Issue: 94
Photos: Cem Aydın - Engin Güneysu
Istanbul with a one-day meet up joined the rest of the world to talk about how technology, innovations and social media can help with the world greatest challenges.
Organized with partnership of UNDP Turkey, Ericsson, Google, Kadir Has University, Webrazzi and UN Volunteers, the event kicked off on 24 September in Kadir Has University with a focus on youth and
Young leaders, who work in the field of social media, youth studies and innovative technology and who are active citizens making real changes for their society, shared their experiences with the larger audience on their successes, challenges and aspirations for the future.
Change of paradigm is necessary
Giulio Quaggiotto, the Practice Leader of Knowledge and Innovation in UNDP Europe and the CIS Bratislava Regional Centre delivered a keynote speech in the beginning of the meet-up.
He talked about the signs of future around us that is built through social media and new technologies and that can solve our greatest development problems with innovative, simple ideas.
Afterwards, two panels were held in İstanbul meet-up.
Impact of social media on our daily behaviors and the role of active citizens in ensuring better use of the digital tools were among the topics about which are talked during the first panel.
During the second panel, youth and social good are discussed. It is stressed that there is a need for a shift of paradigm to see the youth as active agents, not as end-users, in shaping the world.
There were also discussions on the importance of experience built by youth projects and volunteerism where youth is exclusively enrolled to develop empathy in the society.
The meet-up was live broadcasted
The meet-up was live broadcasted entirely on Google Hangout both in Turkish and in English and in this way it reached to the various parts of Turkey and people have participated to the discussion online.
#Instacorps shared images from SGS meet-up in İstanbul
There were also social media photographers who captured and shared behind-the-scenes images on Instagram from the 2013 Social Good Summit in İstanbul.
These photos were also featured on the screens of New York event and +SocialGood website.
These photographers included Cem Aydın and Engin Güneysu who are professional digital photographers.
You may see the photos on UNDP Turkey’s Instagram account.
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As the three-day Social Good Summit ended on 24 September, UNDP’s global network of country offices held an unprecedented number of meet-ups around the world.
From Bangladesh to Ukraine, Japan to Nicaragua, Kazakhstan to Colombia, people met up in more than 60 countries to discuss how new technology, innovation and social media can address the greatest challenges the world will face over the next generation.
This year, meet-ups focused on the #2030NOW theme - what we can do today to live in the world we want by the year 2030.
Sierra Leone hosted its first ever Social Good Summit meetup in Freetown, where 23 year-old Salton Massally, received this years' 2013 UNDP Innovation Award for his community focused job site, www.careers.sl.
A meetup from Haiti was streamed live to the New York City hub. Participants discussed everything from mobile money and how popular music can educate and drive social good.
The audience in New York also tuned in to the discussion in Pakistan, hosted by the UNDP country office.
A panel of experts took on the topic of climate change and how new media and technology can be used to mitigate its effects by informing communities of disaster risk measures.
In all, the Social Good Summit brought together over 20,000 people and extended the conversation to over 103 million people worldwide through social media.
A slideshow of photos of the Global Meetups is available here, and click here to see more about the Social Good Summit.
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“UNDP is locating its Regional Service Centre for Europe and the CIS in Istanbul following a very thorough analysis of the costs and benefits,” Helen Clark said. “A very important benefit will come from UNDP’s co-location in Istanbul with key UN partners - including UN Women and UNFPA –which will improve co-ordination and harmonization within the UN development system.”
The selection of Istanbul as a new location for the Centre reflects the city’s central location within the region and Turkey’s increasing role on the international stage.
Foreign Minister Davutoglu, said that the Turkish Government looks forward to the opening of the Regional Centre, set to take part in stages starting already in January 2014. “We believe that Istanbul’s location at the heart of the region is highly strategic,” he said. “Turkey looks forward to engaging ever more closely with UNDP and the broader UN system through the Regional Centre.”
UNDP’s Regional Service Centre provides technical and policy advice to governments and development partners across the region, working with national and international partners, and connecting people to knowledge. It works to foster the inclusion of marginalized people into economic, social and political life; empower people by promoting governance and human rights; and promote alternative energy while reducing our carbon footprint.
