▲ Livestock farming in Nepal accounts for about 9% of the nation s total GDP, serving as an important means of livelihood for the Nepalese people. The photo shows women from the village of Sindhuli carrying milk containers as they head toward the village. / Courtesy of Heifer Korea Srijana (13), from the village of Sindhuli, Nepal, heads to the milk collection center at 4 a.m. every day. With her small but diligent hands, she milks the cows, and the milk she collects is delivered to nearby markets through the village s distribution network. Her daily income from dairy cows is 432 rupees (about 4,420 won), amounting to around 130,000 won per month. The cow she raises is named Dream. Dream, whom she met through a special opportunity, has become more than just livestock she now symbolizes her family s dreams and hopes. The dairy cow is a very important asset for the village s future, Srijana said. Now Dream offers such strong support for our family that we even hang flower garlands around her neck. The changes in Srijana s family are no coincidence. In April 2023, KOICA launched the project titled "Integrated Dairy Productivity Improvement Project for Smallholder Farmers in Kamalamai Municipality, Nepal." The project aims to enhance dairy productivity for smallholder farmers in the Kamalamai region, including Sindhuli village, and to help them build a foundation for self-reliance by sharing Korea s livestock farming experience and technology. Nepal is a nation highly dependent on agriculture. According to 2023 statistics from the National Statistics Office (NSO) of Nepal, about 4.13 million households, accounting for 61.91% of all households in the country, are engaged in farming. In particular, agriculture accounts for 26.27% of Nepal s total GDP, roughly six times higher than the global average of 4%. Livestock farming, closely linked to agriculture, accounts for about 9% of Nepal s GDP, making it a vital means of livelihood for the Nepalese people. In Nepal, agriculture and livestock farming are crucial industries that support local communities. However, they have been dealing with low productivity. According to 2023 statistics from Nepal s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MoALD), the annual milk production from 2.88 million milking cows in 2023 was 256,000 tons (256 million liters), with an average daily milk yield of about 2.45 liters per cow. This is significantly lower than the global average range of 6 to 8 liters. Heifer Korea, the Korean branch of the nonprofit international development organization Heifer International, partnered with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation in 2022 to support dairy industry development by providing a total of 108 Korean purebred Holstein breeding bulls and dairy cows. Twenty-six milking cows were given to a dairy-specialized institution under Nepal s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, while the remaining 80 cows were distributed to 51 households in Sindhuli, Kamalamai. Basic dairy infrastructure such as milk collection centers and refrigeration systems was also established. The establishment of basic dairy infrastructure aims to bring positive changes to residents economic activities and dietary habits. Through this, the project seeks to provide stable income sources for families and achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) such as the promotion of women s and children s rights and the preservation of communities. Beyond Livestock Distribution: Spreading Advanced Livestock Farming Systems The cows delivered to Sindhuli village in Nepal are not merely livestock but living symbols of technology transfer, embodying Korea s livestock expertise and the hands-on experience of its farmers. KOICA, in collaboration with Heifer Korea, implemented the Integrated Dairy Productivity Improvement Project for Smallholder Farmers in Kamalamai Municipality, Nepal to introduce Korea s systematic livestock management practices and sustainable dairy systems to rural areas of Nepal. It was an effort that went beyond merely supplying livestock, aiming to transform the entire dairy farming structure of a village and a region. KOICA and Heifer Korea especially focused on improving productivity in Sindhuli village as a key objective. They shared Korean farmers long-standing experience and dairy technology, including individual cow health management, balanced feed formulation, and hygienic milking techniques. They also introduced one-on-one breeding consultations, joint milk collection centers, and quality inspection systems, which increased daily milk production from 7 kg to 13.27 kg nearly doubling. The 51 farms raising Korean dairy cows achieved an average daily milk production of 22 kg, more than tripling their previous output. This project also aligned with the pressing global goals of climate crisis response and sustainability. In particular, Sindhuli village, a rural area near the Himalayas, is directly affected by the impact of the climate crisis, making climate adaptation a matter of survival. To this end, they installed fans and automatic sprinklers inside the cowsheds to alleviate heat stress in the dairy cows. A biomass system for managing livestock manure was also installed. This biomass system processed animal waste in an environmentally friendly way, reducing the ecological burden and making a significant impact on household incomes in Sindhuli village. By utilizing part of the LPG gas previously used as biomass energy, household incomes in the farming communities