MAGAZINE KOICA
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PROJECT HIGHLIGHT
Resilient Nigerians, even in times of crisis Park Hae-song, Assistant Manager at the Department of Development Strategy and Portfolio Management▲ Nigerian market crowded with people Nigeria is a country with a population of over 200 million, earning it the nickname Giant of Africa. The central country in West Africa has great economic potential, thanks to its large population and abundant resources, but it has recently been plagued by frequent kidnappings and terrorism.When I told people I was going to Nigeria, they were very concerned. Because when they searched for Nigeria on the Internet, most of the news was about the unstable security and economy, as well as alarming incidents. However, being dispatched to the Nigeria office was my choice. After joining KOICA and working in the Multilateral Cooperation and Humanitarian Assistance Office, I became interested in the field of humanitarian assistance and wanted to lend a helping hand to the unfortunate situation in Nigeria, which has suffered significant damage from the Islamic extremist armed group Boko Haram.It was in February 2022 that I boarded the plane with courage and confidence and arrived in Nigeria. In Nigeria, the period from late November to mid-March of the following year is called the Harmattan. This period is the dry season, when dry winds accompanied by sand blow from the Sahara Desert. Sure enough, my first impression of the capital, Abuja, was that it was a city full of dust. Days of limited visibility and breathtaking landscapes persisted, reminiscent of times in Korea when yellow dust and fine dust levels were severe. However, thanks to the kindhearted Nigerian people, I managed to overcome my sadness and smile again.At first, I stayed temporarily in a hotel located inside the art museum. Perhaps because it was not a place frequented by foreigners, the hotel staff was amazed to see a Korean for the first time and eagerly shared detailed information about Nigerian culture and local amenities. Thanks to their help, I was able to spend my first two weeks in an unfamiliar land without any major inconveniences.The KOICA Nigeria Office was a place where only the country director and deputy country director worked, as it was difficult to dispatch interns due to the unstable security. My position was deputy country director, but since there were only two people, I had to take on all roles, from the youngest to the deputy. I had busy days, as the Nigeria Office also managed the neighboring countries of Sierra Leone and Liberia and had to discover and oversee projects in both countries.The work I was most passionate about was the project for the Improvement of Student Achievements through Multimedia Education Capacity Building and Teacher Incentive Program in Nigerian Public Primary and Junior Secondary Schools. The capital city of Abuja is home to the Nigeria-Korea Model School, which was established in 2019 through the KOICA project. Students of the model school achieve excellent results in math and creative science competitions every year, and the admission competition rate is very high, making it the best public school in Nigeria. Accordingly, Nigeria s Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), which oversees primary and secondary education in the country, is pursuing a mid- to long-term project to build a total of 37 model schools in six major regions of Nigeria, based on the Nigeria-Korea Model School.KOICA has finally selected 6 schools out of the 37 pilot schools and is implementing the Project for the Improvement of Student Achievements through Multimedia Education Capacity Building and Teacher Incentive Program in Nigerian Public Primary and Junior Secondary Schools. In this process, KOICA is leading the development of smart education in Nigeria, including strengthening the capacity of teachers to institutionalize smart education, developing digital education content, and organizing digital education competitions. Teachers prepared for classes until dawn, sacrificing sleep, and students attended school as enthusiastically as they persuaded their parents to send them to the model school. As the person in charge, I found it very rewarding to see both teachers and students working hard to teach and learn.Not only the teachers and students, but also other Nigerians I met were doing their best in their jobs despite the challenging national situation. During the two years I worked there, the Nigerian economy continued to deteriorate due to rising prices, increasing fuel costs, exchange rate fluctuations, and lack of local currency. Gasoline prices have quadrupled in two years, and the exchange rate has more than doubled. Above all, after the Nigerian government declared that it would completely replace the currency with new notes at the end of 2022, it banned the use of old notes and limited the amount of new notes that could be withdrawn, leading to a severe cash shortage. Citizens continued to experience inconvenience as they waited in front of ATM machines for over ten hours to withdraw small amounts of cash.▲ Nigerian people, living hard despite difficult circumstancesNevertheless, Nigerians did not lose courage or hope. Rather than getting frustrated and giving up, they lived faithfully every day, supporting each other for the sake of their families and loved ones. The will and courage to endure dark times and to protect the people who are dear to them, without letting go of their hearts, resonated deeply with me. And thanks to KOICA s project to improve their lives, I was also able to go to work with a sense of duty. After living in Nigeria for two years, I returned to Korea about six months ago. There were almost no cafes, so I couldn t even drink an iced Americano, and it wasn t easy to get a meal because the delivery system wasn t as well established as in Korea. However, my time in Nigeria was a major turning point in my life.Observing the Nigerian people, I made up my mind to live a life without surrendering to hardship, and I was able to grow to the next level professionally by managing projects in the local area. Nigeria, a distant country on the other side of the world, still shines brightly in my heart.