For more information contact:
Christina LoNigro, UNDP Communications Specialist, christina.lonigro@undp.org, +1 2129065301
“The upcoming year will be pivotal for this Assembly as we seek to identify the parameters of the post-2015 development agenda,” 68th General Assembly President John W. Ashe said in his opening address to the 193-Member State body.
“The Post 2015 Development Agenda: Setting the Stage”
The year 2015 is the deadline for achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the eight anti-poverty targets agreed by world leaders at a UN summit in 2000, setting specific goals on poverty alleviation, education, gender equality, child and maternal health, environmental stability, HIV/AIDS reduction, and a global partnership for development.
To this end Mr. Ashe, a national of Antigua and Barbuda, has declared “The Post 2015 Development Agenda: Setting the Stage” the theme for the 68th General Assembly.
“We will intensify our efforts to define a post-2015 development agenda, including with a single set of goals for sustainable development that we hope will address the complex challenges of this new era and capture the imagination of the people of the world, as the MDGs did,” Mr. Ban told the 193-member body, adding that attention would also be focused on speeding achievement of the MDG in the 1,000 days to the deadline.
He said he also intended to convene a high-level meeting on climate change, with the exact date to be decided in close consultation with the President of the General Assembly and the General Committee.
In pursuit of a far-sighted post-2015 development agenda, Mr. Ashe said he planned to convene three high-level events and three thematic debates, ranging from role of women, youth and civil society and the contributions of human rights and the rule of law to innovative South-South partnerships and collaboration among developing nations.
“We simply cannot reach our development goals, or advance human well-being without addressing the needs and challenges of women and youth, while also making use of the contributions of the both,” Mr. Ashe said of the first event.
Turkey was represented at the United Nations General Assembly by a high-level delegation led by President Abdullah Gül and will be accompanied by Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu and diplomats.
Credit: OCHA/Paolo Palmero
World Humanitarian Summit aims to map out a humanitarian agenda for the future that is more effective and inclusive, and which addresses the significant challenges facing the world.
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu called the Summit the "most meaningful" international event ever to be held in Turkey, and extended his thanks to the Secretary-General and UN Humanitarian Chief Valerie Amos for choosing the country to host.
Representatives from some 90 Member States, civil society, the private sector and the United Nations system have pledged their support for the first-ever World Humanitarian Summit, planned for 2016.
Humanitarian aid in a rapidly changing world
The idea of the Summit was first raised by the Secretary-General in 2012.
The current international humanitarian system was established 25 years ago.
Since then, the landscape of humanitarian action has changed significantly. As well as growing humanitarian needs, there are now more organizations and groups working in humanitarian contexts than ever before.
In addition, new countries, like Turkey, are becoming donors and are offering support to neighbors.
World Humanitarian Summit 'At a Glance' (Source: OCHA)
Preparations for the Summit will begin early next year with a round of regional consultations.
These will provide Governments, humanitarian organizations, the UN, civil society, the private sector, technical experts and other stakeholders the chance to discuss and shape the Summit.
The consultations will centre around four key themes that were identified during a first round of outreach.
They are: humanitarian effectiveness, reducing vulnerability and managing risk, serving the needs of people in conflict, and transformation through innovation.
Photo: UNICEF Turkey
UNDP Resident Representative Mr. Kamal Malhotra participated in ‘Innovation Enables’ side event as a panelist.
The theme of this side event was identified as‘the way forward: a disability inclusive development agenda towards 2015 and beyond’.
The side event is held by the Ministry of Family and Social Policies of Turkey on 23 September in New York as part of a meeting organized by United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA).
Kamal Malhotra participated to the side event together with Minister of Family and Social Policies Fatma Şahin, UNICEF Turkey Deputy Representative Regina de Dominicis and high level representatives of Vodafone Turkey, Peugeot Turkey and Apple.
‘UNDP in support of Turkey’s Disabled Friendly Policies’
During the side event open to all member states, UN Agencies and civil society organizations, Malhotra delivered a speech on ‘UNDP in support of Turkey’s Disabled Friendly Policies’.
In his speech, Malhotra emphasized UNDP’s global approach to disability and UNDP Turkey’s initiatives and partnerships on this issue.
