Development Assistance Projects Research Articles

Study on Overseas Expansion Strategies for Small and Medium-Sized Korean Construction Companies Using PEST Analysis

The purpose of this study is to research overseas expansion strategies for small and medium-sized construction companies(SMCCs) in South Korea. The research methodology employs PEST (Political, Economic, Social, and Technological) analysis within the construction industry. Findings suggest increased investment in research and development, adoption of eco-friendly technologies, and localization strategies. By enhancing competitiveness through advanced technology adoption and strengthening sustainable practices aligned with global standards, firms can mitigate political and economic risks. Policy implications include collaboration with government and relevant agencies to support Official Development Assistance (ODA) projects, provide financial assistance, manage risks, and establish integrated information platforms. Moreover, enhancing capabilities through education and consulting programs in technology, law, finance, and risk management prepares firms for international expansion. This study offers specific solutions to Korean small and medium-sized construction companies, emphasizing enhanced policy support to successfully pursue expansion and growth opportunities in the global market.

Successful emergency medical service training with virtual field trips using video during the COVID-19 pandemic: the Official Development Assistance Project in Uzbekistan

Purpose: The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic saw many restrictions on the provision of emergency medical service (EMS) training through actual field trips (AFTs), requiring a search for alternatives. This study aimed to assess trainees’ reactions to virtual field trips (VFTs) and determine the characteristics of instructional design for successful VFTs using edited videos and expert interviews.Methods: This study evaluated Uzbekistan trainees’ reactions to the VFT of EMS training using questionnaires in three categories: satisfaction, relevance, and engagement. Factors of satisfaction and dissatisfaction were identified through open-ended questions.Results: A total of 286 trainees responded to the survey during 15 educational sessions conducted from 2020 to 2022. The trainees’ responses to the VFT were positive. Overall mean scores were 4.65±0.49, 4.63±0.50, and 4.63±0.50 out of 5 points for satisfaction, relevance, and engagement, respectively. The trainees reported that the most interesting and helpful videos concerned the introduction of an EMS training curriculum and the observation of training facilities, such as the simulation centers of educational institutes. The leading causes of satisfaction were (1) authenticity of the VFTs, (2) easy-to-understand content, and (3) relevance to the job. The trainees suggested that Uzbek or Russian voice-overs would be better than subtitles in the video clip for focusing on VFT.Conclusion: In situations where AFTs are not available, VFTs using edited videos and expert interviews are a good alternative to EMS education. Based on these results, it is possible that AFTs could be replaced by VFTs using qualified videos with designed instructions as a distance learning method under specific conditions.

한국 교육 ODA 교사 연수에 참여한 아제르바이잔 교사들의 경험 분석

This paper uses a qualitative paradigm to analyze the experiences and meanings of Azerbaijani teachers who participated in an online-based training organized by KOICA's Education Official Development Assistance (ODA) project. In other words, the study aimed to explore how Azerbaijani teacher training, designed as a learner-participatory program based on Azerbaijani educational cultural characteristics, is experienced and meaningful to Azerbaijani teachers in the source country and to discuss implications for Korean education ODA, which is strengthening its role as a donor country. To this end, in-depth online individual interviews were conducted with 38 Azerbaijani teachers, and the results are presented using the ‘analysis thematique’ method, which categorizes key interview findings into themes. As a result of the study, the narratives of Azerbaijani teachers who participated in KOICA's education ODA can be categorized as 1) improving their self-efficacy in teaching practice, 2) reconstructing their perceptions of teaching and learning, 3) reconstructing their future education and teacher identity, and 4) aspiring to spread their training effectiveness and join international teacher networks. Based on these findings, implications for Korea's education ODA are presented.

Achieving sustainability at the individual and community levels through development assistance

ABSTRACTThis study uses a Saemaul Undong overseas development assistance (ODA) project in Rwanda as a case study to develop a new theory regarding aid recipients achieving sustainability. Although sustainability has emerged as a major concern in the international development community, there is still limited research on the sustainability of development interventions and means of practically achieving sustainability. This study fills this gap in the literature by exploring the process of achieving sustainability and assessing the dynamics among the factors that contribute to this process. Our findings reveal that sustainability is an accumulative continuum from the individual level to the community level, with different interventions and governance structures required to advance from one level to another. This study offers practical lessons for donor governments and agencies regarding the types of interventions that they should provide and the roles that they should play depending on the relevant level of sustainability.

