China’s Development Finance to Africa: A Media-Based Approach to Data Collection

How big is China’s aid to Africa? Does it complement or undermine the efforts of traditional donors? China releases little information and outside estimates of the size and nature of Chinese aid vary widely. In an effort to overcome this problem, AidData has compiled a database of thousands of media reports on Chinese-backed projects in Africa from 2000-2011. The database includes information on 1,673 projects in 51 African countries, and $75 billion in commitments of official finance.

The Center for Global Development will be releasing a working paper based on the AidData efforts that describes the new database methodology, key findings, and possible applications and limitations of the data, which is being made publicly available for the first time. The paper and database offer a new toolset for researchers, policymakers, journalists, and civil society organizations working to understand China’s growing role in Africa.

Please RSVP to join AidData, the Center for Global Development, and Development Gateway for a panel discussion of the report and its findings moderated by Lawrence MacDonald, Vice President, Communications and Policy Outreach, Center for Global Development, and including:

• Andreas Fuchs, Post-doctoral Fellow, Princeton University
• Brad Parks, Executive Director, AidData
• Vijaya Ramachandran, Senior Fellow, Center for Global Development
• Yan Wang, Former Senior Economist, World Bank, Member, OECD-DAC China Study Group

China’s Development Finance to Africa Monday, April 29, 2013, 4-5:30pm, Reception to follow Center for Global Development First Floor Conference Center 1800 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Washington, District of Columbia 20036

Please RSVP as space is limited.