He provided information on the operations being conducted in partnerships with private sector entities such as Koç Group, Vodafone and Peugeot, Alternative Life Association as well as the Ministry of Family and Social Affairs, regarding the implementation and monitoring of the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (UNCRPD) in Turkey, social and economic inclusion, and providing an enabling environment for people with disabilities to achieve their full potential.
Detailed information on the high level meeting can be reached from this link.
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Photo: World Bank/Jamie Martin
In the outcome document adopted at a Special Event on the MDGs on 25 September, hosted by the President of the UN General Assembly, countries lauded the remarkable progress made so far towards achieving the eight Goals, which have provided a “common vision” for meeting the needs of the world’s poorest.
Member States also expressed concern at the unevenness and gaps in MDG achievement in the face of immense challenges, and agreed to take the purposeful and coordinated action required to accelerate progress.
Countries agreed to hold a high-level Summit in September 2015 to adopt a new set of Goals that will balance the three elements of sustainable development – providing economic transformation and opportunity to lift people out of poverty, advancing social justice and protecting the environment.
The Goals – which will build on the foundation laid by the MDGs and also respond to new challenges – will be applicable to all countries while taking into account national circumstances.
The deliberations of Governments took into account the views expressed by people across the globe through a series of worldwide consultations that reached more than a million citizens, in an effort unprecedented for the UN.
“A Life of Dignity for All”
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon presented to countries his report “A Life of Dignity for All”, outlining his vision for bold action to achieve the MDGs and for a new and responsive sustainable development framework that meets the needs of both people and planet.
The Secretary-General said that the post-2015 framework “must be bold in ambition yet simple in design, supported by a new partnership for development”.
Latest MDG data available at: http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/news.shtml
Secretary-General’s report available in full in this link.
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“A Million Voices: What People Want" was presented on 23 September to world leaders during the 68th UN General Assembly.
By responding to this unprecedented global survey, UN Member States can turn hope into action and build a more equitable world with decent health care, education, and jobs for all, UNDP Administrator Helen Clark said.
As chair of the UN Development Group, comprising 32 UN funds and programmes that implemented the project, she spoke on a high-level panel about the resulting report “A Million Voices: What People Want,” which gathered views and votes from more than 1 million people worldwide.
“By listening and responding to these voices, UN Member States can chart new territory—generating the kind of public ownership which could turn the world’s aspirations into action through an agenda monitored and championed by the people to whom it matters most”, she said.
Honest and responsive government and jobs has priority for people
“The World We Want” consultations and surveys found people expect governments and the international community to create conditions for inclusive social and economic development, peace and security, within planetary boundaries. They want world leaders to focus on:
Calls for better education, improved health care, honest and responsive government and jobs has dominated discussions around the world.
Consultations and surveys will continue through 2015 so people’s opinions can inform the intergovernmental process shaping the post-2015 development agenda.
Half of the participants younger than 30
More than 300,000 people engaged in face-to-face meetings in 88 countries and 11 consultations on issues such as food security, access to clean water, and governance.
The World We Want 2015 web platform hosted online discussions, which brought together communities of experts.
Some 1 million people participated through the MY World 2015 options survey, using digital channels, SMS and extensive offline interactions through a network of over 700 civil society partners.
Most MY World votes came from India, Nigeria, Cameroon, Thailand, Philippines, Rwanda, the United States, United Kingdom, Brazil and Indonesia.
Half the participants were younger than 30.
An online world map show results of the survey—allowing people to separate out the results by countries, regions, gender, levels of education or age.
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Turkish internet company TTNET, the Brazilian subsidiary of Spanish financial services provider Santander, Japanese retailing conglomerate MUJI, and many other large multinational and domestic companies have rallied the Business Call to Action (BCtA) and taken concrete steps to include the poor in their core business operations, as consumers, producers and entrepreneurs.
What is Business Call to Action?
Launched in 2008, the Business Call to Action is a multi-stakeholder initiative that challenges companies to develop innovative business models that achieve commercial success and development outcomes.
From Turkey to Japan to India and to Sweden, companies are creating innovative business models in agriculture, financial services, nutritional supplements and retail products.
