Korea International Cooperation Agency

The Korea International Cooperation Agency was founded as a government agency on April 1, 1991, to maximize the effectiveness of South Korea's grant aid programs for developing countries by implementing the government's grant aid and technical cooperation programs. In the past, development cooperation efforts were focused mainly on meeting the basic human needs (BHNs) of developing countries and on fostering their Human Resource Development(HRD). However, the focus has now broadened to promoting sustainable development, strengthening partnerships with developing partners, and enhancing the local ownership of beneficiaries. Additionally, global concerns such as the environment, poverty reduction, and gender mainstreaming, have gained significant importance in the international community. Due to the continuously changing trends in development assistance efforts and practices, KOICA is striving to adapt to these changes by using its limited financial resources effectively in areas where Korea has a comparative advantage. In particular, Korea has the experience of developing from one of the poorest countries in the world to one of the most economically advanced, as recently demonstrated by South Korea's entry into the OECD DAC (Development Assistance Committee) on November 25, 2009. The know-how and experience Korea gained from this transition are the assets that allow KOICA to efficiently support the sustainable socio-economic development of its partner countries. ==Timeline==

• 1991 – Established the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) • 1995 – Started the dispatch of international cooperation personnel (substitute military service system) • 1996 – Joined the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) • 2008 – Moved the KOICA headquarters building • 2009 – Launched World Friends Korea (WFK) Programs • 2010 – Enacted the Framework Act on International Development Cooperation (Framework Act) / Joined the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) • 2011 – Hosted the fourth High Level Forum on aid effectiveness • 2013 – Recorded more than 10,000 overseas volunteers / Launched the Global Saemaul Undong (New Village Movement) • 2015 – Opened the History Museum of Development Cooperation Presidents KOICA's current and former presidents: • since 10 July 2023: Chang Won-sam • 30 Nov 2020 - 10 July 2023: Son Hyuk-sang • 28 November 2017 – 30 November 2020: Lee Mi-kyung ==History==

As a recipient (1945-1995) In the wake of the devastating 1950 Korean War, South Korea was one of the poorest countries in the world. ==Schemes==

Korea International Cooperation Agency has adopted "win-win platform for expanding the role of ODA strategic advantage", "enlarging Korean model of ODA projects reflecting South Korea's past development experience and strengths", "expanding strategic ODA and supports for developing states", "advancing KOICA's competencies", and "strengthening ODA education for 對-publics" as strategic goals to become the world's leading aid agency. Korea International Cooperation Agency is working toward building effective and efficient grant-aid structure and spreading South Korea's experience of rapid economic development to best facilitate eradicating poverty in international society. Major policy directions • Encouraging the Civil Society Organizations and the private sector to join KOICA's projects. • Expanding untied aid. • Increasing the volume of ODA and the ration of grant aid. • Implementing a result-based management system that meets the needs of partner countries. • Implementing South Korea's development experience and comparative advantages into develop cooperation projects. • Maintaining the 'Selection and Focus' Principle. • Strengthening capacity for ODA implementation. World Friends Korea World Friends Korea (WFK) is both the new name and the new program for volunteers dispatched overseas by the Korean government. The program is similar to the American Peace Corps program. In 2009, the South Korean government unified the separate volunteer programs previously operated by three different ministries into a single brand, "WFK", to enhance the effectiveness of the overseas volunteer programs while also offering a coherent and integrated image for Korea's overseas volunteer programs. As another two volunteer programs joined the WFK in 2010, it is a single brand name for seven different programs coordinated by KOICA. More than 20,000 WFK volunteers will be dispatched from 2009 to 2013. They will contribute to the socioeconomic development of developing countries, spreading the good image of Korea. Multilateral cooperation Multilateral systems provide the best prospects for an inclusive process to set the "rules for international conduct" and a forum to promote values important to Korea, including democracy, human development and social justice. To promote aid effectiveness and harmonize with the international community, KOICA is continuing to strengthen its network with multilateral organization through contributions, joint programs, joint evaluation of projects, and joint training courses. By collaborating with multilateral organizations, so called "multi-bi assistance", KOICA expects to diversify ODA delivery channels. Grant aid represents over 60% of multilateral assistance. Global Disease Eradication Fund As an innovative measure to draw attention on the global issues such as poverty and diseases, the government of Republic of Korea established the 'Global Disease Eradication Fund' for the purpose of eradicating infectious diseases in low income countries. Since September 2007, every international flight ticket departing from Republic of Korea has donated 1,000 won(KRW) to this fund. Global Disease Eradication Fund cooperates with International Organizations, Non-Governmental Organizations and social activists. And those are used to support infectious diseases maternal- child health projects in sub-Saharan Africa. == Overseas Offices ==

KOICA operates 46 offices around the world. Below is a list of those country offices: Asia • - Kabul • - Dhaka • - Phnom Penh • - Suva • - Jakarta • - Vientiane • - Ulaanbaatar • - Yangon • - Lalitpur • - Islamabad • - Taguig • - Colombo • - Dili • - Hanoi • - Bishkek Africa • - Algiers • - Yaounde • - Kinshasa • - Cairo • - Addis Ababa • - Accra • - Abidjan • - Nairobi • - Rabat • - Maputo • - Abuja • - Kigali • - Dakar • - Dar es Salaam • - Tunis • - Kampala Latin America • - La Paz • - Bogotá • - Santo Domingo • - Quito • - San Salvador • - Guatemala City • - Asunción • - Lima Middle East and Central Asia • - Baku • - Baghdad and Erbil • - Amman • - Bishkek • - Ramallah • - Tashkent ==See also== • AmeriCorps • British Romanian Educational Exchange • CUSO • European Voluntary Service • Export–Import Bank of Korea which manages Economic Development Cooperation Fund • Fredskorpset • International Voluntary Services • JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) • National Peace Corps Association • Peace Corps • Provincial Reconstruction Team • United Nations Volunteers • United States Cultural Exchange Programs • Voluntary Service Overseas ==References==