- 2025.02.25
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KOICA NEWS
Latest issues at a glance KOICA NEWSIn February, perhaps thanks to the first full moon of the Lunar New Year, bright and hopeful news has been coming from all around early on. First of all, there is news that the 2024 Reorganized KOICA Project Volunteers, a youth volunteer program of KOICA, have headed to Uganda. It is also good news that KOICA has achieved the remarkable feat of being selected as an "Excellent" institution, the highest rating, for three consecutive years in the "2024 Evaluation of Actual Conditions of Data-Based Administration". There are even more exciting updates to share. Please see below for more details. 📰 NEWS 1. Deployment of 100 Youth Volunteers to Uganda Over Two Years BeginsOn January 31, the first group of "2024 Reorganized KOICA Project Volunteers" dispatched to Uganda posed for a commemorative photo after completing a week of local adaptation training prior to their deployment. Starting in February, KOICA has launched the "IT Capacity Building Project for Improving Local Government Project Performance Management" in the Mpigi and Mityana regions of central Uganda, deploying youth volunteers to support the initiative. The "2024 Reorganized KOICA Project Volunteers" dispatched this time will form teams to plan and implement projects aimed at addressing global challenges. In particular, this volunteer program is expected to serve as a catalyst for the successful implementation of country-specific cooperative projects, as it is linked to the "Capacity Building Project for Sustainable Rural Development in Uganda" being promoted by the KOICA Uganda Office. 📰 NEWS 2. Highest rating for three consecutive years in the Evaluation of Actual Conditions of Data-Based Administration A view of the KOICA headquarters located in Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do KOICA was selected as an "Excellent" institution the highest rating for the third consecutive year in the "2024 Evaluation of Actual Conditions of Data-Based Administration," organized by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. In this evaluation, KOICA scored a total of 97 points, significantly outperforming the average score of 59.5 points among the surveyed institutions. KOICA received excellent evaluations across all management-based assessment areas, including ▲ identifying data analysis projects and policy utilization, ▲joint data utilization achievements, ▲data capacity and culture, and ▲operation of dedicated departments. In particular, KOICA was recognized for its efforts to create a data-driven work culture by implementing systematic competency assessments for its staff to provide customized data training based on job level and competencies, sharing best practices in data analysis and policy, and producing guides for data analysis utilization. 📰 NEWS 3. MOU signed between KOICA and the Korea Institute for Advancement of TechnologyOn February 14, at the KOICA headquarters in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, KOICA President CHANG Won Sam (right) and Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology President Min Byung-joo (left) posed for a commemorative photo after signing an MOU for grant-based ODA in technology, environment, and energy in developing countries. On February 14, KOICA signed an MOU with the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT) at the KOICA headquarters in Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, to collaborate on grant-based ODA in the fields of technology, environment, and energy in developing countries. This agreement was signed to enhance the performance and quality of grant-based ODA projects in the fields of technology, environment, and energy by leveraging the expertise and networks of both institutions, effectively responding to the industrial development and green energy transition needs of developing countries. The main contents of the agreement include: ▲identifying, implementing, and evaluating grant-based ODA projects in the fields of technology, environment, and energy; ▲promoting knowledge exchange that reflects the expertise of both institutions; and ▲collaborating on research, information sharing, and public relations for the development of both institutions. In particular, the two organizations plan to explore opportunities for cooperation in areas such as ▲technical cooperation (including support for international standardization technologies), ▲training of industrial talent (in shipbuilding and textiles), and ▲creation of innovative rural communities. 