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

Abstract

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.

International donations to the Ebola virus outbreak: too little, too late?

“…11 12 The global health activities of these non-traditional donors are less well known, but China is an increasingly important donor in Africa. 13 Private sources have also been major contributors to the outbreak-for example, Paul Allen, the cofounder of Microsoft, made substantial donations.…”

China’s engagement with development assistance for health in Africa

“…While donations from developed countries to less developed countries have stagnated in recent years, aid flows from emerging economies such as Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) are playing an increasingly crucial role in global health development [4]. For example, China increased its contribution to global health assistance by $3 billion USD between 2000 and 2012 [5]. Meanwhile net official development assistance received by China decreased from 0.12% of China’s Gross National Input (GNI) in 2001 to 0.01% in 2010 [6].…”

Rise of a new superpower: health and China’s global trade ambitions

“…China invested at least $3bn in some 255 health, population, and water and sanitation projects in Africa between 2000 and 2012. 33 According to Chinese data, the nation helped build 30 hospitals and 30 malaria centres in Africa, and by 2014 had trained more than 3000 African healthcare workers. 34 Chinese policy makers have learnt about the soft power potential of health assistance from the US model, Kaufman said.…”