intangible heritage demonstration, exhibition and communication actively to expand its influence. The Zhangye Municipal Government has organized staff to uncover traditional literature, music, fine art, traditional dancing and other folklore skills, and their inheritors in rural and pastoral areas, and compiled literatures on this basis. In other subproject areas, the local governments would organize heritage exhibition, demonstration and performance on traditional festivals and major events. Such activities have been reported by mass media to improve the awareness and influence of local intangible cultural heritage. 3) There is an obvious gap in inheritors and target groups of intangible cultural heritage. Due to the deterioration of the cultural environment, most intangible cultural heritage items have no regular exhibition platform and are not adapted to modern society and the market economy, so their target groups are shrinking. Such heritage is still influential among middle-aged and old people but is not familiar to the young generation. Interview 5-7: Mr. Yang, intangible heritage inheritor of lacquer ware (46 years) In recent years, the number of lacquer ware craftsmen has been declining, because lacquer ware is a time- and effort-consuming technique, and has been less profitable in recent years, so that many craftsmen no longer deal with it due to living pressure. Young people are unwilling to learn it. Therefore, this technique will have no inheritor in the future. 5.2.2 Difficulties in intangible heritage inheritance 1) Shortage of inheritors for intangible cultural heritage: Due to the impact of modern technology, some characteristic folklore forms are shrinking or even disappearing, and their living space is smaller and smaller. Due to the lack of a scientific and effective industrial operation mechanism, intangible cultural heritage has been unsustainable, and craftsmen have been forced to switch to other industries due to low income. 2) Shortage of special funds: Although the value of intangible cultural heritage is highlighted, it is faced with the awkward situation of insufficient investment. As a result, much fundamental work is affected. In Tianshui City, lacquer and Wushan Yuanyang jade ware cannot be inherited actively and effectively due to the shortage of investment in census, inheritance, exploration, protection, base construction, publishing, exhibition, demonstration and training. According to a report of the Jiayuguan Municipal Culture, Radio and Television Bureau, the lack of financial support for intangible heritage video production, achievement protection, exhibition and training has affected the protection and inheritance of intangible cultural heritage seriously. Interview 5-8: Mr. Ling, intangible heritage inheritor of Wushan Yuanyang jade (47 years) Our Wushan Mandarin jade industry has a great potential for development. In recent years, we have set up a Yuanyang jade association, which brings us together, including the processing side and the sales side. However, due to the lack of funds, it is difficult to play a major role, especially in the training of Yuanyang jade processing technology, funds have limited our development. 3) Excessive development and distortion in local intangible heritage utilization: During the development of the economic value of intangible cultural heritage, more stress is laid on development than protection. It is found that many snacks and handicrafts are also included in the list of intangible heritage, reflecting that some local governments have developed some cultural heritage items excessively for utilitarian purposes. In Zhangye City, the government has extended the paper cutting technique in rural areas to promote poverty reduction. Although this has expanded the influence of this technique to some extent, some farmers have not mastered its essence. 56 5.2.3 Suggestions on intangible heritage development and utilization 1) Improve public protection awareness. In order to inherit intangible heritage, we should build up a scientific protection concept, improve public protection awareness, and define the role of the government in intangible heritage protection. 3 relationships should be handled properly – the relationship between protection and development, where rational development should be conducted on the basis of scientific protection to reflect the value of heritage; the relationship between immediate interests and long-term interests, where intangible cultural heritage should be so protected and developed to meet current appreciation and education needs, and ensure the right of future generations to share such heritage; and the relationship between cultural heritage protection and livelihood restoration, where particular attention should be paid to if heritage protection utilization can bring realistic benefits to local residents, such as poverty reduction, employment promotion and livelihood improvement. 2) Strengthen legal restraints to provide legal support for cultural heritage protection and utilization. Local regulations on intangible cultural heritage protection and utilization should be promulgated based on the provincial poverty reduction plan. Publicity on the Cultural Relics Protection Law, Administrative Measures for the Protection of World Cultural Heritage, and other regulations should be strengthened, inspections on law enforcement conducted regularly, and identified problems handled timely. In addition, local governments should develop special world cultural heritage protection and utilization plans to improve protection and utilization level. 3) Increase investment to provide financial support for cultural heritage protection and utilization. In future intangible heritage work, special protection funds should be included in financial budgets, and used specifically for heritage census, inheritance, protection, video production, achievement protection, exhibition and training. Foreign experience in raising funds for world cultural heritage protection should be drawn on, such as the Heritage Lottery Fund in Britain. 4) Pay attention to talent training to provide intellectual support for cultural heritage protection and utilization. The key to poverty reduction is intellectual support. Professional training should be strengthened, especially intangible heritage inheritors, archeologists, and inter-disciplinary professionals who are proficient in both cultural heritage protection and tourism. All local governments should promulgate policies and measures to attract high-end talent, train specialized technicians, and conduct research together with relevant experts and institutes. 57 6. Poverty Analysis 6.1 Current situation of poverty 6.1.1 Gansu Province During the 12th Five-year Plan period, Gansu’s poor population dropped from 8.42 million at the end of 2011 to 2.95 million at the end of 2015 by 5.47 million, and poverty incidence dropped from 40.5% to 14.2%. In the meantime, farmers’ income in poor areas rose from 2,599 yuan in 2011 to 5,436 yuan in 2015. At the end of 2017, Gansu had 17 key counties, 6,220 key poor villages, and a poor population of 4.17 million. In the project area, Qin’an County, Tongwei County, Lintao County, Maiji District and Qinzhou District are destitute counties / districts. Gansu’s poor population has the following features: First, it remains large, and has a high proportion of MLS households; second, causes of poverty are diversified, especially illness, education and disability; third, the poor population is scattered yet relatively centralized; and fourth, county economies are weak, and infrastructure is backward. 6.1.2 Project area (county, township and village levels) The 8 project counties (cities / districts) have 802 poor villages, 72,700 poor households with 390,587 persons, and a poverty incidence of 6.11%. The two project counties (cities / districts) with the highest poverty incidences are Maiji District and Qin’an County (12.41% and 10.72% respectively); while Jiayuguan and Dunhuang Cities have the lowest poverty incidences. 1) Maiji District: This district is a key county / district for development-oriented poverty reduction, and one of the 23 deeply poor counties / districts of Gansu. In 2017, this district had 170 poor villages, including 106 deeply poor villages, 10,971 registered poor households with 56,700 persons, and a poverty incidence of 12.41%. 