📰 NEWS 4. Promoting K-Innovation Technology at The First Cambodia EdTech Summit' Choi Moon-jung, the Country Director of the KOICA Cambodia Office, is delivering a welcoming speech at "The First Cambodia EdTech Summit," held at the Institute of Technology of Cambodia. On February 17-18, KOICA introduced the Korean government's grant-based development cooperation projects in digital education and showcased Korean companies with innovative EdTech technologies at the "First Cambodia EdTech Summit," held at the Institute of Technology of Cambodia.At this event, KOICA introduced the Korean government's ODA projects in the digital education sector through a welcoming speech by Choi Moon-jung, the Country Director of the KOICA Cambodia Office, participation in panel discussions, and the operation of promotional booths. KOICA also promoted three Korean EdTech companies (EMCAST Co., Ltd., VISANG Co., Ltd., and Enuma Korea) that participate in its flagship corporate collaboration initiative, the Inclusive Business Solution (IBS).
- 2025.02.25
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What if young Koreans and Cambodians start a business together?
(All the trainees, including the final winner team 'KRATIE,' pose for a commemorative photo at the final presentation of the '2024 Korea-Cambodia ICT Startup Exchange Program' at Hanyang University on November 5.) Korea and Cambodia have different geographical locations and socio-cultural characteristics, but I am confident that startup ideas that combine concepts from both countries will bring significant benefits to both. On November 15, six teams made up of Korean and Cambodian students presented their startup items in the lounge on the second floor of the Student Welfare Center at Hanyang University. The startup items they came up with were ▲atmospheric heat management platform ▲health food development (fermented brown rice yogurt) ▲automatic plastic sorting and recycling solution ▲child management solution ▲smart irrigation system ▲product development project using pomelo. Each team clearly presented the startup ideas they had honed over the course of six months beginning last May. They were unembarrassed and skillfully answered the judges' tough questions. It was the performance of unrivaled 'professionals.' The presentations of the six teams lasted about 2 hours and 30 minutes, and as a result of the final judging, the team 'KRATIE', which proposed an item that cultivates pomelo, a citrus fruit from Southeast Asia, using a smart farming system and turns it into powder, became the final winner. Sotheavy Thoeun from Cambodia and Hanyang University students Kim Hyo-na, Ha Seo-yeon, and Kim Min-kyung cheered, while other team members applauded in congratulations. They were awarded $1,000 in startup support. This event, where students from Korea and Cambodia gathered to share startup ideas, was the final presentation of the '2024 Korea-Cambodia ICT Startup Exchange Program,' which has been held annually since 2023 by KOICA, the Korea Productivity Center, and Hanyang University, in collaboration with the National Incubation Center of Cambodia (NICC). KOICA creates a technology startup ecosystem in Cambodia The Korean government presented 'Promotion of Next-Generation Exchanges Leading to Future Prosperity' as a key task of the 'Korea-ASEAN Solidarity Initiative,' a specialized policy for ASEAN, while the Cambodian government emphasized the importance of nurturing young people and supporting startups through the 'Cambodia Digital Economy and Society Policy Framework 2021-2035.' In response, KOICA, together with the Korea Productivity Center, has been implementing the 'Establishment of Business Incubation System between University and Industry in Cambodia ($7.91 million)' from 2019 to 2024. The goal of this project is to strengthen national competitiveness by creating Cambodia's technology startup ecosystem and achieving industrial diversification. On March 14, KOICA established the NICC at the Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP) in the capital of Cambodia and held an opening ceremony. With Korea s support, a digital startup mecca was created where Cambodian youth can develop their dreams of innovative startups. The Cambodian government designated NICC, Cambodia s first business incubation center, as a national institution. NICC was built as a four-story building measuring approximately 2,300 m². The center is equipped with offices, conference rooms, prototype labs, and digital studios. At this facility, 31 Cambodian startups and prospective ones are provided with an environment where Cambodian youth can turn their innovative ideas into reality. In addition to the