Phenomenon of China’s poverty alleviation campaign – Latest news from Azerbaijan

Report on China’s Poverty Alleviation Strategy and its Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

1.0 Introduction: A Milestone in Achieving SDG 1

In February 2021, the People’s Republic of China announced the eradication of absolute poverty, a significant achievement in the context of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 1 (No Poverty). Over a period of four decades, this national strategy successfully lifted more than 800 million people from conditions of extreme poverty. This report provides an analytical overview of China’s multidimensional poverty alleviation model, examining its strategic evolution and its direct contributions to multiple SDGs. A central focus is the transformation of human capital, which empowered individuals in remote and rural areas to become skilled workers, entrepreneurs, and active participants in a modern economy.

2.0 Strategic Evolution: A Phased Approach to Eradicating Poverty

China’s poverty alleviation efforts evolved through four distinct stages, shifting from broad economic reforms to highly targeted, individual-level interventions.

1. Phase 1: Mass Poverty Reduction through Economic Growth (1978–1985)

   Driven by the “reform and opening-up” policy, this initial phase focused on macro-economic changes. The de-collectivization of agriculture and the introduction of the household responsibility system significantly increased agricultural productivity and rural incomes. This approach, while effective in halving the number of rural poor from 250 million to 125 million, primarily relied on the benefits of general economic growth.

   • SDG Alignment: This phase directly addressed SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) by empowering farmers and increasing food production.

2. Phase 2: Institutionalized Program-Based Development (1986–2000)

   Recognizing the limits of growth-driven poverty reduction, the government established the State Council Leading Group on Poverty Alleviation and Development. The strategy shifted to planned interventions, identifying “national key poverty counties” to receive targeted funding for infrastructure and development projects. This institutionalized the national effort but often resulted in dispersed aid within designated regions.

   • SDG Alignment: This stage emphasized building foundational infrastructure, contributing to SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), and established the governmental framework necessary for SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

3. Phase 3: Refined Targeting at Village and Household Levels (2001–2012)

   The strategy was further refined to address disparities within poor counties. The focus narrowed from counties to “key poor villages” and individual households. Specialized programs, including ecological relocation, vocational training, and microcredit, were introduced to provide more direct support.

   • SDG Alignment: By focusing on the most disadvantaged villages and households, this phase began to more directly tackle SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).

4. Phase 4: Targeted (Precision) Poverty Alleviation (2013–2021)

   This final phase implemented the concept of “Targeted Poverty Alleviation,” shifting the focus from regions to specific households and individuals. A comprehensive identification mechanism was deployed, with officials creating individualized poverty alleviation plans based on specific needs, such as lack of skills, illness, or poor infrastructure. This data-driven approach made poverty reduction a key performance indicator for local officials.

   • SDG Alignment: This holistic approach integrated multiple SDGs, creating tailored solutions that simultaneously addressed poverty, education, health, and economic opportunity.

3.0 The Five Pillars of the Precision Poverty Alleviation Strategy

The success of the final phase was based on a combination of five core measures, which were flexibly applied to address local conditions and contribute to various SDGs.

3.1 Development of Localized Industries for Sustainable Livelihoods

The strategy prioritized creating sustainable, market-oriented income sources over direct subsidies. This involved identifying and developing niche local industries.

• Contribution to SDGs: This pillar is a direct implementation of SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and supports SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) by promoting sustainable agriculture and diversifying rural economies.
• Case Study: In Shiqu County, Hunan Province, the cultivation of oil camellia was promoted. Households received training and were organized into cooperatives, transforming a local crop into a nationally recognized brand and creating sustainable incomes.

3.2 Eco-Compensation: Integrating Poverty Alleviation with Environmental Stewardship

This program addressed the conflict between development and environmental protection by employing impoverished individuals as salaried environmental guardians.

• Contribution to SDGs: This innovative model directly advances SDG 15 (Life on Land) and SDG 13 (Climate Action) while providing stable employment, thus contributing to SDG 1 (No Poverty).
• Case Study: In Yunnan Province, over one million people from poor households were hired as forest rangers and ecological inspectors, receiving an annual income that lifted their families out of poverty while protecting local ecosystems.

3.3 Large-Scale Relocation for Sustainable Communities

Approximately 9.6 million people were relocated from remote, inhospitable areas to newly constructed settlements with modern amenities and economic opportunities.

