While the term “small and beautiful” initially emerged in the context of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), it is increasingly reshaping China’s foreign aid agenda. On February 18, 2025, the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA) released a report on “‘Small and Beautiful’ Projects” in China’s foreign cooperation. This marks a significant shift from decades of prioritizing large-scale projects and substantial loans to a focus on sustainable and community-based projects.