Issue: 65
With a special cooperation between Social Services and Child Protection Agency (SHÇEK), UN Joint Programme, Ankara University Educational Sciences Faculty and Ministry of Culture and Tourism a private train that is called “Friendship Train” travelled from Istanbul to Kars in April 18-22 April with an aim to raise awareness of children on cultural heritage on a children’s rights basis and to share the activities of Provincial Children’s Rights Committees.
The train journey which is the latest and most fun activity of Museum Training Program under the scope of the UN Joint Program will began on Monday morning (April 18) at the Haydarpasa Gar.
Attending children and adult representatives from Provincial Children’s Rights Committee as well as representatives of the press and associated stakeholders were among the passengers of the train. Friendship Train of 8 wagons, which is designated to the children after a protocol between General Directorate of SHÇEK and Turkish State Railways, departed with ceremonies from Istanbul, at 10.00 am.
The first stop of the Friendship Train is was Eskişehir.
Even though rain and cold weather followed the train to Eskişehir, a marvelous welcome in Eskişehir Train Station was waiting for the Friendship Train.
A station full of crowd composed of both children and adults sang and dance together while enjoying their apple candies. Along with the train journey work also began.
During the whole journey a train gazette is prepared by the children.
This gazette contains news and observations about each day’s activities in the train and visited cities. In addition participants from Kars and Erzurum already started to document the activities with video cameras.
At the end of the train journey these footages will turn into a short documentary.
Friendship Train in Ankara, Sivas and Erzurum
Friendship Train was in Ankara on Tuesday (April 19). Passengers of the train first visited Ataturk’s Mausoleum (Anıtkabir). The second activity of the day was to visit Ankara’s first modern art museum CerModern.
In CerModern children visited the exhibition and also realized museum training. Friendship Train was farewelled by a crowded group from Ankara Train Station with dance and music.
After an all night train ride passengers of the Friendship Train woke up in Sivas and welcomed with a ceremony at the train station.
In Sivas, children visited the Museum of Republic and received information from the director. In the afternoon children came to the Sivas Archaeological Museum to conduct a museum training.
After the training a special ceremony was held with the participation of more than 200 children along with the Governor Ali Kolat and the local public institution directors.
Turkey’s second Children’s Museum Room opened in Erzurum with a colourful ceremony on April 21, 2011.
Friendship Train was in Erzurum in Thursday and welcomed by a crowded group of children, deputy Governor and relevant local authorities. After the welcome ceremony children marched to Atatürk House which will host the Turkey’s second Children's Museum Room.
Last stop: Kars
On Friday, April 22, Friendship Train have arrived Kars to meet children of Kars. Rainy and cold weather that followed the train since departure from Istanbul was waiting for the train in Kars too. But hundreds of children welcomed the Friendship Train passengers with a warm ceremony.
After the welcoming, the destination was Kars Minstrel Culture House. There, children enjoyed the performances of Kars Minstrels and Kars children and had lunch with their peers from Kars.
Due to unfortunate weather conditions Friendship Train passengers were not able to visit Ani Antique City as planned. But despite that one downside, all passengers were happy and proud about having this experience.
A crew from TRT Çocuk (children’s channel) accompanied the train from Istanbul to Kars. UNICEF Consultant Bernard Kennedy was also on the train in order to prepare a special book about Friendship Train adventure.
The UNJP is funded by the MDG Achievement Fund entrusted to United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) by the Government of Spain, in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and United Nations Organizations UNDP, UNESCO (United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization), UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund) and UNWTO (United Nations World Tourism Organization). UN Joint Programme aims to mobilize culture tourism in Kars.
Within the scope of UN Joint Programme, a Museum Training Program has been developed in order to turn museums into places that children enjoy, raise awareness in respect of history and cultural heritage, support creative skills of children and establish a participative and permanent learning environment.
The participant children continued having museum training during the train journey.
