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The Sustainable Development Goals in China
The Sustainable Development Goals are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the earth’s environment and climate, and ensure that people everywhere can enjoy peace and prosperity. These are the goals the UN is working on in China:
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10 August 2023
Science and tradition drive China-wide effort to restore landscapes
Ahead of Global Tourism Resilience Day on 17 February, which promotes sustainable tourism for poverty eradication and environmental protection, we take a look at a large-scale, award-winning initiative in China to restore ecosystems from mountains to coastal estuaries across the country.
Armed with billhooks, hammers and their bare hands, villagers in China's eastern Yunhe County are methodically clearing a series of abandoned hillside rice fields, many perched dramatically over a yawning valley.
These terraced paddies had long ago fell into disuse, a product of a strained rural economy. But villagers are aiming to make the land productive again by weeding out invasive plants and building walls to prevent soil erosion.
The work, which has been combined with a return to Earth-friendly traditional farming practices, is reviving Yunhe’s stunning hillside farms. And at the same time, it is attracting nature-hungry visitors, making the county a budding eco-tourism destination.
“With the restoration of the terraces and the development of tourism and homestays in recent years, some young people who left the village have returned,” says Wu Xiaofang, who runs a homestay with her husband. “The popularity of this place is growing.”
The transformation in Yunhe, high in the eastern province of Zhejiang, is supported by the Shan-Shui initiative, a hugely ambitious drive led by the Chinese government to restore ecosystems, from mountains to coastal estuaries, across the world’s most populous nation.
The United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration has named the initiative, which comprises 75 large-scale projects, among its first 10 Global Restoration Flagships, an award designed to inspire and encourage restoration around the world.
The award underscores the key role China plays in addressing the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity and nature loss, and pollution and waste. In December, China and Canada rallied nations behind a new global agreement, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, to halt and reverse the destruction of nature. The accord included a massively scaled-up restoration effort.
An integrated approach
Launched in 2016, the initiative takes a systematic approach to restoration. Projects dovetail with national land use plans, work at the landscape or watershed scale, including agricultural and urban areas as well as natural ecosystems, and seek to boost rural economies.
By enhancing ecosystems and the benefits they deliver, the projects promote the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, including those on poverty eradication, climate change and biodiversity.
So far, 3.5 million hectares have been brought under restoration under the initiative, out of a 2030 target of restoring 12 million hectares. In all, the initiative is expected to create more than 3.2 million jobs and deliver benefits to some 360 million people. Critically endangered species that are benefitting include the Chinese sturgeon, birds like Baer’s pochard, and the Baishanzu fir, the world’s rarest conifer.
Tradition meets science
Several of the projects integrate scientific knowledge with traditional farming methods to make land use more sustainable.
About 100 km east of Yunhe, Xu Guanhong does not let pouring rain dampen his enthusiasm for how the fish swimming in his rice paddies mean that he does not need to treat his crop with either pesticides or artificial fertilizers.
Xu, a former schoolteacher, says he took over some idle land near the town of Qingtian several years ago and began experimenting with organic farming methods. Local farmers were sceptical, and Xu’s yields were unreliable in the first two seasons. But now he is seeing results that have caught the interest of his neighbours.
“Our ancestors were smart. They put fish in the rice paddies and let them eat pests and weeds,” Xu told a visiting United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) film crew, raindrops bouncing off his wide straw hat. “The faeces excreted by the fish provide nutrients for the rice. In my field, an ecological cycle is now underway without any fertilizer or pesticide.”
Liu Zhumei, a local farmer, says she has been adopting Xu’s methods, which also include monitoring water quality in rice paddies and installing equipment to maintain the level of dissolved oxygen.
“We didn't earn much before. But now, following these methods, we can earn as much as 60,700 yuan per acre,” Liu says. (10,000 Chinese yuan is about US$1,450.) “Consumers from other provinces also know that our fish here are pollution-free, so they sell very well.”
Restoring harmony
The Shan-Shui initiative is named after a traditional Chinese landscape painting style that depicts the harmony of land and water – a balance that human activities, including industry and agriculture, have often disturbed.
Luo Ming, a restoration expert at the Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Centre of China’s Ministry of Natural Resources, says people should again recognize that they form a “community of life” with nature, and depend on it for their well-being.
“This traditional wisdom has existed for thousands of years,” Luo says. “Such a system is not only good for the environment but also greatly increases the benefits for local people. It attracts people who love the way of life in which people and nature live in symbiosis, making it a sustainable model.”
About the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration
The UN General Assembly has declared the years 2021 through 2030 the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. Led by UNEP and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN together with the support of partners, it is designed to prevent, halt, and reverse the loss and degradation of ecosystems worldwide. It aims at reviving billions of hectares, covering terrestrial as well as aquatic ecosystems. A global call to action, the UN Decade draws together political support, scientific research and financial muscle to massively scale up restoration.
This story was originally published by UNEP
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12 September 2022
United We Stand to Achieve Sustainable Development
The world today faces a future that is in peril. Our challenges have become more complex and interconnected, as we see the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, an uneven economic recovery, a climate emergency, growing inequalities, and an increase in conflicts globally. This year also marks a grim milestone, with over 100 million people forcibly displaced.
These events accompany increasing division in the community of nations which threatens to push the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) further out of reach for the Global South.
Adding to these crises, rising food and energy prices driven by the conflict in Ukraine, could push 71 million people into poverty, according to UNDP. The Global South, typically comprised of countries in South America, Africa, Asia, and Oceania, was already grappling with economic issues now exacerbated by the triple planetary crisis.
With limited resources, high vulnerability, and low resilience, people in the Global South will bear the brunt of our inaction, on climate and elsewhere. Solely depending on external aid from the Global North or G7 countries cannot be the panacea. Here, countries of the Global South can empower themselves and combine efforts to achieve sustainable development.
