Community Participation in China Issues and Processes for Capacity Building

This important volume provides a source of information on the key issues, including constraints and capacity building, necessary to implement participatory approaches in China today. A wealth of case studies are provided by principal Chinese academics and practitioners in forestry, natural resource management, rural development, irrigation and poverty alleviation. At the core, the book is about strengthening local government as a key player in the development of participatory initiatives. It is an invaluable text for development practitioners, donors, researchers and students seeking to understand the opportunities and constraints for participation in China, and for those working to institutionalize participatory processes in a complex rural context.

Introduction * Part I: Understanding Community Participation in China - The Context of Community Participation in China * The Characteristics of Community Participation in China * Key Factors and Processes Affecting Participation * Part II: The Experience of Community Participation in China: The Case Studies - Enhancing Community Participations: Participatory Forestry Management in China * Building Capacity within Communities: Participatory Natural Resource Management in Southwest China * Building Government Capacity: The Collaborative Hengxian Integrated Approach to Rural Reconstruction * Participatory Resettlement: Key Issues and Processes in Resettlement in Xiaolangdi and Hexi * Participatory Irrigation Management: Promoting Community-based Water User Association in the Piyuan Canal Rehabilitation Project * Towards Sustainable Village Poverty Reduction: The Development of the Country Poverty Alleviation Planning (CPAP) Approach * Part III: Capacity Building for Enhancing Community Participation - Enhancing Local Government Capacity for Community Participation * Annex: Analysing Existing Capacity * References * Index

Janelle Plummer is Senior Institutional Development Specialist for the Water and Sanitation Program based at the World Bank, Jakarta. John G Taylor is Professor of Politics and Director of the Development Studies Programme at South Bank University, London.