China, People's Republic of : Policy and Social Work Services for Vulnerable Children

Education / Education sector development - social protection initiatives

Public sector management / Social protection initiatives

The Government of the People's Republic of China (PRC) has requested support to improve the response to the needs of vulnerable children through support from social workers in the provision of services to vulnerable children. The proposed knowledge and support technical assistance (TA) will support the Ministry of Civil Affairs (MOCA) to develop policy recommendations which will strengthen social work services for vulnerable children through (i) research on international experience, (ii) development of guidelines for service standards, and (iii) training requirements for social workers. This will help improve the social protection system for vulnerable children and ensure that their needs are better met.

The TA is aligned with the Asian Development Bank's country partnership strategy for the PRC, 2016-2020 and the Social Protection Operational Plan 20142020 and is included in the PRC country operations business plan, 20172019. The TA is also aligned with the PRC Thirteenth Five-Year Plan which states that there will be sustained commitment to 'provide care, psychological counseling, and other services for children in need_ in addition to 'providing special care for left-behind children in rural areas._

The PRC has been experiencing rapid demographic and social change as a result of economic growth over the last three decades. The shift from a centrally-planned to market-based economy in 1978, led to rapid economic and social development with gross domestic product (GDP) growth averaging at nearly 10% every year, and pulling nearly 800 million people out of poverty. This rapid growth has, however, brought with it a set of challenges and new vulnerabilities, including increased inequality, pockets of persistent poverty, and changing family structures driven in part by rapid urbanization, internal migration, and industrialization. One vulnerability due to economic growth, particular to the PRC, is as consequence of rural-urban migration and the hukou system, of children who are left behind in rural areas by parents in search of better employment opportunities. Despite significant reductions in their numbers over the past few years, this is still a substantial number of children.

Unbalanced economic growth has created a group of children who are vulnerable due to poverty, disability, special needs, or failing parental care. In the PRC Thirteenth Five-Year Plan, the PRC has outlined plans to promote better care and protection for vulnerable children 'living in difficulties._ This is defined as children left behind by parents, those living in poverty, those living with disability, orphans, and children without parental care. Most recently, in 2016, PRC State Council Order No. 36: Opinions on Strengthening the Guarantee for Destitute Children which outlined the need for social work to help rehabilitate and improve the lives of vulnerable children. Vulnerable children have special needs and may be neglected for a number of social, political, and economic reasons. The purpose of this TA is to help MOCA develop the necessary policies and social work system which will be able to support vulnerable children across all of the categories adduced above, to ensure their well-being and opportunities in society.

Policy environment for social work services for vulnerable children strengthened

Social work system for vulnerable children strengthened

Policy recommendations and operational guidelines on strengthening social work services for vulnerable children developed

Assessment report of potential IT system and database prepared

Awareness of social work services for vulnerable children enhanced