Ashraf AboArafe
The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), the official development assistance agency of the Republic of Korea and the Egyptian National Training Academy (NTA) jointly held a Knowledge Sharing Seminar to mark the successful conclusion of three-year capacity building training in Korea, entitled “Capacity Development Program for Civil Servants at the National Training Academy of Egypt (2022-2024)”. This momentous event celebrating the enduring partnership between Korea and Egypt took place on Thursday, 28 November 2024, at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Cairo.
The seminar was attended by distinguished guests including Ambassador Kim Yonghyon, Korean Ambassador to Cairo, Mrs. Kim Jinyoung, KOICA’s Country Director, and Dr. Rascha Ragheb, NTA Executive Director and Mr. Hamdy Hakim on the behalf of Ambassador Ahmed Farid, Deputy Assistant Foreign Minister for Cultural Affairs.
The capacity building program, conducted under KOICA’s Capacity Improvement & Advancement for Tomorrow (CIAT) fellowship initiative in collaboration with NTA aimed to enhance the organizational capacity of NTA, strengthening the innovational and intrapreneurial mindset of the NTA staff for them to take part in tackling the national challenges and equipping them with the advanced knowledge of creating innovative training materials, particularly e-learning programs, to support national human resource development in Egypt.
The seminar brought together key stakeholders, including officials from the Korean Embassy, the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, KOICA Egypt Office and NTA as well as training program alumni.
During the seminar three representatives of alumni shared their experience and insights acquired in Korea and discussed the program’s impact on their work, illustrating how they applied the knowledge to contribute to public services.
This seminar underscores the crucial role of international cooperation in strengthening public sector capabilities and fostering innovation in Egypt.
Mrs. Jinyoung Kim, Country Director of the KOICA Egypt Office, opened the ceremony with a heartfelt speech, expressing her gratitude to all participants. She stated, “Today’s seminar is not just a celebration; it is an opportunity to reflect on the valuable insights gained and to share experiences that will further strengthen our cooperation.”
For her part, Dr. Rascha Ragheb, Executive Director of the NTA, conveyed her sincere appreciation to KOICA for its invaluable support in funding this program. H.E remarked, “The lessons learned from this project will guide us as we build a more dynamic and forward-thinking organizational culture.”
In his congratulatory remarks, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Egypt expressed his sincere gratitude to everyone who been part of this training, H.E added “Your commitment throughout this training has been profoundly inspiring. In a rapidly changing world, the skills and insights you have gained are essential for both your personal growth and the advancement of your communities.”
On the other hand, Alumni representatives emphasized the significant impact of their training experiences in South Korea, highlighting how they have applied their newfound skills in their work. They noted that, “The training not only equipped us with essential skills but also inspired us to challenge ourselves and our surroundings, positioning us as leaders of change within our organizations.”
They said “Our action plan focuses on identifying necessary skills to ensure sustainability. Through collaborative efforts, we are building a structured database for alumni, which will enhance our training evaluation system and maximize our collective impact.”
Notably, since 1998, the KOICA Egypt Office has been dedicated to enhancing the capabilities of policymakers and public officials from partner countries through its CIAT fellowship program. To date, the program has successfully trained 1,838 alumni and welcomed 132 participants in its scholarship program for Master’s and Doctoral degrees.
In 2024, KOICA provided training to 60 officials from four key Egyptian entities: the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Environment, the National Council for Women, and the National Training Academy. Additionally, five candidates from Egypt were selected to join the scholarship program in various fields, furthering their professional development and expertise.
*Capacity Improvement & Advancement for Tomorrow (CIAT) KOICA’s fellowship program is a Korea’s leading human resources development (HRD) training program. Through the program, KOICA invites public officials, engineers, researchers, and policymakers from partner countries to Korea to provide capacity-strengthening training in various areas, with a focus on sharing Korea’s development experience and technology.
* Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) is the Korean government agency under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs dedicated to implementing grant aid programs in developing countries. KOICA aims to combat poverty and support sustainable socio-economic growth in partner countries around the globe.
