About the "Poverty Alleviation Challenge"

Poverty alleviation is a common challenge for developing countries and a global one. In 2024, the Tsinghua University Latin America Center, the China-Latin America Management Research Center at Tsinghua University School of Economics and Management (SEM), and the Tsinghua University Student Global Competence Development Guidance Center, in collaboration with Latin American university partners, launched the "China-Latin America Youth Responding to Global Challenges: 2024 Poverty Alleviation Challenge" in China, Brazil, and Chile. This initiative sparked a wave of university-led dialogue on poverty reduction between China and Latin America. In November of the same year, during Chinese President Xi Jinping's attendance at the G20 Summit and state visit to Brazil, Tsinghua University and Brazil's Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) signed a cooperation agreement for this project. The agreement was included in the list of visit outcomes, becoming a landmark project for win-win development between China and Latin America. Building on this foundation, the "2025 Poverty Alleviation Challenge," jointly organized by Tsinghua University and Latin American partner institutions, attracted over 310 teachers and students from 27 universities and enterprises across four China-Latin America countries. Twelve teams advanced and participated in transnational finals held in Chile and Brazil. The "2026 Poverty Alleviation Challenge" will build upon the 2025 edition with increased innovation, injecting new momentum into the global cause of poverty reduction. Through transnational team formation, competition, and field study tours, it aims to gather the strength of Chinese and Latin American youth to explore poverty reduction solutions. Winning teams will also have the opportunity to travel to Latin America for study and exchange programs. If you aspire to contribute new energy to the global cause of poverty reduction, now is the best time to start.

The "2026 Poverty Alleviation Challenge" is co-founded by Tsinghua University, Brazil's Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, University of Chile, and Universidad del Pacífico (Peru). The event is co-organized by the Chinese Embassy in Brazil, the São Paulo School of Business Administration of the Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV EAESP), and Pontifical Catholic University of Peru. The competition aims to build a cross-cultural exchange platform for Chinese and Latin American youth, encouraging students to leverage their professional strengths, build consensus through mutual learning, and explore innovative solutions to global poverty challenges with youthful wisdom.

The "2026 Poverty Alleviation Challenge" has received support from the Chinese Embassy in Brazil, the Chinese Consulate General in Rio de Janeiro, the Brazilian Embassy in China, the Chinese Embassy in Chile, the Chilean Embassy in China, the Chinese Embassy in Peru, and the Peruvian Embassy in China. Well-known domestic and international enterprises, including Envision Group, CGE (Chile), Minera Las Bambas S.A. (Peru), Zhongshan (Beijing) Cultural Industry Co., Ltd., China Mobile International (Chile), Kuaishou International Business Unit, and Banco BOCOM BBM S.A. (Brazil), have provided important support for the competition.

On the evening of May 14, 2026, Beijing time, the "China-Latin America Youth Responding to Global Challenges: 2026 Poverty Alleviation Challenge" Brazil Poverty Alleviation Lecture was held at the Jianhua Building, Tsinghua University. This Brazil-focused lecture is part of the series of activities for the "2026 Poverty Alleviation Challenge." It was hosted by Professor Chen Taotao, Professor of Finance at Tsinghua University School of Economics and Management (SEM), Director of the Tsinghua University Latin America Center, and Director of the China-Latin America Management Research Center at Tsinghua SEM. The lecture attracted over 100 scholars and young students from China, Brazil, Chile, Peru, and other countries to participate online and offline. The on-site discussion atmosphere was lively and enthusiastic.

Photo: Group Photo

Professor Chen Taotao first extended a warm welcome to the young friends from China and Latin American countries. She also introduced the guest speakers for this lecture to the attending teachers and students. She expressed hope that through expert sharing and interactive discussions, the students would further deepen their understanding of poverty alleviation practices and development issues in Latin America.

Photo: Professor Chen Taotao delivering the opening speech

Paula Carvalho, Associate Researcher at the National Institute of Science and Technology in Public Policies, Strategies and Development (INCT-PPED) at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, delivered a thematic presentation titled "Trajectory and Determinants of Poverty in Brazil." She systematically reviewed the development trajectory of poverty in Brazil and its main influencing factors. By combining the historical development context and real-world cases, she analyzed the impact of economic structure, social policies, and institutional environment on poverty trends. This helped the teachers and students gain a deeper understanding of the underlying logic and practical characteristics of poverty issues in Brazil.

Photo: Paula Carvalho delivering a keynote speech

Subsequently, Carla Vimercate, Social Responsibility Analyst at Vale S.A., shared on the theme "Together Against Poverty - Experiences of Multidimensional Family Support in Brazil." Drawing on her long-term experience in social impact projects and poverty alleviation practices, she introduced specific case studies of Brazil's multidimensional family support model. She focused on sharing exploration and experiences in areas such as education, social security, community participation, and family capacity building, and discussed the role of corporate social responsibility projects in promoting social inclusion and poverty reduction.

Photo: Carla Vimercate giving a keynote speech

During the interactive Q&A session, the attending teachers and students actively raised questions on topics such as poverty governance pathways in Brazil, the practice of multidimensional poverty alleviation policies, and the role of social projects in poverty reduction. The experts provided in-depth answers and exchanges based on practical cases from Brazil. The on-site discussion was vibrant, further deepening everyone's understanding of Brazil's poverty alleviation practices and related development issues. It also facilitated communication and the exchange of ideas between Chinese and Latin American teachers and students.

Photo: The Lecture Venue

In the future, the "2026 Poverty Alleviation Challenge" will continue to launch a series of competition activities and transnational study programs. This will further promote in-depth exchanges and practical cooperation between Chinese and Latin American youth regarding global development challenges, jointly contributing youthful strength to building a more inclusive and sustainable future for global development.

The replay video of the Brazil Poverty Alleviation Lecture is here! Revisit the exciting content with one click:

Link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/LuTfkclcZTw9usZB8vufVi2c5wkNePC_YaVM1OGQxTb7JZq-CQJE2Ysz6USVvII1.cX507KHvv-CX4KkX

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