Issue: 105
The preparation process for the “100% Misia” project has been finalized. “100% Misia” is one of the first projects granted by the “Future is in Tourism – Sustainable Tourism Support Fund” implemented with the cooperation of Anadolu Efes, Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism and UNDP to support local development, is finalized.
The initial results of the project have been accomplished, which is supported by the Future is in Tourism-Sustainable Tourism Support Fund for increasing women’s employment via reviving the craft of silkworm-breeding which has been the traditional source of income in the region and for bringing the centuries old cultural heritage of Misi Village (now called Gümüştepe) to light.
Silk House and Cocoon House, which are the most important outcomes of the project together with silkworm breeding ateliers and shops, are opened on 20 August with the participation of Murat Bozbey, Mayor of Nilüfer Municipality and media members, as well as executives from Anadolu Efes, Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism and UNDP.
More than home economics
The project aims to be an exemplary tourism model which revives the silkworm breeding, traditional source of income in the region, and support the women’s work.
Women of Misi will earn their income with both producing and selling silk products at the weaving and crafting ateliers in the Silk House and with running the restaurant where they will be serving local foods.
Misi’s tourism potential will come to the forefront
Mustafa Bozbey Mayor of the Nilüfer Municipality stated in his speech at the opening that “As the Nilüfer Municipality, we support women to involve in social and economic life, not keep them at their homes. Misi has the utmost importance in this sense. We aim to put the tourism potential of the region forward. Misi women will make a considerable contribution to this potential. They will support both their families and the local economy with “%100 Misia” project.”
“We maintain the heritage of our ancestors and contribute to our family economy with “100% Misia” project” noted Nagihan Dülger, owner of the project and president of Nilüfer Misi Village Women's Cultural and Beneficiary Association.
UNDP Turkey plans to publish a National Human Development Report on “inclusive growth” in early 2016.
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Turkey organized a roundtable discussion on the concept of inclusive growth in İstanbul, on 18th August where prominent experts and academics including Nobel laureate economist Joseph Stiglitz participated.
Kamal Malhotra, United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Turkey, made the opening remarks of the roundtable.
He emphasized that “It is very clear to us that in order for the world to address inequalities that hinder human progress, growth must be inclusive.”
Nobel laureate economist Professor Joseph Stiglitz delivered a keynote speech on inclusive growth, inequality and a learning society.
“How to improve the capacity of learning should be the focus of economic research. Creating a shared learning society is a central ingredient in creating inclusive sustainable growth”, said Stiglitz.
Roundtable session ended with an open discussion moderated by Kamal Malhotra.
New report on Turkey and inclusive growth
UNDP Turkey is planning to publish a National Human Development Report on the concept of inclusive growth in early 2016.
Istanbul roundtable discussion was a part of the initiation process of the planned Report, where contributors of the working group gathered and discussed the key themes to be featured in the upcoming publication.
Inclusive growth is a high priority topic on the international development agenda. Many international organizations such as the UN, World Bank, OECD and others have prioritized their work in this area.
The concept is defined as the type of growth process that ensures equal access to opportunities and to the benefits of economic growth for all segments of society regardless of their individual circumstances.
Human Development Report 2014, which is UNDP’s flagship report, will be introduced in TEPAV premises in Ankara on 3 September with the participation of Cevdet Yılmaz, Minister of Development; and Kamal Malhotra, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Turkey.
There will also be a meeting about the report on 4 September in Boğaziçi University in İstanbul with the participation of Kamal Malhotra, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Turkey and Gülay Barbarosoğlu, Rector of Boğaziçi University.
The core premise of the 2014 Human Development Report entitled “Sustaining Human Progress: Reducing Vulnerabilities and Building Resilience” is that persistent vulnerability threatens human development and unless it is systematically tackled by policies and social norms, progress will be neither equitable nor sustainable.
Launch of UNDP 2014 Human Development Report in Turkey, Ankara
Date: 3 September 2014
Time: 14.00 - 17.30
Venue: TEPAV Building, 3rd Floor Conference Room
Please click here to buy free online tickets for the launch.
Launch of UNDP 2014 Human Development Report in Turkey, İstanbul
Date: 4 September 2014
Time: 14.00 - 17.30
Venue: Boğaziçi University, Rectorate Hall
Please click here to buy free online tickets for the launch.
Webpage for the report: http://bit.ly/2014igr
For more information, please contact*:
Faik Uyanık, Communications Officer, UNDP in Turkey
Tel: 0 530 499 25 48
E-mail: faik.uyanik@undp.org
Nazife Ece, Communications Assistant, UNDP in Turkey
Tel: 0 531 373 35 31
E-mail: nazife.ece@undp.org
* THERE WILL BE A PRESS CONFERENCE IN ANKARA WITH THE PARTICIPATION OF CEVDET YILMAZ, MINISTER OF DEVELOPMENT; AND KAMAL MALHOTRA, UN RESIDENT COORDINATOR AND UNDP RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVE IN TURKEY ON 3 SEPTEMBER FROM 15:00 TO 15.30 AT THE TEPAV PREMISES.
