Although the widespread use of the Internet in rural areas provides new opportunities for economic growth, whether and how rural women benefit from it remains a question. Guided by Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5 and its targets, this study examines the impact of Internet use on rural women’s income by using survey data from 1384 rural households in underdeveloped areas of China. The results indicate that Internet use can significantly increase rural women’s income in underdeveloped areas. Additionally, the income effects of Internet use are heterogeneous across the different purposes of Internet use, income levels, individual characteristics, and family characteristics. Further analysis reveals that increasing labor input and enhancing capital endowment are two important channels through which Internet use increases rural women’s income. The results offer further empirical support for policymakers to utilize the Internet to increase rural women’s income and contribute to poverty alleviation in underdeveloped areas.

In the context of rural sustainability and poverty alleviation within the developing world, a key dilemma facing the international community is to identify suitable strategies and mechanisms to bring multiple stakeholders together to work in efficient and sustainable ways. This paper focuses on the Public–Private–Producer Partnership (4P), a model that involves cooperation between government agencies, business firms, and small-scale producers to foster mutual trust and enhance collaboration through infrastructure development and capacity building in the agricultural value chain. Drawing on evidence from China, Indonesia, Rwanda, Ghana, and Nigeria, this study examines the impact of 4P on crop productivity, agricultural infrastructure, market access, stakeholder empowerment, employment, the land tenure system, and household income. This paper combines value chain analysis, Theory of Change mapping, and both qualitative and quantitative evaluation techniques to assess how the 4P model functions in different institutional and ecological contexts. While the model promotes inclusive growth, it also faces challenges such as price volatility, insufficient long-term sustainability, and limited integration of smallholder farmers into formal value chains. The paper discusses policy implications for improving the 4P model’s effectiveness in poverty alleviation and local economic development, highlighting the importance of better governance structures, financial mechanisms, and market stability. This paper sheds new light on inclusive, justified, and sustainable collaboration mechanisms for participatory agencies and individuals.