At CGSP we are committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity, transparency and independence in all aspects of our work. This includes the acceptance and use of financial contributions. Our Ethical Donations Policy outlines the principles that guide how we engage with donors and manage funding.
1. We Do Not Accept Government or Corporate Funding
CGSP does not accept donations, grants, or sponsorships from:
- Governments or governmental agencies (foreign or domestic)
- Corporations, businesses, or for-profit entities
- Entities affiliated with governments or corporations, including front groups, lobbying arms, or intermediaries
This policy ensures that CGSP’s work is entirely free from institutional influence—political, commercial, or otherwise.
2. Independence Is Non-Negotiable
CGSP maintains full editorial and analytical independence. All of our research, reporting and commentary is conducted without external influence. We do not allow any funder to:
- Review or approve content before publication
- Influence research outcomes or editorial direction
- Shape our coverage of particular regions, issues or stakeholders
3. We Accept Support from Individuals and Independent Foundations
CGSP accepts contributions from:
- Individual donors who share our mission and values
- Independent, nonpartisan philanthropic foundations with no government or corporate affiliation
All donations are vetted by CGSP’s leadership team to ensure alignment with our values and independence.
4. Transparency and Disclosure
CGSP publicly discloses all in its annual tax filing with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. Anonymous gifts may be accepted only when:
- The source is known to CGSP leadership and poses no conflict of interest
- The donation does not attempt to influence CGSP’s content, priorities or strategy
We will never accept anonymous donations from unknown or unverifiable sources.
5. Funding Supports Our Mission
Donations support CGSP’s mission to deliver rigorous, accessible analysis on China’s engagement with the Global South. Contributions are used to:
- Fund original reporting and multimedia production
- Support data tools and interactive platforms
- Expand educational programming and fellowships
We accept restricted gifts only if they align with CGSP’s strategic direction and uphold our editorial independence.
6. Governance and Oversight
All fundraising and funding decisions are overseen by CGSP’s senior leadership. Donation acceptance is subject to review for conflicts of interest or ethical concerns. Final authority rests with the Editor-in-Chief and (if applicable) the Board of Directors.
7. CGSP Ethics and Editorial Standards Policy
The China-Global South Project (CGSP) is an independent, non-partisan multimedia platform dedicated to providing clear, accessible and nuanced reporting on China’s engagement across Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and the broader Global South.
We hold ourselves to the highest editorial and ethical standards. Our editorial team and all contributors are guided by the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) Code of Ethics, and we uphold five core editorial principles: independence, fairness, transparency, accuracy, and respect.
SPJ Code of Ethics: Our Foundation
We align fully with the SPJ Code of Ethics, which frames our daily work and editorial decision-making:
Seek Truth and Report It:
We pursue accuracy, context and clarity in everything we publish. We do not distort facts or mislead. We clearly differentiate between reporting and opinion.
Minimize Harm:
We treat sources, subjects, and the public with dignity and empathy. We avoid sensationalism and take care with sensitive material.
Act Independently:
We do not represent governments, companies, or advocacy groups. We serve only the public interest, and our editorial decisions are made without external influence.
Be Accountable and Transparent:
We are open about how and why we produce our work. We welcome questions, acknowledge our mistakes, and correct them publicly and promptly.
Our Editorial Values
Independence
CGSP does not represent or advocate on behalf of any government, political party, corporation or interest group. We do not accept funding from governments, corporations or affiliated entities. All of our work is produced free from external pressure or influence.
Fairness
We strive to present multiple perspectives and provide balanced analysis. While we may critique or commend specific actors, we do so on the basis of facts and fair reasoning, not ideology or agenda.
Transparency
We are open about our methods, funding sources, and organizational structure. Readers are encouraged to contact us with questions about our editorial process, team backgrounds, or policies.
Respect
We engage respectfully with our audience and the communities we cover. We do not tolerate the use of racist, xenophobic, sexist or otherwise demeaning language, either in our content or on our platforms. Comments that violate this principle may be removed and offending users may be blocked.
Inclusion
We aim to foster inclusive conversations about China’s role in the Global South. We actively seek diverse voices from different professions, geographies, languages and identities. Our work is enriched by broad participation and global collaboration.
Editorial Accuracy and Corrections
We are committed to the accuracy of our reporting. In the event that we publish inaccurate information:
- We will issue a correction or clarification as soon as possible.
- Corrections will be made transparently on the original article or post.
- We will review how the error occurred and take steps to prevent similar issues in the future.
Editorial Independence and Funding
CGSP maintains a strict wall between editorial and fundraising operations. We do not accept funding from:
- Governments or state-linked entities
- Corporations, businesses or commercial lobbies
- Organizations affiliated with political, ideological or religious agendas
We do accept contributions from individuals and independent, nonpartisan foundations that support our mission without expectation of editorial influence. For more, see our Ethical Donations Policy [INSERT LINK].
Contact Us
We welcome questions and dialogue about our editorial standards.
Please reach out to:
Eric Olander, Editor-in-Chief – eric@chinaglobalsouth.com
Cobus van Staden, Managing Editor – cobus@chinaglobalsouth.com
Lucy Stevenson-Yang, Director of Research and Intelligence – lucy@chinaglobalsouth.com