Association for Public Policy Analysis & Management

  The purpose of this study is to examine the role and direction of the government through the Korean government's response to the normative pressure of public–private partnership in international development cooperation to achieve sustainable development goals. We will analyze the practice of Korean governmental organizations based on Organizational institutionalism in the field of environment (green) ODA in international development cooperation and public development aid. The study considers the institutional environment that surrounds the organization in international development cooperation and can contribute policy to suggest the direction in future policy establishment. It has been known that the ODA management varies from bureaucratic model to market driven one. State-led management practices were prevalent in the early stage of ODA management where state control and accountability based on publicity were emphasized. The concept expands to take the form of cooperative network relationships and consists of a mechanism operated by a market. It is dedicated to the autonomy in the direction of ODA which would ultimately involve citizens. The study acknowledges that different institutional logics with conflicting values coexist and transform into a hybrid form.

  We identify three components that are employed to support a more detailed investigation of the changing nature of institutional environments in the PPP of Environment ODA. They are institutional logics, institutional actors and governance structures. We view these components as intrinsically interdependent, although they are analytically distinct. Inasmuch as the aid scale of Environment ODA has been among the most salient issues, we examine how it was framed and interpreted by each of the logics and associated with the development of different kinds of actors and governance structures. 

  The environmental (green) ODA has emerged as an international issue in connection with the concept of sustainable development in the international development cooperation. Complex issues such as climate change and green growth cannot be solely resolved by the efforts of a single country or region, and thus requires international consultations to deal with those issues.   

  In January 2001, the Korean government joined the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) to receive donor status from the international society. As a result, Korean government made concerted efforts to enhance the effectiveness of international development cooperation by strengthening partnerships with the participation of OECD DAC. In 2008, the Korean government proposed low carbon green growth as a new paradigm for national development, and it was discussed as the central key to national government administration.

  Numerous types of broader governance systems exist in the ODA arena. The role of the private sector and inclusive partnership is emphasized in that the participation of various stakeholders. Moreover, there has been a growing argument that the government should actively utilize the private sector to invest in infrastructure projects by limiting the amount of massive climate change costs. However, among 1,542 KOICA (Korea International Cooperation Agency) projects in 2015, only 5.5 % (85 cases) were made of private cooperation. There is a need for addressing public-private partnerships that will play a key role in the future success of SDGs.