Poverty Reduction and Development Experience Sharing

Research

　　【Environmental protection and poverty alleviation in rural China】  In 2010, the Foreign Capital Project Management Center of LGOP (hereinafter referred to FCPMC) conducted in-depth research on how to coordinate the relationship between poverty alleviation and development and environmental protection. Based on literature study and field research, it developed the preliminary assessment framework for evaluation of environmental impact, analyzed the environmental impacts (mainly the contribution to nonpoint source pollution, impact on ecology, impact on community environment and impact on social economy of communities) of five poverty-relief projects (entire village advancement, labor transfer training, industrial poverty alleviation, relocation policy and poverty reduction in pasturing areas) of Chinese government's anti-poverty action, and put forward specific opinions and suggestions on the elimination of adverse environmental factors for poverty reduction activities and the improvement of the environmental-friendly poverty alleviation pattern. The research results are all included in the book "Environmental Protection and Poverty Alleviation in Rural China", which was published by Guangming Daily.

　　【Comparative study on industrial poverty alleviation in rural China】 From May to December 2010, FCPMC and China Agricultural University jointly carried out the comparative study on industrial poverty alleviation in rural China, compared the main models for agricultural industrialization in rural China, discussed three most basic organization models – company + farmers, agencies + farmers and cooperatives’ integration, and made specific analysis on the operation characteristics to provide a reference for the selection of operating models for agricultural industrialization in practice. 

　　【Impact of CDD Projects on vulnerable groups】From June to August, 2010, FCPMC and Renmin University of China jointly carried out the study on the impact of CDD projects on vulnerable groups. Mainly using the anthropological research methods, from the perspective of rural governance, they analyzed how to identify rural vulnerable groups and how the vulnerable participate in community’s decision-making and adapt themselves to the relationship with the strong and authorities and, through comparative study on CDD model and traditional poverty relief and general participatory rural work method, analyzed the mechanism superiority of CDD model for the development of rural vulnerable groups, providing a reference for the study and promotion of CDD model to further target at vulnerable groups.

　　【China's multi-dimensional child poverty relief policy】 From September to December 2010, by summing up the policies, regulations and laws on concern and intervention of child poverty enacted by different departments of the central and local government, FCPMC and SynTao collected and collated domestic and foreign organizations’ documents on child poverty relief projects and the project results, analyzed and evaluated the domestic existing policies, laws, regulations and project actions from the perspective of poverty alleviation system based on the nine dimensions of child poverty, studied the success and weakness of relevant policies and project actions, analyzed the gap between the existing policies and project actions and the actual needs and put forward suggestions on relevant policy improvement or the development of new policies to provide a reference for the formulation of relevant pro-poor programs and policies to alleviate child poverty and thus promote the establishment of a long-term mechanism for intervention of child development and break the intergenerational transmission of poverty.

　　【Current status of China's child poverty - based on sample survey in Gansu and Hubei】 From April 2008 to August 2009, FCPMC conducted this study jointly with Beijing Normal University. Based on a combination of qualitative and quantitative research and the sample survey in relevant counties of Gansu and Hubei, they carried out research on the current status of China’s child poverty. The study not only defined child poverty theoretically, but conducted measurement and analysis on China’s child poverty from the perspective of demonstration and put forward relevant suggestions on promoting child development.

　　【China-DAC Study Group】 From April 27 to 28, 2010, the second activity of China-DAC Study Group – the International Symposium on "Agriculture, Food Security and Rural Development for Growth and Poverty Reduction" was successfully held in Mali. LGOP Deputy Director-General Zheng Wenkai headed a delegation to attended the meeting and delivered a speech on the opening ceremony. President of China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation Duan Yingbi delivered a keynote speech titled "China's Agriculture, Food Security and Rural Development:Key Policy and Strategy to Promote Growth and Poverty Reduction". IPRCC Deputy Director-General Huang Chengwei made a concluding speech titled "China's Rural Poverty Alleviation and Development: Effectiveness, Practice and Experience". Prime Minister Modibo Sidibé of the Republic of Mali met with the delegation. After the meeting, the delegation visited Mali’s agricultural development projects, laying a good basis for strengthening the cooperation of the two countries. From September 19 to 21, 2010, the third activity of China-DAC Study Group – the International Symposium on "Infrastructure: Foundation for Growth and Poverty Reduction" was held in Beijing. Deputy Director-General of LGOP Zheng Wenkai attended and addressed the opening ceremony. 112 experts in the field of economics and sociology and relevant officials from China, Africa and international community were present at the event and 23 domestic and foreign experts delivered speeches on the meeting.