Conditional Support: Chinese Development Aid in the Caribbean

Abstract: In recent decades, China has emerged as a major economic power operating within the Caribbean, making the analysis of its foreign policy strategy in the region of paramount importance. This essay will seek to identify the ideology undergirding China’s foreign policy within the Caribbean, using these insights to analyze the effects of Beijing’s increased engagement within the region. This essay will argue that Beijing has sought to create close ties with a number of Caribbean states by launching a slew of generous development assistance projects, attaching conditionalities to these projects to effectively incorporate partner states into their export and ideological network. China views the Caribbean as a valuable political partner, as its proximity to the United States makes its potential alliance with China a prominent counterfactual to Western hegemony. To achieve this argument, I will highlight how China’s Maritime Silk Road Initiative (MSRI) has influenced China’s grand strategy within the Caribbean, as it seeks to incorporate the region into a broader economic network to challenge Western economic systems. I will then highlight how economic considerations influence China’s bilateral relations with a number of resource-rich Caribbean states, investigating the diplomatic approach China has used to increase its access to natural resources in the region. Lastly, this essay will investigate how China’s development assistance based strategy has impacted the Caribbean itself. This will cover both its negative and positive effects on domestic industries, while also exploring how China’s ambitious economic expansion has stoked social discontent in the region.

AHP 분석을 통한 남북관광 개발협력사업 지원기준 우선순위 도출

The inter-Korean summits and North Korea-United States summits held in 2018 brought a significant opportunity for peace on the Korean Peninsular and showed hope for a new chapter in inter-Korean cooperation. Despite recent tensions, inter-Korean exchanges and cooperation are still necessary, and tourism cooperation discussions are ongoing. This study aims to develop standards and priorities for the evaluation criteria of inter-Korean tourism cooperation projects in order to ensure their validity and promote effective and long-lasting cooperation between South and North Korea. Adopting a perspective of international development cooperation, five factors and twenty-nine indicators were derived as evaluation criteria for inter-Korean tourism cooperation projects, based on relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, impact, and sustainability - the standard evaluation criteria for official development assistance (ODA) projects. Using an AHP analysis, it was determined that the relevance factor was the most important. “conformity to Korea-related policies and priorities,” “validity of project goals,” “conformity with North Korean demand and policy priorities,” “contribution to achievement of North Korean economic and social development goals,” and “overall institutional change or reinforcement” are the most significant indicators. This study discusses theoretical and policy implications for inter-Korean tourism studies and tourism cooperation projects based on its findings.

교육 ODA 경험에 대한 한국 교사들의 내러티브

Objectives This paper analyzes the meaning of Korean teachers who led online training for Azerbaijani teachers as an educational official development assistance (ODA) project of KOICA to strengthen learner-centered education competency. In other words, by examining how Korean teachers' experiences of participating in educational ODA projects are interpreted and meaningful to them, it was intended to suggest implications for educational ODA in Korean society, which is ultimately expanding its role as a donor country.
 Methods To this end, a total of three group interviews were conducted using a semi-structured interview method with 12 Korean teachers who took the roles of instructors, coaches, and supervisors, and led the Azerbaijani teacher training program. The interview results were analyzed by topic according to the qualitative research paradigm.
 Results The results of the Korean teachers' experiences of teacher training for Azerbaijan teachers can be summarized as follows: 1) Education ODA as a ‘contact zone’ 2) Confirmation and improvement of self-efficacy 3) Education ODA as an opportunity of ‘lifelong learning’ as a teacher 4) Creation of aspirations for international teacher professional learning community. In particular, Korean teachers showed the development of cooperative interaction between donor and recipient countries and a sense of community solidarity while understanding the situation, educational environment and culture of Azerbaijani teachers and accepting their trials and errors.
 Conclusions Based on the results of the study, the implications and future tasks for Korean society, which is expanding and deepening its role as a donor country in educational ODA quantitatively and qualitatively, were discussed in relation to teacher competency reinforcement. In particular, through the experience of Korean teachers who took on multifaceted roles such as training planning to strengthen learner-centered educational capabilities of Azerbaijani teachers, as instructors, coaches, and supervisors, implications related to the perception, attitude, and practice of teachers in donor countries in educational ODA were analyzed. discussed.

