China's provincial diplomacy to Africa: applications to health cooperation

Shen, Gordon C; Fan, Victoria Y.

doi:10.1080/13569775.2014.907993

Cited by 18 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 58 publications

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“…Despite the difficulty of valuing in-kind projects, the costs per unit of health service delivered financed by China’s national and provincial governments is likely lower compared to traditional western donors [ 30 ]. For example, the cost of paying the salary of a doctor originating from China and supported by his or her given Chinese provincial government dispatched to a given African country as part of a Chinese medical team is certainly lower than the cost of paying an international NGO’s doctor salary supported by a Western Government.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

China’s role as a global health donor in Africa: what can we learn from studying under reported resource flows?

et al. 2014

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BackgroundThere is a growing recognition of China’s role as a global health donor, in particular in Africa, but there have been few systematic studies of the level, destination, trends, or composition of these development finance flows or a comparison of China’s engagement as a donor with that of more traditional global health donors.MethodsUsing newly released data from AidData on China’s development finance activities in Africa, developed to track under reported resource flows, we identified 255 health, population, water, and sanitation (HPWS) projects from 2000–2012, which we descriptively analyze by activity sector, recipient country, project type, and planned activity. We compare China’s activities to projects from traditional donors using data from the OECD’s Development Assistance Committee (DAC) Creditor Reporting System.ResultsSince 2000, China increased the number of HPWS projects it supported in Africa and health has increased as a development priority for China. China’s contributions are large, ranking it among the top 10 bilateral global health donors to Africa. Over 50% of the HPWS projects target infrastructure, 40% target human resource development, and the provision of equipment and drugs is also common. Malaria is an important disease priority but HIV is not. We find little evidence that China targets health aid preferentially to natural resource rich countries.ConclusionsChina is an important global health donor to Africa but contrasts with traditional DAC donors through China’s focus on health system inputs and on malaria. Although better data are needed, particularly through more transparent aid data reporting across ministries and agencies, China’s approach to South-South cooperation represents an important and distinct source of financial assistance for health in Africa.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

China’s role as a global health donor in Africa: what can we learn from studying under reported resource flows?

et al. 2014

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“…Furthermore, competition within the Chinese government ministries and at provincial levels further undermines the overall cohesion and coordination of China's aid [12]. For example, individual provincial Chinese governments are designated to provide specific African countries with medical teams, thus, this results in the allocation of different levels of resources to health projects based on provincial interest and their local capacity [13]. This has resulted in variations in the quantity and quality of the assistance provided to recipient African countries [14].…”

Section: Policy and Mechanismsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Concerns have been raised regarding this claim indicating that the vision of a democratic Africa where human rights are respected is challenged by China's approach, particularly with its growing influence in the continent [21]. Some have noted that China legitimizes and encourages Africa's most repressive regimes, which leads to enabling weak and failed states [13]. Critics have also expressed concern that despite its stated approach of "no strings attached", China has its own expectations from recipient countries, including diplomatic loyalty on issues such as Taiwan, Tibet and the status of the Uyghur people [15].…”

Section: China's Approach To Aid: Altruism or Opportunismmentioning

confidence: 99%

China’s health assistance to Africa: opportunism or altruism?

et al. 2016

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China has made substantial health commitments to Africa in the past several decades. However, while much has been written regarding China-Africa aid overall, relatively little attention has been given to China’s health aid. To better understand these investments, we provide an overview of the current framework and characteristics of China’s health aid to Africa. China’s health assistance has been perceived by some as opportunistic, largely as a demonstration of China’s engagement in “soft power” and an attempt to enhance its access to natural resources and political favors by African countries. Others have attributed altruistic intent, aiming to support the advancement of the health of populations in the African continent with a “no strings attached” approach. Our overview demonstrated that despite the magnitude of China’s health assistance, many questions remain regarding the scope of this aid, its effectiveness and the governance mechanisms that guide the conceptualization and implementation of such efforts. We also identified the need for a systematic and rigorous evaluation of the various elements of China’s health assistance to African countries in order to gain a deeper understanding of how priorities and allocations for health aid are determined, how such aid fits within the specific African country’s health strategies and to assess the effectiveness of such aid. Insights garnered through such an assessment could help determine future priorities for investment as well as inform efforts to optimize the value of China's aid for the populations of the recipient countries.

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“…The UN’s sustainable development policy functions and goals coordination will be overtaken by global partnerships or other agencies to develop new international health norms and standards. [ 27 , 28 , 30 , 31 , 34 , 35 ] Ultimately, the quality and effectiveness of China-Africa health development initiatives and programs, when channeled through government and institutions partnerships, have the potential strengths in improving good governance and accountability in global health security. [ 29 , 32 - 35 ]…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

China-Africa Health Development Initiatives: Benefits and Implications for Shaping Innovative and Evidence-informed National Health Policies and Programs in Sub-saharan African Countries

Tambo

Ugwu

Guan³

et al. 2016

Int. J. MCH AIDS

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Background and Introduction:This review paper examines the growing implications of China’s engagement in shaping innovative national initiatives against infectious diseases and poverty control and elimination in African countries. It seeks to understand the factors and enhancers that can promote mutual and innovative health development initiatives, and those that are necessary in generating reliable and quality data for evidence-based contextual policy, priorities and programs.Methods:We examined the China-Africa health cooperation in supporting global health agenda on infectious diseases such as malaria, schistosomiasis, Ebola, TB, HIV/AIDS, neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) prevention, control and elimination spanning a period of 10 years. We reviewed referenced publications, global support data, and extensive sources related to and other emerging epidemics and infectious diseases of poverty, programs and interventions, health systems development issues, challenges, opportunities and investments. Published literature in PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, Books and web-based peer-reviewed journal articles, government annual reports were assessed from the first Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in November 2006 to December 2015 Third Ministerial conferences.Results:Our findings highlight current shared public health challenges and emphasize the need to nurture, develop and establish effective, functional and sustainable health systems capacity to detect and respond to all public health threats and epidemic burdens, evidence-based programs and quality care outcomes. China’s significant health diplomacy emphasizes the importance of health financing in establishing health development commitment and investment in improving the gains and opportunities, importantly efficiency and value health priorities and planning.Conclusions and Global Health Implications:Strengthening China-Africa health development agenda towards collective commitment and investment in quality care delivery, effective programs coverage and efficiency, preparedness and emergency response is needed in transforming African health information systems, and local health governance structures and management in emerging epidemics. Furthermore, innovative evidence of operational joint solutions and strategies are critical in advancing healthcare delivery, and further enhancing Universal Health Care, and Sustainable Development Goals to attain global health improvements and economic prosperity.

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China's provincial diplomacy to Africa: applications to health cooperation

Cited by 18 publications

References 58 publications

China’s role as a global health donor in Africa: what can we learn from studying under reported resource flows?

China’s role as a global health donor in Africa: what can we learn from studying under reported resource flows?

China’s health assistance to Africa: opportunism or altruism?

China-Africa Health Development Initiatives: Benefits and Implications for Shaping Innovative and Evidence-informed National Health Policies and Programs in Sub-saharan African Countries

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