China’s NGO Partnerships in a New Era of Development Cooperation

Anthea Mulakala,Robin Bush,Hongbo Ji

doi:10.19088/1968-2021.121

Abstract

China’s 2021 White Paper, China’s International Development Cooperation in the New Era, offers a new vision for a more people-centred approach to its development cooperation. While the White Paper extensively discusses partnerships, it only briefly mentions encouraging cooperation with non-governmental organisations (NGOs). This article argues that NGO engagement in international development activities would improve their effectiveness, a view shared by many Chinese scholars and practitioners. However, challenges exist that constrain optimal engagement, especially access to funding, and a weak enabling environment and policy framework. This article addresses these challenges, drawing from the literature on ‘going out’ among Chinese NGOs and social organisations, along with interviews with key players in the Chinese NGO ecosystem. The article recommends, among other things, that the government clarify and improve its policy framework for NGOs/social organisations in support of China’s international development collaboration, especially regarding funding flows, personnel regulations, and material and capital outflows.

Highlights

China has emerged as one of the most influential, debated, and discussed development cooperation actors in the twenty‐first century
Less research and attention have gone to Chinese non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and social organisations5 and how they fit into the broader schema of Chinese development and South–South cooperation (SSC)
While China’s 2021 White Paper creates space for enhanced NGO engagement, our review here reveals that these NGOs face persistent deficits in policy enablement, funding opportunities, and organisational capacity

Summary

Introduction

China has emerged as one of the most influential, debated, and discussed development cooperation actors in the twenty‐first century. Less research and attention have gone to Chinese NGOs and social organisations and how they fit into the broader schema of Chinese development and South–South cooperation (SSC). Aspirations outlined in its January 2021 White Paper, China’s International Development Cooperation in the New Era (SCIO 2021), Chinese NGOs and social organisations should become part of the equation. China’s two previous White Papers on development assistance (2011 and 2014) largely responded to international calls for transparency (SCIO 2011, 2014). Neither discussed the contribution of Chinese NGOs and social organisations, both described activities, such as humanitarian aid and improving health care, that may have involved these actors. The current White Paper offers a different vision: it explicitly affirms China’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and people-to-people connectivity, especially through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). This article takes up this positive outlook on the role of Chinese NGOs and provides a more detailed look at both the potential opportunities and constraints they face

Methods

Findings

Conclusion