2) Qin’an County: This county is a key county for development-oriented poverty reduction, a destitute county in the Liupan Mountain region, and one of the 23 deeply poor counties / districts of Gansu. In 2017, this county had two deeply poor towns, 91 deeply poor villages, 177 poor villages, 19,800 registered poor households with 102,500 persons, and a poverty incidence of 10.72%. 3) Lintao County: This county is a key county for development-oriented poverty reduction, and a destitute county in the Liupan Mountain region. In 2017, this county had 47 key poor villages, 14,928 registered poor households with 90,000 persons, and a poverty incidence of 9.2%. 4) Tongwei County: In 2017, this county had 198 poor villages, including 43 destitute villages, 15,000 registered poor households with 87,500 persons, with a poverty incidence of 8%. 5) Zhangye City: In 2017, this city had 65 poor villages, 6,162 registered poor households with 17,852 persons, and a poverty incidence of 1.9%. 6) Jiuquan City: In 2017, this city had 24 poor villages, 142 registered poor households with 12,100 persons, and a poverty incidence of 0.18%. Based on the poverty reduction target of a poverty incidence of not more than 1%, this city has realized poverty reduction. 7) Dunhuang City: In 2017, this city had 9 poor households with 23 persons, with a poverty incidence of 0.02%. 8) Wushan County: In 2017, the county totally reduced poverty by 21,400 households and 98,100 people. At the end of 2017, the remaining poverty-stricken population was 5,688 households and 23,912 people, the incidence of poverty dropped to 6.44%; 35 poverty-stricken villages and 121 remaining poverty-stricken villages were withdrawn. Table 6-1 Distribution of local poor population Division Poor villages Poor households Poor population Poverty incidence Maiji District 170 10971 56700 12.41% Qin’an County 177 19800 102500 10.72% Lintao County 47 14928 90000 9.2% Tongwei County 198 15000 87500 8% Zhangye City 65 6162 17852 1.9% 58 Jiuquan City 24 142 12100 0.18% Dunhuang City 0 9 23 0.02% Wushan County 121 5688 23912 6.44% Total (project area) 802 72700 390587 6.11% Gansu Province 6220 1 million 4.17 million 9.6% 6.1.3 Local low-income population and distribution (below 40% of per capita income) 1) Causes of low income: ① Bad natural conditions (e.g., Majiayao Village, Taoyang Town, Lintao County): Villages far away from towns have bad natural conditions and infrastructure, and are relatively economically underdeveloped. In such villages, villagers lack market and business startup awareness, and rely heavily on external support. ② Shortage of labor: Low income households are generally short of labor and have no fixed income source. Such households can only rely on direct assistance from the government and society, such as MLS benefits. ③ Illness, disability or education: Some low-income households have a sick or disabled person, or a student. Once a rural household suffers great losses due to a major disaster, or has a seriously or chronically sick or disabled member, it is likely to become poor due to high medical expenses. In addition, high educational expenses may also impoverish some households. ④ Shortage of techniques and funds: This is a major cause of low income, and restricts self-development capacity. As a result, these households fall into the vicious circle of low income – low input – low output – low income. These households may be supported through reemployment, funds, information, etc. to help them eliminate poverty. ⑤ Low overall labor quality: The overall quality of local laborers is generally low, making it more difficult for many rural low-income households to eliminate poverty. In such households, most people have not been well educated, are short of knowledge and skills, and can only do poorly paid unskilled jobs or simply do simple farm work at home. 2) Distribution of low income population in the project area: Among the 8 project counties (cities / districts), Qin’an and Tongwei Counties have high proportions of low income population, being27.43% and 27.05% respectively; while Dunhuang City have low proportions of low income population, being 19.1% respectively. See Table 6-2. Table 6-2 Statistics of local poor population Population Percentage Poor Per capita below 40% of low Division county / HHs Population income of per capita income district? income population Maiji District Yes 178377 642000 6503.7 154080 24.01% Qin’an County Yes 157478 591245 6584.18 162179 27.43% Lintao County Yes 164139 551773 6594 146606 26.57% Tongwei County Yes 122900 441000 5696 119291 27.05% Ganzhou District No 178724 512928 12218 105971 20.66% Suzhou District No 136360 413375 14226 82675 20% Dunhuang City No 87350 143800 15311 27466 19.1% Wushan County Yes 135600 438700 6035.1 101515 23.14% 6 poor Total (project area) 1160928 3734821 9145.9 899783 24.09% counties Gansu Province / 6498875 25995500 14670 6101144 23.47% 6.1.4 MLS At the end of 2016, Gansu had 4.1313 million registered MLS subjects, including 762,000 urban ones and 3.369 million rural ones, and MLS benefits totaling 2.513 billion yuan were paid to urban MLS subjects, and MLS benefits totaling 5.503 billion yuan were paid to rural MLS subjects. The project area has 126,140 MLS households with 404,604 persons in total, accounting for 11.6% of Gansu’s MLS population, including 99,265 rural MLS households with 338,529 persons, 59 and 26, 875 urban MLS households with 66,075 persons. Among the 8 project counties (cities / districts), the proportions of low income rural population to agricultural population of Tongwei County, Wushan County, Lintao County are greater than 15%, much higher than those of Ganzhou District and Dunhuang City. Among the 8 project counties (cities / districts), except Lintao County, Wushan County, Suzhou District and Dunhuang City, the proportions of low income urban population to nonagricultural population of the other counties / cities are higher than the provincial average of 6.79%. See Table 6-3. Table 6-3 Local MLS population Rural MLS Urban MLS Percentage to Percentage to Division HHs Population agricultural HHs Population nonagricultural population (%) population (%) Maiji District 9655 28964 14.03% 1787 3574 8.57% Qin’an County 17352 69407 12.63% 3397 6794 16.33% Lintao County 21704 73017 18.62% 1709 3676 2.30% Tongwei County 22996 68952 21.76% 5182 10364 11.75% Ganzhou District 6638 19916 6.42% 6704 20114 9.92% Suzhou District 5142 20567 10.64% 4534 13601 6.18% Dunhuang City 3116 9348 9.09% 1249 2498 6.09% Wushan County 12662 48358 15.4% 2313 5454 4.8% Total (project area) 99265 338529 13.57% 26875 66075 8.24% Gansu Province 1123074 3369222 22.81% 254017 762050 6.79% Source: Statistical Bulletin 2016 on National Economic and Social Development of Gansu Province, county / district statistics 6.2 Causes of poverty Although the 8 project counties (cities / districts) are widespread, their causes of poverty are similar. 1) The project area is underdeveloped for historical and geographic reasons. Gansu is one of the most underdeveloped provinces, and has harsh natural conditions, such as serious drought, and mountains, deserts and plateaus unsuitable for human existence. For example, in 2017, Lintao County’s per capita disposable income of urban residents was 22,618 yuan, and that of rural residents 7,187 yuan, lower than the provincial and national (23,821 yuan) averages, and the rural living environment was backward. 2) Rural infrastructure is backward, affecting rural productivity and farmers’ income. This is reflected in backward transport, such as poor conditions of national and provincial trunk highways, the absence of high-speed railway, poor pavements of village roads, insufficient power supply capacity, low farmland irrigation rate, and low resistance of agriculture to natural disasters. 3) Most rural households have low self-development capacity and weak risk resistance. This is reflected in impoverishment due to illness, disasters, fund shortage, labor shortage and skill shortage. For example, among 10,971 poor households in Maiji District, Tianshui City, 8,180 households with 33,514 persons are impoverished due to illness, accounting for 32.5%; 1,232 households with 4,869 persons due to disability, accounting for 4.7%; 2,456 households with 11,260 persons due to education, accounting for 10.9%; 170 households with 688 persons due to disasters, accounting for 0.6%; 27 households with 120 persons due to land shortage, accounting for 0.12%; 8,031 households with 34,530 persons due to technique shortage, accounting for 33.5%; 1,140 households with 3,838 persons due to labor shortage, accounting for 3.7%; 2,840 households with 12,101 persons due to fund shortage, accounting for 11.7%; 2 households with 12 persons due to water shortage, accounting for 0.01%; 385 households with 1,540 persons due to low self-development capacity, accounting for 1.5%; 36 households with 157 persons due to backward transport conditions, accounting for 0.15%; and 89 households with 371 persons due to other 60 factors, accounting for 0.36%. 