Community leadership, policy implementation and rural revitalization in China: perspectives for Africa

Rural poverty remains a major challenge in developing countries, hindering quality of life, reducing life expectancy and stalling development. Despite Africa’s rich resources, including a favorable climate and fertile soil, it still relies on food imports, highlighting the need for rural transformat...

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Main Authors: Joshua Mugambwa, Tang Lixia, Xu Xiuli
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Cogent Social Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311886.2025.2535512
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author Joshua Mugambwa
Tang Lixia
Xu Xiuli
author_facet Joshua Mugambwa
Tang Lixia
Xu Xiuli
author_sort Joshua Mugambwa
collection DOAJ
description Rural poverty remains a major challenge in developing countries, hindering quality of life, reducing life expectancy and stalling development. Despite Africa’s rich resources, including a favorable climate and fertile soil, it still relies on food imports, highlighting the need for rural transformation. In contrast, China successfully eradicated extreme poverty in 2020 through a strategic rural revitalization plan. This study examines the relationship between community leadership, policy implementation and rural revitalization in China to draw lessons for Africa. Specifically, it explores the role of community leadership in policy execution and rural revitalization and identifies applicable insights for Africa. A case study design was used, with qualitative data collected from 15 key informants in Youyang Tujia County and Miao Autonomous County, Chongqing Municipality. Findings indicate that China’s success in rural revitalization is driven by strong community leadership that effectively implements policies. This leadership fosters active participation, embraces research and technology and prioritizes infrastructure investment. Key lessons for Africa include the need for strong political will, zero tolerance for corruption, inclusive institutions and a bottom-up approach that engages citizens. These findings are relevant to policymakers, development practitioners and researchers in rural development. Comprehensive policies should leverage community cooperation, technology and grassroots participation for effective rural transformation in Africa.
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spelling doaj-art-ab3cfa45b0ca4270af8c06ed3483cfc52025-08-20T02:50:52ZengTaylor & Francis GroupCogent Social Sciences2331-18862025-12-0111110.1080/23311886.2025.2535512Community leadership, policy implementation and rural revitalization in China: perspectives for AfricaJoshua Mugambwa0Tang Lixia1Xu Xiuli2Department of Leadership and Governance, Makerere University Business School, Kampala, UgandaCollege of International Development and Global Agriculture (CIDGA), China Agricultural University, Beijing, ChinaCollege of International Development and Global Agriculture (CIDGA), China Agricultural University, Beijing, ChinaRural poverty remains a major challenge in developing countries, hindering quality of life, reducing life expectancy and stalling development. Despite Africa’s rich resources, including a favorable climate and fertile soil, it still relies on food imports, highlighting the need for rural transformation. In contrast, China successfully eradicated extreme poverty in 2020 through a strategic rural revitalization plan. This study examines the relationship between community leadership, policy implementation and rural revitalization in China to draw lessons for Africa. Specifically, it explores the role of community leadership in policy execution and rural revitalization and identifies applicable insights for Africa. A case study design was used, with qualitative data collected from 15 key informants in Youyang Tujia County and Miao Autonomous County, Chongqing Municipality. Findings indicate that China’s success in rural revitalization is driven by strong community leadership that effectively implements policies. This leadership fosters active participation, embraces research and technology and prioritizes infrastructure investment. Key lessons for Africa include the need for strong political will, zero tolerance for corruption, inclusive institutions and a bottom-up approach that engages citizens. These findings are relevant to policymakers, development practitioners and researchers in rural development. Comprehensive policies should leverage community cooperation, technology and grassroots participation for effective rural transformation in Africa.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311886.2025.2535512Rural revitalizationrural–urban migrationrural entrepreneurshippolicy executionfood securitylocal governance
spellingShingle Joshua Mugambwa
Tang Lixia
Xu Xiuli
Community leadership, policy implementation and rural revitalization in China: perspectives for Africa
Cogent Social Sciences
Rural revitalization
rural–urban migration
rural entrepreneurship
policy execution
food security
local governance
title Community leadership, policy implementation and rural revitalization in China: perspectives for Africa
title_full Community leadership, policy implementation and rural revitalization in China: perspectives for Africa
title_fullStr Community leadership, policy implementation and rural revitalization in China: perspectives for Africa
title_full_unstemmed Community leadership, policy implementation and rural revitalization in China: perspectives for Africa
title_short Community leadership, policy implementation and rural revitalization in China: perspectives for Africa
title_sort community leadership policy implementation and rural revitalization in china perspectives for africa
topic Rural revitalization
rural–urban migration
rural entrepreneurship
policy execution
food security
local governance
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311886.2025.2535512
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