[China] Launches Village-Level Poverty Alleviation Project

from CRI English

China launched Monday a village-level poverty alleviation project with the participation of Non-government organizations (NGOs), opening the poverty alleviation resources to the NGOs for the first time.

At a ceremony held here, the project was jointly launched by the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development (LGOP), Asian Development Bank (ADB), Jiangxi Provincial Poverty Alleviation & Development Office (Jiangxi PADO) and China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation (CFPA).

The LGOP and Jiangxi PADO will provide a budgetary allocation of 11 million yuan (1.35 million US dollars) and entrust CFPA to invite bid among NGOs for implementing the project in 22 key poverty-stricken villages of Jiangxi Province.

In the meantime, ADB has agreed to offer 1 million US dollars financed under the Poverty Reduction Cooperation Fund of the United Kingdom Department for International Development.

The CFPA will be responsible for the supervision of the fund allocations and the implementation of NGOs' capacity construction. Besides, the organization will also contribute about 100,000 US dollars in-kind inputs.

About 150 participants from relevant state organs, local governments, NGOs, international organizations, media and academia attended the ceremony.

Addressing the ceremony, He Daofeng, vice president of CFPA, said that the cooperation between government and NGOs is important for the implementation of scientific development concept and building of a harmonious society.

ADB resident representative Toru Shibuichi and deputy director of LGOP Wang Guoliang described this project as "a bold try in promoting NGOs' participation in poverty alleviation."

According to a NGO bid explanatory meeting held by the CFPA following the launching ceremony, 2 or 3 NGOs will be selected through public biding to carry out the village-level poverty reduction project in chosen villages.

A 16-member panel, consisting of experts and scholars from all walks of life, will trace the process of project's implementation, according to the organizers.

"If we succeed in accomplishing the project, we may find a way to improve the management mechanism of domestic poverty reduction funds and promote the subsistence and development of domestic NGOs." said Duan Yingbi, president of the CFPA.