What are the main pitfalls to be aware of when opening a programme in China?
The single most important condition for doing useful work in China is to develop good, honest and mutually respectful relationships with Chinese partners. It is therefore essential to select the right partners in the first place and avoid future misunderstandings by being clear and consistent about how you operate and how you understand the nature of the relationship. It is important to realise that whether you wish to fund work from outside, or to have a hands-on role inside China, there may be keen competition between Chinese agencies to partner with you. It is not simply that agencies will compete for the resources international NGOs may bring, although this is certainly one important factor. Foreign support often also confers status, and helps Chinese agencies to mobilise domestic funding. Moreover, some of the more sophisticated Chinese agencies recognise that although many international NGOs may have quite limited resources of their own, they can act as a conduit or magnet for mo