*Press is invited to register for both events by sending e-mail to contact persons above by Tuesday, 2nd September and receive confirmation. All sessions of the two events are open to press.
Best Buddies International which aims to change the world with leadership and friendship has celebrated its 25th year anniversary with its International Leadership Conference organized in Indiana University where people from 50 states in the USA and 52 different countries participated.
Best Buddies engage in programmes in 52 countries aims to establish mutual and equal friendship ties between people with disabilities and people without disabilities.
It is an international non-profit NGO with 800,000 volunteers.
Over the past 25 years the Best Buddies International Leadership Conference (LC) has inspired thousands of leaders to be Best Buddies advocates and to bring about social change in their communities.
As conference attendees participate in workshops, seminars, and evening events, they gain skills and learn how to enhance their own community by including people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Outstanding chapter of the year with its innovation and social change project
20 countries were represented in the conference and participants had the chance to introduce their countries.
During the conference, it is also underlined that what Best Buddies in Turkey has done over this four years and Best Buddies has almost 1,000 volunteers in Turkey.
People and institutions who has done the most successful work during this one year has been awarded in the conference.
Two Best Buddies chapters from around the world were recognized for their outstanding accomplishments during the 2013-2014 academic year at the25th Annual Best Buddies International Leadership Conference: Turkey and South Korea. Nominated among hundreds of chapters among 52 countries, Best Buddies Turkey's chapter of 80. Yıl Cumhuriyet Anadolu Lisesi was awarded as the Outstanding Chapter of the year.
Accredited by Alternative Life Association (AYDER) and established in 2010, Best Buddies Turkey is running programs under the auspices of United Nations Development Programme. In four years, 10 schools and 100 buddy has joined the project and over 300 friendships have established.
GAP GREEN Magazine will be published quarterly within the context of Utilization of RenewableEnergy Resources and Increasing Energy Efficiency in the Southeast Anatolia Region Project which is implemented by the Southeast Anatolia Regional Development Administration of Turkish Ministry of Development (GAP RDA), with the technical support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The first issue focuses on driving development sectors of the region such as renewable energy, organic agriculture, eco-tourism that are came up with Competitiveness Agenda of the region.
The first issue starts with the introduction of Cevdet Yılmaz, the Minister of Development and there are interviews with GAP RDA Sadrettin Karahocagil and UN Turkey Resident Coordinator UNDP Turkey Resident Representative Kamal Malhotra.
There are also news from the region that are related to dissemination and awareness raising activities and demonstration projects.
In addition to that there is detailed information on two large scale projects “Utilization of Renewable Energy Resources and Increasing Energy Efficiency in the Southeast Anatolia Region” and “Organic Agriculture Cluster”.
Moreover; in this first issue of the magazine there are articles on energy efficiency in hospitals, energy efficiency in public buildings, carbon-neutral hotels, the importance of organic cotton production, use of information technologies in agriculture, smart cities.
Last, but not least the articles on experiences on agriculture and rural development projects and Karacadağ Development Agency’s financial support program on renewable energy will be a guide many people and institution.
[BAGLANTILAR]
* This piece has been written by Helen Clark, UNDP Administrator
Photo: Kibae Park/UN
Top of mind by late last month were the conflicts in Gaza and eastern Ukraine, Syria, Iraq, Libya, South Sudan, Central African Republic and Mali, Nigeria.
Meeting the costs of humanitarian relief is proving overwhelming. By the end of June this year, UN coordinated appeals for humanitarian crises had already reached $16.4 billion. This was before the latest conflict in Gaza began, and before a lot of the fighting in eastern Ukraine.
Could more be done to anticipate, prevent, or mitigate these traumatic events? The short answer is – yes and there is a compelling need to try to get ahead of the curve of future crises and disasters, to avert huge and costly development setbacks and lives lost.
Rough estimates suggest that for every dollar spent in disaster preparedness and mitigation, seven dollars will be saved when disaster strikes. It is also true that spending in fragile states which have been or still are immersed in conflict does absorb a significant amount of global Official Development Assistance.
A good deal of that, however, goes on humanitarian relief, leaving relatively small sums for the longer term investments which might advance inclusive governance, mediate local tensions, and ward off conflict.
To make the investments to maintain cohesion within nations, development actors need to be more pragmatic and fleet of foot. It is ultimately a political process which requires leadership, vision, tolerance, and inclusion. If a process of inclusion and change is not embraced by a country’s leadership, sooner or later change will be forced upon it. That may come at a terrible cost in human life and to economies.
The Millennium Developments Goals (MDGs), which are largely drawn from the United Nations Millennium Declaration of 2000, are due to run their course by the end of next year. What should replace them is the subject of a major global debate.
But to prevent conflicts and achieve cohesion of nations, our world will need a sea change on inclusive and effective governance, equity, human rights, and the rule of law. As development actors, we can play our part, but those who lead countries and those who aspire to lead must also play theirs.