Training

　　【Seminar on Pro-poor Policies and Practice of South Pacific Island Nations and Asian Countries】The “Seminar on Pro-poor Policies and Practice of South Pacific Island Nations and Asian Countries” sponsored by IPRCC and UNDP, co-organized by Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Poverty Alleviation Office and by Guangxi Foreign Capital Project Management Center and supported by Australian Agency for International Development was convened in Nangning of Guangxi from January 31 to February 8, 2010. It brought together a total of 22 officials from nine counties on South Pacific Island, namely Fiji, Vanuatu, Tonga, Asian country the Philippines, Thailand, Laos, Indonesia, Bangladesh and Vietnam. Counsellor of the State Council, Chairman of IPRCC and former Director-General of LGOP Liu Jian, Vice Chairman of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region People’s Government, Deputy Director-General of China International Center for Economic and Technical Exchange (CICETE) Wang Weili and Assistant Country Director of UNDP Hou Xin’an attended the event and delivered speeches. IPRCC Director-General Wu Zhong chaired the opening ceremony.

　　【Workshop on Capacity Building in Poverty Reduction for Sudan's NGOs】 From April 19 to 27, 2010, the “Workshop on Capacity Building in Poverty Reduction for Sudan's NGOs” co-organized by China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation (CFPA), International Poverty Reduction Centre in China (IPRCC) and AL Birr& AL-Tawasul in Sudan was convened in Beijing and Yunnan. More than 20 Sudanese Participants Sudan’s Ministry of Health and 9 Sudanese non-government organizations attended the workshop, including AL Birr& AL-Tawasul, Sudanese Women's Union, Sudanese Red Crescent and Sudanese Poor Mother Relief Association, etc. This program last for 10 days and comprised two parts: workshop sessions and filed visits. Workshop session was held in Beijing, covering the following subjects: China’s social and economic development and poverty reduction, development course and experience of China’s non-government organizations and typical cases of poverty reduction and development projects implemented by relevant NGOs. The training also invited relevant leaders of the International Business Department of China National Petroleum Corporation to give lectures on the practices of Chinese enterprises of performing social responsibilities in Sudan. The field visit was conducted in Yulong County of Lijiang City in Yunan Province for the participants to make an on-the-spot investigation on the organizational and management methods, operational mechanism and practical results of CFPA’s Action 120 for the Maternal and Infant Health Project.

　　【Workshop on the Theory and Practice of Development (Poverty Reduction) for Asian Countries】 With the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and Ministry of Finance (MOF), the “Workshop on the Theory and Practice of Development (Poverty Reduction) for Asian Countries” hosted by IPRCC and Chongqing Municipal Poverty Alleviation Office was convened in Chongqing from May 16 to 23, 2010. 28 trainees from 12 countries within the ACD framework, including Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Laos, Malaysia, Burma, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam participated in this study program. The theme of this workshop was “Balanced Urban and Rural Development, Transfer of Labor Force and Poverty Reduction”.

　　【Seminar on Poverty Reduction and Social Development Policy in the Promotion of MDG Process for Francophone Africa】 From May 31 to June 20, 2010, the Seminar on Poverty Reduction and Social Development Policy in the Promotion of MDG Process for Francophone Africa was held in Beijing. The event was sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), organized by the Department of International Cooperation and Social Mobilization of the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development (LGOP), and undertaken by IPRCC. It was attended by 28 representatives of 14 African countries including Burundi, Congo, Djibouti, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Cameroon, Madagascar, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Chad, Togo, Cote d’lvoire and Central Africa. LGOP Deputy Director-General Zheng Wenkai and IPRCC Director-General Wu Zhong addressed the opening ceremony. The workshop was divided into three parts: lectures, country presentations and field trips.

