Hyelin Jeon

Environmental ODA to Africa: Policies, Determinants and Implications

We explore the trends and policies of environmental ODA - that is, aid with a focus on the environment - and empirically analyze the determinants of Japanese and Swedish environmental ODA for Africa utilizing the OECD CRS(Creditor Reporting System) data. We find that each country has its own environmental ODA policies. Various models were used, moreover, to assess the determinants for Japan and Sweden’s environmental ODA. The Hausman test reveals that the random effect model is most fitting for Japan, and the fixed effect model for Sweden. This means that for Japan, observable characteristics and unobservable heterogeneity have no correlation; consequently, these two factors are not simultaneously considered when determining environmental ODA to Africa. On the other hand, the fact that Sweden’s environmental ODA to Africa is determined based on the fixed effect model means that a correlation exists between unobservable heterogeneity and observable characteristics, which is in turn because Sweden considers both observable and unobservable factors when determining environmental ODA to Africa.

The Role of International Development Finance Institutions in Financing Infrastructure in Africa and Its Implications for Korea

This study surveys the types and amount of financial resources that multilateral and bilateral DFIs provide for Africa, and makes an in-depth analysis of major projects in Africa financed by them. Moreover, this study explores how Korean ECAs and investors collaborate with international financial institutions to provide increased funding for Africas infrastructure development projects.

Korea's Cooperation Schemes to Development of Small and Medium Enterprises in Ethiopia

The purpose of this study is to analyze the roles of Korea in the promotion of SMEs in Ethiopia as a means of development cooperation. SMEs in Ethiopia are experiencing the following barriers: low infrastructure, business-related policies and regulations, constraints to access credit, and the lack of government-led technical supports. We show that those constraints are linked and affect each other. To remove those interlocking constraints hindering the development of SMEs, this study presents two policy suggestions. The first is the use of micro-finance. The constraint to access credit causes the lack of capital to block the accumulation of human capital and technology so that the SMEs cannot grow. Korea can provide ODA to the micro-finance institutes as a form of public-private partnership (PPP) projects to support the development of SMEs in Ethiopia. The second policy suggestion is to provide a comprehensive aid program. Before establishing the program, Korea must join the Development Assistance Group (DAG) in Ethiopia. Korea has to avoid making the decision that Korea alone will support the project the recipient country requests. Instead, Korea in consultation with major donor countries should select proper projects. Through this consultation process, we can clearly identify effective aid areas and achieve the harmonization of aid. First, each donor country proposes projects in the sectors of comparative advantage. Combining the proposed projects in consultation with other donors establishes a comprehensive program. This program could provide a means to untangle the tangled constraints. That is to say, interlocked constraints could be overcome through this program.

Trends in the African Construction/Plant Building Market and Implications for Korea

Africa is the poorest continent in the world in terms of public infrastructure. In any country with functioning public infrastructure, and roads form the backbone of transportation; responsible for the 80-90% of movements of people and goods. In Africa, however, only 20% or so of existing roads have been paved. The vast majority of existing railways was laid during the colonial era and is now obsolete, unable to function properly. Much of its port and airport facilities are similarly outdated, becoming, in effect, the major obstacle to the continents economic development. Particularly conspicuous as well is the absence of proper electricity infrastructure. Almost 800 million Africans live in the sub-Saharan region, but the aggregate power generation capacity of the region lags behind the capacity of Spain (with a population of 45 million). If South Africa is not counted in with sub-Saharan Africa, the regions power capacity is lowered to the level of Argentina. Nearly a quarter of the existing power facilities are out of order and obsolete. Thirty or so African countries, therefore, experience power outages on a daily basis with serious economic losses as a consequence.