타지키스탄 대상 산림부문 공적개발원조 사업 타당성 평가

Central Asian countries have demanded forest sector development to cope with depletion of the Aral Sea and desertification. As one of the development measures, the forest official development assistance (ODA) project between the Republic of Korea and Tajikistan has been discussed. This study evaluated the feasibility of the project by reviewing the literature materials, and the implications for establishing strategies were drawn. The feasibility study was conducted in accordance with three evaluation criteria (relevance, readiness, and sustainability), which were modified from the ones of Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development/Development Assistance Committee (OECD/DAC). Even though the project was evaluated as feasible, the result of the evaluation revealed that the overall capacity of forest sector in Tajikistan should be advanced to guarantee sustainability of the project's outcome. This study will serve as a referable case study for developing reasonable evaluation system for the forest ODA projects and promoting the forest cooperation projects in Central Asia.

K-Style Drug Integrated Management Platform Model for Healthcare Official Development Assistance Projects

K-Style Drug Integrated Management Platform Model for Healthcare Official Development Assistance Projects

The political participation of local citizen in the elections of local leaders in Vietnam

PurposeThis study aims to identify the level of political participation of local citizen in 208 districts representing for 63 provinces and cities in Vietnam and consider the effects of candidate's attributes, local political contextual factors and other local citizen’s demographic characteristics on the elections of local leaders in Vietnam.Design/methodology/approachBy using Probit model and data about provincial governance and public administration performance index and self-survey about local leaders in the districts, this paper shows the different effects of candidates’ attributes, local political context and other local citizen’s characteristics on the first and second elections of local leaders in Vietnam.FindingsThe result indicates the probability of candidates being elected in the first term depends on their characteristics, local political context and local citizen. However, the reelection of local leaders for a second term depends much on their characteristics and local political context not on demographic characteristics of local citizen. The satisfaction rate of local citizen and being an incumbent for the first term are driving forces for the local citizen to elect their leader for the second term. Meanwhile, local political context such as local transparency, local official development assistance project and citizen satisfaction will increase the likelihood of local leaders being elected for the first and second terms.Research limitations/implicationsThe major limitation of this study is the data of the self-survey because it only provides basic but not complete characteristics of candidates and local contexts in some typical districts in 63 provinces and cities across the country.Practical implicationsThis paper includes policy implications for candidates who want to be elected for both terms and local governance in Vietnam. The government needs to focus on building human resources for local administration to meet the requirements of building a clean, strong, modern and anticorruption administrative system.Originality/valueThis paper extends the analysis on examining the characteristics of candidates and local citizen as well as local political context influencing the elections of local leaders, getting involved in the Vietnam context, still underresearched, especially with reference to political participation of local citizen.

빅데이터에 기반한 공적개발원조에 관한 연구

Korea(R.O.K) is actively participating in the so-called concessional Overseas Official Development Assistance (ODA) project for developing countries. In this regard, this study examines the experience of constructing and utilizing Korea's commercial district information system based on various big data, and checks the experience under the 'Korean ODA model in the ICT sector' related to the 'ODA based on big data' of the OECD.
 Through this, this study emphasizes that the development of new ICT businesses and the expansion of added value are an opportunity to support the low-income class in recipient countries and to grow into emerging and developing countries, and also suggests that it can be a useful opportunity to enhance competitiveness. As an example for this, it examines the possibility of establishing a system for providing various information that can increase the added value of the tourism business in Kyrgyzstan.

Motivation and factors affecting Indigenous People's willingness to participate in future REDD+ project activities: the case of Tagal Hutan in Sabah, Malaysia

The Kadazandusun people of Sabah have practiced traditional forest management of tagal hutan or prohibited forests. An official development assistance (ODA) project under REDD+ implementation scheme targets tagal hutan forests in Sabah, with the participation of the indigenous people. Through the theory of planned behaviour, this study assesses the link between attitude, social norms, customary norms, and perceived behaviour control on Kadazandusun people's intentions to participate in future REDD+ project activities. We found out that attitude and perceived behaviour control affect intentions to participate in future REDD+ project activities meanwhile social norm and customary norm were otherwise. Socio-demographic factors, such as household size, age, and prior experience as leaders or committee members in the village, also influence the intentions to participate in future REDD+ project activities. This study may help predict the acceptance of REDD+ activities among indigenous people in Sabah and help design more effective REDD+ projects.

