Public Policy Dialogue Fund

Project description

Title: Public Policy Dialogue Fund
Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Country: China
Lead executing agency: Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM)
Overall term: 2010 to 2018

Context

China has grown to become the world’s second-largest economy within just a few decades, reflecting the rapid development that has taken place in the country. In the process, millions of people have been lifted from poverty and large sections of the population have moved from rural areas to towns and cities. The understanding of Sino-German development cooperation has changed as a result of this economic and social development: the emphasis has shifted from a North-South alignment and a donor-recipient relationship to an international cooperation arrangement and partnership that serves each country’s interests and is mutually beneficial.

However, despite the considerable progress China has made, the end of conventional development cooperation should not hide the fact that the country currently faces enormous challenges. There are pressing issues which need to be resolved. For instance, how can urbanisation in China be made sustainable? How can society be prevented from splitting into the winners and losers of growth? As China continues its integration into the global economy, which reform measures should be prioritised? How does the country deal with people with disabilities?

Germany wishes to assist its strategic partner in implementing the required national reforms. Since this endeavour is increasingly linked to German interests, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) set up the Public Policy Dialogue Fund in December 2010 to support the new cooperation guidelines.

Objective

The Public Policy Dialogue Fund helps to improve the Sino-German policy dialogues on global, regional and national issues and supports economic and social reform measures in China.

Approach

The project is implemented through individual measures which are not restricted to any specific thematic area. China’s Ministry of Commerce and BMZ decide jointly on the topics to be addressed in accordance with the bilateral cooperation priorities set between the two countries.

Results

During the last four years, seven individual measures have been successfully implemented with Chinese partners:

  1. Demographic Challenges and Social Cohesion; project partner: National Population and Family Planning Commission (NPFPC)
  2. Vertical Administrative Reform; from January 2012 to March 2013, with the Chinese Academy of Governance (CAG)
  3. Building Trust in Local Governments; from March 2012 to October 2013, with the Shanghai Development Research Center (SDRC)
  4. Government Procurement of Public Services from Social Groups; from September 2012 to December 2013, with the Ministry of Civil Affairs (MCA)
  5. Public Participation in the Reallocation of Land; from December 2012 to December 2013, with the Ministry of Land and Resources (MLR)
  6. Integrating the New Generation of Migrants into Society; from January 2013 to August 2014, with the NPFPC and its successor organisation the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC)
  7. Sino-German Mayor’s Dialogue on Urban Transformation, Structural Change and Sustainable Urban Development from September 2013 to December 2014, with the Chinese Association of Mayors (CAM).

At the core of the work carried out by the Public Policy Dialogue Fund is the processing of projects within the context of dialogue-based formats such as workshops, symposia, study visits and fact-finding missions. The Public Policy Dialogue Fund acts as an intermediary between the two nations which brings together representatives from ministries and technical and research institutions from China and Germany.