increased. The biomass produced from livestock manure was about 7kg per month, saving over $7 in energy costs. Heifer Korea CEO Lee Hae-won said, "The biomass system is the aspect where residents of Sindhuli village in Nepal felt the strongest impact in responding to the climate crisis," adding, "Although residents initially said it was unnecessary, about 120 households ended up adopting the biomass system because they wanted it." ▲ 1 The women in Sindhuli village, Nepal, are now able to scientifically and systematically manage their livestock by using the Farmer s Hands app, developed by the Korean company Bodit, to check for livestock diseases and analyze feed efficiency. / Courtesy of Heifer Korea 2 Livestock management screenshot of 'Farmer s Hands' developed by the Korean startup Bodit KOICA and Heifer Korea went beyond simple livestock support by aiming for a structural transformation of the dairy sector through digital technology education. They introduced a mobile application-based dairy management system called Farmers Hands in Kamalamai Municipality. Farmers Hands, developed by the Korean startup Bodit, selected for the K-INNO Global Program to support on-site demonstrations program, carried out in cooperation between the Public Procurement Service and KOICA. In June, 100 units were distributed to 18 farms in Nepal. Through alerts from the Farmers Hands app, which is connected to devices attached to the cows necks, farmers can now detect abnormal signs in their livestock, respond early to diseases, and analyze feed efficiency. This allows them to move beyond experience-based livestock rearing and adopt scientific and systematic animal management. The digital transformation has also led to educational innovation that strengthens farmers knowledge and capabilities. Field-based training was provided alongside the project, covering topics from app usage to vaccination schedules, estrus management, and hygienic milking techniques. The establishment of wired internet within farms is also an important achievement. Particularly noteworthy in the digital transformation is the change in the social status of women. Women, who previously only did household chores and auxiliary livestock tasks, began to assert themselves as they received training in using digital devices and managing milking centers, enabling them to generate stable income. Through Farmers Hands, women have grown into practical dairy experts by recording the health status of dairy cows, organizing milk production data, and voluntarily submitting opinions at village meetings. Mini Interview "Residents: From Beneficiaries to Active Leaders of Village Transformation" - Lee Hae-won, CEO of Heifer Korea ▲ Lee Hae-won, CEO of Heifer Korea (right), poses with women from Sindhuli village in Nepal and Sidori(시돌이), a milking cow provided through cooperation with the Korean Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation to promote the village s dairy industry. / Courtesy of Heifer Korea Q What is the biggest change you have observed in the field while carrying out the work? It s the change in people. At first, they were hesitant about unfamiliar technology and could barely speak a word, but now they lead village meetings and directly manage cooperatives. Among the villagers, Ms. Indira Pokhrel stands out the most in my memory. She always told us it felt like going to school (laughs). In the past, she had no opportunities to learn, but now she is actively involved as a member of the management team of the women's dairy cooperative she belongs to. When Ms. Pokhrel had the chance to meet with Nepalese government officials and confidently presented the cooperative s goals in front of many people, I couldn t help but feel emotional. Q Were there any difficulties in their process of adopting the technology? Even if you have good technology, whether it will work properly when brought to the local context is an entirely different matter. We introduced an application called Farmer s Hands and a smart livestock management device, but for those not used to digital tools, it was a very unfamiliar instrument. At first, many people wrote down livestock-related information by hand and later entered it into the application. Still, through consistent training, changes started to happen. Gradually, the perception that directly recording and digitally checking is convenient took hold. It was the first step in the digital transformation. Q Have there been any changes in the village as well? The most notable aspect while carrying out this project has been the "community." All the villagers are collaborating, sharing the business vision and operational status. The women have changed too. Those who initially wouldn t even make eye contact now say, We want to give back the help we ve received to other villages someday. Additionally, cooperative members wrote a proposal to the government and secured greenhouse equipment for cultivating crops using manure. They have grown from being mere beneficiaries into protagonists driving regional change. Q Were there any particular remarks that stayed with you? I remember a woman who said, I'm glad I can afford my children s school meals myself." I believe her single phrase captures the entire meaning of our ongoing support project. The cows are merely a means, and true change is created by the people themselves. It encompasses women s rights, changes in families, and the restoration of communities all of them. I believe this is the very essence of ODA and what true sustainability means.