Experience of emergency medical services provider training using online training of trainers during COVID-19: official development assistance project in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

ObjectiveSince onsite education is difficult due to the COVID-19 pandemic, official development assistance (ODA) projects have implemented online training of trainers (ToT) for emergency medical experts and staff. This study aims to share and discuss the ToT experience and its results in Uzbekistan.MethodsWe trained emergency medical advanced course instructors through online ToT among emergency medical service experts in Uzbekistan as a part of an ODA project. After the ToT, instructors were selected based on written tests, video monitoring of practice, and simulation performance. They operated the emergency medical course including lectures, practices, and simulations for 5 days. We tested the trainees through written tests before and after the course. They were surveyed regarding the course contents, its relevance, and their satisfaction with the course.ResultsSix instructors were selected after the online ToT program. They educated 68 emergency medical workers through the three training courses. The total score of the pretest was 129.2±34.8, and the posttest score was 170.8±31.2, which was significantly higher (P<0.05). The satisfaction calculated by adding the values of survey items for this curriculum was 28.0 (interquartile range, 26.0–30.0), and there was no statistical difference regarding trainee satisfaction between the three courses (P=0.148).ConclusionInstructors trained by online ToT programs could provide an in-person emergency medical advanced course.

Impact of official development assistance projects for renewable energy on electrification in sub-Saharan Africa

While the African continent has one of the largest renewable energy potentials in the world, it remains the most deprived region for access to electricity. Official development agencies can provide the funds and experience necessary for the sustainable development of this sector to those countries that suffer from limited domestic resources. We estimate the impact of renewable energy aid projects implemented in 19 sub-Saharan African countries on access to electricity for communities in the region. By combining georeferenced data from aid projects in renewable energy from AidData and survey data from the Afrobarometer, we find, using different propensity score matching methods, a positive and significant impact of these projects on electrification of communities. A comparison with the same sample on non-renewable energy projects shows a better efficiency of eco-friendly projects. However, the effectiveness of these projects is heterogeneous and depends greatly on the type of donor, the location, and the initial level of development. Our results contribute to the scholarly debate on aid effectiveness and provide important political implications. Indeed, they suggest that international donors should favour sending funds for renewable energy projects in countries and regions lacking electrification as these funds contribute to better access to electricity while promoting environmentally friendly technologies.

A Longitudinal Study of the Local Community Perspective on Ecotourism Development in Lombok, Indonesia

This study examined stakeholders’ perception related to the Korea–Indonesia international ecotourism official development assistance project in Tunak, Lombok, Indonesia. In-depth interviews were conducted with 18 local community members, government officers, and project executors in 2014 and 2020. Six themes arose from the respondents’ perceptions: nature appreciation, enhancement of sociocultural development, prospect of stakeholder involvement, boosting environmental conditions, present economic contributions for conservation, and project deficiencies. The results showed that the project was carried out in line with the initial plan and emphasized local community involvement. However, the community’s dependence on external help could lead to unsustainable ecotourism practices in the future. Through various project programs, the local village’s economy and infrastructure started to develop. Education and direct local community involvement positively affected the local community conditions, both in sociocultural and economic terms.

A Case Study for Technical and Vocational Education and Training Professional Development Training in Untact Era: Focusing on Official Development Assistance Project in Botswana

The prolonged COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the TVET professional development training, which was planned to be carried out in a face-to-face manner. This study aims to examine TVET professional development training based on the ADDIE model and provide implications for ODA and TVET professional development training in the post-COVID era. In this case study, a TVET training program for Botswana was developed based on the ADDIE model in an untact environment. Accordingly, the performance activities for each phase of analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation were analyzed, and based on this, implications for ODA and TVET were provided. This study identified the applicability of non-face-to-face education in the ODA project. Also, this study explored how to develop systematic and dimensional programs based on the ADDIE model in a non-face-to-face manner. In addition, sustainability could be secured through cooperative partnerships between donor and beneficiary countries from the perspective of SDGs Goal.