　　【Experience-Sharing Program on Development between China and Africa】 Sponsored by China’s Ministry of Finance (MOF), World Bank (WB), China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) and the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development (LGOP), and organized by IPRCC, the 3rd Experience-Sharing Program on Development between China and Africa was convened in Beijing from September 14 to 21, 2010. More than 100 people were invited to the meeting, including the senior government officials and embassy officials of nine African countries (i.e. Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Mauritius, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia), senior WB representatives, and delegates of the relevant domestic ministries and commissions as well as scientific research institutions. The distinguished guests from home and abroad, including Mr. Wang Jun, Vice Minister of Finance, Mr. Robert Zoellick, WB President, Mr. Chong Quan, Deputy China International Trade Representative (CITR) of MOFCOM, Mr. Zheng Wenkai, LGOP Deputy Director-General and Mr. Natty Davis, Liberian Minister of State, addressed the opening ceremony. This Program was themed with “Infrastructure Construction and the Development of Economic and Technological Development Zones”. The participating representatives conducted exchanges and discussions centering on special topics, such as the roles of special economic zones and infrastructure construction in economic growth and poverty reduction, the roles of trade, investment liberalization and special economic zones development, infrastructure development strategies and financing, and rural infrastructure construction in supporting rural household and SMEs, the cooperation between China and Africa in the field of industrial park and rural infrastructure, etc. During the Program, the participating representatives from Africa made a field trip to Jiangsu Province to learn about the construction and development of rural infrastructure, industrial parks and economic and technical development zones in China

　　【Seminar on Disaster Risk Management and Poverty Reduction for Asian Countries】 From September 20 to 29, 2010, the Seminar on "Disaster Risk Management and Poverty Reduction for Asian Countries" hosted by International Poverty Reduction Center in China（IPRCC） and co-organized by Sichuan Bureau of Poverty Alleviation and Immigration Affairs and UNDP China was convened in Chengdu. A total of more than 20 people including the senior government officials from 13 Asian countries, namely Bangladesh, Georgia, India, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Yemen, and the representatives of two international organizations were invited by this event. Themed on “disaster risk management and poverty reduction”, the event consisted of thematic seminar and field visit. The former included keynote addresses and case studies, covering discussions about four topics, namely global/Asian climate change, disaster risk and poverty reduction trends and challenges, the Asian countries' disaster risk management and poverty reduction, and China's disaster risk management and poverty reduction and the core strategies.

　　【The Third Seminar on Theory and Practice of International Development (Poverty Reduction) for Directors of China’s Poverty Alleviation Offices】 On October 16, 2010, sponsored by IPRCC and China Training Center for Executives in Poor Areas, and supported by UNDP China and China International Centre for Economic and Technical Exchanges, the Seminar on Theory and Practice of International Development (Poverty Reduction) for Directors of China’s Poverty Alleviation Offices was held in Beijing. 46 persons in charge of the poverty alleviation departments in 28 provinces and municipalities across the country were invited to attend the event. The opening ceremony was chaired by IPRCC Director-General Wu Zhong. Mr. Zheng Wenkai, Deputy Director-General of the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development (LGOP) and Mr. Napoleon Navarro, Deputy Country Director UNDP China, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech. Centering on the four special topics, i.e. the Millennium Development Goals, poverty monitoring and measurement, comprehensive treatment of special poverty and the hot issues of global poverty reduction and development, the seminar invited the experts of the UN system, World Bank, Asian Development Bank, etc., as well as the scholars of the Oxford University and University of California to give lectures.

　　【China-IFAD South-South Cooperation (SSC) Workshop on Integrated Agricultural Development and Poverty Reduction】  From November 4 to 6, 2010, China-International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) South-South Cooperation (SSC) Workshop on “Integrated Agricultural Development and Poverty Reduction” was held in Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The workshop was co-hosted by the Ministry of Finance (MOF) and IFAD, and organized by the IPRCC and the Department of Finance as well as the Department of Agriculture of Guangxi. A total of 118 delegates from IFAD, China and other IFAD member states attended the workshop. The three-day workshop themed on “Integrated Agricultural Development and Poverty Reduction” was divided into three parts: field trip, expert lecture and case study. On November 4, the participating delegates went on a field trip to Long’an County of Guangxi to learn about the IFAD projects, which involved the development of advantageous industries, restructuring, technology extension, market development and financial support. From November 5 to 6, they carried out broad and in-depth discussions centering on four themes including “Agricultural Development and Poverty Reduction: Policy and Experience”, “Market Development and Agricultural Development”, “Restructuring and Agricultural Development” and “Public Service and Agricultural Development”.

