自1970年代馬歇爾計畫成功以後，西方國家視發展理論為發展中國家脫離貧窮之途徑。然由於各國的國情、文化等不同，源於西方國家的發展理論產生實際運用上的問題。發展理論也因此產生了轉變，轉以「以人為本」的發展，強調在發展的過程中，國家的角色雖然不容忽視，然國家的角色必有其侷限性，各種社會力量如非政府組織的興起，必能適時彌補國家角色之不足。本文乃從發展理論的觀點切入，探討中國政府與其他包括國際非政府組織在內的社會力量，對中國扶貧工作所造成的影響。 「政府主導、社會參與、自力更生、開發扶貧和全面協調發展」概念的實踐是中國扶貧工作成功的主因，中國政府的扶貧政策乃是強化貧窮人口的生活能力，進而達成貧窮地區脫離貧窮的目標。在中國政府強大的控制下，非政府組織乃是扮演彌補官方資源等不足之角色。簡言之，中國政府是中國扶貧工作的主導者，其他包括國際非政府組織在內的社會力量，則扮演輔助者的角色。

Western countries consider the Development theory as a way for the developing countries to alleviate poverty because of the success of the Marshall Plan in the 1970s. However, its application in these countries has been facing various obstacles due to a great variation of their customs, cultures, etc. As a result, the concept of the Development theory has changed into the people-centered development since the 1990s. It emphasizes an important role of the non-governmental organizations in promoting the process of development. This research study used the Development theory to discuss the varying roles of the Chinese government and other social sectors, including international non-governmental organizations in China's anti-poverty campaign. In order to achieve its goals to reduce poverty, the Chinese government has been: constructing partnerships with all social sectors; undertaking a strategy of self-reliance whereby reducing the poverty through development; and following the path of an all-round development, which is considered as the most robust driving force in the China's poverty alleviation campaign. The main thrust of the China's anti-poverty policy is to strengthen the capacity of the targeted population to fight poverty and attain prosperity. Whereas the poverty reduction essentially depends on the efforts of the government in China, the strong support and partnership of the non-governmental organizations and other social sectors is also a necessity that will spell out the difference in the program's efficacy.