The Independent Office of Evaluation of IFAD (IOE) undertook a project performance assessment (PPA) of the Environment Conservation and Poverty Reduction Programme in Ningxia and Shanxi (ECPRPNS) in the People’s Republic of China with the objectives of: (a) assessing the results of the programme; and (b) generating findings and recommendations for the design and implementation of on-going and future operations in China. The PPA was implemented in the context of the Statement of Intent between IOE and the Government of China to support in-country evaluation capacities, thus serving as a practical case for learning and capacity development.