　　【Second seminar on “PRC-ADB Knowledge Sharing Platform”】 From November 8 to 11, 2010, the second seminar on “PRC-ADB Knowledge Sharing Platform” was held in Beijing. Themed on “Strengthening Transport Infrastructure Construction and Promoting Economic and Social Development”，this seminar was co-sponsored by the Ministry of Finance (MOF) and Asian Development Bank (ADB), and organized by IPRCC. Vice Financial Minister Li Yong, Chief Planner of the Ministry of Transport Dai Dongchang, and Vice President of ADB Bindu Lohani addressed the opening ceremony. More than 80 representatives consisting of 40 senior government officials from 14 countries including Pakistan, the Philippines, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Papua New Guinea and Fiji, high-ranking representatives of ADB and of the relevant domestic ministries and commissions as well as research institutes were invited to this event. After the seminar, the participants also made a field trip to Tianjin for investigating the construction of local transportation infrastructure

Exchange

　　【International Symposium on the "Impact of Global Finance Crisis"】 From February 4 to 5, 2010, the International Symposium on the "Impact of Global Finance Crisis" co-organized by IPRCC, Asia-pacific Center of UNDP and UNDP China Office was successfully convened in Beijing. More than 70 delegates including government officials, scholars and representatives of NGOs from 17 countries, and officials from Asian Development Bank and FAO, participated in the event. The seminar analyzed the economic and social impact of financial crisis on Asia-pacific region and relevant countries, exchanged anti-crisis strategies and successful experience of coping with the financial crisis, and explored the development approach in the future The workshop played a positive role in helping the Asian-pacific countries fully understand the impact of the financial crisis, optimize the anti-crisis strategies and promote the sustainable development of social and economic sectors in the future.

　　【High Level Dialogue on China-Africa Poverty Reduction and Development Cooperation】 On February 5, 2010, the High Level Dialogue on “China-Africa Poverty Reduction and Development Cooperation” hosted by International Poverty Reduction Center in China (IPRCC) and supported by United Nations Development Program (UNDP) was convened. Mr. Liu Jian, Councilor of the State Council and Chairman of IPRCC, and Mr. Donald Kaberuka, President of African Development Bank attended the high level dialogue, and delivered speeches respectively. More than 50 delegates including officials from Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Commerce and People’s Bank of China, a group of experts and scholars, representatives from UNDP and FAO, African ambassadors to China, and representatives of enterprises and NGOs participated in the meeting. The participants had a fruitful discussion on how to promote the further cooperation between China and Africa in the field of poverty reduction under the challenging situation. The delegates raised the common concern that both China and Africa face the same task such as alleviating poverty, promoting development and achieving MDGs. Thus, China and Africa should strengthen the exchanges and cooperation in these areas, learn from each other, and pursue common development.

　　【The Third Celebrity Forum】 On June 22, 2010, the 3rd IPRCC Celebrity Forum was held in Beijing. Professor Robert Kappel, President of German Institute of Global and Area Studies (GIGA) and Graham Meadows, former Director-General of the Regional Policy and Directorate-General of the European Commission (EC) were invited to attend the forum. They delivered two keynote speeches respectively titled “Development Cooperation with Africa – What Can China Learn from Western Experiences” and “Policy for Economic Development: Search for the X Factors”. Nearly 100 representatives from the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development (LGOP), various units directly under the LGOP, the relevant international organizations and scientific research institutions attended the event. Professor Robert Kappel mainly introduced the economic situation, development and reforms in Africa, China’s interest relations and engagement with Africa, the Western experience in Africa, as well as the important factors influencing the poverty reduction efforts. He also had an in-depth discussion over the trilateral cooperation among China, Africa and Germany.

　　【The 4th Celebrity Forum】 The 4th IPRCC Celebrity Forum was held in Beijing on July 21, 2010. Ms. Deborah Brautigam, Professor of International Development at American University and well-known expert on China affairs, was invited to attend the forum and delivered a keynote speech titled “The Dragon’s Gift: The Real Story of China in Africa”. The forum was chaired by IPRCC Director-General Wu Zhong. Nearly 100 representatives from the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development (LGOP) and various units directly affiliated to LGOP, embassies of the relevant foreign countries in China, international organizations, and scientific research institutions were present at the forum. At the end, Director-General Wu Zhong made a concluding speech and pointed out the reference significance of China’s development experience for Africa.

　　【Social Innovation Forum】 From September 15 to 18, 2010, the first "Social Innovation Forum" hosted by China Social Entrepreneur Foundation and co-hosted by NIP and IPRCC was convened in Shanghai. Zheng Wenkai, Deputy Director of State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development (LGOP) attended and addressed the opening ceremony. IPRCC Chief Technical Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed attended and addressed the forum. Themed on “Cross-border, Cooperation and Innovation”, the forum consisted of four sub-forums, namely “Innovation through Integration of Poverty Alleviation and Rural Finance”, “Volunteer Service and Social Innovation”, “Venture Philanthropy and Social Enterprise” and “New Technology and New Philanthropy”. More than 250 domestic and foreign guests from the relevant community organizations, social enterprises, commercial enterprises, governments and academia exchanged views on new philanthropy and social innovation.