“Inclusive business is gaining momentum”
BCtA’s Annual Event organized on 19 September featured these members’ innovative business models; showcasing how they have overcome challenges in the markets of the poor and created social impact while creating economic profit.
“Inclusive business is gaining momentum. When emerging market corporations from Brazil, India and Turkey stand alongside corporations from Sweden, Japan and the United States to be united in their pursuit of corporate and social impact, we know that BCtA and UNDP are at the forefront of leading change,” said Sigrid Kaag, Assistant Secretary-General/Assistant Administrator and Director, Bureau of External Relations and Advocacy at UNDP.
To date, 83 companies worldwide have responded to the Business Call to Action with concrete inclusive business initiatives as commitments.
Member companies benefit from the BCtA’s ability to provide a global leadership platform, its research and impact measurement assistance and its global advocacy capabilities.
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Following the summer study of European Council for Energy Efficient Economy (ECEEE) in France on June 2013, management unit of “Market Transformation of Energy Efficient Appliances in Turkey” project submitted another paper to “Seventh International Conference on Energy Efficiency of Domestic Appliances and Lighting” on 11-13 September in Portugal.
Eco-Design and Energy Labeling in an EU Accession Country
The board of the conference first accepted the paper written on the project which is entitled as “Building Capacity for Better Enforcement of EU Eco-design and Energy Labeling in an EU Accession Country – Turkey Case Study”.
Then, a team consisting of representatives from the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources General Directorate for Renewable Energy and project management unit were invited to attend the Conference and to present the paper.
The team highlighted the achievements of the project in market surveillance capacity building.
Audience from NGOs, European Commission, governmental institutions and research institutes of many EU Member States were highly interested in the presentation and delivered their recognitions about project implementation.
The project team also participated in various panel presentations during the event.
The event included eight different panels on various aspects of energy efficiency of domestic appliances and lighting including smart grid, behavioral energy efficiency, testing methods, household energy consumption metering, labeling, etc.
In addition to project presentation, it was also interesting to hear about EU experience on implementation of eco-design and energy labeling directives, market transformation efforts in China, progress of new ideas on new energy label design.
For more information about the project on Market Transformation of Energy Efficient Appliances in Turkey please visit www.evudp.net
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“Ghost Net Hunters” project aims to clean off the fishing gears that are left down to the bottom of the sea that passively continues fishing, in other words 'ghost nets'.
The project is supported by “the Strengthening the System of Marine and Coastal Protected Areas of Turkey” project and GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP).
Surfaced nets wait for the exhibition
The hunting gears, which are collected in the context of the project launched in March, will be exhibited at the end of the project, after they are registered.
They will be used to create awareness all around the country and primarily among the users of the area.
Great interest to e-mail address
The success of the project increases the citizens’ sensitivity over the issue. Many calls and notices were received via the project website and the e-mail address from various cities.
Communication network increased the success
Another achievement of the project is the establishment of a communication network among the stakeholders.
The system, which facilitates the data and information flow among the parties, makes the coordination of the work and the achievement of success possible.
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The Green Business Conference which was organized by Sustainability Academy on 17-18 September in İstanbulfocused on the changes in the business world, new parameters, sustainable development and green jobs.
UNDP supported the organization as the solution provider.
Green Business Conference was kicked off with the opening speech of Cevdet Yılmaz, Minister of Development.
There were more than hundred speakers and more than forty panels were organized during the Conference.
Some of the topics addressed at the Green Business Conference were as follows: new parameters of the business world, the present and future of sustainable business, green jobs, sustainable capital markets and financing, energy efficiency and energy management, renewable energies, sustainable municipalities, Turkey’s energy future, policies and practices, clean production, sustainable living spaces and water and carbon management.
Malhotra: Greening the economy is not optional
UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Turkey Kamal Malhotra also delivered a speech at the Green Business Conference and stressed that sustainable development needs to ensure equitable prosperity for all and that the interrelation between the three pillars of sustainability which are social, economic and environmental has become undisputable.
Kamal Malhotra expressed the significance of policy measures in the transition to an inclusive green economy and underlined that greening the economy is not optional and that failure to do so would result in instability, damage to vulnerable communities and regress development in the long run.