Transformational leadership and success of international development projects (ID projects): moderating role of the project team size

PurposeThe aim of this study is to evaluate to what extent the project team size influence the relation between transformational leadership and success of international development projects (IDPs). The paper draws on leader-member-exchange (LMX) theory and contextualizes transformational leadership style to temporary project environment particularly that of an official development assistance project in an African context.Design/methodology/approachThe research is based on the processing of a primary database collected by questionnaire from 111 coordinators of IDPs in Benin. The structural equation method based on the PLS approach was used to test our hypotheses.FindingsFirst, the preliminary results reveal that, in the context of IDP, projects managers are much more sensitive to the “management” and “visibility” dimensions than to the “impact” dimension of project success. Then, following the hypothesis test, the results show that transformational leadership has a direct positive influence on the success of IDP. Project team size does not play a moderating role in the relationship between transformational leadership and project success. Also, considering the effect of the specific dimensions of transformational leadership on IDP success, only the “idealized influence” dimension influences directly and positively on the latter.Originality/valueResearch calls for examining the role of team size vis-à-vis transformational leadership style and project success and calls in general for studying project manager's leadership styles. This study contributes to literature by answering such calls. In addition, the originality of this study lies in the evaluation of the influence of the specific dimensions because the exclusive use of leadership forms provides an imperfect and oversimplified picture of reality.

Aid Effectiveness: From Project Appraisal to Strategic Impact Evaluation

A sheer volume of multibillion concessional flows from leading international donors makes monitoring and evaluation of aid projects a sine qua non of development discourse and practice. The assessment criteria vary significantly and depend on the objectives and interests of donor countries promoted through development cooperation.This paper examines national systems of monitoring and evaluation of aid effectiveness established by leading donors. Among the most noticeable recent trends the author emphasizes a transition from aid effectiveness to development effectiveness paradigm and an inclusion of indicators of diplomatic engagement and security provision in evaluation matrices.Special attention is paid on the hierarchy of goals in national systems of development cooperation, which is illustrated with an example of the United States. The US case shows key principles of ensuring policy coherence at different levels of goal-setting — from the National Security Strategy to planning individual projects and programs. In conclusion the author shares his view on the applicability of foreign experience in evaluating development assistance projects in the Russian Federation.

자원유형이 공적개발원조(ODA) 사업관리의 효과성에 미치는 영향에 관한 탐색적 연구 : 인력전문성의 조절효과를 중심으로

본 연구는 다양한 자원 유형이 공적개발원조 사업관리 효율성에 미치는 영향을 사업유형별(무상사업, 유상사업)로 살펴보고, 이들의 관계에서 인력전문성의 조절효과를 탐색적으로 분석하고자 한다. 분석결과, 법규의 구체성은 유상사업의 관리효과성에, 법규의 적합성은 무상사업의 관리효과성에 정(+)의 영향을 미쳤다. 예산배분 적절성은 무상사업의 관리효과성에, 사업 선정과정의 차이와 분리 관리체계 적절성은 유상사업의 관리효과성에 정(+)의 영향을 주었다. 사업 집행체계 분절화는 무상사업의 관리효과성에, 부처간 협업 및 조정은 유상사업의 관리효과성에 정(+)의 영향을 주었다. 예산과정 효율성과 인력전문성이 함께 높아지면 유상사업의 관리효과성에 정(+)의 영향을 주었다. 사업 집행체계 분절화와 인력전문성이 커지면 두 사업관리 효과성에 모두 정(+)의 영향을 미쳤다. 정책적 함의로는 첫째, 유상사업을 효과적으로 수행하기 위해 법규의 구체성, 사업 선정과정의 차이와 분리 관리체계 적절성, 부처간 협업 및 조정 등이 필요하다. 둘째, 무상사업을 효과적으로 수행하기 위해 법규의 적합성, 예산배분 적절성, 사업 집행체계 분절화 등이 필요하다. 셋째, ODA 사업담당 인력전문성을 강화하기 위하여 관련 교육과정을 활성화해야 한다.

The Rule of Law, Economic Development, and the Developmental States of Northeast Asia

Rule of Law rhetoric is all around us — in the business press, in the programs and publications of the World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Asian Development Bank (ADB), in bilateral development assistance projects, and even in US-China diplomatic dialogue. Notably, however, the Rule of Law is not being touted in these primarily for its traditional political role as a protector of human rights and individual dignity. Rather, the new rhetoric makes the claim that the Rule of Law is a crucial element in economic development, not only in formerly socialist countries (‘transition economies’) (World Bank, 1996), but in developing capitalist countries as well.