Cooperating to catalyse change
In the face of global threats, international cooperation remains vital, as highlighted by the International Day for South-South Cooperation. South-South cooperation seeks to complement traditional development models by throwing light on the transformations needed to deliver on priorities, including the SDGs. It offers possible solutions from Global South to Global South.
Countries of the Global South have contributed to more than half of global economic growth in recent times. Intra-South trade is higher than ever, accounting for over a quarter of world trade. It is time to further leverage these partnerships in the development space.
We already saw this while many countries were trying to obtain COVID-19 vaccines. Citizens of low and middle-income countries faced systemic discrimination in the global COVID-19 response, leaving millions without access to vaccines, tests, and treatments. India sent over 254.4 million vaccine supplies to nations across the world, under Vaccine Maitri – a vaccine export initiative.
Likewise, China has supplied over 200 million doses of vaccines to the COVAX Facility, in addition to providing millions of dollars in medical supplies to countries in the Global South, including in Africa, throughout the pandemic.
Informing partnership models with Africa & China
To advance development priorities, partnerships need to be rooted in shared interests that can lead to shared gains, as seen in traditional development models and assistance from the Global North. This dynamic needs to be at the core of the China-Africa relationship as well.
China, an economic powerhouse, has the potential to advance development in the Global South, especially in Africa, by bringing its experience, expertise, and resources to bear, and its assistance must advance both its interests and those of the countries where it operates.
Investments in shared goals are reflected in efforts by China to improve public health in Africa, including in the construction of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Ethiopia, and in clean energy, through projects such as the Kafue Lower Gorge Power Station in Zambia.
China promises to invest US$60 billion cumulatively in Africa by 2035, directed at agriculture, manufacturing, infrastructure, environmental protection, and the digital economy. This is most welcome, and those planned investments must answer the needs of the local economies and societies.
What works in one country may not work elsewhere, but true collaboration allows for learning from mistakes and sharing successes. This is where the UN’s expertise can ensure cooperation is demand-driven, in line with local expectations and needs, national development priorities, and relevant international norms and standards.
Platforms like the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) can work to improve that essential partnership. This mechanism has identified shared priorities like climate change, agriculture/food systems, global health, and energy security, among others, between China and Africa.
For the first time in FOCAC’s history and with support from The Rockefeller Foundation, the UN in China is engaged as a strategic partner in this bilateral mechanism between China and Africa. The UN in China is continuing similar efforts in close consultation with relevant counterparts, including the China International Development Cooperation Agency.
For The Rockefeller Foundation, it is a nod to its legacy in China dating back to 1914, rooted in redesigning medical education to improve healthcare and its current priorities to advance Global South collaboration, especially in public health, food, and clean energy access—all global public goods.
Beyond the Global South: Action Together
With less than eight years to achieve the SDGs, truly international cooperation is our only hope. Emerging trends in technology and innovation can get us there, along with enhanced South-South cooperation efforts. But doing so requires us to “flip the orthodoxy”, as UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed advised.
The Ebola crisis is an example of where global cooperation, including South-South cooperation, enabled Sierra Leone to defeat the disease’s spread, notably through a brigade of 461 health workers sent to Sierra Leone to support their overburdened system. Later, other countries made similar efforts to support Sierra Leone and nearby countries, such as Guinea and Liberia. This example shows the potential of South-South cooperation, but also triangular cooperation and North-South partnerships. Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) are another mechanism for financing and capacity building.
This can be seen in Kenya, where the Government and the UN System convened an SDG Partnership Platform with companies such as Philips, Huawei, Safaricom, GSK, and Merck. The outcomes include a downward trend of maternal and child mortality in some of the country’s most remote regions. Similar PPPs can hold promise in unlocking global progress on the SDGs.
Today, while we face a more volatile world, the spirit of South-South cooperation shows a core value that we need: solidarity. As UN Secretary-General António Guterres said, “The last two years have demonstrated a simple but brutal truth - if we leave anyone behind, we leave everyone behind”.
Deepali Khanna is Vice-President of the Asia Region Office at The Rockefeller Foundation. Siddharth Chatterjee is the United Nations Resident Coordinator in China.
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10 May 2022
UNFPA supports midwifery training for local health providers in Qinghai and Shanxi
“I hope to deliver my second baby here,” says a new mother, who just had her first newborn safely at the Yushu County People’s Hospital, Qinghai province of west China.
Gengsong Daizhong is a Tibetan doctor from the hospital. She is confident that more local women will be willing to have their babies here, thanks to the advancement of their midwifery skills.
Since 2016, China has been providing competency-based midwifery education and training to health workers across the country with the support of UNFPA. Since midwifery is not yet an independent profession but carried out by doctors and nurses in China, the national training offers a critical opportunity to enhance the midwifery skills of health workers in line with the global standards for midwifery set by the International Confederation of Midwifery.
Dr. Gengsong was a participant of the standardized training programme in 2020. She was supported by a project delivered by China Family Planning Association in partnership with UNFPA and the National Health Commission and supported by the Government of Denmark, to improve sexual and reproductive health among vulnerable populations, including ethnic minorities, in Qinghai and Shanxi provinces.
With her newly acquired midwifery skills, Dr. Gengsong is now able to apply the Doula mode of delivery to relieve the anxiety of women during childbirth.
“As the Doula method helps to speed up the process and reduces the risk of severe tearing and postpartum infection, we are receiving very positive feedback from the new mothers.”
A local sexual and reproductive health service provider, Ms. Sun Daomin, participated in the national midwifery training in late 2021. Building on her decades of midwifery experience at the township health center, Sun is supporting the local health facilities in improving their information and services on human-centered, family planning and maternal and child health.
“Postpartum contraception is an essential part of midwifery,” says Sun, as she learned about the different contraceptive choices available to a woman after giving birth. She is expected to visit the villages and share her knowledge on postnatal health management with field health workers, as the COVID-19 situation improves.
