The objective of this Study is ‘to assess, measure and record changes in knowledge, practices and behaviors in training participants from the ‘Water Management’ and ‘Water Monitoring’ training modules. Within this, the study will evaluate following expecting changes in different four level of adoption, it includes:  

• Knowledge and awareness raising on the hydrogeology in south Gobi, conducting water monitoring and regulatory framework;  

• Assess water risks and management opportunities;  

• Respond to risk through changing practices and obtaining knowledge from the training;  

• Sustainability of water management practices and whether initiated sustainable water program and activities  

Evaluation methodology is to measure training impact and result through comparing changes between ‘target’ and ‘control’ groups in due absence of baseline data and information. Training participants are indicated as a ‘target’ groups whereas non-attendees in the training are indicated as a ‘control’ group in the survey. Data collection were conducted in the 15 soums of Umnugobi provinces, conducted quantitative survey from the 996 respondents (target 376 and control 620) and collected qualitative 38 data / interviews from the key informant representative of the community members, local authorities and mining companies. 

During the implementation of the evaluation study, we conducted the following assignment:  

1. Conducted pretesting in the field: The project team organized pre-testing in Umnugobi aimag aiming to pretesting the evaluation method, tools and comparing difference between control and target groups, training groups and predicting project outcomes. As a result of the pretesting, knowledge difference were 31 percentage between groups.  

2. Organized research training with professional organizations: The Sustainability East Asia LLC has been conducted training modules since 2014. We assume that training content provided by the professional organizations to the researcher is helpful to measure training outcomes effectively.  

3. Presented and participated Round Table Discussion within mining companies: In the project implementation, team participated three times in the Round Table Discussion and presented evaluation methodology, tools and in the final phases introduced project results and outcomes.  

4. Conducted seven interviews with senior specialist of the mining companies signed in the Voluntary Code of Practices: Interview were conducted to explore mining companies water management practices, good practices, lessons learned and future water management planning in upcoming years.