Experts urge further cooperation among NGOs in Lancang-Mekong region

Under the topic of the relationship between Lancang-Mekong cooperation and mass communication, Ma Shengrong, former executive vice president and executive deputy editor, Xinhua News Agency said that in term of being more influential in the region, the NGOs should take three aspects about mass communication into consideration; the theme and methods of communication, the communication effects and the analysis of the target audience.

Ma said "the communication should not be simplified but diversified. We should change the one-way promotion to dialogue, and express ourselves dynamically instead of forming stereotypes.”

On the parallel forum about poverty alleviation and social development, held the next morning, when sharing the projects done in the different local communities, Phonsaona Phutthaluck, Project Manager, World Vision Laos introduced the transformational development model, which is a cycle of building relationship, mobilizing local people, strengthening ties and forming the network.

He said besides taking the cycle as the guidance, the NGOs can let the communities take the initiative in deciding the project contents. "We offered a small amount of money to the community and invite them to decide what they want to do with the money.”

Ma Yusheng, specialist from Gansu Xing Bang Social Work Service Center focused on education and poverty alleviation projects carried out by social workers in poor rural areas in the northwest region. "Social workers supporting education and poverty alleviation should enhance the ability of actively linking resources from various directions to achieve efficient support."

Ma Dingping, secretary general, Chongqing Renewable Energy Society, discussed photovoltaic poverty alleviation projects in Chongqing on a panel of green development and climate change. He suggested that NGOs can increase the project relevance with the national strategies and green industries, such as the green development of the Belt and Road Initiative and the renewable energy industry.

At the closing ceremony, Zhao Daxing, vice-chairman and executive director, China Association for NGO Cooperation, said the conference is a part of the cooperation platform, the ending of which is also the beginning of more and deeper interaction among the NGOs under the Lancang-Mekong cooperation framework in the near future.