From 2020-2021, UNFPA facilitated Dr. Gengsong Daizhong, Ms. Sun Daomin and fifteen other health providers from Qinghai and Shanxi provinces to participate in the 12-week standardized midwifery training programme offered by certified trainers from the Chinese Maternal and Child Health Association.
The training covers theoretical and practical learning on midwifery skills and technologies during pregnancy, childbirth and beyond. It highlights the importance of human-centered care and health education and information throughout the whole process.
Beyond the training of individual health workers, UNFPA is supporting the development of midwifery training bases in health facilities in less developed regions, including the Qinghai Provincial Maternal and Child Health Hospital. This will ensure that, in the future, midwifery training is available to more health workers in Qinghai and nationwide.
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22 April 2022
Challenging the inequalities people living with HIV/AIDS face
An anxious crowd and deafening silence. People with masks are being called into a clinic cube with an ambiguous sign reading “Immune Deficiency.” This ten-square metre safe house is where people living with HIV meet. As a UN Volunteer Programme Assistant with UNAIDS in China, Weng Huiling shares their stories and fights for their rights.
Weng provides strategic information, advocacy and technical support to coordinate stakeholders to deliver comprehensive life-saving HIV service. She focuses on technical and administrative support to programmes and coordinates partners from the Government, private sector and local communities.
"I have been devoted to the field of HIV/AIDS for years, and UNAIDS has helped broaden my scope to go beyond medical care. My UN Volunteer assignment allowed me to participate in changing the underlying institutional inequality that burdens people living with HIV," she explains.
"Medical care is no longer the bottleneck in HIV response. What we need is accessible and integrated services, community leadership, an evidence-based approach and eradication of the profound inequality. Ending AIDS is possible, if we work together, like with COVID-19." - Weng Huiling, UN Volunteer Programme Assistant with UNAIDS China
In 2021, Weng joined an HIV online prevention intervention study and helped to collect data from key population group discussions and literature reviews. She also used her clinical knowledge to contribute to a cost-effective study on antiretroviral treatment to inform governmental policy prioritization. "I am glad that I could help strategic and technical programme management and participate in discussions on effective, evidence-informed and targeted HIV response," she adds.
"Despite remarkable progress in diagnosis and treatment, people living with HIV are still shackled by discrimination and stigmatization, which can only be overcome by collective inclusiveness. Our goal is to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030." - Weng Huiling
With UNAIDS, Weng has been able to tell the untold. During this year’s Zero Discrimination Day campaign in March, she led five poster exhibition tours and over ten hours of group discussion for more than 60 visitors from UN agencies, schools and universities, and community-based organizations.
She also worked on connecting funding opportunities and the Beijing LGBT Centre for a peer group programme on HIV. The programme, which aims to provide People Living with HIV with group consultations and educational programmes, is now being implemented with an estimated 1,000 influenced population.
"I was so impressed by the five portraits of people living with HIV. Their stories touched my heart. Our mindset towards people living with HIV, sex education and fragile population needs to be revolutionized." -Rita, a visiting student from Renmin University of China
UNAIDS plays a pivotal role in mobilizing China’s political, technical and financial resources through South-South Cooperation and China-Africa Collaboration.
Accordingly, at the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) meeting in late 2021, Weng organized a virtual dialogue on China-Africa Health Cooperation, jointly hosted by UNAIDS and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. She drafted outcome documents that served for FOCAC in November, emphasizing a joint commitment to local production and multilateral cooperation.
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22 April 2022
UN Volunteers ease accessibility to sexual and reproductive health
With an objective to eradicate poverty and achieve universal access in Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), UNFPA, National Health Commission (NHC), and China Family Planning Association (CFPA) launched a 3-year project. This project aims to improve the SRHR among vulnerable populations in Qinghai and Shanxi Provinces in China.
The project mainly targets women and young people of ethnic minorities and vulnerable groups such as those below the poverty line, rural residents, and persons with disabilities. Among this group are the ones in three project sites at an altitude of over 4000 meters including Yushu City, which was heavily impacted by the 7.1 magnitude earthquake in 2010.
Aimin, a national UN Volunteer Project Coordinator, has worked on this project since 2019. She supports programme management in planning, management, reporting, and coordination with various stakeholders.
One aspect of the project aims to improve the capacity of local service providers – including midwives – so that local women and young people can access better information and quality health services.
"I am now more confident with my skills for providing quality care, and more women are willing to deliver in our hospital." - Cairen Sangji, one of the nine midwives who received a 3-month standardized midwifery training at Huaxi Medical University in 2020
So far, over 600 local service providers, health workers, and teachers have benefited from the capacity building and skill development training. After going back to their communities, these skills are not only empowering midwives but also making maternity care safe and respectful.
Aimin and her colleagues discovered that young people in project sites shared similar needs for Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) but had limited access. Many factors contributed to this limitation – scarcely qualified teachers, less awareness, and cultural norms influenced people’s attitudes towards CSE.
Last year, over 1000 students who attended the CSE courses learned about the different aspects of sexual education – how to develop respectful social and sexual relationships, and where to turn for more information. It was a first for many – adults and adolescents – in Shanxi Province's Yushu and Yonghe project sites to get an education in CSE and hear experiences through seminars, workshops, and learning sessions.
Coming from an under-developed area in a remote province of Mongolia, Aimin feels fortunate to participate in a project that brings healthier living conditions for all. She is motivated to make a difference in people's lives, especially the ones who are coming from a similar background as her.
