Unlike Chinese enterprises, few Chinese NGOs engaged in oversea activities before the launch of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in 2013, mainly due to the lack of legal and policy support. With the rising influence of China in the developing world and the rapid development of Chinese NGOs, there is a growing need for Chinese NGOs to play a greater role in global affairs. In recent years, the Chinese government has been stepping up its effort to help promote Chinese NGOs to go global. Supported by this, Chinese NGOs are expected to become one of the major actors involving in programs covering education, foreign aid, environmental protection, poverty alleviation, and people-to-people exchange along the Belt and Road.
Case: Community-participated Ecosystem Projection and Livelihood Improvement
Type: Civic engagement
Country: Myanmar
Duration: 2016 to present
Status: Ongoing
Organisation: Global Environmental Institute (GEI)
Project brief:
Due to urbanization, firewood consumption, and illegal logging, rural areas in Myanmar have suffered from severe deforestation in recent years. To promote ecological protection and improve the livelihood of villagers, GEI has been promoting a Community Conservation Concession Agreement (CCCA) along with four local partner NGOs in Myanmar. GEI has carried out CCCA pilot programmes in several states and divisions, benefiting over 15, 000 people[1]. GEI has also provided training for local NGOs, which has equipped them with better knowledge and capabilities to manage CCCA programs. CCCA is an agreement signed with stakeholders (government, enterprises, local communities or individuals, etc.) in an area that needs to be protected, giving conservation and limited development rights to different stakeholders in order to mitigate the destruction of biodiversity and habitats in the area by human activities, prevent the degradation of ecosystems, and achieve a balance between conservation and development.
[1] [1] CEPF Final Project Completion Report, https://www.cepf.net/resources/final-project-report/final-project-report-2351