China Archives

The transparency gap: Why can’t we assess the transparency of some of the world’s largest DFIs?

By Ella Remande-Guyard | Jun 11, 2025 | Blog

The forthcoming 2025 DFI Transparency Index includes most of the world’s leading bilateral and multilateral development finance institutions (DFIs). However, a group of seven bilateral DFIs with trillions of dollars in assets are not included. Why? The top line answer is that their levels of transparency are so low that no meaningful assessment is possible. This blog explores some of those unassessed DFIs, where their disclosure practices fall short, and the real world consequences of this lack of transparency.

Chinese Aid – Competition or Colonialism?

By James Coe | Oct 3, 2018 | Blog

China has repeatedly come under fire for its aid and development practices. “Negative impact”, “roll[ing] back transparency” and “unsustainable debt” are some of the terms used to describe Chinese foreign assistance by Jim Richardson, coordinator of USAID’s Transformation Task Team. He is not alone in his criticism. Ray Washbourne, President and CEO of OPIC, suggested […]

Transparency Camp & Chinese aid

By Rachel Rank | May 9, 2013 | Blog

Last week l was in Washington D.C. to attend the Sunlight Foundation’s excellent Transparency Camp and present our plans for the 2013 Index. I also had a chance to meet with some of our campaign partners, mainly to put faces to email addresses but also to share notes on our various activities in the U.S. […]

A first look at common standard implementation schedules

By Andrew Clarke | Jan 16, 2013 | Blog

Thirty-five donor organisations and governments have so far released implementation schedules for the common standard on aid information, with at least five more plans likely to be published in the coming weeks. It is encouraging that donors representing the lion’s share of global aid flows have delivered on their Busan commitment of outlining their plans […]

New Report: Chinese aid more transparent than you think

By Katie Welford | Sep 14, 2011 | News

The Chinese government publishes less data about its overseas aid spending than western donors, but more than is commonly thought, according to a new report from the campaign group, Publish What You Fund and the Centre for Chinese Studies at Stellenbosch university. Transparency of Chinese Aid, launched today with a debate at Chatham House in […]