Official development assistance in the eye of the participants: Adapting process approach theory to Korea's ODA in Rwanda

Abstract

This paper calls for the adaptation of a more flexible approach, the Process approach, to Official Development Assistance (ODA) projects initiated by the Korean government and Korean corporations. ODA has been around for decades providing aid to developing countries under the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Development Assistance Committee (DAC). Despite such long history of development aid, Republic of Korea's ODA is relatively new only joining DAC in 2010. As a new member of the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) there is evidence of a lack of development thinking in its ODA projects as projects are carried out in traditional Blueprint approaches. This paper introduces Process approach theory as a way to complement conventional Blueprint approach to increase sustainability, impact and ownership of development projects. Most recent focus of ODA is on 'Aid Effectiveness' and there has already been much criticism on its 'effectiveness' to developing countries. However, 'Aid Effectiveness' does put focus back on the recipient stressing 'ownership', alignment', 'harmonisation', 'managing results', 'mutual accountability' as key words. This goes much in line with the process approach that this paper suggests to adapt in Korea's ODA projects as a complementary approach. Engagement in projects seen in the 'Rwanda ICT Training Centre project' of the case study, that combines infrastructure and education, traditional blueprint approach needs to be complemented by a 'Process Approach' of which there is still a lack of understanding among Korean project managers and Korean bureaucrats. Results of the research methodology shows that not all of the 'Process Approach' can be adapted to Korea's ODA projects but more of a 'Managerialist' approach, for example a 'Process in blueprint Approach' can be implemented providing some flexibility to its projects and providing opportunities to think about sustainability in the eyes of the participants. © 2017 Serials Publications Pvt. Ltd.