Adopting China’s targeted poverty alleviation model: Lessons for Ghana and Africa

Poverty poses a significant threat to human development, prompting action from governments, international organisations, and development partners worldwide.

In 2015, the global community, under the auspices of the United Nations (UN), adopted Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development, aiming to eradicate extreme poverty by 2030.

While many developing countries are still striving to meet this ambitious target, China achieved it a decade early, in 2020. The World Bank has hailed China’s achievement in reducing extreme poverty as historically unprecedented.

The secret behind China’s remarkable success lies in its targeted approaches, which can serve as a beacon of hope and a source of valuable insights for Ghana and other African countries.

With accurate precision targeting, customized programs, and efficient resource allocation, China’s poverty alleviation model offers a blueprint for transforming the lives of the most disadvantaged individuals across Africa.

Intrigued by China’s success story, the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) in Ghana embarked on a mission to understand the strategies behind this achievement. With funding from the Chinese Embassy, the IEA conducted research and pilot projects in three selected communities.

This initiative aims to uncover the strategies behind China’s remarkable progress and explore how these lessons can be applied to other developing nations, including those in Africa.

Understanding China’s Targeted Poverty Alleviation Model

This article aims to educate the public, government officials, local government agencies, civil society, individuals, and institutions engaged in poverty alleviation about the Chinese Targeted Poverty Alleviation (TPA) model and the lessons that can be learned from it.

The Chinese TPA model is based on the government’s philosophy of putting people first. It is anchored on a robust national dataset designed to precisely identify individuals and households in need of support. This dataset efficiently analyses the geographical distribution of the poor population, identifies the causes of their poverty, and determines their specific needs.

It is calibrated to remove those wrongly identified as poor and add newly identified individuals. An important aim is to ensure efficient resource allocation and to address corruption. Another important element of the model is the continuous monitoring and evaluation of beneficiaries throughout the programme cycle.

The ultimate goal is to address five key questions in poverty alleviation:

Who Should Help?

The fight against poverty requires coordinated efforts and leadership from various levels of government. In China, this responsibility is shared among different governmental tiers, which work together to provide leadership, enforce discipline, and foster attitudinal change. Poverty is viewed as a collective enemy, necessitating collective action to effectively combat it.

Who Should Be Helped?

Accurate identification of those in need is crucial. This involves pinpointing individuals and households living in poverty, along with understanding their specific needs and the underlying causes of their poverty. By doing so, targeted programs can be designed to address these unique challenges, ensuring that assistance is both effective and efficient.

How to Help?

Effective poverty alleviation hinges on a deep understanding of the specific needs and causes of poverty. With this knowledge, tailored programs can be developed to lift individuals out of poverty.

These programs should be designed to address the root causes of poverty, providing comprehensive support that includes financial assistance, education, job training, and other essential services. This targeted approach ensures that the support provided is relevant and impactful, promoting long-term economic stability and independence.

How to Evaluate Whether Someone Has Emerged from Poverty?

To determine if individuals or households have successfully emerged from poverty, a comprehensive screening process is employed. This process assesses various indicators of economic stability and self-sufficiency. Once individuals or households pass this screening, they are granted a five-year grace period during which they continue to receive program support. This period is crucial to ensure their status remains secure and to prevent any regression into poverty.

How to Ensure That Those Who Emerge from Poverty Stay Free from Poverty?

The primary goal is to provide a smooth transition from the poverty alleviation program while offering continuous support to ensure long-term stability. This involves implementing measures such as ongoing financial assistance, access to education and job training, and support services tailored to individual needs.

By maintaining a robust support system, the risk of individuals or households falling back into poverty is significantly reduced, promoting sustained economic independence and well-being.

Lessons for Ghana and Africa

Ghana and other African countries can leverage advanced data collection methods, such as geographic information systems (GIS) and mobile data collection to create comprehensive poverty maps, allowing for the accurate identification of vulnerable populations. By enhancing data collection processes and technology infrastructure, Ghana and other African countries can effectively direct resources to those who are most in need, steering clear of inefficient blanket approaches.

As outlined above, a key factor contributing to China’s success in poverty alleviation is the implementation of tailored programs that cater to the unique needs of targeted groups. To replicate this success, Ghana and African countries can develop and implement interventions that are specifically tailored to local conditions, cultural contexts, and the diverse challenges faced by different communities.

For instance, in agricultural support programs, tailoring interventions to the specific crops and farming practices of local regions can significantly enhance the effectiveness of poverty reduction efforts. Similarly, urban poverty programs could focus on providing tailored skills training and employment opportunities relevant to the specific needs of city dwellers.

Efficient resource allocation is a pivotal aspect of China’s poverty alleviation model. By prioritising investments in sectors with the highest potential for poverty reduction impact, such as education, healthcare, and infrastructure, China has effectively maximised the impact of its resources.

For African nations like Ghana, this means strategically focusing investments in areas that yield the highest returns in terms of poverty reduction. By directing resources towards critical sectors and initiatives, African countries can significantly enhance the quality of life for the most vulnerable populations.

Continuous monitoring and evaluation are essential components of China’s successful poverty alleviation strategy. By regularly tracking progress, identifying challenges, and making necessary adjustments to programs, China has been able to effectively address poverty. Implementing robust monitoring and evaluation systems in Ghana and throughout Africa is crucial to ensuring that poverty alleviation efforts remain on track and are adjusted based on real-time data and feedback.

This can involve setting up dedicated units within government agencies to oversee the implementation and impact of poverty reduction initiatives. By collecting and analysing data on an ongoing basis, policymakers can make informed decisions to optimise the impact of poverty alleviation programs.

An essential component of China’s poverty alleviation model is the active engagement of the central government, local governments and communities in the planning and execution of poverty alleviation programs.

This approach ensures that interventions are relevant and sustainable, as local stakeholders have a deep understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities within their communities. For Ghana and other African countries, engaging local governments and communities can significantly enhance the effectiveness of poverty alleviation efforts.

This can be achieved through participatory planning processes that involve local leaders, community members, and stakeholders to ensure that programmes are tailored to meet the specific needs of each community. Furthermore, capacity-building initiatives for local officials and fostering community ownership of development projects can further bolster the long-term success and sustainability of poverty reduction efforts.

Conclusion

China’s TPA model offers valuable insights that can be adapted to the unique contexts of African nations. By focusing on precision targeting, tailored programs, and efficient resource allocation, African nations can significantly enhance their poverty reduction strategies. These strategies can be further complemented by strong political will and community involvement.

To ensure successful adoption, African nations can study the various components of China’s poverty alleviation model and tailor them to fit the specific needs, challenges, and opportunities within their own countries. By incorporating these practices, coupled with robust political commitment and active community engagement, African nations can pave the way for a more prosperous and equitable future for all their citizens.

The writer is a Governance Fellow, IEA