• 2025.11.04
• 12min READ

▲ Participants pose during the 18th Seoul ODA International Conference, co-hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and KOICA at Lotte Hotel in Seoul on Sept. 29. Among them are KOICA President Chang Won-sam, Second Vice Foreign Minister Kim Jin-ah, KOICA Vice President Lee Yun-young, Chair of the OECD Development Assistance Committee Carsten Staur, and Director of the Secretariat for TOSSD Julia Ben. The 18th Seoul ODA International Conference, co-hosted by KOICA and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was held at the Lotte Hotel in Sogong-dong, Seoul, on Sept. 29. Launched in 2007, the Seoul ODA International Conference, now in its 18th year, serves as a global platform where diverse stakeholders in development cooperation including governments, the private sector, and academia gather to discuss key issues and share knowledge and experiences.Under the theme Calling for Partnership: Catalyzing Financing for Development, the conference brought together around 400 participants, including government representatives and development agencies from ODA donor and recipient countries, major international organizations, civil society, academia, the diplomatic corps in Korea, and members of the public. KOICA live-streamed the conference online, allowing participants from around the world to join the event in real time.The conference mainly focused on discussions continuing from the Compromiso de Sevilla. The Compromiso de Sevilla is the outcome document of the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4), held in Seville, Spain, last July, where the global community gathered to address complex crises and discuss effective ways to mobilize and utilize development financing. The conference was also significant in that it served as a forum for the international community to collectively explore practical ways to implement the Compromiso de Sevilla.In his opening remarks, KOICA President Chang Won-sam said that, at a time when solidarity and cooperation among development partners sharing universal values are more essential than ever, it is important to use this ongoing forum to seek solutions that go beyond the limitations of ODA-centered development financing and to create meaningful opportunities for practical collaboration.In her welcome remarks, Second Vice Foreign Minister Kim Jin-ah underlined that FfD4 was an important occasion advancing multilateral development cooperation, emphasizing that concrete efforts through global partnerships are essential for implementing the Compromiso de Sevilla.Carsten Staur, chair of the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC), emphasized in his keynote speech that the Compromiso de Sevilla is not an endpoint but a new starting point, urging everyone to demonstrate leadership and join forces to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the shared objectives of the international community.1 KOICA President Chang Won-sam delivers the opening address. In his remarks, he called for joint efforts to find solutions that go beyond the limitations of ODA-centered development financing. 2 Second Vice Foreign Minister Kim Jin-ah emphasized in her welcome address that concrete efforts through global partnerships are required to implement the Compromiso de Sevilla, highlighting three priorities for joint action. 3 Carsten Staur, chair of the OECD DAC, outlined four key proposals from the OECD regarding the Compromiso de Sevilla Action Platform in his keynote address.International efforts to implement the "Compromiso de Sevilla"The first session, moderated by Park Jong-han, director-general for Development Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, centered on FfD4 Outcomes and Korea s Contribution, providing a platform to share the conference s key outcomes, discuss future prospects, and explore relevant implications.Julia Benn, director of the Secretariat for Total Official Support for Sustainable Development (TOSSD), took the stage as the first speaker and introduced TOSSD s core values and objectives, highlighting strengthening ownership, improving transparency, and inclusive governance. She emphasized that TOSSD fundamentally aligns with the principles of effective global partnership in development, providing a foundation for cooperation between developed and developing countries through diverse approaches that go beyond traditional ODA models.▲ Moderated by Park Jong-han, director-general for Development Cooperation within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the first session on "FfD4 Outcomes and Korea's Contribution" featured speakers including Julia Ben, Director of the Secretariat for TOSSD, Oliver Schwenk, Chief of Policy Analysis at the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs Financing for Sustainable Development Office, and Song Ji-sun, Professor at the Korea National Diplomatic Academy. Oliver Schwenk, chief of Policy Analysis at the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs Financing for Sustainable Development Office, introduced the overall status of the Compromiso de Sevilla s implementation and the UN s related roles and strategies. He underscored that multilateral and multi-stakeholder partnerships are crucial for the international community to effectively address today s challenges.As the final speaker, Song Ji-sun, professor at the Korea National Diplomatic Academy, discussed Korea s ODA Strategy and Development Effectiveness. Professor Song explained that, in order to advance the Compromiso de Sevilla amid the rapidly changing landscape of international development cooperation, the Korean government is pursuing a strategy to enhance both the scale and quality of its programs, thereby building a more comprehensive and effective ODA system. She went on to explain that Korea is focusing on multidimensional responses to global challenges such as peace, security, and climate/environment through ODA.