Caixin (财新网), February 25, 2013
With the Global Fund halting funding to China, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation ceasing to directly fund projects in China, Chinese NGOs must reevaluate their funding strategies. In the past, many bilateral and multilateral development organizations were involved in development work in China, directly carrying out projects or providing funding to local organizations in order to carry out projects, activity which has slowed or ceased in many sectors. At the same time, with the development of the Chinese economy, many international organizations have become increasingly interested in working in China. The question of how many international organizations are currently operating in China is difficult to answer- while CDB’s directory lists almost 300, only 19 are formally registered.
The Global Fund’s decision to freeze its funding to China in 2010 would serve as a turning point for the industry, indicating to Chinese NGOs that international development funding might not continue indefinitely. Many felt that as the Chinese government was not lacking in funds, it should take responsibility for China’s development rather than relying on foreign funding. The shift toward locating Chinese benefactors is currently in progress, with government contracting and foundation grants increasingly each year, but Chinese organizations still need to clarify their methods of openly regulating and overseeing project operation
