Poverty Alleviation: Chinese Charity Sets Sights On Greater African Role

China has lifted 700 million of its citizens out of poverty since 1978.

Though founded only in 1989, China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation, CFPA, is today one of the largest charities in China. After beginning with disaster relief, healthcare, education support, micro-finance assistance and community development projects in China, CFPA went international in 2005 during the Indonesia Tsunami. It has since implemented projects in 18 countries.

“We look forward to expand our activities to 10 countries, including Africa,” Wu Peng, CFPA’s director told 27 visiting African journalists on August 24, 2017 in the  humanitarian relief and development organisation’s head office in Beijing. The NGO now runs projects in Sudan and Ethiopia. Wu Peng attributed the fast growth of his charity to lessons learnt from China’s targeted poverty alleviation programme that has lifted 700 million people out of misery since the start of the reform and opening up policy in 1978.

Concerning one-off gifts in Africa, CFPA donated 1 million Yuan Renminbi (about 84 million FCFA) through the World Food Programme to victims of the recent deadly mudslide in Sierra Leone. It earlier offered 1.21 million Yuan Renminbi (4 million FCFA) to Ebola victims in West Africa a few years ago. It also assisted drought victims in the Horn of Africa some years back.

 In partnership with “Ye Enat Weg Charitable Association,” CFPA provides free breakfast and lunch to Ethiopian public school children from poor families. Covering ...