"Aimin has demonstrated a high level of initiative, organizational ability, and flexibility. She is a confident and direct communicator.” - WEN Hua, Programme Specialist, UNFPA
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26 September 2024
Journey to self-sufficiency globally significant
As we commemorate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, we savor the moment to reflect on the nation's remarkable agricultural transformation over time. From being a country that grappled with food insecurity and rural poverty, today China has successfully secured food for over 1.4 billion people — nearly 18 percent of the world's population — while utilizing just 7 percent of the world's arable land.China's rural areas are home to 36.11 percent of its population. Rural areas in developing countries — where hunger and extreme poverty are most concentrated — also hold the greatest potential for food production. It has been proven that investing in these areas drive economic growth and create jobs. China's journey from severe food deficiency to becoming the largest food producer, offers valuable lessons for global food and nutrition security efforts. This is especially so at a time when the world faces mounting challenges that impact food security such as conflict, climate variabilities, economic downturns and resource scarcity.Since 1980, the International Fund for Agricultural Development has been a steadfast partner in China's rural development journey. Through 35 projects in some of the harshest and very remote rural areas, IFAD has supported over 20 million rural women and men, improving their livelihoods. This partnership has been pivotal in supporting China's extraordinary efforts to eliminate extreme poverty and enhance national and global food and nutrition security.Forty years ago, more than 90 percent of China's rural population lived in absolute poverty. In its early partnership with China, IFAD focused on addressing immediate challenges of the country. The goal was straightforward: to help farmers grow more food — crop, livestock and fisheries. Through financial aid and technical support, IFAD worked with China to enhance grain, animal and fisheries production, modernize farming techniques, and promote food security.As China transitioned to a market-oriented economy at the end of the 20th century, IFAD's focus expanded beyond just food production to innovative technologies, as well as enhancing smallholders, particularly women and ethnic minorities' access to finance and improving their linkage to markets. This strategic shift empowered rural women and marginalized communities by providing them with essential skills and integrating their voices into decision-making processes. Additionally, IFAD promoted the adoption of modern agricultural technologies, which contributed to more efficient farming practices and increased participation in the market economy.When China declared in 2012, its goal to eradicate extreme poverty by lifting the last 98.99 million people out of extreme poverty by 2020, IFAD's partnership strategy shifted toward a more holistic approach. The new direction aligned with China's broader vision for agriculture and food security, incorporating rural revitalization, green and inclusive development, and digital transformation, all aimed at ensuring no one is left behind. As part of its contribution, IFAD is supporting China in implementing farmland enhancement in remote areas to improve the quality, productivity, and sustainability of agricultural land in Sichuan province and Ningxia Hui autonomous region. In Yunnan province, IFAD has funded women and ethnic minority entrepreneurs like Ms Zou Jie from Huaping county, whose company created 15,000 job opportunities and significantly boosted the local economy. In Hunan province, IFAD built village irrigation infrastructure and is promoting the use of organic fertilizer, so that the cooperatives supported will be resilient and still cultivate the land whenever rain is scarce. Additionally, IFAD projects are also creating employment opportunities for the youth so they will remain in or return to rural areas.China's transformation has not only benefited its own rural communities but has positioned the country as a leader in global food security initiatives. According to the latest State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report 2024, jointly published by IFAD, FAO, WFP, UNICEF and WHO in July, an estimated 28.9 percent of the global population in 2023 was moderately or severely food insecure. Through South-South and Triangular Cooperation, China and IFAD have shared agricultural knowledge, innovation and technologies with other developing nations, safeguarding the food security and livelihoods of local farmers. China's $10 million contribution to establish the China-IFAD SSTC Facility in 2018, along with another $10 million replenishment in June 2024, has made the facility pivotal for knowledge and expertise exchange and technology transfer within the Global South.Despite these notable achievements, some challenges exist. As China continues its journey, it is essential to ensure that all citizens have access to nutritious food in addition to enhancing food production. The future of China's food security will hinge on integrating sustainable agricultural practices that promote environmental stewardship and public health. This includes efforts to reduce food loss and waste, improve the food systems, and enhance the overall nutritional quality of food, while ensuring that progress in food production translates into improved health and well-being for all.Overall, China's journey is a testament to what can be achieved through careful and systematic planning, innovation, policy reform, and international cooperation. The country has demonstrated its prolificacy through the evolutions in the poverty and food security landscapes. This noteworthy evolution has significantly contributed to global food security, stabilizing food markets, and providing lessons in resilience and growth. China's success is not a fluke — it's a product of meticulous planning, investment, and commitment of its leadership. It demonstrates how targeted strategies and collaborative efforts can drive substantial improvements in agricultural productivity and rural development.As China transitions into a carbon-neutral economy, IFAD will continue its strong partnership to support China to sustain and expand the gains in poverty alleviation and comprehensively realize rural revitalization. This would be done through supporting innovative and resilient rural livelihood practices, greening the agricultural sector through environmentally and climate-smart interventions, and sharing the knowledge generated through our activities and those of others in-country with other developing countries through South-South and triangular cooperation.The op-ed was originally published by China Daily.