　　【The Fifth Celebrity Forum】 On November 17, 2010, the Fifth IPRCC Celebrity Forum was held in Beijing. Mr. Vinod Thomas, Senior Vice-President of the World Bank and Director-General of the Independent Evaluation Group (IEG) of the World Bank Group, and Ms. Wang Yan, Senior Economist of the World Bank were invited to attend this forum and delivered keynote speeches respectively titled “Quality of Growth: Improving Growth Benefits through Financial Policies” and “Country-specific Experience: Brazil, Chile and China”. Around 100 representatives from different research institutes, the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development (LGOP), various units affiliated to LGOP, relevant international organizations and foreign embassies in China attended the forum. The participants believed that sustainable growth would be a long-term goal and that to realize balanced growth by transforming economic development mode is an objective requirement. Evidently, to enhance the quality of economic growth is an important but also highly challenging subject that should be placed under further research. Efforts should also be made to enhance experience exchanges between different countries in order to jointly promote the sustainable development of the world economy.

　　【Exhibition of Foreign-funded Poverty Relief Results in China】 On November 18, 2010, the “Exhibition of Foreign-funded Poverty Relief Results in China” sponsored by the Foreign Capital Project Management Center of LGOP was successfully convened. Themed on "international cooperation and eradication of poverty", the exhibition displayed a comprehensive picture of the history, achievements and basic experience of China's utilization of foreign capital to help the poor. More than 1,000 people visited the exhibition, including representatives of relevant ministries, commissions, international organizations’ offices in China, poverty alleviation offices of 19 central and western provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities), 52 key counties for poverty alleviation and development, enterprises, industrial and commercial units and relevant social groups as well as relevant individuals. As an important part of poverty alleviation and development work, foreign-funded poverty reduction is an important field of China’s opening up and an important platform for international exchanges and cooperation in the field of poverty alleviation. The exhibition reviewed the development process of China's utilization of foreign capital, showed the 15 years of experience and achievement in poverty reduction with foreign funds, and exchanged and shared China’s experience in poverty alleviation and development. Over the past 15 years, more than 50 international organizations have participated in the cause of China's poverty alleviation and development in different ways and from different angles. China has introduced nearly $1.4 billion of foreign capital for poverty reduction, plus domestic matching funds, the total anti-poverty investment amounted to 19.82 bilion Yuan. 107 foreign-funded poverty alleviation projects have covered 320 counties of 18 central and western provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) and benefited nearly 20 million poor people.

Cooperation

　　【China-Canada cooperation - poverty reduction in rural communities】 On October 20, 2010, the Foreign Capital Project Management Center (FCPMC) and Ghana Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning jointly held the “Signing Ceremony of China-Canada cooperation project - poverty reduction in rural communities” in Beijing. More than 200 people attended the signing ceremony, including LGOP Deputy Director-General Zheng Wenkai, principals from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Finance and National Audit Office of China, representatives of the divisions and units affiliated to LGOP, relevant media, enterprises, international organizations and Ghana Embassy in China. The success of the program has not only enriched the international poverty reduction cooperation and exchanges, but also promoted the friendly exchanges between the two countries. At the same time, with the implementation of the project, it will not only promote China's poverty alleviation experience to be practiced in Africa, but will promote the poverty reduction experience-sharing between China and Ghana and boost the common development of the cause of poverty reduction.

　　【Phase II Project of Rain Plan with Unlimited Potential】 In October 2010, Phase II Project of Rain Plan with Unlimited Potential was launched. Through the CTLC Program, combined with Rain Plan and Sunshine Project, this program aimed to help Yuanba District of Guangyuan City and Pingchang County of Bazhong City to carry out computer information technical trainings for communities. It directly benefited 1,000 people and indirectly benefited 15,500 people. The main contents of the project included: Combined with labor service poverty alleviation, through organizing trainings, it strived to help 1,000 farmers obtain the primary qualifications for computer jobs and primary, secondary and senior occupational certificates issued by the department of labor and personnel to improve the employability and increase job opportunities for the trainees; through organizing village cadre trainings for 90 college graduates, it strived to help 9,000 farmers of 90 impoverished villages learn computer information technology and the information on agricultural technology and marketing of agricultural products and by-products through Internet search.