4) Basic public services are insufficient. General high and primary schools are short of teaching staff, medical conditions are poor, and the agricultural technique extension system is unsound. The infrastructure in the poor villages of Maiji District is still very weak, where village roads of 179 kilometers, village group roads of 251 kilometers, village alleys of 83 kilometers and courtyards of 950,000 m2 are to be hardened, and 1,761 households with 7,383 persons are to be relocated for poverty reduction. 5) Financial support is insufficient. According to the 13th Five-year Plan, the poverty reduction fund for each poor village is 130,000 yuan per annum only, which is very limited. 6) Industry driving is insufficient. Although there are some fruit tree farms, dairy farms and farmhouses in the project, such as Lintao and Qin’an Counties, they are small and scattered, and lack characteristics, and no competitive industry chain or industry cluster has been established. 7) Re-impoverishment after poverty reduction is serious. Some households that have eliminated poverty successfully would be re-impoverished due to major disasters, diseases and educational expenses. In Maiji District, 449 households with 1,839 persons were re-impoverished in 2015, and 508 households with 1,928 persons re-impoverished in 2016, and the causes included fund shortage (32.09%), technique shortage (27.76%), sickness (6.1%), disability (1.77%), education (2.56%) and other (4.72%). 6.3 Local poverty reduction measures In general, local poverty reduction measures mainly include the following: 1) Industrial development: Industries suited to local conditions should be developed to promote local poverty reduction. Great support should be offered to poor villages and households for industrial development, employment and business startup to increase income. Poor households should be supported to develop characteristic crop cultivation, stockbreeding, etc. In Suzhou District, Jiuquan City, the development of advantaged and characteristic industries, such as stockbreeding, forest and fruit cultivation, and seed production, is supported greatly. In the district, 28 sunlight greenhouses of over 50 mu and 30 steel frame greenhouses of over 100 mu have been built, vegetable cultivation area has reached 200,000 mu, seed production area 285,000 mu, and high efficiency farmland area 280,000 mu. In addition, 2,372 rural households have introduced 13,000 heads of cattle and sheep, and constructed or reconstructed 851 standard stables, 15 sunlight greenhouses and 65 steel frame greenhouses under supporting policies. 2) Tourism: Tourism will be developed based on local conditions, and tourism infrastructure constructed to promote poverty reduction. For example, Lintao County sticks to the integrated development of culture and tourism, has built 11 key tourist destinations with a total investment of 690 million yuan, and has organized some cultural and tourism events, such as the First Majiayao Cultural Festival and the Second Ziban Peony Tourism Festival. 3) Health: This measure aims to reduce impoverishment or re-impoverishment due to illness, and improve medical service capacity and level. In 2016, infirmaries were built in 2,965 poor villages in Gansu Province. 4) Poverty reduction based on culture: In Tianshui City, the culture industry is being built into a pillar industry based on the city’s rich cultural resources to promote poverty reduction. In addition, calligraphy and painting is supported greatly in Tongwei County to help poor households get rich. 5) Social assistance: The benefit level for rural MLS households is increased year by year, and subsidies granted to rural five-guarantee and MLS subjects in new-type rural cooperative medical insurance to expand the coverage of medical insurance and assistance, and prevent poor rural households from being impoverished due to illness. For example, in Dunhuang City in 2017, medical subsidies of 50,580 yuan were granted to 4 poor households with 11 persons, living 61 subsidies of 1.9044 million yuan granted to 1,556 disabled persons, and temporary subsidies (for accidental injuries, sudden major diseases, etc.) of 51,574 yuan to 21 poor households with 37 persons. 6) Small amount loans: Small amount loans are granted to poor households with government subsidized discount interests to realize targeted poverty reduction. For example, in Ganzhou District, Zhangye City, 9.6 million yuan was raised to grant an industrial subsidy of 5,000 yuan per household, and a security-free loan of 50,000 yuan was granted to each eligible poor household with 3-year government subsidized discount interests in 2017, with a total amount of small amount loans of 38 million yuan for 1,347 households. 7) Labor training: Vocational skills, rural business startup and diploma training is strengthened in the project area to cover all laborers in poor areas. For example, in Dunhuang City in 2017, the government subscribed 807 copies of Gansu Farmers’ Science and Technology News for poor households, and offered labor skills training to 2,379 men-times, and agricultural technology training to 9,461 men-times to improve poor residents’ self-development capacity. 6.4 Needs of the poor for the Project It can be seen that the Project will affect and serve a large poor population. Only if the special needs of poor people are met, their suggestions accepted, and the Project’s potential negative impacts on them evaded can they truly benefit from the Project. The task force identified their needs during the fieldwork, and has proposed suggestions accordingly. 1) Demand for employment: 87% of the poor respondents are willing to get employed under the Project. Unskilled jobs generated at the construction and operation stages of the Project will be first made available to them. Interview 6-1: Mr. Shen, Majiayao Village, Taoyang Town, Lintao County (43 years) We just expect jobs to be offered to poor households during project construction, so that we can earn money without having to resort to the government. 2) Demand for small amount loans, preferably interest free or extended: The task force has found that poor households are very interested in small amount loans, and hope to use them to develop small businesses, family cultivation or stockbreeding to alleviate poverty. The questionnaire survey shows that 16% of the respondents do not dare to borrow money for fear of high interests, and 48.4% do not dare to borrow money for fear of future profitability, because interests on small amount loans are a great burden for poor households. Therefore, interests should be reduced or exempted, and the repayment period of small amount loans should be extended for poor households. Interview 6-2: Ms Han, Shandan Community, Wushan County(53 years) I of course want a small amount loan, but it is a debt that has to be repaid some day. If I could not earn money, I would be unable to repay it, so I do not dare to borrow it. 3) Demand for technical and management support for small businesses: Even if poor residents have received small amount loans to run small businesses, business management is still a big problem for them, because they have limited knowledge about the market and management 62 skills. Therefore, small amount loans will not necessarily realize the goal of poverty reduction, and some borrowers may become poorer due to improper management. In the interview with a poor person in Qin’an County, she said that a farmer could not necessarily run a store or small enterprise even with money, because knowledge and skills were needed. Therefore, technical and management support should be provided to poor residents through skills training in addition to financial support. In particular at the early stage of business startup, professionals should be assigned to help poor residents run small enterprises until such enterprises are on the right track. In addition, it is critical that such enterprises are followed up, and assisted in solving practical problems. Interview 6-3: Ms Wang, Shaodian Village Longcheng Town, Qin’an County (37 years) It is not so simple to run a store or farmhouse. I am illiterate and have no knowledge about business management. Even if I have money, I don’t know how to do business. Someone has to teach me in advance. 