Hybridization of Chinese international development volunteering: Evidence from three state‐funded programmes

Motivation In the field of international development assistance, China has been undergoing a transition from being a receiving to a sending country. In addition to growing its foreign aid budget, China has been making great efforts to send volunteers to serve overseas. To date, however, there has been relatively little research on the expansion of China’s international development volunteering (IDV) actions. Purpose This exploratory study examines the characteristics of IDV programmes initiated and funded by the Chinese government. Specifically, we investigate how various IDV mechanisms have been developed to incorporate specific actors, and analyse how these arrangements serve the sponsors’ interests. Approach and methods We use a qualitative case‐study approach and conduct in‐depth analyses on three influential state‐funded IDV programmes. Data were collected from semi‐structured interviews and secondary documentary materials. Findings Research findings from three Chinese IDV programmes indicate that the hybridization dynamics of IDV are reflected in their different programme mechanisms, whereby intra‐, non‐ and extra‐state actors from international, central and local levels are connected as contributors. Volunteer resources are transformed, through different mechanisms, into development resources to benefit the hosting countries, and into public diplomacy resources, technical resources, and human capital for the sponsors’ own interests. Policy implications This study highlights the hybrid nature of state‐funded IDV practices and shows the evolution of Chinese IDV from traditional official‐to‐official linkages to more diverse and spontaneous forms involving different non‐state actors.