Kamal Malhotra also stressed the significance of the private sector’s responsibilities and duties during this process.
All the CO2 emissions emerged throughout the conference was calculated and the carbon footprint of these emissions was erased.
In other words, the 5th Green Business Conference where world’s leading institutions shared their experiences on sustainable development and green jobs was realized in a carbon neutral approach.
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Fisherwomen project is supported by “Strengthening the System of Marine and Coastal Protected Areas of Turkey” project and GEF SGP- COMDEKS.
70 fisherwomen in Datça-Bozburun SEPA
70 fisherwomen, who are active in the field, were reached in Datça-Bozburun Special Environmental Protection Area (SEPA) by the project.
They were interviewed face to face and their requirements were identified.
They mentioned that “this is the first time that they are taken into consideration by an institution and they will support the activities under the context of the project”.
It is also observed that the activities gained support from the local residents too.
International support
Along with the field work, the activities via the project’s internet site continue.
In this context, the contacts are being made with international fisherwomen NGOs and fisherwomen cooperatives and international support is being provided for the fisherwomen.
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The projects that applied for Sustainable Tourism Support first went through a pre-assessment process.
Shortlisted 10 projects that passed the pre-assessment process gathered in Future Lies in Tourism Workshop, held in Istanbul between 29-30 May 2013. Following the workshop, the shortlisted projects went through a final assessment process as a result of which three of them were awarded with the support fund.
The awarded projects are:
Sericulture and women’s labour
%100 Misia Project, aims to promote the tourism activities in Misi Village, which outstands with its historical features and natural beauties, within the scope of culture tourism.
Culture tourism activities in Misi Village will try to improve sericulture, as the historical means of livelihood in the region and create a new model which will assure that women’s labour is also be evaluated by women.
Project will last for 12 months and will contribute to the training of women in the village.
A restaurant will be opened in "Cocoon House", a registered Misi House by women. Women will also be responsible of the management of the restaurant.
Also workshops on sericulture will be organized in the "Silk House", another registered Misi House while stores will be opened and managed by women.
The products that are produced in the Silk House will be put on market for sale.
Women’s initiatives will be supported by a multi-sectoral cooperation platform
The project of Women- Led Sustainable Tourism Initiatives aims to contribute to the development of sustainable tourism and increase in new models by creating an exemplary women’s initiative platform in Mardin.
Within the scope of the project, İpekyolu Pension and Cafe will go into action and 50 women will go through a training process.
By creating a multi-sectoral cooperation platform, it is intended to create an environment that supports women’s initiatives, particularly in tourism sector.
As a result of these activities, it is aimed to provide accommodation and food service for tourism sector in the region and to establish a collective women initiative model which may also be implemented in other provinces.
The extension of women’s labor with traditional kitchen
With Traditional Kitchen of Seferihisar Project, which will also last for a year, it is aimed to contribute to the branding and extension of women’s labour in local.
In the kitchen which will be established within the scope of the Project, women living in Seferihisar will be trained to become trainers and will share their knowhow and experiences with visitors.
Besides, branding and promotion activities will be conducted for the products that are manufactured by women.
These branded products are planned to reach to consumers not only in Seferihisar bazaars but also through internet.
Photo: UNDP Sudan
It is extremely likely that human influence has been the dominant cause of the observed warming since the mid-20th century.
The evidence for this has grown, thanks to more and better observations, an improved understanding of the climate system response and improved climate models.
Warming in the climate system is unequivocal and since 1950 many changes have been observed throughout the climate system that are unprecedented over decades to millennia.
Each of the last three decades has been successively warmer at the Earth’s surface than any preceding decade since 1850, reports the IPCC Working Group I assessment report, “Climate Change 2013: the Physical Science Basis”, approved on 27 September by member governments of the IPCC in Stockholm, Sweden.
Projections of climate change are based on a new set of four scenarios of future greenhouse gas concentrations and aerosols, spanning a wide range of possible futures.
The Working Group I report assessed global and regional-scale climate change for the early, mid-, and later 21st century.