▲ Oliver Schwenk, chief of Policy Analysis at the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs Financing for Sustainable Development Office, highlighted the challenges hindering the implementation of the Compromiso de Sevilla. He explained that overcoming these obstacles requires narrowing the perceptual gap between donor and recipient countries and strengthening multilateralism based on partnerships. Sharing successful cases from various countries based on innovative cooperation modelsThe second session, chaired by Park Kyung-ryul, professor at KAIST, focused on Development Finance and Partnerships : Approaches to Mobilization, Alignment and Coordination, featuring presentations that explored these strategic topics. In this session, development cooperation partners from the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad), the Mexican Agency for International Development Cooperation (AMEXCID), the Peruvian Agency for International Cooperation (APCI), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and Convergence Blended Finance shared successful case studies from their respective organizations.▲ The second session chaired by Park Kyung-ryul, professor at KAIST, was titled "Development Finance and Partnerships : Approaches to Mobilization, Alignment and Coordination," featuring five speakers who presented successful case studies from various countries. Anders Aabo, senior adviser in the Department for Climate, Nature and the Private Sector, at Norad, presented cases of improving development effectiveness in the fields of climate and food security through innovative financing methods and strategic partnerships. He drew particular attention by introducing strategies that contribute to rural development and food security through initiatives like the "FASA (Financing for Agri-SMEs in Africa)," a joint cooperation project with KOICA that strengthens financial support for agricultural small and medium-sized enterprises in Africa. Aabo, who emphasized the necessity and importance of multilateral cooperation, expressed his gratitude to KOICA and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, saying, Various forums like the Seoul ODA International Conference serve as vital platforms for building partnerships and creating new opportunities for collaboration. Noela Pantoja Crespo, executive director of APCI, shared Peru s cases of securing development financing through diverse and innovative cooperation models, including South-South Cooperation, which pursues mutual benefits and solidarity through resource, technology, and knowledge exchange among developing countries; Triangular Cooperation, where developing countries advance development cooperation with support from developed countries or international organizations; and Circular Cooperation, a hybrid and expanded form of South-South Cooperation and Triangular Cooperation .▲ Anders Aabo, senior adviser at Norad, explained that the FASA initiative, which uses blended finance to support agriculture in Africa, is a model that can be applied to other sectors as well. Tim Strawson, team lead at the UNDP Sustainable Finance Hub, presented on mobilizing resources for the Sustainable Development Goals through the Integrated National Financing Framework (INFF) and the development effectiveness strategy. Christopher Clubb, managing director at Convergence Blended Finance, discussed the role and challenges of blended finance in channeling private sector capital into development projects to bridge the massive financing gap required to achieve the SDGs.▲ Christopher Clubb, managing director at Convergence Blended Finance, highlighted key strategies for mobilizing blended finance through expanded private investment, emphasizing the creation of commercial viability, development of standardized solutions, scaling up project investments, and ensuring investment effectiveness. Strengthening global partnerships for effective development cooperation As time passed, the meeting grew more intense. In the final third session, participants examined how the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation (GPEDC), launched at the 2011 Busan High-Level Forum, could be reinterpreted and applied in the changing development cooperation landscape. Kim Ji-hyun, research fellow at the Science and Technology Policy Institute (STEPI), moderated the session titled GPEDC Principles at the Core: Envisioning the Future of Development Finance Governance featuring Christina Hartler, acting assistant director-general of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency(Sida), and Debapriya Bhattacharya, distinguished fellow at the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), as speakers. ▲ In the third session, chaired by Kim Ji-hyun, research fellow at the STEPI, speakers delivered presentations on the theme GPEDC Principles at the Core: Envisioning the Future of Development Finance Governance. Hartler said that the core value of development effectiveness in ODA-centered development cooperation is an essential element in promoting sustainable development amid today s complex and resource-constrained environment. She also emphasized that the core direction of development finance governance should focus not only on expanding resources but also on ensuring tangible results through the GPEDC principles, making this moment more crucial than ever for strengthening global partnerships. The final speaker at the 18th Seoul ODA International Conference, Bhattacharya, emphasized the importance of the principles of development effectiveness from the perspective of the Global South, referring to emerging and developing countries in the Global South. He also underscored the need to apply and expand the GPEDC principles and to strengthen governance amid the increasingly complex and diverse development finance landscape. He added that dialogue serves as both a means of survival for development cooperation amid multilayered crises and a tool to bridge gaps among diverse stakeholders, earning a warm round of applause from the audience.