South-South and Triangular Cooperation Featured Partner
About KOICA
“Contributing to the advancement of international cooperation through various cooperative projects to promote friendly and cooperative relationships and mutual exchanges between the Republic of Korea and developing countries and achieve poverty reduction, improvement of the quality of life, sustainable development, and humanitarianism of developing countries”
The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), the Republic of Korea’s government agency under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for development cooperation, was first established in 1991. Its key objectives are the following: reducing poverty, improving the quality of life, fulfilling sustainable development and humanitarianism, promoting friendly and cooperative relationships with developing countries, and contributing to global peace and prosperity.
Asia has been KOICA’s top priority for development cooperation in 2021(48.3%), followed by Africa (25.6%), Latin America (14.7%), and Middle East/CIS (11.4%). The aid in Africa is constantly increasing, along with the government’s expansion of international cooperation policies. 38.1% of KOICA’s total sources are allocated for LDCs, and the proportion will continue to expand in the upcoming years.
For more effective support, the ODA delivered is allocated to different sectors in accordance with SDG goals and major development priorities of developing countries. KOICA adopted its top 5 sectors of 2021, which are of the following: Technology/Environment & Energy (17.8%), Education (17.3%), Health (16.5%), Public Administration (16.2%) and Agriculture (12.6%).
KOICA, Argentina and Paraguay established a triangular cooperation project to promote the empowerment of agricultural skills and improve the sustainability of small-scale farmers in Paraguay. The Paraguayan officials who completed the training for agricultural extension are holding their certificates
KOICA and South-South and Triangular Cooperation
Over the past few decades, KOICA has set up different strategic frameworks to promote triangular cooperation. The third framework established in 2021 approaches the theme by designing goals, analyzing cases, and setting up South-South and triangular cooperation initiatives. KOICA’s current vision for SSTC is to develop win-win partnerships for achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
With the means categorized into OECD’s five options for effectively engaging in triangular cooperation, KOICA aims to activate and promote triangular cooperation, accumulate data to improve efficiency, and raise awareness of the positive effects and lessons learned from the projects.
KOICA’s projects are designed to achieve sustainability in a region, and SSTC is a key model to implement the actions. Various programmes cover different fields in cooperation with governments, civil society, international organizations and academia. KOICA aims to enhance international cooperation through ‘ODA together’, one of the strategic targets under the 3rd Mid-term Strategy for Development Cooperation of the government of the Republic of Korea (2021-2025).
KOICA seeks to establish major partnership with countries in different regions to better take advantage of SSTC in the future. MIKTA, a cross-regional partnership established in 2013, would be a good example of these partnerships. The MIKTA development cooperation institutions network was established in 2021 under KOICA’s initiatives, allowing the Agency to further expand its work through triangular cooperation. Mexico, Indonesia and Turkiye worked with KOICA through triangular cooperation and the high understanding between partners allows for increasingly effective cooperation.
More Initiatives on South-South & Triangular Cooperation
Korea Disaster Relief
KOICA Climate Action
KOICA, SENAI of Brazil, and DINAC of Paraguay partner to strengthen the Aircraft Maintenance Sector in Paraguay through Triangular Cooperation.
This triangular cooperation project was a collaboration between KOICA, Brazil’s National Service of Industrial Apprenticeship (SENAI) and Paraguay’s National Directorate of Civil Aeronautics (DINAC), aimed at developing the capacities of aircraft maintenance professionals in Paraguay. KOICA was the facilitating partner, with SENAI being a pivotal partner in supporting the education of professionals and providing the infrastructure needed. To learn more, please click here.
Accelerating Clean Energy Access to Reduce Inequality (ACCESS)
The Accelerating Clean Energy Access to Reduce Inequality (ACCESS) initiative was established by the government of Indonesia, with the support from KOICA and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). By improving access to sustainable energy, the project aimed to improve the livelihoods of rural communities in Indonesia and Timor-Leste. To learn more, please click here.
Featured Event
The 15th Seoul ODA International Conference will be held on 1 September 2022 in Seoul, jointly hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea and KOICA.
Since its launch in 2007, the Seoul ODA International Conference has become a leading platform for development experts, scholars, and policymakers around the globe to share knowledge and exchange views about the current issues in international development.
This year’s conference also comes at a time when Korea is seeking to expand its role as a “global pivotal state” by playing a more active role in resolving global challenges. Against this backdrop, the theme of the 15th Seoul ODA International Conference will be “Expanding Horizons for Global Development Partnership.” The topics of the conference are (i) Global Pivotal State: Charting a New Path for Korea’s Development Cooperation in an Era of Global Uncertainty; (ii) New Emerging Donors, Changing Landscape; (iii) Exchanging Knowledge, Embracing New Experiences; and (iv) Incorporating Diversity, Broadening Partnerships. Click here for more.
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Contact: Seolri PARK, KOICA Partnership Officer and Focal Point for South-South and Triangular Cooperation
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