KATHMANDU: Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) organized a Consultative Workshop for its Volunteer Partner Organizations on June 5 in Lalitpur.

The workshop aimed to review and evaluate KOICA’s volunteer programme by sharing and exchanging the best practices and creative ideas to improve the volunteer programme in Nepal among volunteer-related organizations, it is said.

The workshop was attended by around 47 representatives from volunteer partner organizations, officials from various ministries and departments, as well as KOICA staff and KOVs.

Inaugurating the event, Mooheon Kong, Country Director of KOICA Nepal Office, expressed appreciation for the continued cooperation of KOV recipient organizations and emphasized their vital role in strengthening the effectiveness of the KOICA Volunteer Programme.

According to him, the programme aims to foster friendship, mutual understanding, and cooperative relations between the Republic of Korea and partner countries while contributing to their social and economic development through the sharing of knowledge, skills, and expertise.

Similarly, Arjun Dhakal, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Finance, acknowledged the significant contribution of Korea Overseas Volunteers (KOVs) to Nepal’s socio-economic development since 1991. He highlighted the volunteers’ role in transferring knowledge, skills, and expertise in key sectors such as education, health, agriculture, and Information and Communication Technology (ICT), while also promoting values such as hard work, punctuality, and dedication.

Likewise, Pralhad Karki, Under Secretary from the Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives, Federal Affairs, and General Administration, acknowledged KOICA’s long-standing contribution to Nepal’s development and appreciated its efforts to integrate environmental sustainability into its development cooperation initiatives. He also commended the valuable work carried out by the Korea Overseas Volunteers (KOVs) in Nepal.

During the workshop, KOICA Nepal provided an overview of its various development cooperation initiatives, including the Korea Overseas Volunteers (KOV) Program. Presentations were delivered on various aspects of KOICA, the KOV Programme, the satisfaction survey, KOICA’s integrity policy, and the Green ODA programmes being implemented by the KOICA Nepal Office. The event also featured a photo exhibition highlighting the contributions and achievements of the KOV Programme.

The representative from the Nepal Red Cross Society, Provincial Blood Transfusion Service, Kaski, presented the recent KOV project supported by KOICA through the KOV programme. In his presentation, he highlighted the significance of the KOV project and the importance of the equipment supported. He also explained the positive changes observed in blood donation activities following the introduction of the supported equipment.

He expressed appreciation for the contributions of the KOV and expressed hope for continued support in the future, highlighting the importance of international volunteer cooperation in strengthening the institutional capacity of local organizations.

Nabaraj Gautam, President of the KOICA Alumni Association of Nepal (KAAN), introduced various aspects of Korean culture during the workshop. He highlighted key cultural practices and etiquette in Korea, compared them with those of Nepal, and emphasized the similarities between the two countries.

He also urged KOV partner organizations to make the best use of the volunteers’ knowledge and expertise. Furthermore, he stressed that KOVs can effectively contribute to their host institutions only with the active support and cooperation of the recipient organizations.