NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

Friday, June 3, 2005

The World Bank yesterday launched the China Development Marketplace (DM), a programme to identify and support innovative development ideas which can be expanded or replicated in China.

The project is in partnership with the State Council Leading Group Office for Poverty Reduction and Development (LGOP) and the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

Country-level Development Marketplaces (CDMs) are “mini marketplaces” for innovative ideas that address local development challenges.

They consist of a competitive process that awards small grants to social innovators, and a knowledge forum to share ideas and provide networking opportunities.

The China DM, which is scheduled to take place on December 7 and 8 this year, will be the first country-level competition among Chinese organizations.

It has chosen as its theme “Supporting Innovations for Scaling-Up Services that Reach the Poor”, reflecting the joint efforts of the World Bank and the Chinese Government to work with civil society organizations (CSOs) to fight poverty.
Story found here.