CONNECTING: African NGO reps network in China (CHEN FEI)

Capacity building

Influential as they are, African NGOs are still haunted by many problems, one of which is that they lack technological support and find sustainable development difficult. There is a common perception that assistance to African NGOs is mainly financial aid. However, Buddy Buruku, Policy Advisor of African Center for Economic Transformation (ACET) in Ghana, noted, "Technical assistance is key." She said perhaps one of the challenges Chinese NGOs are facing is that even if they want to get involved in helping African countries, they may not have a clear channel of information of what African countries need.

"There's need for greater capacity building," Buruku said.

In recognition of the importance of capacity building, China has been increasing its efforts in providing technical assistance to African countries as evidenced by the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) pledge to build 100 clean energy projects for Africa and carry out 100 joint demonstration projects with Africa on scientific and technological research.

Johanna Cloete, Vice Chairperson of Namibia Non-Governmental Organisations' Forum Trust, said she hoped such capacity-building assistance could be sustainable and that Chinese NGOs can provide long-term and stable assistance, "because you can not establish a proper entity or service within one year," Cloete said.