Paper short abstract:

In implementing an 'East Asian model' of economic and social development Rwanda embraces the help of Korean aid actors from government, civil society and the private sector. This paper, based on field research in Rwanda, analyzes the role of these Korean actors in shaping Rwandan policies and lives.

Paper long abstract:

As Rwanda is now implementing an 'East Asian model' of economic and social development, it has welcomed the help of various Korean aid actors to realize its ambitious development plans. As an emerging power, the South Korean government prioritized Rwanda as one of the CPS (Country Partnership Strategy) countries in Africa and has provided grant aid amount of US$ 12.5 million from 1991.

For Africa the South Korean development experience is said to include useful features -until recently an aid recipient; the central role of the state; its focus on technology and ICTs; its move from authoritarianism to democracy; its relatively egalitarian society. As a result, the Korean government brands and 'sells' this experience through, for example, the Knowledge Sharing Program, focusing on economic growth, technology innovation, leadership, human resources, and efficient government. On the other side of the spectrum Korean civil society groups, international NGOs and faith-based organizations are delivering aid programs, 'sold' in terms of participation, empowerment, local ownership and poverty reduction, stressing the importance of living and closely working with local communities.

This paper, drawing on field research in Rwanda, analyzes the role of various Korean actors from government, civil society and the private sector in shaping the Rwandan development agenda and Rwandan lives. The aim of the research is to explore whether Korean development actors bring valuable new experiences to Africa. Do the various Korean actors have distinctly different approaches? How are African development policies and lives impacted and vice versa?