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WATER COOPERATION, SUSTAINABILITY AND POVERTY ERADICATIONStrategy for Disaster Reduction North-East Asian Office; the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Climate Center; and theInternational Water Association’s North-East Asia Office.Korea received about US$12.7 billion of foreign aid between 1945and 1999, but paid off all the loans to the World Bank in 1995. Sincethen, it has become a donor country. This unprecedented transformationfrom aid recipient to donor country culminated in Korea’s joiningthe OECD Development Assistance Committee in 2009. Korea hascontinued to show its commitment to socioeconomic developmentas well as environmental protection in various fields such as waterresources management, environmental protection, poverty eradication,public health improvement, help for refugees and support for women’sdevelopment. Relevant programmes and projects have been conductedby the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). Even thoughKorean ODA was estimated as 0.12 per cent of gross national income(GNI) in 2012, which is less than that of Japan and the United States,the country has pledged to double its ODA budget until 2015.With regard to Korea’s ODA towards the water sector, relevantprogrammes promote various water projects for developing countries ina variety of fields, including drinking water development in Africa, floodprevention, water and sanitation projects and agriculturalwater security in South-East Asia, dam construction foragricultural water supply, and the construction and renovationof irrigation canals in Central and South America.Korea is investing a significant amount in research anddevelopment in the water sector to transfer advancedtechnologies, management know-how and institutionalframeworks to developing countries.The noticeable economic growth of APEC, the politicalstability of the Commonwealth of Independent Statesand the rapid growth of Chinese capital markets haveimproved the political and economic status of surroundingcountries. Therefore, it is essential to promote long-terminternational water cooperation in order to maximize thenational benefit by exchanging experiences and technologiesamong countries facing increasing need for theplanning, construction, operation and management ofwater infrastructure. Despite the volatile political statusbetween North and South Korea, there is also undeniablya new era of cooperation, with an increasing need for infra-Primary grants awarded by KOICAGrantDetailed design of hydropower plant in River Modi, NepalDetailed design of Chamelia Hydropower Plant, NepalFeasibility study of Tadsalen Hydropower, LaosLevee construction in River Mekong, LaosLevee restoration and water park, Vientiane, LaosFeasibility study and detailed design of Karian Multipurpose Dam, IndonesiaWatershed survey of River Bunha; Feasibility study of Maiyeker Dam, ChinaRestoration of multipurpose reservoirs, CambodiaWater resources development in the Krang Ponley Basin, CambodiaIntegrated water resources development planning, CambodiaConstruction of Muana Small Hydropower PlantPotable water development, EthiopiaBorena well development, EthiopiaPotable water development in Kiltheaurello, Tigria, EthiopiaWell development and maintenance, KenyaAssembo water purification plant, KenyaPotable water development, TanzaniaFeasibility study of portable water development and water supply systems, PeriModernization of water supply and sewage system, IraqPeriod1993-42000-21996-719972006-72004-61994-62002-42004-52006-81997-91995-620062007-82006-72007-92006-82004-62005-7Budget (US$ million)0.730.630.180.360.801.520.791.370.741.490.200.800.251.750.372.421.500.706.00Source: KOICA[ 204 ]