4) Demand for giving priority to poor population in intangible heritage inheritance training: Many subprojects involve intangible cultural heritage research and inheritance training, such as Tianshui lacquer ware, Tongwei calligraphy and painting, and Zhangye ditty. In the Project, intangible heritage inheritors will be trained, in which priority should be given to poor population to increase their income. 6.5 Impacts of the Project on the poor The Project will involve LA, where relatively poor villages and people are often disadvantaged in using compensation, benefiting from the Project and adapting to new lifestyle, so their poverty may be aggravated. House rental during ancient residence renovation in Ganzhou District, and increased heating costs after the completion of renovation will increase living costs of poor households, and the debt of microfinance causes psychological stress to poor households. In view of this, the following measures have been planned to avoid further impoverishment and ensure that poor population benefits equally from the Project: 1) Offering direct and indirect job opportunities to increase income Job opportunities generated directly by the Project: Some temporary or permanent jobs will be generated at the construction and operation stages, such as material transport, bricklaying and cooking, which will be first made available to local poor people and other vulnerable groups to increase their income. Job opportunities generated indirectly by the Project: Rural cultural tourism development is an effective way of poverty reduction in Gansu, promoting the development of secondary and tertiary industries. The Project will create a good environment for tourism development, and attract more tourists to the project area, thereby generating more job opportunities indirectly, such as catering, accommodation and cleaning. 2) Improving the living environment to reduce medical expenses Poor people are often likely to get ill due to poor living conditions and backward infrastructure and be impoverished by medical expenses. The Project will improve local water supply and drainage facilities, and reduce domestic wastewater pollution, thereby reducing the incidence of waterborne diseases and poor households’ medical expenses. 3) Promoting local economic development The Project will improve the environment of the project area greatly, attract investment, and promote local economic development, thereby offering more job opportunities to local residents. This will promote cultural tourism development in the 8 project counties (cities / districts), thereby promoting the development of associated industries, such as catering, hotel and tour guidance, and the employment of local residents, such as hotel and restaurant service, cleaning, cooking, and driving. This will bring more job opportunities to local residents, especially vulnerable groups, and 63 increase their income. 4) Promoting social fairness The Project will improve rural water supply in the 8 project counties (cities / districts) practically and allow local residents to share economic and social development. The project will not only benefit a poor population of about 483,000 in the project area, and but also benefit a larger poor population in nearby areas. The Project will not only improve the local living environment and infrastructure, but also bring more development opportunities to poor population. It can be said that the Project will benefit local residents, including a large poor population, and enable them to share social development achievements. 64 7. Gender Analysis 7.1 Local female population At the end of 2016, Gansu had a resident population of 26.0995 million, an increase of 104,000 from 2015, including 13.3186 million males and 12.7809 million females, with a gender ration of 104.2. The 8 project counties (cities / districts) have a population of 3,778,815, including 1, 849, 75 0females, accounting for 48.9%, with a gender ratio of 104.3, higher than the provincial average by 0.1. Among the 8 project counties (cities / districts), Dunhuang City has the highest proportion of female population of 50.3%, and Maiji District has the lowest proportion of 48%; Maiji District has the highest gender ratio of 108.3, and Dunhuang City has the lowest ratio of 98.9. See Table 7-1. Table 7-1 Local female population Population Males Females Percentage Gender ratio Division HHs (0,000) (0,000) (0,000) (0,000) of females (female = 100) Gansu Province 834.4897 2609.95 1331.86 1278.09 48.97% 104.2 Project area 112.5478 377.8815 192.9065 184.975 48.95% 104.3 Maiji District 17.8377 64.2 33.384 30.816 48% 108.3 Wushan County 13.56 43.87 22.48 21.39 48.7% 105 Qin’an County 15.7478 62.5539 31.7531 30.8008 49.3% 102.8 Lintao County 16.4139 55.1773 28.2299 26.9474 48.9% 104.7 Tongwei County 12.29 40.51 20.6723 19.8377 48.97% 104.2 Ganzhou District 17.8724 51.2928 26.3293 24.9635 48.7% 105.3 Suzhou District 13.636 41.3375 20.6311 20.7064 50.1% 99.6 Dunhuang City 5.19 18.94 9.4268 9.5132 50.3% 98.9 Source: 2017 statistical yearbooks of Gansu Province, Lintao County, Tongwei County, Qinzhou District, Maiji District, Qin’an County, Ganzhou District, Jiayuguan City, Jiuquan City and Dunhuang City 7.2 Current situation of local women To learn local women’s development, the task force conducted a questionnaire survey, with 208 female respondents, accounting for 51.9% of all samples. 7.2.1 Age composition Among the respondents, those aged 45-54 years account for 39.6%, being 45.6% and 34.1% for males and females respectively. Among the females, those aged 45-54 years are the most, followed by those aged 35-44 years, and those aged 18-24 years are the least. See Figure 7-1. Figure 7-1 Age and gender distribution of samples (Blue: Male, Red: Female) 65 7.2.2 Educational level 62% and 78.3% of the female and male respondents have received senior or junior high school education respectively. 8.7% of the females have received junior college or above education, slightly lower than that of the males of 8.8%; 20.7% of the males have received primary school education, higher than that of the females of 11.4%; 8.7% of the females are illiterate, higher than that of the males of 1.6%. It can be seen that there are significant differences in educational level between the males and females, and the overall educational level of the females is lower than that of the males. See Table 7-2. Table 7-2 Educational levels of samples by gender Male Female Total Educational level N Percent N Percent N Percent Junior college or above 17 8.8% 18 8.7% 35 8.7% Senior high school / 47 24.4% 43 20.7% 90 22.4% secondary technical school Junior high school 104 53.9% 86 41.3% 190 47.4% Primary school 22 11.4% 43 20.7% 65 16.2% Illiterate 3 1.6% 18 8.7% 21 5.2% Total 193 100% 208 100% 401 100% 7.2.3 Occupation composition More than half of the male and female respondents are farmers, showing no significant gender difference. Among the females, the proportions of civil servants, workers of public institutions and employees of are lower than those of the males, showing an obvious division of labor by gender, where males deal with external affairs, while females with internal affairs mainly. According to interviews, women do farm work and housework mainly, and even those employed work at nearby enterprises or in the slack season. Men usually enjoy higher family status than women. Table 7-3 Occupations of samples by gender Male Female Total Occupation N Percent N Percent N Percent Civil servant 3 1.6% 2 0.9% 5 1.2% Worker of public institution 6 3.1% 4 1.9% 10 2.5% Employee of enterprise 5 2.6% 5 2.4% 10 2.5% Self-employer 14 7.3% 9 4.3% 23 5.7% Freelancer 12 6.2% 20 9.6% 32 8.0% Unemployed 7 3.6% 18 8.7% 25 6.2% Student 4 2.1% 3 1.4% 7 1.7% Retiree 4 2.1% 4 1.9% 8 20% Farmer 135 69.9% 126 60.6% 261 65.1% Other 3 1.6 17 8.2% 20 4.9% Total 198 100% 208 100% 401 100% 7.2.4 Social status 1) The traditional gender-based division of labor remains. When asked “Which member of your family will attend meetings related to the Project?”, 47.1% of the respondents choose man, only 22.9% choose woman, and 29.9% choose whoever is free, showing that local women’s level of participation in public affairs is much lower than that of men. See Figure 7-2. 