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13 September 2024
Together for a Better Tomorrow: Reflections on South-South Cooperation
Today, on International Day of South-South Cooperation, we are confronted by a world further split by its divides across all dimensions.Conflicts and geopolitics are putting a great strain on nations and people of all strides, putting their peace and prosperity at risk.If we are to achieve the 2030 Agenda, we must reverse our recent course and resume our path of progress towards sustainable development.The UN’s role in South-South cooperation Four years ago, I assumed the role of Resident Coordinator in China amidst a once-in-a-century pandemic.As I deployed, it became clear that a revitalization of the global partnership for sustainable development was necessary around the globe, to keep our promises and achieve the SDGs by 2030. It gave great clarity to me, as Resident Coordinator, on what had to be done. This was however no small task for the United Nations in China, including my team in the Resident Coordinator Office. With the circumstances often forcing us to convene online, this fuelled much distrust globally while stalling our progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).Meanwhile, many came to question the ability of international cooperation and multilateralism to achieve results in a world that has become increasingly polarized.South-South cooperation has long been recognized as a framework for countries in the Global South to contribute to their national well-being, national and collective self-reliance, and the attainment of internationally agreed commitments, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Therefore, our task over the past years has been to renew this collaborative spirit through a dialogue with our counterparts from government and other sectors of society on how China’s experience and expertise could be best shared with other countries, focusing primarily on those in Africa. Reimagining South-South cooperation for AfricaChina has long been Africa’s largest trading partner.Chinese projects, have sprung up all over the continent, including the Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway in Kenya. But as fiscal space has tightened, so too have needs widened on the continent. The climate crisis has wreaked havoc in Africa, placing pressure on food security and agriculture, accelerating the need to rapidly transition to affordable and clean energy.Similarly, the growing cohort of young people in Africa has turned the world’s attention to their needs, and their capacities in areas such as technology and innovation.Transforming partnerships into actionThrough our Transformative Partnerships Initiative, the UN in China has sought to foster policy and technical discussions with our Host Country and other Member States, particularly the African Ambassadors Group in Beijing, to identify ways to accelerate action towards the SDGs.We have aimed to identify the specific areas for potential collaboration between China and African countries stemming from the FOCAC process and to seek out where more cooperation can contribute to progress on sustainable development, in a way that maximizes impact for people and planet.Throughout our work, African Ambassadors have led the process, for example, in preparing for the FOCAC summit in Beijing. As the Resident Coordinator, along with my UN Country Team, we are committed to convening, connecting, and catalyzing action. We believe in bringing together a diverse range of stakeholders - extending beyond our traditional partners to include academics, civil society organizations, and the private sector. This approach is evident in our efforts, from conversations on tackling drought in the Horn of Africa to calling attention to the Nairobi Declaration on Climate Change. As concrete proposals evolve from such discussions here in China, we hope to eventually see more progress on the SDGs realized for the people of Africa.Now more than ever, we need bridge builders and torchbearers for sustainable development.So, let this International Day of South-South Cooperation bring us one step closer to a better tomorrow, together.
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02 August 2024
Sustainable development can solve rural China's climate challenges
This article was originally post on ifad.org.As I arrived in Hunan, where otherworldly limestone hills emerge from lush greenery, I knew I was in a place unlike anywhere else in the world. Here, people are in touch with the changing seasons and the rhythms of agricultural life.But Hunan, like the rest of China, has experienced dramatic change in the past decades. On my first visit to China as Associate Vice-President, I was eager to learn how IFAD has accompanied this dynamic country on its development journey – and how we will continue to collaborate into the future.Back in 1981, IFAD was the first international institution to financially support China’s rural development. Since then, more than 20 million of its poorest and most vulnerable rural people have benefited from IFAD-supported projects.Following a period of unparalleled economic growth, China declared it had eradicated extreme poverty in 2021.Changing tack in challenging timesYet our work is not done. Climate change presents a devastating threat to rural communities in Hunan. Natural disasters, once a rare phenomenon, are increasingly common. During my visit alone, a flood at Dongting Lake breached an embankment and devastated the fields around it.When such disasters strike, rural people on the verge poverty risk backsliding. For the most vulnerable people, including ethnic minorities, this risk is even more pronounced.In the prefecture I visited, four in five people are from Tujia or Miao ethnic minorities, many of whom just recently emerged from poverty. That’s why, to protect fragile progress, rural development must be sustainable.In Fenghuang county, I met Guanmin, a member of the Miao ethnic minority and the leader of a cooperative of kiwifruit growers. Supported by the H2RDP project, he switched to red kiwifruit, which commands a much higher market price. But he’s also been careful to adapt his farm to climate change.Thanks to irrigation infrastructure and organic fertilizer provided through the project, his vines are thriving in spite of shifting weather patterns. The cooperative now has a fallback whenever rain is scarce, while the soil is healthier and more resistant to floods. As Guanmin told me, “With the help of IFAD’s reservoir, we can have stable water supply and prevent agricultural losses even during droughts.” His livelihood much improved, he sees a long future ahead for his farm. Guanmin told me that his 15-year-old son aspires to study agriculture and contribute to the farm's success. Rural youth for rural gainsMirroring China’s new rural revitalization strategy, the H2RDP project creates employment opportunities so young people remain in or return to rural areas.One of these young people is Huaqing. He migrated to Chongqing city after graduating high school. But in 2022, Huaqing decided to return to Sanzao Village. With a grant and training from H2RDP, he set up 150 beehives and began a thriving beekeeping business.Now 27 years old, Huaqing has supplied bees and given beekeeping training to over 40 villagers. Thanks to this entrepreneurial and passionate young person, many others in his community can earn an income from honey and be part of China’s rural transformation. A green development agendaI met countless IFAD project participants who are achieving sustainable change. Yet, despite living on the frontlines of climate change, they are often left out of global conversations about climate adaptation and mitigation.That’s why IFAD’s new agreement with the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance is so important. Together, we will improve cross-border connectivity, knowledge sharing and capacity building for green development, opening an important channel for climate finance to reach those most in need. Sharing sustainable successChina's rural transformation over the last forty years has been extraordinary – and the China-IFAD SSTC (South-South Triangular Co-operation) Facility is helping other countries make similar progress. Since 2018, the facility has shared local knowledge and proven solutions from China and the Global South with 38 developing countries – and counting.Projects focus on value chain development, climate adaptation and agricultural productivity. For example, a projectsupported by the Facility and implemented by the International Bamboo and Rattan Organization improved the bamboo value chain in Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana and Madagascar. It did so by developing a national bamboo strategy and providing technical assistance.The Facility is just one of many opportunities to partner with China on SSTC – and that’s why IFAD is strengthening our general SSTC programme around the world.Tackling shared challenges together is exactly the type of collaboration we need to achieve sustainable development for all. And it's why, despite immense global challenges, my time in Hunan gave me hope that a better and more sustainable future for our planet's rural people is possible.
