Capacity building refers to assistance to professionals from developing countries to develop skill or competence, or for general upgrading of performance ability. It has fast become a major issue of concern and attention in developing countries. The Earth Summit recognized capacity-building as one of the means of implementation for Agenda 21. The chapter 37 of Agenda 21 urges particular focus to national mechanisms and international cooperation for capacity-building in developing countries. The Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (JPOI) called for enhancing and accelerating human, institutional and infrastructure capacity building initiatives and to assist developing countries in building capacity to access a larger share of multilateral and global research and development programs. Within this context, Partners in Population and Development (PPD) which is mandated to promote Reproductive Health, Population and Development through exchange of experiences, good practices, expertise among southern countries, conducted since its inception a series of well intentioned programs in Capacity Building. Currently with the support of the People’s Republic of China, PPD opened on 23 April 2006 a Program Office in China. The Program Office is located in the Premises of China Training Centre (CTC) in Taicang City. The objective of the office is to galvanize resources and spearhead a series of program activities through Capacity Building for the promotion of South-South Cooperation in RH, Population and Development activities. Under the Memorandum of Understanding signed between PPD and the Government of People’s Republic of China, PPD is conducting Capacity Building workshops for professionals from developing countries.

The China Programme Office though spearheading Capacity Building programmes, also facilitates the transfer of RH Commodities and Technologies between developing countries. Developing Countries which are PPD Member States have received RH Commodities from China.