▲ 1 Christina Hartler, acting assistant director-general of Sida, emphasized that advancing the four GPEDC principles country ownership, focus on results, inclusive partnerships, and transparency and mutual accountability is the core direction of development finance governance. 2 Debapriya Bhattacharya, distinguished fellow at the CPD, emphasized that to implement the Compromiso de Sevilla , it is essential to build a new narrative for development cooperation, restructure the monitoring iframework, and ensure linkage with the GPEDC for effective implementation. 3 Lee Yun-young, KOICA vice president, explained in his closing remarks that the 18th Seoul ODA International Conference was a time to recognize the necessity for change and to confirm new possibilities for cooperation to achieve the SDGs. At the end of each session, a Q&A segment was held, during which speakers responded directly to questions submitted online in real time, facilitating the exchange of diverse thoughts and opinions.Lee Yun-young, KOICA vice president, said in his closing remarks that the conference was highly meaningful in that the international community collectively sought practical measures to translate the Compromiso de Sevilla, the outcome document of FfD4, into concrete actions rather than leaving it as a mere declaration. He added that it also served as an opportunity to share various partnership-based financing models such as Blended Finance, South-South Cooperation, Triangular Cooperation, and Circular Cooperation with the international community and to set a clear direction for sustainable development cooperation. He also expressed his earnest hope that the various innovative financing strategies and principles of development effectiveness discussed at this conference will lead to concrete actions by the international community, contributing to the building of a more sustainable and equitable future. ▲ Government officials from donor and recipient countries, representatives of major international Organizations, and officials from development agencies attending the 18th Seoul ODA International Conference attentively listened to the presentations given by speakers in each session. KOICA and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted the 2025 Global Development Partnership Week from Sept. 21 to Oct. 3, organizing events such as the 18th Seoul ODA International Conference, the 8th Busan Global Partnership Forum, the 5th High-Level Meeting of the MIKTA Development Cooperation Institutions Network, and the 30th Steering Committee Meeting of the GPEDC, all of which provided a platform for domestic and international development cooperation stakeholders to discuss challenges and future directions in global development cooperation.

• 2025.11.04
• 12min READ

KOICA has taken broader and deeper steps forward in the field of international development cooperation. The 5th MIKTA Development Cooperation Institutions Network High-Level Meeting was held in Seoul. There was also good news from Africa. In the Ugandan capital of Kampala, the first East African Skills Exchange Event was held, and in Tanzania, the first Africa-based international forum on AI was held. Also, KOICA received the Prime Minister s Award at the 5th Procurement Day Ceremony and announced plans to expand participation in overseas volunteer programs for multicultural families and low-income groups. 📰 NEWS 1. The 5th MIKTA Development Cooperation Institutions Network High-Level Meeting Held ▲ At the 5th #MIKTA Development Cooperation Institutions Network High-Level Meeting organized by KOICA on Oct. 1 at the Lotte Hotel Seoul in Sogong-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul, (from left) Paulina Alejandra del Moral Vela, executive director of AMEXCID; Rina Setyawati, director of International Cooperation at Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia; Hong Seok-hwa, Director of Regional Operations Department II at KOICA; Rahman Nurdun, vice president of TİKA; and Martin Walker, deputy head of mission at the Australian Embassy in Korea, posed for a commemorative photo. The 5th #MIKTA Development Cooperation Institutions Network High-Level Meeting, organized by KOICA, was held on Oct. 1 at Lotte Hotel Seoul in Sogong-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul. Held under the theme Strengthening MIKTA s Role in an Era of Complex Crises: Exploring Joint Cooperation Project Models, the meeting brought together five middle-power countries Korea, Mexico, Indonesia, T rkiye, and Australia to discuss ways to strengthen multilateral cooperation and explore joint project models. The participating countries agreed that trilateral cooperation, which combines each nation s strengths, could serve as a distinctive model of collaboration for MIKTA. In particular, KOICA s ongoing Project for Quality Maternal and Newborn Health Services in Kajiado County, Kenya, was highlighted as a successful case, with T rkiye s Development Cooperation Agency (TİKA) providing additional support through solar power installations. 