facilities, the 31 tenant companies won a competition in Cambodia through mentoring, consulting, and networking events provided by NICC, receiving a prize of $40,000, and are growing rapidly, attracting an investment of $10,000 from a Korean company and 1 million yen from a Japanese company. (Prospective entrepreneurs receiving training at a technology entrepreneurship training course (startup camp) run directly by NICC) Startup ideas created by Korean and Cambodian college students together KOICA has provided business space, initial funding, management support, and digital technology training to prospective young Cambodian entrepreneurs through NICC. In addition, by implementing the Korea-Cambodia University ICT Startup Exchange Program, KOICA has been supporting opportunities for future generations of both countries to cooperate and pioneer new markets. This is a program in which college students from Korea and Cambodia team up to jointly develop startup ideas and evaluate business possibilities through local market research and exchanges with startups. The cooperation between Korean and Cambodian youth to develop startup ideas has great significance for the economic development of both countries and for strengthening the global capabilities of future generations. In addition, this cooperation goes beyond simply developing startup ideas and holds greater value in helping young people from both countries understand each other's cultures and build a global network. Prospective startup teams from Korean universities visit Cambodia to share startup ideas and evaluate the possibility of entering Cambodia through local market research and exchanges with startups. Cambodian startup teams also visit Korea to tour successful startups and have the opportunity to upgrade their startup ideas through expert mentoring and business introductions to Korean investors. This year, the exchange began in May, and Hanyang University's preliminary startup team visited Cambodia to conduct market research and a mid-term evaluation. In November, the Cambodian startup team visited Korea and worked on their startup ideas. Last year, interns were selected only from young people living in Phnom Penh, but this year, they were selected from all over Cambodia, and interest in the Korea-Cambodia University Startup Exchange Program spread throughout the country. Thanks to the participation of young people from all over the country, startup ideas have become abundant, as seen in the idea of the winning team, KRATIE. Students participating from a province called 'KRATIE' in Cambodia teamed up with students from Korea (KR) and were proud to propose a smart farming project for pomelo, a specialty of Kratie province, naming the team KRATIE, composed of KR and KRATIE. Consistently strengthening the connection between the startup ecosystems of both countries In addition to the University ICT Startup Exchange Program, KOICA plans to continue cooperating with NICC to foster startups in the agricultural sector by conducting entrepreneurship education for young people in rural Cambodia, in collaboration with ChildFund Korea and Wonders International. KOICA will also further strengthen the connection between the two countries' startup ecosystems by attracting global investors and facilitating connections with Korean companies looking to enter Cambodia. I have participated in a variety of activities because I have always been interested in starting a business. Then, I applied to this startup exchange event since I wanted to learn about other countries startup ecosystems and methods. By going to Cambodia, conducting market research, and talking with local students, I was able to understand the different, yet similar, ways of starting a business and thinking. It was also beneficial to learn how to find market analysis data through mentoring. Above all, the biggest achievement was being able to overcome the language barrier and develop teamwork while collaborating with my Cambodian friends. It was a time when I was able to further upgrade my perspective on starting a business. I learned how to communicate effectively with Koreans, which I think will be of great help in building an international network in the future. Additionally, during the process of starting a business, I was able to learn practical skills such as market research methods, item implementation, and operation strategies. I can t wait to return to Cambodia and share what I learned in Korea with my local team members. Finally, I hope that these exchange projects will go beyond personal success and have a positive impact on the economies and industries of both countries.