Museum Education Module Has Turned into a Book
The children, who are also affiliated to Provincial Children’s Rights Committee, as “peer instructors” while attending to this Museum Training Program developed in cooperation with Ankara University Educational Sciences Faculty, SHÇEK and Ministry of Culture and Tourism as well as UNICEF, which intends to reflect children’s view to UN Joint Programme and to contribute to the main objective together with children, has given training their friends in their own province.
It is intended to implement the special education module which has been formed during the museum education period also in other provinces of Turkey with cooperation of the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of National Education, and Social Services and Child Protection Agency.
An education module consisting of 4 books has been developed as a result of the efforts for Museum Education Program. While the first book is prepared for adults, the second book is intended to inform the children peer instructors.
The third book includes an activity package for the participants of the museum education and there is a model implementation package in which Kars and Erzurum provinces is used in sampling in the last book.
Programme mainly focused on nature conservation, sustainable use of nature resources and sustainable tourism applications.
In this context, five project proposals from non governmental organizations in Kastamonu and Bartın have been evaluated and awarded.
Duration of each of five projects will be 8 months.
Awarded Projects:
Protecting Agricultural Production with Electric Fences Project
Project Coordinator: Culture, Solidarity and Aid Association of People from Ulus Living in Bartın and Surroundings
Project Supporters: Ağaköy Agricultural Development Cooperative, Dizlermezeci-Sarıderesi-Elvanlar-Paşalılar Agricultural Development Cooperative, Kurucaşile Eco Tourism and Eco-Farming Association, Yukarıdere Agricultural Development Cooperative, Arıt District Agricultural Development Cooperative
Project Summary: “Protecting Agricultural Production with Electric Fences Project” aims to decrease human wildlife conflict in Küre Mountains National Park’s buffer zone Bartın section. With this project both wildlife and agricultural production and beekeeping areas will be protected. To ensure sustainability of agricultural production and beekeeping without harming wildlife, 300 square meters of agricultural area will be fenced to be protected. As a result, protection of agricultural production area costs of 40 agricultural enterprises will decrease by 40 percent.
Development of Ecotourism Based Home Pension Network Project
Project Coordinator: Drahna Environment, Development, Education, Culture and Solidarity Association (DrahnaDer)
Project Supporters: Ulus District Aşağıçerçi Village Association for Development – Improvement, Construction and Maintenance of Common Properties, Kurucaşile Eco-Tourism and Eco-Farming Association
Project Summary: “Development of Ecotourism Based Home Pension Network Project” aims to improve eco tourism activities and home pensions in Bartın villages, located in Küre Mountains National Park buffer zone. At the end of the project, by providing the necessary training and equipments, 15 houses will be ready for home pensions.
Improving Agricultural Product Marketing Project
Project Coordinator: Ulus District Aşağıçerçi Village Association for Development – Improvement, Construction and Maintenance of Common Properties
Project Supporters: Kurucaşile Eco-Tourism and Eco-Farming Association, Ulus District Directorate of Agriculture, Arıt Municipality, Ulus Municipality
Project Summary: “Improving Agricultural Product Marketing Project” aims to develop sales stands to create appropriate conditions for women in marketing their agricultural and handicraft products in local markets. Thus, women in the region will sell their products in better conditions. The stands will also contribute to the promotion and visibility work of Küre Mountains National Park.
Support for Linen Embroidery Project
Project Coordinator: Culture, Solidarity and Aid Association of People from Ulus Living in Bartın and Surroundings
Project Supporters: Ulus District Aşağıçerçi Village Association for Development – Improvement, Construction and Maintenance of Common Properties, Bartın Provincial Directorate of Agriculture, Ulus Agricultural Credit Cooperative, Ulus Public Education Directorate.
Project Summary: “Supporting for Linen Embroidery Project” aims to support high value added agricultural production in Küre Mountains National Park buffer zone. For this purpose, the linen which is produced in Hoca Village of Ulus District, will be supported to increase the added value by processing in the region.
