About the “Poverty Alleviation Challenge”

Poverty alleviation is a common challenge for developing countries and for the world as a whole. In 2024, the Tsinghua University Latin America Center, the China–Latin America Management Research Center, SEM, Tsinghua University, and the Tsinghua University Student Global Competence Development Center joined hands with partner universities in Latin America to launch the China–Latin America Youth Responding to Global Challenges — 2024 “Poverty Alleviation Challenge” in China (Tsinghua), Brazil, and Chile, sparking a university-led dialogue on poverty alleviation across China and Latin America. In November of the same year, during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Brazil for the 19th G20 Leaders’ Summit and a state visit, Qiu Yong, Secretary of the CPC Tsinghua University Committee, and the President of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro signed an inter-university cooperation agreement on the “China–Latin America Youth Responding to Global Challenges” project. The agreement was included in the list of outcomes of President Xi Jinping’s visit to Brazil, making the initiative a flagship project led by Tsinghua University to advance mutually beneficial development between China and Latin America.

The Founding Organizers of the 2026 “Poverty Alleviation Challenge” are Tsinghua University, the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, the University of Chile, and the University of the Pacific (Peru). The Co-organizers are the Embassy of China in Brazil, the São Paulo School of Business Administration at Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV EAESP), the University of Santiago, Chile, and the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru. The Challenge aims to provide a cross-cultural collaboration platform for young people from China and Latin America, encouraging students to draw on their disciplinary strengths, build consensus through mutual learning, and develop innovative solutions to global poverty alleviation challenges with youth insight and creativity.

The 2026 “Poverty Alleviation Challenge” is supported by the Embassy of China in Brazil, the Consulate-General of China in Rio de Janeiro, the Embassy of Brazil in China, the Embassy of China in Chile, the Embassy of Chile in China, the Embassy of China in Peru, and the Embassy of Peru in China. Leading companies and institutions in China and abroad, including Envision Group, CGE, Minera Las Bambas S.A., Zhongshan (Beijing) Cultural Industry Co., Ltd., DiDi Global Inc., China Mobile International (Chile), Kuaishou International Business (KSIB), Banco BOCOM BBM S.A., and the Luksic Foundation, have also provided important support for the Challenge.

2026 “Poverty Alleviation Challenge” Brazil Final Poverty Alleviation Seminar

The 2026 “Poverty Alleviation Challenge” has attracted 666 young participants from 88 universities, companies, and institutions across China, Brazil, Chile, Peru, and other countries, forming 119 teams. The preliminary round was held in June across the four national competition divisions in China, Brazil, Chile, and Peru. Experts from universities and relevant fields in China and Latin America jointly participated in the review, assessing both the quality of proposals and the depth of transnational collaboration. Ultimately, 12 outstanding teams advanced to the Brazil and Chile Finals, with projects spanning offline AI education, Amazon agroforestry, oral health for migrants, circular economy, logistics infrastructure, rural water safety, cultural preservation, and bioenergy from fishery waste.

The Brazil Final of China–Latin America Youth Responding to Global Challenges — 2026 “Poverty Alleviation Challenge” will be held in Rio de Janeiro from August 12 to 14. On the morning of August 13, the Brazil Final Poverty Alleviation Seminar will take place at the Institute for Advanced Studies, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (CBAE-UFRJ), focusing on public policy, community practice, and the partners, resources, and implementation conditions needed to bring youth proposals into real-world settings. The seminar centers on two themes, “Poverty Alleviation and Development” and “From Pitch to Practice.” Guests from the Consulate-General of the People’s Republic of China in Rio de Janeiro, Tsinghua University, the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, the Brazilian Center of International Relations, the Brazilian Forum for Advanced Studies, the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, Redes da Maré, Envision Group, Vale, Wise Decisio, and other institutions will exchange practical experience from China and Brazil in poverty alleviation research, social inclusion, and project implementation.

Event Information

Brazil Time: Thursday, August 13, 2026, 09:30–12:00

Beijing Time: Thursday, August 13, 2026, 20:30–23:00

In-person Venue: Institute for Advanced Studies, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (Colégio Brasileiro de Altos Estudos, CBAE-UFRJ)

Address: Av. Rui Barbosa, 762, Flamengo, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 22250-020, Brazil

Languages: English and Spanish (English–Spanish simultaneous interpretation provided)

Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/92698352807?pwd=T7NA0otPsP3Li32Z2ZbhjvVAhKBXsZ.1

Meeting ID: 926 9835 2807

Passcode: 922777

Seminar Highlights

Grounded in China–Brazil practices in poverty alleviation and development, the seminar connects policy research, social action, and youth innovation in a progressive discussion on understanding real-world challenges, bringing together diverse knowledge, and translating proposals into practice.

Highlight 1 | Bringing Together Diverse China–Brazil Perspectives to Explore Pathways for Poverty Alleviation and Development

Guests from diplomatic, academic, and research institutions will draw on practices from China and Brazil to discuss international cooperation, public policy, and social development, offering diverse perspectives on the complexity of poverty alleviation and its broader development implications.

Tian Min | Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Rio de Janeiro

Chen Taotao | Professor, School of Economics and Management, Tsinghua University; Director, Tsinghua University Latin America Center; Director, China–Latin America Management Research Center, Tsinghua SEM

Ana Célia Castro | Director, Institute for Advanced Studies, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ); Senior Fellow, Brazilian Center of International Relations (CEBRI); President, Brazilian Forum for Advanced Studies (FOBREAV)

Highlight 2 | Using Public Research to Respond to Social Needs and Advance Inclusive Development

The first panel focuses on accessibility development, public statistics, and community action, exploring how research insights can connect with real social needs and help build more inclusive pathways for poverty alleviation across institutions, data, and community practice.

Shao Lei | Dean, Institute for Accessibility Development, Tsinghua University

Qiao Ziyi | Researcher, Tsinghua University Latin America Center

Luna Arouca | Project Manager, Redes da Maré

Adriana Serra | Researcher, Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) (TBC)

Highlight 3 | Connecting Proposals with Practice and Exploring Pathways for Youth Innovation

The second panel turns to practical implementation, focusing on partners, corporate social responsibility resources, technology adaptation, and local innovation support. It explores how youth proposals can enter real-world settings and gradually develop into sustainable and replicable models.

Zhao Qi | Research Fellow, Institute of Rural Construction (Rural Revitalization Institute), Tsinghua University

Jiao Yang | Researcher, Future Lab, Tsinghua University

Elisa Barboza | Corporate Social Responsibility Analyst, Vale

Jamie Coats | CEO, Wise Responder

Daniela Uziel | Director, Inova UFRJ

Agenda at a Glance

The 2026 “Poverty Alleviation Challenge” Brazil Final Poverty Alleviation Seminar is not only an important part of the 2026 “Poverty Alleviation Challenge” transnational finals, but also a platform for deeper dialogue between young people and experts from China and Latin America and for mutual learning on poverty alleviation and development. Through a hybrid online and in-person format, the seminar will bring together guests from government, business, academia, and research across China and Latin America for cross-disciplinary and cross-cultural exchange on poverty alleviation and development, transnational collaboration, and project practice. It will offer youth teams theoretical inspiration, local experience, and practical feedback, while further strengthening the bridge for exchange and collaboration between young people in China and Latin America. We warmly invite you to join us and witness the exchange of ideas and shared wisdom!