66 Figure 7-2 Willingness to attend project meetings Interview 7-1: Mr. Zhang, Majiayao Village, Lintao County, Dingxi City (46 years) Village committee meetings are mostly attended by my husband. I have never been there, and don’t want to be there, because all attendees are men. It can be seen that:  Local women’s social status is lower than that of men;  Women’s overall educational level is low and lower than that of men;  Women’s participation level in and influence over public affairs are weaker than those of men. 2) Local women’s social status has improved, and the proportion of women participating in political affairs is increasing. However, in recent years, through active efforts of government agencies, women’s federations and public welfare organizations (or international organizations), local women have more opportunities to participate in public affairs, and enjoy public services and supporting policies. In the 8 project counties (cities / districts), women’s social status is improving gradually, and the number of women participating in political affairs is increasing. To promote women’s participation in decision-making and management, local women’s federations have enacted and improved relevant policies. Measures have been taken to increase the percentage of women in people’s congress and political consultative conference members at all levels. There is at least one female official in the leadership of each government at or above the county level, and the number of female officials in leadership of the departments under township governments is increasing gradually. The percentage of female members in corporate boards of directors and supervisors, and management levels, and female deputies in workers’ and teachers’ congresses is increasing gradually. All village committees have female members, over 5% of village heads are women, and about 50% of staff members of community committees are women. Women’s economic participation has been activated. Local governments and social organizations have created favorable conditions for women’s employment, offered public welfare jobs to women, and taken such measures as policy support, tax exemption, loan discounting, social insurance subsidization, training subsidization, small-amount loan and follow-up guidance to support women’s business startup and reemployment. In addition, local women’s federations motivate women to excel in building morals and creating wealth. More and more public activities oriented to women in the project area will certainly provide women with more opportunities to participate in public affairs, improve their ability to participate in social activities, increase their technical, social and material capital, and make it possible to increase their income, and elevate their family and social status. 67 7.3 Analysis of gender differences needs in project At the preparation stage, the Gansu and local PMOs, design agency, and task force learned local women’s needs and suggestions by means of FGD, interview, etc. 7.3.1 Women have a higher demand for cultural inheritance and innovation. There is a clear gender-based division of labor in the project area. Since women are responsible for housework mainly, they have much leisure time. Many women are interested in such intangible heritage techniques as paper cutting, straw patchwork, Yuanyang jade processing, lacquer ware and painting. In addition, since local young women have to take care of the family and cannot work outside, they expect to serve as waitresses or do casual jobs locally to earn some money. In the questionnaire survey, 350 respondents are willing to receive training on intangible cultural heritage skills, including 178 female respondents, accounting for 51%, showing that women are very willing to participate in the Project by means of training for employment. See Table 7-4. Table 7-4 Willingness to receive cultural tourism skills training Willingness Willing Not clear Unwilling Total Gender Male 172 15 6 193 Female 178 23 7 208 Total 350 38 13 401 7.3.2 Women support the Project more strongly and are more confident in the Project. Women are very interested in intangible heritage techniques covered by the Project, and the Project will improve the local living environment and infrastructure, promote local economic development, ecological building, industry upgrading and poverty reduction, so most women support the Project. 44.2% of the female respondents are very confident in the Project, and 47.6% confident, totaling 91.8%, higher than that of males of 86%. See Table 7-5. Table 7-5 Attitude to the future prospect of the Project Support Very confident Confident Not clear Unconfident Very unconfident Total Gender N Percent N Percent N Percent N Percent N Percent Male 78 40.4% 88 45.6% 24 12.4% 3 1.6% 0 0% 193 Female 92 44.2% 99 47.6% 14 6.7% 2 0.9% 1 0.5% 208 Total 170 42.4% 187 46.6% 38 9.5% 5 1.2% 1 0.2% 401 7.3.3 Women expect more employment and income increasing opportunities from the Project. Some unskilled jobs will be generated at the construction and operation stages. Such jobs are mostly close to living areas, and are therefore expected by local women. 51.1% of the female respondents are willing to get employed under the Project. See Figure 7-3. 68 Figure 7-3 Are you willing to participate in the Project after completion? In addition, women who will run family businesses want to use small amount loans to run farmhouses, restaurants and guesthouses. They also expect business startup training from the government at the operation stage to earn more money. In particular, women in Hekou Village show a strong interest in running farmhouses, which is attributed to the good foundation of rural tourism there. Some women expect to serve as waitresses or do casual jobs locally to earn some money. Figure 7-4 What kind of family business do you plan to do? 7.3.4 Women have a strong demand for public participation. It can be seen from above that local women’s social status is still lower than that of men, and participate in such public activities as compensation receipt, major decision-making, intangible heritage publicity, intangible heritage training, and community meetings at a low level. Local women are generally willing to participate in such activities, and expect that greater attention be paid to their needs and interests in such activities, especially those of middle-aged and old women (their educational levels are lower). Interview 7-2: Ms Wang, women’s FGD in Longcheng Town, Qin’an County (38 years) I usually do housework and take care of children at home, and my husband does not want me to work outside. I also want to attend village meetings to express my opinion and expect the government to provide women with more opportunities. 69 7.4 Project impacts on women 7.4.1 Positive impacts 1) Increasing women’s job opportunities and income Some unskilled jobs generated at the construction and operation stages will be first made available to women, poor people and other vulnerable groups. In addition, the Project will improve the rural living environment, thereby promoting local tourism development and generating related jobs, such as hotel and restaurant service, and cleaning. In addition, the Project will integrate local resources, improve infrastructure, and promote local industry upgrading and development, and investment, thereby increasing women’s income. 2) Encouraging women’s participation, and promoting women’s development The Bank always encourages the participation of women and pays attention to the protection of women’s rights and interests. During project implementation, an incentive mechanism for women to participate in public affairs will be established in each affected village, thereby further involving women in the Project, and creating more development opportunities to them. In addition, special cultural tourism and intangible cultural heritage skills training will be offered to women to improve their participation awareness and promote their long-term development. The survey shows that the female respondents are highly willing to participate in such public activities. 3) Reducing women’s labor intensity The Project will improve the local infrastructure. In particular, the construction or improvement of water supply, drainage and wastewater treatment facilities in Wuying and Longcheng Towns, and Large and Small Alleys will reduce the labor intensity of women. On the other hand, with the improvement of roads, rural women will spend less time taking children to and from school. 4) Improving women’s cultural heritage protection awareness There are many valuable cultural relics in the project area. However, pitifully, these sites are rarely known to the public, and may have been damaged inadvertently to some extent. Current practices of intangible cultural heritage protection, such as Maiji lacquer ware, Zhangye ditty, and Tongwei calligraphy and painting, are far from meeting the statutory requirements. The Project will improve women’s cultural heritage protection awareness. 