[Interview] DAC Chair "Congratulations on Korea's 6.8 Trillion Budget Allocation... Expecting Role as Donor Country"

ODA Status Analysis [K Wonjo Tracker] ⑧
Karsten Stauer, Chair of OECD DAC

"We congratulate Korea for allocating a record-high budget of 6.8 trillion won for ODA. We hope Korea can take on a more leading role within the DAC."

Carsten Staur, Chair of the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), said this in a written interview with this publication on the 31st. He stated, "Korea has the potential to become a strong regional leader," and added, "As Korea develops as a donor country, I hope it can take on a significant role."

Karsten Stauer, Chair of OECD DAC (Source = Karsten Stauer Twitter)

Regarding questions about cases where the role of agents (bureaucrats, companies, ministries) between donor country citizens (taxpayers) and recipient country citizens (beneficiaries) is not properly maintained, such as the 'Vietnam Quang Binh Province Solar Power Project' reported by this publication, he responded, "We will continue to establish DAC rules focusing on transparency, accountability, and development impact."

He also mentioned Korea's OECD DAC peer review, the results of which will be released in March next year. He identified the key review areas of Korea's peer evaluation as ▲ a development cooperation system fit for purpose, ▲ Korea as a global development actor pursuing policy coherence, ▲ sustainable gap reduction outcomes and impact management, ▲ encouragement of additional resource mobilization to address global challenges, and ▲ human capacity and development ecosystem. He added, "It will be a process to hold member countries accountable for their commitments, monitor the implementation of peer review recommendations, and ensure compliance with OECD DAC recommendations and instruments."

Chairman Carsten avoided direct answers to questions posed by Asia Economy regarding Korea's aid fragmentation, differing aid philosophies, and low civil society organization (CSO) activity. Instead, he said, "Korea's 2024 DAC review of development cooperation is underway. The full report will be published in 2024, so it is difficult to predict the results."

He also emphasized the importance of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Chairman Carsten pointed out, "Developing countries face severe financial shortages that must be addressed. It is a crucial time for donor countries to fulfill their commitments."

Carsten Staur, from Denmark, has served as the OECD DAC Chair since 2023. Prior to this, he was the OECD Denmark Resident Representative and Denmark's Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva. He has built his career in international development by serving as Deputy Minister for Bilateral Development Cooperation at the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and handling cooperation with the World Bank and Denmark.

■Infographic Page■

Solar Power and Firewood - Vietnam Ban Laokon Report

(story.asiae.co.kr/vietnam)

What problems does aid budget fragmentation cause?

(story.asiae.co.kr/ODA)

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