The Third Forum on Innovation and Development of China Social Organizations

The Third Forum on Innovation and Development of China Social Organizations

August 26 27, 2010 the Third Forum on Innovation and Development of China Social Organizations was held in Yinchuan, Ningxia Autonomous Region. It was part of the EU-China and UNDP Program on Governance for Equitable Development. The program is aimed at improving the partnership between Civil Society Organizations (CSO) and the government and including CSOs into social development as an important stakeholder. The Forum was mainly organized by the Ningxia Department of Civil Affairs, the China Association for Non-Profit Organization (CANPO) and supported by the ChinaInternationalCenter for Economic & Technical Exchanges, Ministry of Commerce.

After the First Forum held in Qingdao in 2008 and the Second Forum held in Heihe in 2009 this year s Third Forum discussed issues of social organizations participating in social administration and public service provision.

More than 150 participants from the Ministry, the Departments and Bureaus of Civil Affairs from all over China, but also representatives of the academia and from social organizations talked about various aspects of the relationship between government and social organizations including new development in administration and regulation, fields of services for social organizations, volunteer work and related legal provisions etc.

Two foreign guests gave an insight into the way these questions are handled abroad:

Mr. Ian Robinson of the British Council talked about the Cooperation between the British government and the third sector and Ms. Dagmar Woehlert, CANGO International Advisor gave a speech on German NGOs participate in social debates and public service .

There was a big interest especially from representatives of the Departments and Bureaus of Civil Affairs to learn more about regulations for social organizations in other countries.

The Forum will provide a reader with all the speeches for further reference.