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23 July 2024
Fostering gender-responsive communications within the UN system in China
Beijing, China — On 19 July, 30 communication professionals representing 13 United Nations (UN) agencies, funds and programmes in China, joined a capacity development session on “Gender-Responsive Communications” organized by UN Women in collaboration with the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office (RCO) in China.Delivered by Diego De La Rosa, Communications Specialist for UN Women Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, the session emphasized the importance of integrating gender considerations into all forms of communication. It referenced significant milestones in gender equality, such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, which set the foundation for global efforts toward gender equality and women's empowerment.Key principles highlighted in the presentation include featuring women in communications, ensuring equal representation and respectful portrayal of all genders, and challenging gender stereotypes. It advocates for the use of gender-sensitive language, avoiding stereotypes and sexist expressions, and promoting equal visibility for women and men in various roles, especially leadership positions. The presentation also stressed the importance of considering multiple aspects of diversity, such as socio-economic background, ethnicity, disability, and sexual orientation, in communication materials."Integrating gender responsiveness into our communications is not just an option; it is a necessity for achieving true equality and justice. Today’s capacity development session shows how the UN Communications Group in China is striving to be fit for purpose, and gender-responsive throughout our work," said Louise Xi Li, Head of Communications, UN RCO China.Wenting Zhao, UN Women China Communications Specialist, said: "By making our communications gender-responsive, we amplify the voices of women and girls, challenge stereotypes, and pave the way for a more equitable future. This is a crucial step toward achieving gender equality and empowering all individuals." The session on “Gender-Responsive Communications” was part of a capacity development mission conducted by UN Women Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific to China. It also included a session on storytelling and social media for UN Women China staff and a briefing session for members of the media, public relations agencies and cultural institutions, focusing on the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the UN Women global campaign on the Paris 2024 Olympics. For more information, please contact:Zhao Wenting
Communications Specialist
UN Women ChinaE-mail: wenting.zhao@unwomen.org
Communications Specialist
UN Women ChinaE-mail: wenting.zhao@unwomen.org
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Story
17 April 2024
Meet the women closing the digital divide in rural China
Digital technology has immense transformative potential. Just think of the possibilities unlocked by the click of a mouse or a tap on a screen: banking, education, social media and much more.But around the world, rural women have disproportionately limited access to this technology. This pervasive digital divide is part of the reason education and economic independence remain out of reach for many women.Investing in women's digital empowerment and closing this divide can foster prosperity not just for them, but for entire communities. These three remarkable rural women revitalizing their villages in central China’s picturesque Hunan Province are living proof of this.Building a thriving rural businessThirty-five-year-old Ma Qinyan once pursued a career as an architectural designer in the southeastern city of Shenzhen. But she always harboured a desire to contribute to the prosperity of her native village in Hunan.Spotting a business opportunity in her region’s renowned spicy cuisine, Qinyan made the bold decision to return to her rural roots and start a chili sauce business. At first, her customer base was smaller than she had hoped.That's when she learned about Women Up, a training initiative supported by IFAD and the Youcheng Foundation focused on rural women's economic empowerment. Qinyan decided to take a chance and signed up for classes in digital literacy and entrepreneurship.Armed with new skills, she started using e-commerce and livestreaming to promote her products. Now her business is thriving – and by passing on what she has learned to her fellow villagers, she’s cultivating a new generation of digitally empowered rural women."I refuse to let my villagers down. I want to be a beacon of hope for them," says Qinyan. Empowering future generationsThe Women Up initiative was part of the broader Hunan Rural Revitalization Demonstration Project, which is increasing economic resilience across the province. In particular, the project aims to expand opportunities for rural youth and women.Zhang Jinyou knows all too well what it feels like to lack these. Born into a difficult financial situation exacerbated by her mother's disability, Jinyou eventually dropped out of high school to support her family.Now a 41-year-old mother of two, she’s determined to break the cycle of hardship that once defined her life.Like Qinyan, Jinyou participated in Women Up’s training and gained a variety of digital skills, including broadcasting and online finance. Her sense of hope and purpose renewed, she decided to begin a career in e-commerce.Today, Jinyou doesn’t just sell chili peppers and grapes for a local company via livestreaming – she is also in the process of establishing her own e-commerce business. Her children are in school and have a bright future ahead of them in an economically revitalized village.“E-commerce was a daunting challenge. But this training reignited my optimism and provided me with the resilience to persevere,” says Jinyou. Age is just a numberMany people associate digital technology and social media with younger generations. Long Yuan'ai is proving them wrong.Yuan’ai, 61, had already retired from her job at a local insurance company when she came across Women Up. But she didn’t let her age stop her from taking part – instead, she jumped at the opportunity to learn a new set of skills.Today, Yuan’ai is using her newfound digital literacy to support a career in e-commerce. She’s even beating young users of Douyin – the equivalent of TikTok in China – at their own game.Drawing on her expertise in kiwi farming, she launched an agriculture-themed Douyin page that gained thousands of followers in just two months. Now the kiwi farms of Hunan are reaching screens across China, boosting sales and uplifting the community she loves."For me, age is never an excuse to halt progress," says Yuan'ai. Gender inequality is a major obstacle to sustainable, inclusive rural development. That's why IFAD works across the world to eliminate it in all its forms – and in our interconnected modern world, it is essential that this include the digital divide.In rural China, Qinyan, Jinyou and Yuan’ai are demonstrating what this looks like: digitally empowered women of all ages, forging their own paths and spearheading their communities’ development.This story was originally published by IFAD China