📰 NEWS 2. East Africa's First 6-Country Skills Exchange Event Held ▲ On October 2, at the Ntinda Vocational Training Institute in Kampala, Uganda, students are building the eco-house, exchanging ideas and collaborating during the student skills competition held in the training workshop. KOICA hosted the East African Skills Exchange Event on Oct. 1 2 at the Ntinda Vocational Training Institute in Kampala, the capital of Uganda. This exchange event was organized to bring together skilled professionals from six countries Uganda, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Kenya, Rwanda, and Tanzania where KOICA operates vocational training projects, to share knowledge and experiences and to establish a model for interregional educational cooperation. This is KOICA's first skills exchange event, expanding its leadership beyond country-specific support to the entire East African region.In the main program, the student skills competition, the six national teams used electrical, welding, and plumbing techniques to build eco-friendly small eco-houses. The Ugandan team received the highest scores for quality and collaboration en route to winning the grand prize.KOICA also organized a seminar to share experiences and discuss improvements in vocational training programs. About 100 participants, including representatives from KOICA offices in six countries, industry experts, and other donor countries, gathered to share cases and explore potential cooperation. 📰 NEWS 3. Co-hosting the 'AI for Climate Action Forum 2025' in Tanzania ▲ At Session 1 of the AI for Climate Action Forum 2025 held on Oct. 8 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, panelists including Cha Sang-hoon, CEO of WI.Plat (second from the left), are engaging in a discussion. (Provided by UNFCCC Secretariat) KOICA held the AI for Climate Action Forum 2025 on Oct. 8 9 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, together with the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Secretariat and the Tanzanian government. This forum was the first AI-themed international event held in Africa, organized to leverage AI technology for climate change responses in least developed countries (LDCs) and small island developing states (SIDS).The forum consisted of seven sessions in total. In Session 1, Cha Sang-hoon, CEO of the Korean startup WI.Plat, supported by KOICA s innovative technology program (CTS), introduced the AI leak detection system called NELLO, drawing significant attention.In the latter part of the forum, the AI for Climate Action Award 2025 ceremony was held. A total of 634 solutions from around the world were submitted, and the winning solution was SAFIR (Smart AI-based Farming & Irrigation for Resilience) by the team from the Korea Water Resources Corporation (K-Water). SAFIR is an AI-based agricultural solution that analyzes real-time weather and soil data to provide farmers with customized guidance.During the forum, KOICA operated a promotional booth to introduce Korea s AI-based ODA projects and conducted a survey. Of the respondents, 93.4% evaluated Korea s AI technology very positively, and the areas with the highest demand were identified as agricultural technology and water management. 📰 NEWS 4. Awarded the Prime Minister's Prize for Innovative Procurement at the 5th Procurement Day Ceremony ▲ On Sept. 29, at the 5th Procurement Day ceremony held at SETEC in Seoul, KOICA officials posed for a commemorative photo. KOICA received the Prime Minister's Award in the category of 'Contribution to Public Procurement of Innovative Products' at the 5th Procurement Day Ceremony held on Sept. 29 at the Seoul Trade Exhibition & Convention (SETEC). Since 2010, KOICA has identified domestic innovative technologies and applied them to address social and economic challenges in developing countries, actively supporting the global expansion of Korean companies through these initiatives.In 2022, KOICA launched the Shared Growth Team to establish a comprehensive support system encompassing the discovery and incubation of innovative companies, overseas demonstration linked to ODA, and collaboration with relevant organizations. In the past five years, KOICA has distributed 15 innovative products to 48 countries, achieving approximately 8 million dollars in exports. This year, it is conducting overseas demonstrations of outstanding innovative products from domestic small and medium-sized enterprises at ODA project sites in eight countries, including Mongolia and Algeria.KOICA is also promoting innovative product demonstration projects in non-capital regions of Korea, such as Yeongwol in Gangwon-do, contributing to regional economic revitalization and fostering win-win outcomes both domestically and internationally.📰 NEWS 5. KOICA signed MOUs with KIHF and KASWC▲ 1, at KOICA headquarters in Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do, Jeong Yoon-gil, director general of the Global Leaders Programme at KOICA (right), and Kim Ji-soo, director general of the Family-friendly Business Division at KIHF, signed an MOU to promote overseas volunteer projects for multicultural families and posed for a commemorative photo. On Oct. 1, KOICA signed MOUs with the Korea Institute for Healthy Family (KIHF) and the Korean Association of Social Welfare Centers (KASWC) at its headquarters in Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do, aiming to expand the participation of socially disadvantaged groups in overseas volunteer service projects. This MOU aims to encourage participation by multicultural families and low-income groups who face obstacles in joining overseas volunteer activities. KOICA plans to expand the participation of multicultural families and low-income groups in overseas volunteer activities by collaborating with KIHF, which centrally manages more than 240 family centers nationwide, and KASWC, which includes over 460 social welfare centers. KOICA will work with KIHF to promote overseas volunteer opportunities through family centers and the Danuri portal, offering information sessions and preferential selection for multicultural families. With KASWC, KOICA will strengthen cooperation by using social welfare centers and online platforms for promotion, as well as holding briefing sessions to encourage greater participation from low-income groups.

• 2025.11.04
• 12min READ