Chinese Authorities To "Rate" Domestic NGOs

October 4, 2006

Ministry of Civil Affairs (MOCA) officials have announced plans to "rate" China's 289,000 NGOs, according to an August 31 Beijing News article. MOCA convened a conference of experts on August 30 to discuss the establishment of an "assessment system" for NGOs.

Ministry of Civil Affairs (MOCA) officials have announced plans to "rate" China's 289,000 NGOs, according to an August 31 Beijing News article. MOCA convened a conference of experts on August 30 to discuss the establishment of an "assessment system" for NGOs.

Experts called for increased supervision of NGOs and the elimination of those that are illegally established, according to an announcement posted on the MOCA Web site. MOCA officials noted that many NGOs are inefficient and non-transparent, and said that the new "assessment system" is aimed at ensuring their healthy development.

These moves follow increasing Chinese government scrutiny over, and restrictions on, the operations of foreign and domestic NGOs (see this analysis), and suggests that Chinese authorities may be considering whether or not to impose stricter controls on NGOs.