7.4.2 Negative impacts Although the Project will benefit women in some respects, if social gender sensitivity is insufficient at the design, construction and operation stages, women’s needs may be neglected or their benefits from the Project reduced. The main risks include: 1) Women’s participation level in the Project is low, and their needs are likely to be ignored. Local women’s social status is still lower than that of men. Most major family decisions are made by men, and most participants in public affairs are still men. Thus, women’s needs, and suggestions are likely to be ignored at the design, construction and operation stages. 2) Women’s rights in receiving compensation and getting employed can hardly be protected. In compensation distribution, some women cannot sign to receive compensation because they are not household heads. Therefore, they are likely to be passive in using compensation. At the construction and operation stages, female laborers are likely to be treated unfairly, such as recruitment, reward and labor protection. Interview 7-3: Ms Li, Hekou Village, Dingxi City (48 years) In our rural areas, family affairs are mostly decided by men, and village meetings are mostly attended by men, because women cannot make decisions, and usually stay at home. 70 3) Women’s agricultural income is reduced due to LA. LA under the Project may affect women’s living standard directly because land-based income will be reduced, and farm products have to be bought from the market. If land-appropriated women cannot find suitable jobs, their income will be reduced, and their financial burden increased. 4) Increased living expenses will increase women’s financial burden. After project completion, rural residents will be faced with increased living expenses, including water and electricity charges, wastewater treatment charges, and house rental, especially in Wuying Town, Longcheng Town. This will affect existing tenants directly and increase the financial burden of women. In addition, some jobs offered by the Project are temporary, and female laborers will have to find other jobs after project completion, resulting in short-term income fluctuation. The Gender Action Plan and Social Action Plan of the Project have been developed in consultation with the PMOs, IAs, local women’s federations and other agencies concerned. See Table 8-1. 71 8 Social Action Plan and Implementation 8.1 Social Action Plan For the potential negative impacts of the Project, the task force has developed the Social Action Plan based on the fieldwork and through consultation with stakeholders. 8.1.1 Reducing LA and HD risks a) Develop a detailed RAP; b) Pay special attention to the income restoration of vulnerable groups in the RAP. 8.1.2 Offering temporary residences and reducing relevant charges during the transition period a) Offer low rent housing to affected residents during the transition period. b) Rental costs during the transition period should be borne by the government and residents jointly through consultation; c) Assist tenants in renting former houses and restoring social networks where possible. d) For extra living costs during construction and transition, the government should offer some subsidies through consultation with the public. 8.1.3 Improving traffic safety measures and awareness The large vehicular traffic arising from project implementation will pose threats to the personal safety of local residents, and increase the incidence of traffic accidents. Therefore, appropriate measures must be taken to reduce traffic safety risks: a) Set up deceleration strips at key positions, such as hospitals, schools and road junctions; b) Install traffic signals and monitors; c) Set up warning and traffic signs on roads; d) The local PMOs and transport bureaus should organize traffic safety workshops to improve the safety awareness of local residents. 8.1.4 Establishing files, and reducing loan interests to reduce the financial pressure of the poor Even though the interest rate of such loans is much lower than that of commercial loans, they are still debts for residents. The following suggestions are proposed: a) Develop interest exemption or repayment period extension policies for poor population; b) Track uses of small amount loans to ensure that they are used specifically for poverty reduction; c) The repayment period of small amount loans should be extended, because the cultural industry has a long payback period. 8.1.5 Making jobs first available to local female labor a) Pay more attention to the employment of surplus female laborers during project construction; b) Make some jobs first available to women to involve more women in the Project. 8.1.6 Strengthening the management of external laborers to reduce social risks During project construction, labor will be introduced from other provinces, cities or counties. The influx of non-local laborers will lead to some social and health risks, including disseminating epidemic and infectious diseases (AIDS, influenza, etc.), and causing conflicts with local residents due to the lack of understanding of local customs (religions, festivals, etc.). Construction staff management should be strengthened to prevent social risks.  Strengthen publicity and education on public health and AIDS prevention, and include education on public health and AIDS prevention in construction contracts for effective performance;  Educate construction staff on AIDS and other infectious diseases, and basic communication skills;  Establish a physical checkup mechanism for construction staff (i.e., setting up temporary infirmaries and utilizing local medical resources);  Conduct diversified publicity on AIDS prevention (brochure, poster, album, etc.);  Conduct publicity on local social and cultural customs to reduce potential conflicts. In addition, in order that beneficiaries participate extensively in project construction and supervision, local laborers (including women) will be recruited during construction.  Ensure that not less than 35% of construction laborers are local laborers; 72  Make unskilled jobs first available to women and other vulnerable groups;  Ensure equal pay to equal work. 8.1.7 Taking appropriate measures to reduce construction impacts a) Take appropriate measures to ensure construction safety; b) Screen cultural relics before construction to avoid damages; c) Conduct publicity before construction, and carry out construction in segments to minimize impacts on nearby stores; d) Take measures to control noise; e) Sprinkle access roads regularly to prevent flying dust; f) Set up non-horning signs in densely populated areas, and avoid overnight construction where possible. The Gender Action Plan and Social Action Plan of the Project have been developed in consultation with the PMOs, IAs, local women’s federations and other agencies concerned. See Table 8-1. 8.2 Public participation plan The following information disclosure and public participation plan has been developed on the basis of the fieldwork through participatory observation. See Table 8-2. 8.3 M&E M&E is an important way to ensure that the Project is implemented as planned, and the Social Action Plan is implemented properly. M&E is also an important error-correcting and participation mechanism for the Project. In view of this, an M&E mechanism has been established for the Project, including internal supervision and external M&E. Internal supervision is conducted by the PMO on project implementation progress, the implementation of the Social Action Plan, progress of information disclosure and public participation, fund use, the implementation of rules and regulations, etc. The PMO will appoint an independent M&E agency to conduct external M&E on the implementation of the Social Action Plan. The external M&E agency will conduct regular M&E, give advice, and submit M&E reports to the Bank. 73 Table 8-1 Social Action Plan and Gender Action Plan Risk Measures or actions Actors Time Funding Monitoring indicators a) Develop a detailed RAP; PMOs, owner, RAP Preparation, Project a) RAP b) Pay special attention to the income restoration of preparation agency, construction budget 1) LA and HD vulnerable groups in the RAP; external M&E risks c) Offer temporary residences to affected during the agency transition period. a) Set up deceleration strips at key positions; PMOs, design Construction, Project a) Distribution and positions traffic safety b) Install