Study on Gradual Rural-Urban Migration and Urban Settlements Development in Chuxiong

Client: Asian Development Bank

Duration: 2017-2018

Location: Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, PRC

Contract Value: USD 376,540

Catalogue: Social Services

Project Description

The technical assistance (TA) supported the government’s efforts to safeguard and improve living standards through people-centered urbanization. It was directly linked to ADB’s country partnership strategy, 2016–2020 for the PRC, which emphasizes inclusive economic growth by reducing poverty and inequality. The TA created synergy with the ongoing loan in Chuxiong Prefecture, and complemented other TA projects inthe PRC for urban–rural linkages and balanced urban and regional planning, and more efficient land use in small cities and towns, as well as ADB’s urban sector knowledge work on balanced urbanization for inclusive cities development. The objective of the assignment was to carry out a study on negative and positive factors and develop policy recommendations for enabling gradual rural-urban migration and urban settlements development in Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture (Chuxiong) in consultation with the Policy Research and Legislative Advisory Office of the Chuxiong Government.

Services Provided by NAREE

Desk review - NAREE conducted reviews on the institutional arrangement, and regulatory frameworks for creating enabling environments for rural migrant integration into urban areas. NAREE also studied the legal, policy, and regulatory frameworks on three areas’ development, including (i) agro- and non-farming industries and enterprises, labor market, taxes, research and development, human resource development; (ii) urban and rural land management at local and central levels;and (iii) employment, labor protection and activation, and social security atlocal and central levels.

Case study – NAREE identified good practices and prepared three case studies: (i) the development of agro- and non-farming industries and small towns based on non-farming industries to ensure stable employment for rural migrants, (ii) the land valuation system and unified land market between urban and rural areas, and (iii) the reform of the household registration system and the urban–rural equalization of basic public services by establishing a unified labor marketand social security systems and sustainable financing mechanisms.

Development of policy recommendation – Based on the case studies, NAREE organized a seminar, involving relevant bureau and institutions, to develop policy recommendations, and subsequently presented it to local and provincial government.

Capacity building - NAREE assisted the delegation from EA and IA to organize an international study tour, which provided insights into urbanization with voluntary migration. Moreover, NAREE facilitated a capacity building event in Beijing with 30 participants from Chuxiong.