By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) held the first meeting of the "Task Force for Reforming System and Bolstering Role of KOICA" on September 2 with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), and discussed the operational plan and direction for institutional reform.

In her opening remarks, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Kim Jina said that the new government is planning qualitative improvements to the grant aid system to promote international development cooperation that is tangibly felt by the people of both developing countries and our own country.

Vice Minister Kim emphasized that since KOICA is Korea’s leading agency for grant aid, it is necessary to redouble efforts to proactively improve its operation system to enhance efficiency, transparency, and accountability, and to redefine its role as the leading agency for an integrated implementation of grant aid projects.

The TF plans to review KOICA's entire implementation system by December this year. It will also prepare an institutional improvement plan, such as identifying regulations guidelines for revision.

In addition, the TF will work to develop KOICA’s improved implementation system into a best practice model for other agencies. It will also prepare measures to expand and improve KOICA’s program to assist other ministries and agencies’ aid projects.