Pivoting to Overseas Development: INGOs’ Changing Engagement with China

Abstract

The context for international NGO work with Chinese actors has changed dramatically in the last decade. At the same time that the 2017 Overseas NGO law has increased regulations on INGO activity in mainland China, Chinese NGO and philanthropic capacity has expanded, decreasing domestic demand for international assistance. Furthermore, Chinese actors are “going global” by increasing their international presence and engagement in realms ranging from business to philanthropy. As a result of these developments, some INGOs are beginning to pivot from operating projects within China to partnering with Chinese actors on collaborative projects outside of China. How common are these partnerships, what forms do they take, and which actors are involved? This paper presents new evidence from an original dataset of over 130 INGO-China joint projects to promote overseas development. The dataset sheds light on the areas these projects address, what forms their activities take, and which INGOs and Chinese actors are involved. Specifically, we find that the majority of projects are focused on sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia, or more broadly focused on China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Projects most commonly take the form of dialogue (conferences and meetings), research, and training, but there are also many on-the-ground projects, including infrastructure development. While Chinese government ministries are the most prevalent partners, we also find significant participation from Chinese educational institutions, research institutes, and companies (both private and state-owned). After providing an overview of the scope of these new partnerships, we examine several cases in more detail through small-n qualitative case studies informed by interviews with key stakeholders. Overall, the paper identifies and illuminates an emerging phenomenon that is likely to expand in the future. Its findings directly contribute to the scholarly literature on transnational partnerships, INGO behavior, and China’s role in world development.