2024.12.26
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Government and local communities rolling up their sleeves to educate children
(KOICA investigation team, students, faculty, staff, UNICEF and NGO representatives at the Alternative Education Centre in Lempira Department, Honduras)One in 10 people in Honduras cannot read. According to the Honduran National Institute of Statistics (INE), the illiteracy rate among people aged 15 and older was 13% as of last year. In terms of population, this amounts to 914,000 people, an increase of 1 percentage point compared to the previous year. According to 2019 UNESCO data, Honduras has the second-highest illiteracy rate in Central America for people aged 15 and older, after Guatemala.Honduras is one of the countries with the lowest learning levels, even in Latin America. Due to financial difficulties, some young people go to work to make a living instead of attending school, while others give up their studies after becoming parents at a young age due to teenage pregnancy. The situation worsened in 2020 due to the pandemic and natural disasters. During the pandemic, academic work was halted, and two strong typhoons struck, damaging many schools and making it difficult to continue classes.KOICA will carry out a support project covering over 500 schools and local communities in Honduras from this year until 2028. It is a large-scale project with a total budget of 10.4 billion won. First of all, KOICA will provide innovative alternative education to schools in order to increase access to education for underprivileged youth under the age of 17 and to enable them to continue their studies. KOICA will also pursue improvements in drinking water and sanitation services to address community health and climate change.(Students from the Alternative Education Center are explaining the education and activities carried out at the school to visitors, including the KOICA investigation team.)Improving academic sustainability through locally tailored educationThis project will target local communities in four Departments in Honduras: El Para so, Francisco Moraz n, Intibuc , and Lempira. Programs conducted in schools are largely divided into the installation of drinking water and sanitation facilities and the implementation of alternative education. Drinking water and sanitation facilities are essential for preventing various diseases, including infectious diseases such as COVID-19, but they are scarce in schools in Honduras. As a result, hygiene education is not properly implemented, and the problem is particularly acute in rural areas. Lim Da-jeong, coordinator of the KOICA Guatemala Office, said: "Most of the schools lack proper learning spaces, as well as drinking water and sanitation facilities, resulting in very poor conditions. In addition, with so many students per teacher, it is almost impossible to conduct classes according to level". She continued, "KOICA is working to create an education-friendly environment in schools and communities, making it natural for children to attend school, while also introducing alternative education modules tailored to the circumstances of Honduras.(Drinking water and sanitation facilities built at an elementary school in the Francisco Moraz n Department of Honduras through a KOICA support project) KOICA plans to assess the demand for drinking water and sanitation facilities in each school and implement improvements to toilets, piping systems, sewage treatment facilities, and rainwater harvesting systems. To provide safer and more effective water and sanitation services, KOICA also plans to improve drinking water and sanitation facilities in the community where the school is located.The alternative education program directly introduces methods that reflect the needs of each school according to its circumstances. Representative examples include the Tutorial Learning System (SAT), which helps students learn various skills necessary for livelihoods; the Educational Bridge, which helps students who have returned after dropping out of school resume basic education; and the Learning Passport, which enables digital education in environments where students cannot attend school.Innovative alternative education techniques were designed to include youth who cannot access public education due to the absence of schools in their villages, as well as out-of-school children, such as those who attempted to immigrate to the United States and later returned. In particular, the local Ministry of Education is willing to consider the introduction of SAT, an alternative secondary education program for grades 7 to 12, to be implemented in areas where there are no secondary schools.