KOICA Reviews Implementation of Plans to Introduce Ideas Applicable to Business and Management
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] KOICA (Korea International Cooperation Agency) announced the results of the "National Participation Environmental Contest," which solicited innovative ideas for environmental development cooperation projects and eco-friendly management, selecting 12 outstanding ideas on the 8th.
Held to commemorate World Environment Day on the 5th and to raise social awareness of environmental development cooperation projects and foster a spreading atmosphere of environmental protection, this contest was conducted over one month from April 20 to May 20. A total of 193 participants submitted 158 ideas.
KOICA evaluated the submissions based on theme relevance, creativity, and feasibility, selecting one grand prize, two excellence awards, and three merit awards in each category of environmental development cooperation projects and eco-friendly management.
Due to COVID-19 prevention measures, no award ceremony was held; instead, winners received commendations signed by the chairman and prize money. The grand prize winner received 1,000,000 KRW, excellence award winners 500,000 KRW, and merit award winners 300,000 KRW.
The grand prize-winning idea in the eco-friendly management category, "From World Friends to Earth Friends: e-KOICA (Eco+KOICA)," proposed new environmental initiatives (For Green Initiative) to be implemented at overseas offices operating in 44 countries, including introducing environmental contribution indicators and mandatory environmental education for employees, earning high marks.
The grand prize in the environmental development cooperation category was awarded to the "Electric Two-Wheeler Distribution Project for Achieving Laos SDG13 (Climate Change Response)," which proposed collaborating with the Laos Tourism Authority to operate an electric two-wheeler rental service at major tourist sites to enhance climate change resilience.
Oh Se-young (27), the grand prize winner in the environmental development cooperation category, said, "I am very happy to be selected for the grand prize," adding, "People in Laos mainly use motorcycles, many of which are old vehicles causing major air pollution. I thought it would be good to replace them with electric two-wheelers."
The judges commented on the eco-friendly management grand prize, stating, "Expanding eco-friendly management not only at KOICA headquarters in Korea but also at overseas offices will help strengthen the institution's competitiveness." Regarding the environmental development cooperation grand prize, they noted, "The analysis of Laos' environmental issues caused by carbon emissions was detailed, and the electric two-wheeler rental project can directly contribute to reducing greenhouse gases."
Additionally, in the eco-friendly management category, the excellence awards went to "KOICA Green Earth Campaign" and "Green & Smart Work: Paperless Work Environment through Cloud-based Output Device Management," while the merit awards were given to "Improving Resource Circulation Rate through IoT-based Waste Separation Bins," "Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions through KOMIS Carpool Bulletin Board Operation," and "No Paper Needed for Contracts (Volunteer Groups) with KOICA."
In the environmental development cooperation category, excellence awards were given to "Supporting Production of Eco-friendly Building Materials by Recycling Mixed Waste Glass Targeted for Landfill" and "Cambodia Public Hydrogen Fuel Cell Motorcycle Subscription Service Project," while merit awards went to "Eco-friendly Treatment of Organic Waste and Biogas Production Project in Mexico" and "Pilot Village for Food Waste Volume-based Fee System in Hanoi, Vietnam, and KOICA Forest Using Blockchain."
KOICA plans to prepare internal implementation measures for the eco-friendly management ideas selected in this contest and will consider the environmental development cooperation project ideas when soliciting actual projects.
Lee Mi-kyung, KOICA Chairman, stated, "Based on the public's ideas and KOICA's core values of 4Ps (People, Peace, Prosperity, Environment), we will take this as an opportunity to practice eco-friendly management and actively implement environmental development cooperation projects."
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