traffic signals and monitors; agency, contractor, operation budget, facilities; 2) Traffic safety c) Set up warning and traffic signs on roads; traffic police, government b) Positions of warning and traffic signs; risks d) Organize traffic safety workshops to improve the safety transport bureau finance c) Time, location and frequency of traffic awareness of local residents. safety publicity e) Set up a special bus route to the library. a) Develop interest exemption or repayment period PMOs, finance Operation Project a) Population covered by preferential policies, extension policies for poor population; bureau, poverty budget, and amount of exemption; b) Track uses of small amount loans reduction office, civil government b) Uses of small amount loans; c) Extend the repayment period of small amount loans; affairs bureau finance c) Time, venue and number of attendees of d) Hold a public hearing on the application procedure, public hearing 3) Repayment interest rate and repayment period small amount loans ability of poor e.Pay attention to the mental health of residents, and population reduce mental impacts of project operation. f.Build rural tourism brands and increase income. g.Increase the amount of small-amount loans. h.Expand the influence of the Project to benefit more local residents.. a) Recruit some female members for PMOs for the PMOs, contractor, Construction Contractor a) Number of vulnerable people doing convenience of women-related work; labor and social budget unskilled jobs at the construction stage; 4) Job b) Employ a certain number of female workers for small security bureau, b) Number of vulnerable people doing public opportunities for enterprises, such as waitresses and cleaners; village committees, welfare jobs at the operation stage; vulnerable c) Offer training for women’s recruitment and employment. local women c) Location, scope and frequency of female groups d) Make unskilled jobs first available to women and other employees vulnerable groups; e) Ensure equal pay to equal work. 74 a) Not less than 50% of participants in public participation Design agency, Construction, Project a) Number of public participation activities, activities at the preparation stage should be women; contractor, owner, operation budget, number of female participants, and minutes; b) Compensation should be received after signature by a PMOs, county / government b) Number and proportion of female couple; district agencies finance members, feedback and suggestions; c) Each project agency (PMOs, contractors, etc.) should concerned, township c) Signature of women; 5) Women’s have at least one female member; governments, village d) Number of female members in project participation d) Conduct project publicity at times and locations, and in committees, local agencies; forms suitable for women; women, poor people e) Time, location and mode of publicity and f) Tailor publicity to women’s cognition; training g) Give publicity and training on small business f) Number of women trained management intangible heritage inheritance to women. a) Strengthen publicity and education on public health and Contractor, local Construction Project a) Provisions of construction contract, and AIDS prevention; agencies concerned, budget, implementation; b) Include education on public health and AIDS prevention owners, enterprises, budgets of b) Number of participants in training on public in construction contracts for effective performance; township local health and AIDS prevention; c) Establish a physical checkup mechanism for governments, village agencies c) Number of health centers; construction staff (i.e., setting up temporary infirmaries and committees concerned d) Quantities of publicity materials on AIDS utilizing local medical resources); prevention at the construction stage; d) Conduct diversified publicity on AIDS prevention e) Quantities of publicity materials on local (brochure, poster, album, etc.); social and cultural customs at the 6) Social risks e) Conduct publicity on local social and cultural customs to construction stage reduce potential conflicts. f)Reflect characteristics of northwestern China in the Project. g). Enter into employment agreements with temporary workers to protect their interests. h).Train painting and calligraphy brokers to develop the market through e-commerce. i). Construct the town in conjunction with local culture conservation. a) Avoid construction vehicles from affecting surrounding PMOs, contractor Preparation, EMP budget a) Deceleration strips and warning signs; crops and threatening personal safety; construction b) Number of tourists per day; b) Minimize the impact of construction on nearby scenic c) Grievances about environmental pollution spots; and handling; 7) Construction c) Take measures to control noise; d) Inclusion of construction safety risks d) Sprinkle access roads regularly to prevent flying dust; management in construction contracts, and e) Set up non-horning signs in densely populated areas, safety awareness publicity and education; and avoid overnight construction where possible. e) Number of signs and repaired public facilities 75 Table 8-2 Public participation plan of the Project Stage Item Modes Actors Participants Proposed topics Funding Project TV, broadcast, poster, PMOs, township Local residents, township Disclosing basic project information; Project information leaflet, village governments, village officials, PMOs Collecting comments and suggestions from local budget disclosure congress, village committees residents; meeting, Internet Answering questions of local residents Willingness Village congress, PMOs, consulting Villagers, PMOs, Conducting a willingness survey on site selection; Project survey on site questionnaire survey agency consulting agency A site is selected only if it is approved by over 80% budget selection households in the village. Participation in Interview, FGD, PMOs, consulting Villagers, PMOs, Encouraging local residents to give comments and Project project design disclosure agency consulting agency, village suggestions on project design budget committees Disclosing the preliminary design in project villages for comments and suggestions Preparation Willingness for Baseline survey, PMOs, design PMOs, design agency, Learning local residents’ attitudes to small amount Project small amount questionnaire survey, agency, township consulting agency, loans; budget loans interview, and FGD governments, village township governments, Identifying potential problems, and proposing solutions committees, local village committees, local accordingly residents residents LA Consultation Village committees, Villagers, village Confirming land occupation; Project PMOs committees, PMOs, land Determining the mode of compensation through budget and resources bureau consultation Entering into compensation agreements Construction Villager congress, PMOs, contractor, Villagers, PMOs, Construction schedule; / information bulletin board, poster, village committees contractor, village Construction site distribution; disclosure broadcast committees Main construction impacts; Safety concerns for local residents Contact information of contractor Reduction of Improving relevant PMOs PMOs, contractor Allowing for the passage of local residents during road Project construction programs, and Construction agency Transport bureau, traffic excavation; budget impacts developing effective Village supervision police, environmental Taking dust and noise reduction measures; Construction mitigation measures committees protection bureau Keeping away from residential areas where possible; Village supervision Identifying impacts of temporary land occupation committees, villager reps. Participation in Village meet, village PMOs, contractor, Villagers, PMOs, Determining jobs generated by the Project; Internal construction congress Village committees contractor, village Determining the selection criteria of construction staff; budget of committees Determining the remuneration system, and skills and contractor safety training for construction staff 76 Management of Expanding safety and PMOs PMOs, contractor Conducting education on public health and AIDS Project migrant workers health publicity, Contractor Health bureau, township prevention, and including this in construction contracts; budget regulating worker Health bureau and community hospitals Conducting physical checkups for construction workers; education and Village supervision Village committees, village Strengthen publicity on local social and cultural customs management committees supervision committees