The summary and the conclusions presented here are based on the results of four case studies, three for drinking water and one for soil and water conservation. The cases were selected from the projects under the Sino-German IESP ("Integriertes Ernaehrungssicherungsprogramm"; Integrated Food Security Programme) in Shandong, People's Republic of China. The aim of the study was to do an economic analysis of the selected cases, in order to answer questions about the sustainability ofthe projects' benefits. The selected drinking water projects include the deep well in Quanziyu village, the big-mouth well in Mawo, and the cisterns in Xiyu. The projects vary in technology, age, and village context (e.g. village size and wealth). The soil and water conservation project covers the whole water catchment area around Mawo village. All projects are located in the county of Pingyi, except for Xiyu, which belongs to Yishui county. In the section A, the main results and conclusions from the drinking water case studies are presented. After a brief introduction, the main findings are explained in general. Next, the situation of each project, as related to costs and water charges, is described in more detail. Finally, an overview of the results from the benefit analysis is given. The section B deals with the main results and conclusions concerning the soil and water conservation project. The results from the financial appraisal of all project components taken together are summarised, before the individual components are described separately.

Since the concept was explained in detail at the Dublin Conference in 1992 (International Conference on Water and the Environment: Development Issues for the 21st Century), Integrated Water Resources Management has been at the core of thinking on water resource development. Today, integrated water resources management is seen as: “A process which promotes the coordinated development and management of water, land and related resources, in order to maximise the resultant economic and social welfare in an equitable manner without compromising the sustainability of vital ecosystems” (definition of IWRM, GWP 2000). This is a concise, yet precise definition of IWRM expressing the need for water development for socio-economic development, while keeping ecosystems healthy