‘Civic Training for Mehmetçik’ project aims to raise the awareness of the young male population of the country as conscious and responsible citizens who are respectful to the rights of one another and are more sensitive about protection of their physical environment.
It has implemented since 2012 with the partnership of Turkish Armed Forces, European Commission and UNDP.
Eight training modules were developed to educate conscripts who are in military service on the issues of human rights, gender equality and women’s rights, children’s rights, protection of the environment, general health care, legal empowerment, safe social life, learning and self development so as to make them responsible and sensitive individuals of the society.
So far 6,000 conscripts have received the training and it is aimed to reach 4,000 conscripts more until the end of the project.
During the meeting, a plaque was presented to Major General Taner Düvenci who is recently retired and has been the President of “Civic Training for Mehmetçik (Conscripts)” project Steering Committee for expressing the great appreciation for his vision, knowledge, experience and generous contribution in the realization of the Civic Training for Mehmetçik (Conscripts) Project.
To build and support a global conversation on some of the toughest challenges facing our world, UNDP is proudly co-hosting the Social Good Summit in New York and around the world for the fifth time this year on 21-22September 2014.
How are technology, innovation, and new media being leveraged for social good in your community? What are the obstacles to progress? What needs to happen?
While world leaders are convening in September at the United Nations General Assembly, the Social Good Summit provides a unique opportunity for people around the world to engage, listen, respond, and have their ideas heard on how technology and new media can help achieve equality for all by 2030.
Social Good Summit will be more and more global as UNDP’s Country Offices will again join and organize meet-ups all around the world.
At last year’s Social Good Summit, an impressive 61 Country Offices joined the event—reaching an audience of 20,000 people. On Twitter, over 70,000 tweets reached over 100 million people.
We want to have an even bigger impact in 2014—which is why UNDP chief Helen Clark is calling on every UNDP Country Offices to get involved.
In order to learn more information about the 2014 Social Good Summit, please visit http://mashable.com/sgs/
You may use #2030Now hashtag to join the online conversation on Social Good Summit.
The Geneva Group is a non-official entity consisting of countries that contribute more than 1 percent to the budget of the UN while focusing on the efficiency of UN organizations.
Turkey has become one of the top contributors to the UN budget, allowing it to become a full member of the Geneva Group which is a 16 member group founded in 1964 and focuses on improving governance and management across UN.
To become a full member countries are required to make more than 1% contribution to UN's budget - which is $5.53 billion for 2014-2015.
Turkey contributed 1.32 % to the 2013 UN budget, which is worth $37 million.
The Geneva Group also "possess like-mindedness” on administrative and financial matters and its members are; Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the U.S. and the U.K.
The Geneva Group is permanently co-chaired by the US and the UK, the UN Directors meet twice a year.
At the meeting taking place in Istanbul, social investments and future plan realized under Digital Transformation Movement, which was introduced in November 2013 by Vodafone Turkey with the aim of overall digital development of Turkey from people and organizations to social and economic arena.
The focus of the meeting was Dreams Academy and International Entrepreneurship Center, both projects realized by Vodafone through its digital transformation vision.
In his speech after the meeting Kamal Malhotra, said that under the umbrella of UNDP, with various partners in 177 states and regions, they have aided national and global development struggle of communities, and that they have been organization providing source for better lives and defending change.
Malhotra also stated that they value the role of communication Technologies in politics and projects as well as women, private sector and capacity building. In this context, Vodafone Turkey has served to social development well with its digital transformation vision and that they were very happy with the resulting success of projects co-hosted by Turkey Vodafone Foundation.
Vodafone Turkey CEO Gökhan Öğüt stated that, they have been working for the development of Turkish Nation and their life qualities, under the umbrella of Turkey Vodafone Foundation since 2007, and that strong co-operation with UNDP played an essential part in the resulting success of these projects.
3 Million TL Investment for Accessible Life
With the aim of inclusion of people with disabilities, project “Dreams Academy” was realised in the year 2008, under the umbrella of Turkey Vodafone Foundation and co-hosted by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Alternative Lives Foundation.
The Project reached 2500 people until today. “Dreams Academy” started in Istanbul originally, enlarging in size and interaction area, and “Dreams Academy Kaş”, Turkey’s largest accesible life space, was realised in June.
At the camp, where volunteering participants and educators from all around Turkey met, programmes on education, art and sports are realised. Together with the center at Kaş, “Dreams Academy” Project has funded over 3 million TL.
Education aid to entrepreneur
Under the umbrella of “Center for International Entrepreneurship”, co-realised by Turkey Vodafone Foundation, Ministry of Development, UNDP (IICPSD) and Habitat development and Governance foundation, there has been awareness building on inclusive and responsible entrepreneurship on international level.
In this context, spotting current needs of Turkey in the entrepreneurship area, suitable pathways are developed as well as aiming to improve entrepreneur human resource in Turkey through education plans.
To see all vacancies, click here.
Editor: Faik Uyanık
Assistant: Nazife Ece
Intern: Doğa Bakar
Contributors to this issue: Deniz Tapan, Serkan Yaralı
© 2014 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.