(Through the first support project, KOICA improved drinking water and sanitation facilities in elementary schools in the Francisco Moraz n Department and provided related education. At an elementary school visited by the KOICA investigation team, students are welcoming the team with balloons and picket signs.)Places of learning where school and community work togetherIn addition to improving the physical and systematic environment of the school, the capacity of child protection and health services in the community where the school is located is also strengthened. In particular, KOICA plans to implement a protocol that will enable early identification of victims of violence or students with health problems through coordination between schools, child protection agencies, and health care facilities to ensure that they receive the necessary help within the community.One of the health-related issues facing local children and youth is adolescent pregnancy. The average adolescent pregnancy rate in Honduras is around 22.9%. In the target areas of the project, all Departments except for Francisco Moraz n (12.6%), Intibuc (32.1%), Lempira (28.3%), and El Para so (24.2%) exceed the national average. In particular, teenage pregnancy is considered a factor that has long-term negative effects on health, education, and child protection, including increasing the school dropout rate among adolescent females, leading to the birth of premature babies due to early delivery, and increasing poverty rates. In response, KOICA plans to educate child guardians, including adolescent mothers, on proper parenting methods and provide child development education, health services, and childcare services to improve their child-rearing conditions and offer learning opportunities.UNICEF, a project partner of KOICA, operates a consultative body with related organizations, including the Honduran Presidential Poverty Reduction Program, the Ministry of Social Security, the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Children and Youth. KOICA plans to support the development of more effective education policies based on accurate data about the current education environment. Lim Da-jeong, the coordinator, said, We hope that more children can attend school by transforming schools into true learning centers and safe spaces, adding, For the impact of this project to extend beyond the beneficiary areas and reach the entire country, full support and collaboration between local communities and the Honduran government are essential.
2024.12.26
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Latest issues at a glance KOICA NEWS
How are you all wrapping up the year? It feels like 2024 just started, yet December is already coming to an end. MAGAZINE KOICA has had a happy and meaningful year, being the first to deliver various news from KOICA. Even in 2025, the Year of the Blue Snake, MAGAZINE KOICA will continue to deliver valuable and heartwarming news that will lead to a sustainable future as quickly as possible. Now, we bring you the final KOICA news for 2024. 📰 NEWS 1. Achieved the 'Highest Grade' in Public Data Quality Certification(Joe Hyun-gue, Director General of the Department of Digital and IT Innovation at KOICA (far left), received the highest quality certificate at the '2024 Public Data Quality Certification Awards Ceremony' held at the National Library of Korea International Conference Hall in Banpo-dong, Seoul, on November 28.)KOICA obtained the highest grade, 'Excellent,' in the 'Public Data Quality Certification' conducted by the Ministry of Public Administration and Security in 2024. KOICA received high evaluations in all three assessment areas and achieved a total score of 98, making it one of 28 institutions, including central administration and public organizations, to secure the highest quality certification.KOICA has made various efforts in the field of data quality, including organizing a data quality management organization, establishing a quality management system for the entire database of the institution by introducing and implementing a data management system, and hiring quality management experts.CHANG Won Sam, President of KOICA, emphasized that Providing high-quality public data and allowing the public to use it freely is the foundation for implementing a digital platform government, and added, KOICA will continue to do its best to work with the people to create a better world through data. 