February 23 to 24,2006, The China Development Marketplace Exhibition organized by the World Bank, State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development and Ministry of Civil Affair Department of China was opened in Beijing. Development Marketplace was launched by the World Bank aiming at exploring a valuable means of mobilizing social capital and attracting Civil Society Organizations and their knowledge to help reduce poverty. With the theme of "Supporting Innovations for Scaling-Up Services that Reach the Poor", China Development Marketplace attempts to promote and support the growth of civil society organizations of China.
The top 100 projects were selected as finalists to open to public and received interview of judges. The project of Hand in Hand to Walk out of Poverty-Building Social Support Network for Waste Collectors which submitted by ICO won fairly good comment from judges and visitors. Finally, it was honored the first and granted with $30,000 of fund.

I . Need Assessment of Program
There are 8 million of migrant workers living in Shenzhen, thereinto about 200 thousand are waste pickers and women take up 70%. Most of them come from Henan, Anhui, Hunan, Hubei in their middle or old age. Lacking of knowledge and skills, they have no access to formal employment but to picking waste. While waste pickers have to be confronted with various difficulties, like inadequate food and accommodation; too vulnerable to protect themselves from injury and disease; a lack of professional knowledge in waste sorting; incapable to realize their basic rights and tend to be in misbehaviors as well.

II . Intervention Strategy
The project aims at building a network in waste pickers from which they will seek to help each other and enhance their capability of self-protection and development. It will empower beneficiaries with technology, starting of small business and rights awareness, developing circular economy and conservation of environment. It paves the way for waste collectors to eliminate poverty and get access to opportunity of sustainable development.