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Press Release
31 October 2024
UN marks 45 years in China with recent celebration
UN Day, observed on 24 October, marks the anniversary of the entry into force of the UN Charter, with the day celebrated each year as an opportunity to reaffirm the purposes and principles of the UN Charter that have guided the Organization and the international community for the past 79 years.Under the theme “Aspire, Connect, Transform for our Common Future”, this year’s celebration of UN Day also coincides with the 45th anniversary of the UN’s development presence in China, with the event seeking to spark dialogue on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and reinforce the value of international cooperation and multilateralism, demonstrating the convening power of the UN across its Three Pillars of peace and security, human rights and development.During a global video message played at the event, UN Secretary-General, Mr. António Guterres, said, “Hope requires all countries working as one. Hope requires the United Nations. On United Nations Day, I call on all countries to keep this beacon for the world, and its ideals, shining.” Representatives of the UN in China took to the stage, while the Resident Coordinator used his remarks to draw attention to the evolving role of the UN in China and call for action on the recently adopted Pact for the Future, as well as for accelerated global progress on the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs. During his remarks at the event, UN Resident Coordinator in China, Mr. Siddharth Chatterjee, said, “Achieving the 2030 Agenda is impossible without China's leadership or with China acting alone. As we wrap up the current Cooperation Framework next year and begin planning a new one for 2026-2030, our priorities will continue to align with our values, norms, and standards in contributing to the country’s new 5-year development plan.” Representatives of the Government of China, led by Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs, His Excellency Mr. Miao Deyu, who served as the Guest of Honour, also joined the event, highlighting China’s increasing support for the Organization’s role in international affairs, particularly in the context of the recent 75th Anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.During his remarks at the event, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs, His Excellency Mr. Miao Deyu, said, “During the historical process of China’s reform and opening up, UN development agencies in China have made important contributions to promoting China’s modernization and China’s cooperation with the UN.” Given its 45th anniversary, a video was screened at the event, which saw the Resident Coordinator discuss the UN’s work in China to help the country achieve the SDGs and priorities for the years ahead, while the publications, reports and other materials from UN entities were made available to guests at a display area at the venue, highlighting their efforts to leave no one behind. Following the screening of the video, several performances fusing elements of Eastern and Western culture took place, including a traditional Chinese theatrical representation of ‘Face Changing’, a duet of ‘Libertango’, and a Peking Opera performance featuring children from the Daystar Academy. The UN in China gratefully acknowledges the efforts of its supporting partners, including the strong support from North Way Cultural Exchange, and thanks all guests for their attendance at this year’s UN Day event.
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Press Release
22 October 2024
President Alvaro Lario reinforces IFAD-China partnership during second official visit
Lario explored new avenues for partnership in promoting rural revitalization and green development in the country, while also identifying opportunities to expand cooperation in sharing China’s highly successful experiences in poverty reduction and rural development with other countries in the global South.“IFAD’s partnership with China is a cornerstone of our work in Asia and indeed around the world,” said Lario. “We look forward to continuing our support for China’s agenda of rural revitalization, and working globally to share our knowledge, resources, and expertise on rural poverty alleviation and empower small-scale farmers through the China-IFAD South-South and Triangular Cooperation facility,” he added.IFAD has worked closely with China to identify, promote, validate and scale-up viable agricultural innovations through a dedicated South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC) facility, which was established in 2018. As of early 2024, the Facility had supported projects focusing on poverty reduction, fighting malnutrition and promoting rural youth employment in more than 38 countries and facilitated around 120 business-to-business linkages, directly benefitting around 30,000 small-scale farmers.Lario also met Minister of Finance Lan Fo'an, expressing appreciation for the strong vote of confidence in IFAD’s work reflected in China’s increased contribution to IFAD’s Thirteenth Replenishment of its resources (US $87 million) and an additional US $10 million contribution to the IFAD-China SSTC facility.President Lario also met Jin Liqun, President of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), Luo Zhaohui, Chairman of the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), and Lin Jingzhen, Executive Director and Executive Vice President of the Bank of China. These meetings focused on strengthening existing partnerships, and prospects for new joint investment in rural development projects that focus on building thriving, productive and resilient rural communities.Since 1981, when IFAD became the first international financial institution to invest in China, IFAD has financed 35 projects for a total investment of US $3.45 billion, with US $1.3 billion of IFAD’s own funds, benefitting around 4.6 million households. Read more about IFAD’s work in China here.Press release No.: IFAD/86/2024IFAD is an international financial institution and a United Nations specialized agency. Based in Rome – the United Nations food and agriculture hub – IFAD invests in rural people, empowering them to reduce poverty, increase food security, improve nutrition and strengthen resilience. Since 1978, we have provided more than US$24 billion in grants and low-interest loans to fund projects in developing countries. A wide range of photographs and broadcast-quality video content of IFAD’s work in rural communities are available for download from our Image Bank.