for non-local workers to reduce potential conflicts Local residents Migrant workers, residents Traffic safety Workshop PMOs, transport Villagers, village Improving the traffic safety awareness of local residents Special funds education bureau, village committees, transport through safety education of agencies committees bureau concerned Grievance TV, broadcast, poster, PMOs, government PMOs, government Disclosing grievance redress information at appropriate / Operation redress leaflet, village agencies concerned, agencies concerned, locations; congress, village village committees village committees Handling grievances and appeals on site, by letter or by meeting, Internet telephone; Collect comments from women, the poor and other vulnerable groups, and ensuring fair and open project implementation 77 Appendix 1: Summary of FGDs with Residents Survey date Subject Hour Venue Survey mode and scope Remarks 1) FGDs with women, old people, minority residents, poor residents and disabled residents, Project totaling 16, including 4 women (< 30 years: 1, 30-55 years: 2, > 55 years: 1), and 12 January 19 communities in 14:30 Majiayao Village middle-aged and old men, including 3 poor persons and 3 disabled persons Lintao County 2) FGDs with village officials and group heads, totaling 4, including 2 village officials and 2 group heads 1) FGDs with women, old people, minority residents, poor residents and disabled residents, Project totaling 24, including 12 women (< 30 years: 2, 30-55 years: 6, > 55 years: 4), and 12 January 20 communities in 9:00 Hekou Village middle-aged and old men, including 16 poor persons and 2 disabled persons Lintao County 2) FGDs with village officials and group heads, totaling 4, including 2 village officials and 2 group heads 1) FGDs with women, old people, minority residents, poor residents, disabled residents and cultural inheritors, totaling 15, including 5 women (< 30 years: 1, 30-55 years: 1, > 55 years: 3), Project Xizhi Community, and 10 middle-aged and old men, including 2 poor persons, 2 disabled persons and 1 January 23 communities in 9: 30 Ganquan intangible heritage inheritor Maiji District Sub-district 2) FGDs with village officials and group heads, totaling 4, including 2 village officials and 2 group heads 1) FGDs with women, old people, minority residents, poor residents and disabled residents, Project totaling 22, including 6 women (< 30 years: 1, 30-55 years: 1, > 55 years: 1), and 16 Shaodian Village, January 24 communities in 14:30 middle-aged and old men, including 2 poor persons and 2 disabled persons Wuying Town Qin’an County 2) FGDs with village officials and group heads, totaling 6, including 3 village officials and 3 group heads 1) FGDs with women, old people, minority residents, poor residents and disabled residents, Wohuang, Project totaling 36, including 16 women (< 30 years: 3, 30-55 years: 8, > 55 years: 5), and 20 Fengwei and January 24 communities in 16: 30 middle-aged and old men, including 6 poor persons and 2 disabled persons Lueyang Villages, Qin’an County 2) FGDs with village officials and group heads, totaling 6, including 3 village officials and 3 Longcheng Town group heads 1) FGDs with women, old people, minority residents, poor residents, disabled residents, Project cultural inheritors and tourists, totaling 15, including 9 women (< 30 years: 2, 30-55 years: 5, > communities in Songbao Village, January 26 9:30 55 years: 2), and 6 middle-aged and old men, including 2 poor persons and 2 disabled persons Tongwei Pingxiang Town 2) FGDs with village officials and group heads, totaling 4, including 2 village officials and 2 County group heads 1) FGDs with women, old people, minority residents, poor residents, disabled residents, Xilaisi cultural inheritors and tourists, totaling 25, including 9 women (< 30 years: 2, 30-55 years: 5, > Project Community, 55 years: 2), and 16 middle-aged and old men, including 5 poor persons, 2 disabled persons, 3 January 28 communities in 9:30 Nanijie intangible heritage inheritors and 2 tourists Zhangye City Sub-district 2) FGDs with village officials and group heads, totaling 4, including 2 village officials and 2 group heads 78 1) FGDs with women, old people, minority residents, poor residents and disabled residents, totaling 21, including 10 women (< 30 years: 2, 30-55 years: 5, > 55 years: 3), and 11 Wulan Ancient 14:30 middle-aged and old men, including 4 poor persons and 2 disabled persons Town 2) FGDs with village officials and group heads, totaling 4, including 2 village officials and 2 group heads 1) FGDs with women, old people, minority residents, poor residents, disabled residents and Project tourists, totaling 20, including 7 women (< 30 years: 2, 30-55 years: 3, > 55 years: 2), and 13 Donghu January 29 communities in 9: 30 middle-aged and old men, including 2 poor persons and 2 disabled persons Community Zhangye City 2) FGDs with village officials and group heads, totaling 6, including 2 village officials and 4 group heads 1) FGDs with women, old people, minority residents, poor residents, disabled residents, cultural inheritors and tourists, totaling 28, including 16 women (< 30 years: 5, 30-55 years: Project Feitian Road, 8, > 55 years: 3), and 12 middle-aged and old men, including 8 poor persons and 2 disabled February 1 communities in 14:30 Youtian persons Jiuquan City Sub-district 2) FGDs with village officials and group heads, totaling 4, including 2 village officials and 2 group heads 1) FGDs with women, old people, minority residents, poor residents, disabled residents, Project cultural inheritors and tourists, totaling 20, including 8 women (< 30 years: 2, 30-55 years: 4, > Xindun Village, February 2 communities in 9:30 55 years: 2), and 12 middle-aged and old men, including 3 poor persons and 1 disabled person Mogao Town Dunhuang City 2) FGDs with village officials and group heads, totaling 4, including 2 village officials and 2 group heads 1) FGDs with women, old people, minority residents, poor residents, disabled residents, Project Chechuan Village cultural inheritors and tourists, totaling 23, including 6 women (< 30 years: 2, 30-55 years: 4, > communities in 9:30 and Hedian 55 years: 2), and 17 middle-aged and old men, including 6 poor persons and 2 disabled August 13 Wushan 14:30 Village, Shandan persons County Town 2) FGDs with village officials and group heads, totaling 4, including 2 village officials and 2 group heads 79 Appendix 2: Summary of Interviewees Chapter Details of interviewees Interview 3-1: Mr. Zhang, intangible heritage inheritor, Xilaisi Community, Ganzhou District, Zhangye City (46 years) Interview 3-2: Zhong Weiwen, tourist from Guangdong Province in Zhangye City (26 years) 3 Interview 3-3: Mr. Liu, tourist of Fuxi Temple, Qinzhou District (39 years) Interview 3-4: Ms Zhang, Wohuang Village, Longcheng Town, Qin’an County (26 years) Interview 3-5: Ms Zhou, Feitianlu Community, Suzhou District, Jiuquan city (32 years) Interview 4-1: head of Xizhi Village, Ganquan Town, Maiji District, Tianshui City (43 years) Interview 4-2: Ms Li, Fengwei Village, Longcheng Town, Qin’an County (41 years) Interview 4-3: Mr. Zhang, Xilaisi Community, Ganzhou District, Zhangye City (53 4 years) Interview 4-4: Ms Yang, Taoyang Town, Lintao County (35 years) Interview 4-5: Mr. Li, Hekou Village, Taoyang Town, Lintao County (46 years) Interview 4-6: Mr. Li, Songbao Village, Tongwei County (33 years) Interview 4-7: head of Shaodian Village, Wuying Town, Qinan County (42 years) Interview 4-8: Villager of Chechuan Village, Wushan City (39 years) Interview 5-1: Mr. Zhao, Maiji District, Tianshui City (42 years) Interview 5-2: Mr. Wang Majiayao Village, Lintao County (38 years) Interview 5-3: Mr. Wu, Fengwei Village, Longcheng Town, Qin’an County (56 years) Interview 5-4: Ms Yang, Mogao Town, Dunhuang City (47 years) 5 Interview 5-5: Mr. Wang, tourist in Wulan Ancient Town (36 years) Interview 5-6: Mr. Li, Lintao County Culture Bureau (43 years) Interview 5-7: Mr. Yang, intangible heritage inheritor of lacquer ware (46 years) Interview 5-8: Mr. Ling, intangible heritage inheritor of Wushan Yuanyang jade (47 years) Interview 6-1: Mr. Shen, Majiayao Village, Taoyang Town, Lintao County (43 years) 6 Interview 6-2: Ms Han, Shandan Community, Wushan County (53 years) Interview 6-3: Ms Wang, Shaodian Village Longcheng Town, Qin’an County (37 years) Interview 7-1: Mr. Zhang, Majiayao Village, Lintao County, Dingxi City (46 years) Interview 7-2: Ms Wang, women’s FGD in Longcheng Town, Qin’an County (38 7 years) Interview 7-3: Ms Li, Hekou Village, Dingxi City (48 years) 80