Protecting Traditional Culture and Valuing Women’s Labor Project
Project Coordinator: Küre Mountains Eco Tourism Association
Project Partners: Azdavay Municipality, Pınarbaşı Municipality, Azdavay District Governorship, Pınarbaşı Governorship
Project Supporters: KEKOOP (Küre Mountains Eco Tourism Development Cooperative, Union of Kastamonu Cooperatives, Kastamonu Technical and Vocational School for Girls)
Project Summary: “Protecting Traditional Culture and Valuing Women’s Labor Project” aims protection of daily use traditional dresses as a culture asset and creation of alternative income source for local women by valuing women labor in Azdavay and Pınarbaşı Districts (located in Kastamonu part of Küre Mountains National Park Buffer Zone). This project will help local women in designing baby toys dressed with traditional dresses, designing new products under inspiration of local dresses, organizing training courses for production by local women and promotion of these products.
The Empowerment of Youth for e-transformation of Turkey project has reached many young people across Turkey through the education centers and seminars realized in April.
An IT academy was founded in Hakkari with the acceptance of project a realized by the SODES program in April.
Social Support Program (SODES) is carried out by the State Planning Organization.
The Hakkari IT Academy as part of the Empowerment of Youth for e-transformation of Turkey Project will realize its activities through a training program that includes vocational skills trainings.
Vocational Trainings Center was opened with the participation of Youth Association for Habitat, Van Young Entrepreneurs Council, Hakkari Young Entrepreneurs Council, NGO representatives and young people.
The Ati Youth and Sports Club Association in Hakkari also played a big role in the creation of the Academy.
Through this project 80 young people between the ages 15 – 29 will receive vocational trainings in areas such as web site design, network training, computer management and call center operator.
Alanya IT Academy
While trainings and activities at the IT Academies continue, more and more IT academies are being established.
After the IT Academies established in Erzincan, Malatya and Hakkari with support of governor’s support, another IT Academy was opened in Alanya with the support of Alanya Municipality in April.
European Commission President Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, and Microsoft Middle East and Africa Region Manager Jeffer Avina also attended the inauguration.
Training for the “Kardelenler” in Kars
Empowerment of Youth for e-Transformation of Turkey has been working in collaboration with KAGİDER (Women Entrepreneurs Association of Turkey).
In scope of this collaboration, 15 young female students at the Milliyet Womens Dormitory in Sarıkamış received training of trainers.
Each one of these 15 trainers is also “Kardelen”. The project team envisions reaching various groups through these 15 trainers.
One of the volunteer trainers in Kars began giving trainings to all neighborhood headsmen in Kars.
Collaborations with Libraries
Collaborations with libraries in scope of Empowerment of Youth for e-Transformation of Turkey are continuing.
Office Program Trainings are given in Kırşehir through the project.
The training was realized at Kırşehir Provincial People’s Library between the dates February 23rd and March 19th with the participation of 25 people.
The participants of the training were informed on Youth Councils as well as the project.
Collaboration with GDF
A new collaboration was established with the General Directorate of Forestry (GDF).
Within the scope of the collaboration, trainings will be given to the staff of the regional directorates.
The General Directorate of Forestry considers these trainings in-service training.
The first of these trainings were realized at Ege Regional Directorate with the participation of 17 staff members.
Meeting in Ankara
The trainers of Empowerment of Youth for e-transformation of Turkey Project came together in Ankara for the National Coordination Meeting of the project the last week of April.
Trainers that came from all over the country discussed many issues concerning the project.
Turkey’s Action Plan for Strategy of Information Community was presented by DPT during the three day long meeting.
Many NGO representatives attended the meeting as well as project partners.
[BAGLANTILAR]
The meeting was hosted by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (MoEF) and the United Nations Development Programme(UNDP).
A total of 155 participants from the government,private sector, NGOs, universities and municipalities participated in the meeting. Participants were informed about the project's objectives and activities.
Turkey, has been preparing the Second National Communication to be submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) under the MoEF’s leadership and the UNDP’s support.
Turkey aims to submit the Second National Communication to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) at the end of 2011.
The “Enabling Activities for the Preparation of Turkey’s Second National Communication to the UNFCCC” project started in October 2010.
The Project is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
The first communication was submitted in 2007
The Project will assist the Republic of Turkey in implementation of obligations under UNFCCC by preparation of Second National Communication (SNC).