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Press Release
18 October 2024
New UN China and Rockefeller Foundation Collaboration to Advance Climate Solutions in Africa and Asia
The grant comes amid increasing efforts from the UN in China to advance its Cooperation Framework by leveraging China’s capabilities through global partnerships that accelerate efforts to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It also builds upon previous collaboration with The Rockefeller Foundation to support the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and host a series of dialogues. Mr. Siddharth Chatterjee, UN Resident Coordinator in China, said, “With the SDGs at risk, a world on fire cannot afford to be divided. Today, we enter a new partnership with The Rockefeller Foundation to help us convene, connect and catalyse partnerships that will deliver climate action and leave no one behind.”Dialogues supported by the grant are also expected to follow up on outcomes of last September’s Summit of the Future, including implementation of the Pact for the Future, an inter-governmentally negotiated, action-oriented pact with chapters on five key areas, including sustainable development and financing for development.The Rockefeller Foundation through its Asia Regional Office is supporting a series of efforts that boost capacity and capital mobilization, while enhancing Global South leadership to meet the needs of vulnerable communities. This includes developing and driving development solutions, through its history of working with the UN in China to advance shared priorities such as climate action.Ms. Deepali Khanna, Vice President, Asia Regional Office, The Rockefeller Foundation, said, “This grant reflects our commitment to strengthening climate resilience, particularly in the Global South, by fostering partnerships that harness expertise, knowledge, and resources across borders. Through this collaboration with the UN in China, we aim to support impactful dialogues and policy development that will empower nations to drive climate action, enhance food security, and safeguard the health and well-being of vulnerable communities.”Outcome documents from the activities supported by this collaboration will also be produced in the months ahead.---About The Rockefeller FoundationThe Rockefeller Foundation is a pioneering philanthropy built on collaborative partnerships at the frontiers of science, technology, and innovation that enable individuals, families, and communities to flourish. We make big bets to promote the well-being of humanity. Today, we are focused on advancing human opportunity and reversing the climate crisis by transforming systems in food, health, energy, and finance. For more information, sign up for our newsletter at www.rockefellerfoundation.org/subscribe and follow us on X @RockefellerFdn and LI @the-rockefeller-foundation.About the United Nations in ChinaThe United Nations (UN) has been a trusted development partner of China for over 40 years. The UN in China seeks to consistently build upon its position as a key partner, most notably by creating and reinforcing partnerships for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in line with national development priorities. For more information, visit china.un.org or follow us @UNinChina on X (Twitter).Media Contacts:
Louise Xi LI, Head of Communications, UN Resident Coordinator’s Office in China, xi.li@un.org Gurpratap Singh, Asia Communications Consultant, The Rockefeller Foundation, c-gsingh@rockfound.org
Louise Xi LI, Head of Communications, UN Resident Coordinator’s Office in China, xi.li@un.org Gurpratap Singh, Asia Communications Consultant, The Rockefeller Foundation, c-gsingh@rockfound.org
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Press Release
29 October 2024
7th International High-Level Forum on Sustainable Urban Development Held in Wuhan
The forum is listed as one of the Deliverables in the Belt and Road Forum on International Cooperation with theme of Promoting the High-quality Sustainable Urban Development. Ms. Odicea Angelo Barrios, Human Settlements Officer of the Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific of UN-Habitat made the opening remark. She stated that the cities welcome the unprecedented opportunities to take the lead to plan and design as well as manage transition towards including, resilience, sustainability, economic growth and shared prosperity, and highly recommend Wuhan for showing the path to sustainable urban development. Mr. Chen Yajun, Deputy Secretary General of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) illustrated promoting the sustainable urban development requests the city leaders to focus on urban green and livable, safety and resilience, innovation and smart governance, opening and collaboration. Mr. Shao Xinyu, Executive Vice Governor, Hubei Provincial People’s Government highlighted the cities are built by the people and are for the people. And the high-quality urban development requires planning guidance, innovation driven, City-Industry integration, Green and Low-carbon.Mr. Sheng Yuechun, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Wuhan Municipal Committee and Mayor of Wuhan, committed that Wuhan is a technology Innovation Center, which take the reform as the driving force to promote the high-quality development and efficient governance. Two Initiatives were released during the plenary session, which are the Belt and Road 20 Cities Sustainable Development Initiative by Mr. Gao Guoli, Director General of the China Center for Urban Development, and the Wuhan Initiative on Resilient Cities of the Belt and Road Sustainable Cities Alliance by Chen Jinchao, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Wuhan Municipal Committee and Vice Mayor of Wuhan Municipal People’s Government. Five parallel sessions were held focusing on People-Centered Approach to Advancing Resilient and Low-Carbon Urban Development, Innovation-Driven Development of New Quality Productive Forces, Digital Economy and Smart Urban Governance, Win-Win Cooperation for an Open Economy & The Belt and Road Sustainable Cities Alliance Roundtable and Leverage Green Finance to Promote Sustainable Urban Development. Participants actively exchanged innovative practices in sustainable urban development, shared experiences in modern urban governance, and discussed approaches to advancing high-quality sustainable urban development. Over 400 representatives from cities along the Belt and Road, international organizations, renowned experts and scholars, and domestic and foreign enterprises attended the forum.
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Press Release
21 October 2024
UN-Habitat 'Future Cities Advisory Outlook 2024' Report Final Expert Group Meeting Held in Ordos, Focusing on Digital Urban Governance
The meeting was chaired by Ying Sheng, National Officer of the UN-Habitat China Office. In his welcome address, Jirimutu, Deputy Mayor of Ordos, stated that Ordos is committed to building an ecological, smart, and inclusive "World Warm City". In recent years, the city has continuously accelerated the overall digital layout of the "Warm City", connecting application scenarios and enhancing urban governance efficiency, using digital urban governance to help create a "national first-class city image".Oddy Angelo, Special Representative of the Regional Representative of UN-Habitat Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, emphasized the challenges facing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) while pointing out the opportunities brought by digital urban governance. She stated that through innovation, collaboration, and commitment to sustainability, we can create smarter, more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable cities.Zhang Zhenshan, Habitat Programme Manager for China of UN-Habitat, noted that China has completed rapid urbanization in a short period, with digital technology playing a key role in addressing urban development issues. He emphasized that technology itself is not the goal; the real objective is to improve urban governance and citizens' quality of life through technology. China's experience may have important reference value for other developing countries.At the meeting, expert group members Professor Wu Jiannan from Shanghai Jiaotong University, Liao Yunfa from China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, and Han Boyang representing Shen Jianguang from JD Group, discussed in depth the background, technology landscape, and implementation roadmap of digital urban governance. Representatives from various cities and enterprises shared excellent practical cases of digital innovation in urban ecological governance, medical efficiency optimization, transportation convenience, and improvement of public service quality.The delegates also conducted field visits to Ordos' "vehicle-road-cloud integration" autonomous driving pilot section, "Duoduo Ping" platform, "Root Database" platform, BOE Ordos Photoelectric Technology Industrial Park, and Ordos Smart Sports Park to gain an in-depth understanding of local smart city and digital innovation practices.It is reported that the 'Future Cities Advisory Outlook 2024: Digital Urban Governance' report is scheduled to be launched at the 12th World Urban Forum in November this year. The successful convening of this conference has provided valuable practical experience and professional insights for the final refinement of the report, fully demonstrating China's innovative achievements in the field of digital urban governance. This report aims to promote the digital governance process of global cities, contribute Chinese wisdom to the realization of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and ‘New Urban Agenda’, and has important reference value for promoting smart city development worldwide.
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