“As the ocean warms, and glaciers and ice sheets reduce, global mean sea level will continue to rise, but at a faster rate than we have experienced over the past 40 years,” said Co-Chair Qin Dahe.
The Summary for Policymakers of the Working Group I contribution to the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report is available at www.climatechange2013.org or www.ipcc.ch.
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A preview of the new music video for “One Voice” was launched on 23 September within the framework of the campaign which is supported by many UN organizations and humanitarian aid organizations.
It features people from around the world, including aid workers.
“Music is a powerful way to connect and to bring people together,” said David Guetta. “Together we can use our voices to make a real difference for people in need around the world. I am so honoured to be part of this campaign. If we can make a change just by saying what the world needs now and raise money to help the UN by watching our video – wow. That’s incredible.”
What is “The World Needs More …” campaign
“The World Needs More___" campaign allows leading international brands to sponsor a word they believe the world could use more of.
People can then “unlock” money pledged by these brands by sharing the sponsored words through Twitter or the campaign website.
Every time a sponsored word is shared, US$1 will be unlocked and go towards aid efforts in the world’s most underfunded humanitarian crises.
In order to watch the video, people are asked to select a sponsored word. In doing so, they unlock $1 of the money pledged by the company sponsoring that word.
Companies involved in the campaign so far include Barclays Bank (#Inclusion), Western Union (#Education), Gucci (#Strength), Crescent Enterprises (#Entrepreneurs), KT (#Dreams), Intel (#Empowerment) and GlaxoSmithKline (#Healthcare), as well as the Sergio Vieira de Mello Foundation (#Dialogue).
David Guetta's word is #Love and has yet to be sponsored.
The full-length music video and single will be launched on 4 November at a special event. The campaign has been extended until late December.
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To commemorate the International Day for Peace, Peace Bell Ringing Ceremony was organized at the Botanical Gardens in Ankara on September 20, 2013 where international community was called upon to support peace more.
Kamal Malhotra, UNDP Resident Representative, Mr. Keisuke Yamanaka, Minister Counselor of Japanese Embassy and Prof. Tayyar Sadiklar, President of the Turkish Japanese Foundation made speeches to mark the international day.
Delivering the opening speech of the ceremony attended by students, members of non-govermental organizations and diplomatic corps, Prof. Sadiklar said that people have been talking about concepts of democracy and peace for many years; however they are not able to establish lasting peace.
UNDP Resident Representative Kamal Malhotra underlined the importance of the event and said “we are gathered to commemorate a very important event at a time when violent conflicts continue to rage in our world, and especially in our neighborhood.”
UN Resident Coordinator emphasized that the theme for the International Day of Peace this year is “Education for Peace”.
“Education fosters global citizenship and building peaceful societies. It is not enough to teach children how to read, write and count. Education has to cultivate mutual respect for others.” said Malhotra.
Following the speeches calling for world peace, participants rang the peace bell.
Grant Beneficiaries were awarded within the scope of Sabancı Foundation Grant Program which is the second component of UN Joint Program for Promoting Human Rights of Women.
Grant Beneficiaries will start to implement their project as of October 1, 2013 and attended to the Grant Implementation and Monitoring Training on 26 -27 September, 2013 in UN House.
During the training, grant beneficiaries gathered technical and practical information on how to conduct successfully their projects under UN and Sabancı Foundation rules.
9 projects were provided financial support under the first call for proposal of Sabancı Foundation Grant Program.
These nine projects will start the implementation on October 1, 2013 and will pursue their activities for 7 to 12 months.
Under this first call for proposal, the total amount of grant distributed is 304.670 TL and the Projects will be implemented in Aydın, Edirne, Eskişehir, Kahramanmaraş, Kocaeli, Kayseri, Kastamonu and Ordu.
To see all vacancies, click here.
Editor: Faik Uyanık
Assistant: Nazife Ece
Intern: Ece Karakuş
Contributors to this issue: Deniz Tapan, Feyhan Evitan Canbay, Gökçe Yörükoğlu, Pelin Kihtir Öztürk
© 2013 UNDP Turkey
All rights of New Horizons are reserved to UNDP Turkey. Any use of information should be accompanied by an acknowledgment of New Horizons as the source citing the URL of the article.