📰 NEWS 2. Performance-sharing event commemorating the 10th anniversary of the KOICA Office in C te d'Ivoire(Participants at the 'KOICA C te d'Ivoire Office 10th Anniversary Performance Sharing Session' held at the Ivorian-Korean Sports, Culture and ICT Center in Abidjan, C te d'Ivoire, on November 28, including Kobea Tokpa Arsene, Deputy Minister of Higher Education of C te d'Ivoire (fifth from left in front row), Kouam -Louis Philippe Goli, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of C te d'Ivoire, Kim Saeng, Korean Ambassador to C te d'Ivoire, and Kim Sang-jun, Director of the KOICA Office in C te d'Ivoire, pose for a commemorative photo.)On November 28 (local time), KOICA held a performance-sharing session to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the opening of the KOICA C te d'Ivoire Office at the Ivorian-Korean Sports, Culture, and ICT Center in Abidjan, C te d'Ivoire. KOICA opened the office in C te d'Ivoire in 2014 and has been promoting ODA projects. Over the past 10 years, the amount of grant ODA support through KOICA has increased more than sixfold (from USD 2.37 million in 2014 to a provisional USD 13.44 million in 2024), and the number of talented individuals who participated in KOICA training projects has reached a cumulative total of 401. During the same period, C te d'Ivoire's GDP nearly doubled (from USD 48 billion in 2014 to USD 85 billion in 2024). KOICA has carried out projects for the people of C te d'Ivoire mainly in the areas of health, water management, and education. At the Performance-Sharing Session, KOICA also presented its project promotion and discovery process to Ivorian government ministries and international organization officials.📰 NEWS 3. KOICA-hosted event 'Leveraging Sustainable Finance for Upscaling Green Impact in Uzbekistan'(At the Performance Sharing Event held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan on November 27, key participants including Shin Myung-seop, Director of the KOICA Office (fourth from right in back row), Aaron Russell, Country Director of GGGI (second from right in back row), Utkir Jumanov, Director General of the Ministry of Environment (fifth from left in back row), and Alisher Sukurov, Minister of Agriculture (fifth from left in front row), Utkir Jumanov, Director General of the Ministry of Ecology (fifth from left in back row), and Alisher Sukurov, Deputy Minister of Agriculture (fifth from left in front row), posing for a commemorative photo.)KOICA held the performance-sharing event Leveraging Sustainable Finance for Upscaling Green Impact in Uzbekistan in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on November 27 (local time). At this event, KOICA shared its successful experience in issuing international bonds worth 1.4 trillion won to respond to the climate crisis in Uzbekistan, in collaboration with the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI). In the Autonomous Republic of Karakalpakstan, more than 90% of the Aral Sea has disappeared over the past 50 years due to land reclamation policies, the construction of dams and canals, and large-scale cotton cultivation, forcing fishermen to leave in search of alternative livelihoods and putting the local economy at great risk. Accordingly, KOICA collaborated with GGGI to promote the Aral Sea Green Rehabilitation Investment Project through Community-Led Eco-Friendly Reconstruction in the Autonomous Republic of Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan. GGGI established a foundation for bond issuance and supported the entire bond issuance process for SQB and Agrobank, commercial banks in Uzbekistan. As a result, all bonds issued by SQB and Agrobank were successfully listed on the London Stock Exchange. This achievement is evaluated as an innovative success in which traditional ODA-style policy support and capacity development activities led to the attraction of large-scale private investment.📰 NEWS 4. The 19th Korea Overseas Volunteer Awards ceremony(Winners are taking commemorative photos at the 19th Korea Overseas Volunteer Awards ceremony held at KOICA headquarters in Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, on December 5. (From left) Seok Dong-yeon, KOICA Overseas Volunteer (KOICA President's Commendation), Kim Se-hyun, Country Director of Medipeace in Peru (KOICA President's Commendation), Park Kwang-ho, Nepal Tikapur Region Project Manager (KCOC Chairman's Commendation), Seo Jeong-ho, KOICA Global Doctor (Prime Minister s Citation), Hwang Kyung-soon, Sister of The Congregation of Kkottongne Sisters of Jesus (Presidential Citation), Chung Moon-soo, Miral Welfare Foundation Malawi Branch Manager (Foreign Minister's Citation), Park Dong-chul, Vietnam Branch Manager of Good Neighbors (Foreign Minister's Citation), and Lee Kyu-in, MD, Korea Medical Institute (KCOC Chairman's Commendation)).The 19th Korea Overseas Volunteer Awards Ceremony, hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and organized by KOICA and KCOC, was held on December 5 at KOICA headquarters in Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do. At this ceremony, the Presidential Citation was awarded to Hwang Kyung-soon, Sister of The Congregation of Kkottongne Sisters of Jesus, who has run a missionary organization in Uganda for over 17 years and contributed to improving the