• Contribution to SDGs: This ambitious initiative directly supports SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by providing access to safe housing, basic services, and infrastructure.
• Case Study: In Mingyue Village, Ningxia, families were moved from barren mountains to a new settlement with modern housing, a school, and a clinic. The relocation was coupled with vocational training and the development of a local industrial park, ensuring a transition to new livelihoods.

3.4 Universal Education and Vocational Training for Human Capital Development

To break the intergenerational cycle of poverty, significant investments were made in education and skills development through a “Training + Employment” model.

• Contribution to SDGs: This pillar is central to achieving SDG 4 (Quality Education) and is a prerequisite for SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), equipping individuals with the skills needed for higher-paying jobs.
• Examples: Government-funded programs enabled rural residents to become certified welders, long-haul truck drivers, and IT specialists, facilitating their entry into modern sectors of the economy.

3.5 Digitalization and E-commerce to Bridge the Rural-Urban Divide

The “E-commerce in Villages” program utilized digital technology to connect small-scale rural producers directly with national consumer markets, bypassing traditional intermediaries.

• Contribution to SDGs: This initiative leverages technology to advance SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) and helps reduce the economic gap between rural and urban areas, supporting SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).
• Case Study: An e-commerce cooperative in Yiyang County, Hubei Province, enabled local farmers to sell processed sweet potato products nationwide via online platforms, increasing local incomes and creating new jobs.

4.0 Outcomes, Challenges, and Long-Term Implications

4.1 Tangible Outcomes and Contributions to SDGs

• Infrastructure Development (SDG 9): Over 1.1 million km of rural roads were constructed or upgraded, and universal access to electricity, fiber-optic internet, and 4G networks was achieved in villages.
• Social Security Expansion (SDG 1, SDG 3): Medical insurance coverage exceeded 95% of the population, and the “dibao” minimum income guarantee program was extended to all who qualified.
• Managed Demographic Shifts (SDG 11): The program provided rural populations with a genuine choice between remaining in revitalized villages or moving to urban centers with newly acquired skills.

4.2 Ongoing Challenges and Future Directions

• Risk of Relapse: Many households remain vulnerable to economic shocks, requiring dynamic monitoring systems to prevent a return to poverty.
• Relative Poverty: Addressing the significant income gap between urban and rural areas remains a primary challenge, directly related to SDG 10.
• Economic Sustainability: The long-term market competitiveness of many subsidized local industries must be secured to ensure progress aligns with SDG 8.
• Debt Burden: The fiscal sustainability of local governments that undertook massive infrastructure spending requires careful management.

4.3 Conclusion: A Development Paradigm for Global Goals

China’s poverty alleviation model demonstrates a state-led, systemic approach to transforming human capital as a core driver of sustainable development. By integrating economic growth with targeted social interventions, infrastructure development, and environmental protection, the strategy offers a comprehensive framework for achieving the SDGs. The transformation of millions of individuals into skilled, economically active citizens has created a new social reality and a foundation for the nation’s next goal of achieving “common prosperity.” While the model’s specific political context is unique, its core principles—including precision targeting, human capital investment, and the use of digital tools—provide valuable insights for other nations pursuing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 1: No Poverty

  This is the central theme of the article. The entire text is dedicated to analyzing China’s strategy for the “complete eradication of absolute poverty,” which directly aligns with the primary goal of SDG 1.

• SDG 4: Quality Education

  The article emphasizes the “transformation of human capital” as a critical component of the strategy. It highlights “Universal education and vocational training” as one of the five pillars, mentioning state-funded courses in agronomy, welding, logistics, and IT to break the intergenerational cycle of poverty.

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  The strategy focuses on creating sustainable income sources through the “Development of localized industries” and market integration. Case studies show former farmers becoming skilled workers, entrepreneurs, and technical specialists, leading to significant income increases and achieving productive employment.

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

  The article details a massive “Infrastructure boom,” including the construction of rural roads, and ensuring universal village access to electricity, fiber-optic internet, and 4G. This infrastructure was crucial for connecting remote areas to markets, particularly through the “E-commerce in Villages” program.

• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

  While celebrating the victory over absolute poverty, the article acknowledges the ongoing challenge of “Relative poverty,” specifically the “vast gap between urban and rural incomes.” The entire poverty alleviation strategy, by focusing on the most disadvantaged regions and populations, is an effort to reduce these inequalities.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The pillar of “Large-scale relocation” is directly related to this goal. The article describes moving 9.6 million people from “uninhabitable zones” to new, planned settlements complete with modern housing, schools, clinics, and basic services, aiming to create safe and sustainable living conditions.

• SDG 15: Life on Land

  The “Eco-compensation” program is a direct link to this SDG. It describes how over a million people from poor households were employed as “forest rangers and ecological inspectors,” transforming them into “custodians of ecosystems” and linking poverty alleviation with environmental stewardship and the protection of terrestrial ecosystems.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 1.1: Eradicate extreme poverty

   The article’s main announcement that “In February 2021, China announced the complete eradication of absolute poverty” and that “Over four decades, more than 800 million people were lifted out of extreme poverty” is a direct claim of achieving this target.

2. Target 1.3: Implement nationally appropriate social protection systems

   The article mentions the expansion of social safety nets, stating that “Medical insurance now covers over 95% of the population; the ‘dibao’ minimum income program reached the final 10 million in need,” which are key components of social protection systems.

3. Target 4.4: Increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills for employment

   The focus on “vocational training” is a core part of the strategy. The article provides multiple examples, such as “free government welding courses,” training to become a “long-haul truck driver,” and “accelerated IT courses,” all aimed at equipping people with skills for better-paid jobs.

4. Target 8.5: Achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all

   The strategy aimed to move beyond subsidies to create sustainable jobs. Examples include creating cooperatives for cash crops, employing over 1 million people as forest rangers, and building industrial parks near relocated communities to provide jobs in textiles and electronics.

5. Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure

   The article explicitly states that a tangible result was an “Infrastructure boom,” which included building or repairing “Over 1.1 million km of rural roads” to connect isolated regions.

6. Target 9.c: Significantly increase access to information and communications technology

   This target is addressed by the finding that “100% of villages gained access to electricity, fiber-optic internet, and 4G.” This digital infrastructure enabled programs like “E-commerce in Villages.”

7. Target 10.1: Sustain income growth of the bottom 40 percent

   The entire “Targeted (Precision) Poverty Alleviation” strategy, which focuses on specific households and individuals in the poorest regions, is designed to raise the incomes of the lowest earners at a faster rate than the national average. The article provides individual examples of dramatic income growth, such as a farmer’s income rising from “under 3,000 yuan to 50,000 yuan.”

8. Target 11.1: Ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services

   The “Large-scale relocation” of 9.6 million people involved building new settlements with “two-story houses, a school, a clinic, and a supermarket,” directly addressing the need for adequate housing and access to basic services for populations previously living in “barren mountains without paved roads.”

9. Target 15.2: Promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests

   The “Eco-compensation” program, which employed “Over 1 million people from poor households… as forest rangers and ecological inspectors,” is a direct implementation of this target, linking poverty reduction with the active protection and management of forest ecosystems.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article provides several quantitative and qualitative indicators:

• For Target 1.1 (Eradicate poverty):

  The primary indicator is the “800 million people… lifted out of extreme poverty” over four decades, culminating in the “complete eradication of absolute poverty” in 2021.

• For Target 1.3 (Social protection):

  Indicators include “Medical insurance now covers over 95% of the population” and the “‘dibao’ minimum income program reached the final 10 million in need.”

• For Target 4.4 (Vocational skills):

  While no aggregate number of trainees is given, the article implies progress through case studies of individuals completing courses and securing high-paying jobs (e.g., a welder earning “7,000–8,000 yuan monthly”). The existence of programs like “Employment through vocational training” is a qualitative indicator of policy implementation.

• For Target 9.1 (Infrastructure):

  A clear indicator is that “Over 1.1 million km of rural roads were built or repaired.”

• For Target 9.c (ICT access):

  The indicator is that “100% of villages gained access to… fiber-optic internet, and 4G.”

• For Target 11.1 (Housing and basic services):

  The key indicator is the “relocation of 9.6 million people from uninhabitable zones” into new, fully serviced communities.

• For Target 15.2 (Forest management):

  A specific indicator is that “Over 1 million people from poor households were employed as forest rangers and ecological inspectors.”

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article.

Source: news.az