The Importance of Beneficiary Country Participation in Official Development Assistance (ODA): Sharing Korea’s Experience in Vietnam

Since the 2005 Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness highlighted their importance, the principles of ownership and mutual accountability have been considered critical to the active participation of beneficiary governments involved in Official Development Assistance (ODA) projects. This paper shares Korea’s ODA experience in Vietnam in the area of institutionalized skills development. The pilot program was successful with Vietnamese satisfaction particularly in their government’s participation from the earliest planning stages. However, as the program was not expanded and rolled out as planned, the sustainability of that success was limited. This project therefore underscores the importance not only of ownership and accountability but of local implementation support and long-term government participation in building sustainable local capacity.