quality of life of the underprivileged by caring for sick and poor children. Sister Hwang also received the Lee Tae-seok Service Award.The Prime Minister s Citation was awarded to Seo Jeong-ho, a KOICA Global Doctor who has been engaged in various medical volunteer activities in Cambodia. Besides, the Foreign Minister's Citation was awarded to Chung Moon-soo, Miral Welfare Foundation Malawi Branch Manager, and Park Dong-chul, Vietnam Branch Manager of Good Neighbors; the KOICA President's Commendation to Kim Se-hyun, Country Director of Medipeace in Peru, and Seok Dong-yeon, KOICA Overseas Volunteer; and the KCOC Chairman's Commendation to Park Kwang-ho, Nepal Tikapur Region Project Manager, and Lee Kyu-in, MD, Korea Medical Institute.📰 NEWS 5. KOICA 2024 Climate AI Forum (Key attendees are taking commemorative photos at the KOICA 2024 Climate AI Forum held at DoubleTree by Hilton Seoul Pangyo in Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, on December 9. (From left) Son Song-hee, Director of the Climate and Economic Development Team at KOICA, Oh Seong-soo, Senior Director General of the Directorate of Development Strategy, Yoo Yeon-cheol, Secretary General of the UN Global Compact Korea Association, Choi Jae-boong, Vice President of Sungkyunkwan University, Lee Yun-young, Vice President of KOICA, Choi Ye-ji, Ph.D., SIA Artificial Intelligence Research Institute, Gim Tae-hyoung, Professor at the Graduate School of Environmental Studies at Seoul National University, Kim Tae-yoon, UNFCCC working-level officer, Kim Kyung-ah, Manager of KOICA s Climate, Environment, and Economic Development Team, Lee Mi-kyung, Professor at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies.)KOICA held the KOICA 2024 Climate AI Forum at DoubleTree by Hilton Seoul Pangyo in Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, on December 9. KOICA organized this forum to introduce #AI4ClimateAction, an international community initiative to respond to climate change using AI technology, which KOICA has pledged to cooperate with the Secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) until 2027, and to exchange views with domestic businesspeople and experts on how Korea can effectively contribute.The forum was divided into two sessions. Session 1 was titled "Global Climate Action and the Future of AI Technology" and featured speakers Lee Mi-kyung, professor at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, and Kim Hye-won, Director of KOICA's Private Sector Engagement Program Team. In session 2, titled "Global Climate AI Business Participation and Case Studies," Choi Ye-ji, Ph.D., from SIA Artificial Intelligence Research Institute, and Gim Tae-hyoung, Professor at the Graduate School of Environmental Studies at Seoul National University, presented case studies of AI technologies being developed and researched in Korea to respond to climate change. Starting with this forum, KOICA plans to continue carrying out capacity building and knowledge-sharing activities both domestically and internationally to develop AI solutions for climate change response as an official partner organization of the UNFCCC #AI4ClimateAction initiative.📰 NEWS 6. '2024 KOICA's Global ODA Corporate Advancement Center Corporate Meeting'(The scene of the '2024 KOICA Global ODA Corporate Advancement Center Corporate Meeting' held on December 12 in Pangyo, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do.)On December 12, KOICA held the 2024 KOICA Global ODA Corporate Advancement Center Corporate Meeting at TOWN HALL in Pangyo, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do. This meeting was held for companies primarily supported by the Global ODA Corporate Advancement Center operated by KOICA, with more than 20 companies participating. At the meeting, the major achievements of this year's ODA Corporate Advancement Center were shared, and the operation plan for 2025 was announced. Enuma Korea Co., Ltd., which has experience in the KOICA project, shared the case of the "Enuma School" research consultancy commissioned by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).KOICA conducted ODA market entry briefing sessions, corporate capacity-building training, and consulting for a total of 545 companies this year. As a result, the amount of orders received by our companies in the global ODA market through the Global ODA Corporate Advancement Center was approximately $12 million (KRW 16.8 billion), an increase of 33% year on year, and the number of business orders was 20, almost double the number of the previous year, achieving significant results. KOICA plans to encourage the interest and participation of Korean companies by enhancing the promotion of the Global ODA Corporate Advancement Center and making materials published by the Center available to the public.
2024.12.26
