Africa -China Review Africa -China Cooperation and Transformation
By staff writer
A wall painting depicting a rural life scene attracts tourists in Shibansha village, Jiangmen city, South China’s Guangdong province, on May 10, 2019. [Photo by Jing Guomin/cpanet.org.cn]
In 2021, China made global headlines by announcing the end of extreme poverty within its borders. Over the course of eight years, nearly 100 million people were lifted out of absolute poverty, completing what the United Nations has called “the greatest poverty reduction achievement in history.” While Africa’s socio-political landscape differs significantly, China’s experience provides a rich trove of lessons. With over 400 million Africans—approximately 30% of the continent’s population—still living below the international poverty line, African leaders, policymakers, and development partners must critically examine how China tackled its poverty crisis and what can be adapted to fit the African context.
China’s poverty alleviation strategy was comprehensive, involving a mix of strong political will, targeted interventions, infrastructure investment, rural development, financial inclusion, and strict accountability mechanisms. According to the World Bank and China’s National Bureau of Statistics, from 2012 to 2020, the rural poverty headcount ratio in China fell from 10.2% to zero, with extreme poverty—defined as annual income below $600 per person—eliminated in over 800 counties.
China’s campaign was not limited to cash transfers or social welfare. It involved transforming poor regions into engines of growth. The strategy rested on five pillars: targeted poverty alleviation, industrial support, relocation from inhospitable areas, ecological compensation, and social security guarantees. These interventions were backed by digital tools, a massive mobilization of human resources, and sustained investment from both the state and private sector.
China’s anti-poverty drive was top-down, led by President Xi Jinping himself. Provincial governors, county officials, and village leaders were given clear poverty reduction targets. Failure to meet goals could mean demotion or dismissal.
While African states operate under more democratic and decentralized systems, strong leadership and clear accountability mechanisms are still essential. Rwanda offers an example. Through its Imihigo performance contracts system, public officials are held responsible for achieving development goals, including poverty reduction. Scaling such models could enhance execution and coordination.
China’s creation of the “Poverty Alleviation Information System” enabled the government to track every poor household with detailed socioeconomic data. This database was used to tailor interventions—from microloans to training—to each household’s specific needs.
Many African countries lack accurate poverty mapping. While mobile technology is widespread, data systems remain fragmented. However, efforts are underway. Kenya’s Huduma Namba digital ID system and Nigeria’s National Social Register, which now covers over 50 million people, are promising steps toward building effective databases that can support targeted programs.
In China, infrastructure was a game changer. By 2020, 98% of rural villages had access to paved roads, clean water, electricity, and broadband internet. These investments unlocked market access and reduced transaction costs for rural enterprises.
In many African countries, rural infrastructure remains underdeveloped. The African Development Bank estimates that Africa needs $130–170 billion annually in infrastructure investment. Ethiopia’s Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP) saw significant rural road expansion, boosting agriculture-led growth. Similar investments in roads, power, and ICT can have exponential effects on productivity and poverty.
Agriculture is still the backbone of African economies, employing more than 60% of the population. In China, modernization of agriculture—through improved irrigation, land rights reforms, and mechanization—played a key role. Coupled with rural industrialization (such as township and village enterprises), this diversified rural incomes.
Agricultural productivity in Africa remains low. Programs like Nigeria’s Anchor Borrowers’ Programme and Ghana’s Planting for Food and Jobs seek to provide credit and input support. However, without rural processing industries and reliable market linkages, income diversification will be limited. China’s emphasis on integrated value chains is a model worth replicating.
China issued over $450 billion in microloans to poor households between 2014 and 2020. These loans were largely interest-subsidized and often bundled with business training.
Africa leads the world in mobile money use, but credit access is still low. Only 11% of adults in Sub-Saharan Africa have borrowed from a formal institution (World Bank, 2021). Scaling microfinance, fintech platforms, and cooperative banks can empower rural entrepreneurs. In Kenya, platforms like M-Shwari and Kiva have shown how tech-driven lending can improve livelihoods.
China’s development recognized that migration from rural to urban areas was essential for economic transformation. Policies were designed to help rural workers integrate into cities while developing small towns as employment hubs.
Africa is urbanizing rapidly, with its urban population expected to double by 2040. However, many cities lack jobs and basic services. A strategy that links urban growth with skills development, affordable housing, and rural-urban economic integration—like Côte d’Ivoire’s Agropole initiative—can make migration a driver of inclusive growth.
Africa can also learn from China’s pragmatism—experimenting with pilot programs, scaling what works, and discarding what doesn’t. South-South cooperation, especially through the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), offers platforms to share best practices, technology, and resources.
China’s story proves that poverty is not destiny—it is a challenge that can be solved with the right mix of vision, policy, and persistence. While the Chinese model cannot be transplanted wholesale, it offers African countries a valuable playbook for homegrown solutions. By adapting these strategies to local realities and investing in people, Africa too can write its own success story—one village, one innovation, and one generation at a time.
