As we welcome 2023, KOICA is gearing up to take another leap forward. On January 17, the agency celebrated the completion of the Vietnam-Korea Institute of Science and Technology (VKIST), a decade-long initiative, at Hoa Lac Hi-Tech Park in Hanoi, Vietnam. A revised edition of International Development Cooperation: Introduction, a book that provides basic information on international development cooperation, was published six years after the first edition. On January 19, KOICA held an event titled “Beyond Boundaries” for communication among employees at headquarters and overseas offices, highlighting the agency’s efforts for organizational innovation.
NEWS 1. KOICA and JICA hold first joint seminar on evaluation
On December 19, KOICA hosted the first KOICA-JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) joint seminar on evaluation in a hybrid format. Attended by 50 staff members from each agency, the seminar served as a forum for the two organizations to establish a clear understanding of ODA evaluation systems and share their program evaluation experiences and know-how. During the morning session, JICA presented on its ODA evaluation system, covering the evaluation iframework, cooperation for evaluation, best practices, and feedback systems. JICA also shared its know-how and experience in this regard, including the latest trends in evaluations, exemplary cases, and learning from evaluation. The afternoon session primarily consisted of working-level discussions with particular focus on awareness building and feedback concerning evaluation iframeworks and evaluation assessments, and evaluation processes and results. KOICA also plans to host the 8th KOICA-JICA Annual Meeting in the first half of 2023.
NEWS 2. 10-year project finalized: Completion ceremony of Vietnam-Korea Institute of Science and Technology (VKIST)
A completion ceremony was held for the Vietnam-Korea Institute of Science and Technology (VKIST), for which KOICA provided support of $35 million for the past 10 years, at the Hoa Lac Hi-Tech Park in Hanoi, Vietnam on January 17. Modelled after the Korea Institute of Science and Technology, VKIST is the largest research and development center in Vietnam. On a 231,404-sqm site in Hoa Lac Hi-Tech Park, the institute has three research wings, a main building, a center machine house, a wastewater treatment plant, and storage for hazardous substances. Adaptability to the local environment in Vietnam was taken into consideration in the initial design stages, and VKIST was the first overseas construction project funded by KOICA to attain the green construction certification (G-SEED and LOTUS), thus becoming recognized as the only “advanced green research institute” in Vietnam. The Korean provided support for the institute through advanced research equipment, laboratory materials, and 300 electronic devices. Currently, VKIST is conducting 32 joint research projects between Korea and Vietnam, including electric vehicle motor and bird influenza diagnostic sensor projects.
NEWS 3. ODA at a glance: Revised edition of International Development Cooperation: Introduction
KOICA published a revised edition of International Development Cooperation: Introduction, a guidebook on the basics of international development cooperation, following the publication of the first edition six years ago. The topics covered range from the definitions and history of international development cooperation to Korea’s contributions and vision. Originally published in 2016, International Development Cooperation: Introduction has been recognized as a must-read for those new to international development cooperation. The book also includes cases of young people advancing careers and ambitions in international development cooperation, and has been used as a textbook at some universities in Korea. In the revised edition, the section on the latest trends and issues in international development cooperation section has been substituted by a new section titled “International Development Cooperation and SDGs,” with a particular focus on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to be achieved by 2030. It also covers international initiatives to achieve the SDGs, key challenges, and prospects.
NEWS 4. Beyond Boundaries: A forum to innovate organizational culture and communicate
KOICA organized an event titled “Beyond Boundaries” to promote communication among employees from headquarters and overseas offices at its offices in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province on January 19. The event was attended by directors of overseas offices and director of departments at headquarters, in addition to staff members. Aimed at innovating organizational culture, the meeting featured highlight videos from the overseas office director’s meeting, findings from discussions on organizational culture innovation, plans for implementing innovation, lessons from lectures and discussions, and activities to strengthen teamwork. In 2022, meeting the 30th anniversary of its establishment, KOICA announced its mid- and long-term management strategy of integrated approach, digital transformation, and organizational culture innovation. This event was held to share plans for organizational culture innovation with overseas offices and strengthen participatory decision-making for an enhanced work culture and sustainable development.