China Development Brief

Although in theory farmers in China can access credit through a national network of Rural Credit Cooperatives, in practice these are not always able or willing serve poor, remote communities. Numerous local and international NGOs have tried to plug the gap by offering microfinance as part of integrated rural development projects. Myriam Bartu explores the difficulties and the achievements of these schemes and, in a downloadable attachment, presents case studies of five NGO projects in Sichuan and Yunnan.

Over 70 environmental activists and journalists gathered in Beijing on October 11 to attend the launch of an online directory of Chinese environmental NGOs produced by China Development Brief with funding support from the Ford Foundation.

NGOs in China have long strived to improve their relationship with government and influence policy-making in various ways, writes Chang Tianle (常天乐) . Now, as elections for local People’s Congresses are being held, a few NGO leaders have seen this as an opportunity to mainstream themselves.

Throughout the “reform and opening” era, China has struggled to universalise primary education and, as it nears that goal, the government is raising expenditure to remove financial barriers for the poorest families. But, as Chang Tianle (常天乐) reports, remaining challenges are not all financial.

At a signing ceremony in Beijing today, the government of Norway—which, against the international trend, is continuing to expand its cooperation with China—pledged USD 1 million to support two environment sector projects jointly developed by the UN Development Programme and China’s State Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).

So says Jonathon Porritt, a veteran environmental campaigner who now serves as Chair of the UK’s Sustainable Development Commission, and who visited China in late September under the auspices of a UK-China Sustainable Development Dialogue. Here, he talks to Nick Young about some of the ideas in his recent book, Capitalism As If The World Matters, saying that although the earth is closer than ever to environmental meltdown, he remains an optimist. He believes the impending crisis will draw people together; that a few progressive corporations really are beginning to get the message and take actions that go well beyond “greenwashing,” and that China is not only critical to global sustainability but also, in some ways, way ahead of Western countries in taking action.

A Shanghai-based organisation that provides support services to China’s growing non-profit sector has set itself ambitious growth targets for the next three years, and is also hoping to enhance non-profit links with business and media.

Quality projects with local ownership are the most effective means of pursuing advocacy objectives in China argues Zhao Zhonghua (赵中华) of Save the Children, citing the experience of an education project that, he says, has had demonstrable impact on government policy and practice.

Chang Tianle (常天乐) reports on the growing role that religious leaders in Tibetan areas are playing, both in delivering social services and in protecting their environmental heritage.

In October the Ford Motor Company will, for the sixth year in succession, award grants to Chinese environmentalists and green NGOs in recognition of their ongoing contribution to sustainable development. This year, the car manufacturer is increasing the total prize money to CNY 1.7 million (USD 214,000) which is expected to be divided between fifteen organizations