AidData project makes international news splash
An AidData project tracking China’s foreign aid has received wide-spread media attention since it was launched late last month.
Since its release April 29, more than 30 news stories have appeared world-wide about the interactive database that tracks more than $70 billion of Chinese financial commitments in Africa. Stories have appeared in Xinhua, a Chinese news wire; Financial Times; New York Times and Reuters; AFP (France); BBC and several in The Guardian. A full list of stories is available online.
"This topic arouses very strong reactions, positive and negative, and people are very polarized in their strong opinions," Brad Parks, executive director of AidData and a researcher at William and Mary, told Reuters about bringing transparency to China’s development finance efforts.
The database was compiled by researchers at AidData, a partnership between Brigham Young University, William & Mary and Development Gateway, and the Center for Global Development.