Project activities include the review and update of Turkey’s national status, greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory information, GHG projections, identifying links in terms of total policies and measures effects, vulnerability assessment, climate change impacts and adaptation measures, research and systematic observation of climate change, financial resources and technology transfer, training and public awareness activities in Turkey, and assessment and analysis of existing policies and measures.
Since 2004, Turkey has undertaken several activities to comply with its commitments under the Convention; one of which was submission of the First National Communication (FNC) to the UNFCCC in 2007.
The First National Communication was prepared with efforts undertaken by the Republic of Turkey and UNDP cooperation and funded by the Global Environment Fund (GEF).
[BAGLANTILAR]
The “Life Plus” Youth Program is a program for young people organized jointly by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the Coca-Cola Life Plus Foundation and the Yaşama Dair Foundation (YADA).
The “Life Plus” Youth Program provides support for innovative, creative, participatory and sustainable environmental projects designed by young people and aiming to achieve social benefits.
Besides providing funding support towards the realization of projects by youth groups, the program aims to increase young people’s capacity in the fields of project design, management and communication, thus contributing to the creation of projects that generate lasting solutions to environmental issues.
The application process to the “Life Plus” Youth Program consists of two stages.
Teams whose project ideas are considered successful in the preliminary application stage receive training in the areas of project design and management and during workshop activities these project teams are given the opportunity to assess their preliminary applications by consulting with experts of the field.
Following this training period, the principal applications are presented and the projects selected from among these are provided by “Life Plus” with training in media and communications, funding support and consultancy in project management and communication activities.
Following this, promotional activities are organized for each project.
How to apply
During the implementation of the projects, suggestions are developed for improvement, through regular visits by experts and feedback on the projects.
Within the scope of the “Life Plus” Youth Program, created in 2005, support has been provided for a total of 46 projects in the provinces of Trabzon, Kocaeli, Van, Mardin, Siirt, Istanbul, Mersin, Bursa, Adana, Konya, Kahramanmaraş, Batman, Izmir, Mersin, Bitlis, Hakkâri, Şırnak, Çankırı, Ankara, Amasya, Erzurum, Manisa, Balıkesir, Antalya, Kırşehir, Uşak, Kütahya, Muğla, Isparta, Artvin and Diyarbakır.
Information on applying to the "Life Plus" Youth Program are found on hayataarti.org.
The deadline for preliminary applications is 6 June 2011.
The Project has also been voted “Best of the Best” among all projects by the nearly one thousand attending Visa member representatives.
As such “Paramı Yönetebiliyorum” has become an exemplary Project designated as best practice on the international arena.
The financial literacy and budget management trainings were delivered within the scope of this project.
State Planning Organization, UNDP, Youth for Habitat Association and Visa launched this project together in 2009.
The project has currently reached over six thousand young people, providing them financial awareness for a healthy and brighter financial future.
Regional General Manager of Visa Europe Ms. Berna Ülman said she believes these joint efforts will bring two sides further success in the future.
The establishment of early warning systems is inevitable for minimizing flood risks which are observed more frequently due to the impacts of climate change and which are one of the most destructive natural hazards.In this context a pilot project on the Establishment of İskenderun Aşkarbeyli Flood Early Warning System has commenced through the support of the UN Joint Programme on Enhancing the Capacity of Turkey to Adapt to Climate Change.
The pilot project will be implemented by the Adana Regional Directorate of State Meteorological Service by the Aşkarbeyli Creek in İskenderun district of Hatay province which is among the highest risk areas in terms of floods.
A majority of floods in Turkey occur by partially dry creek basins; therefore, the project carries importance in the sense that it will be implemented in a dry creek bed.
The stream bed of the Aşkarbeyli Creek that is fed with the water that comes from the Amanos Mountains fills in time and carries its water to the sea; however, it also causes sudden floods during severe precipitation.
Minimization of risks by early warning system
Risks are aimed to be reduced with the early warning system that will be established.
Through this pilot implementation, it is aimed to assess extreme meteorological events that may lead to inundations in the İskenderun Aşkarbeyli Creek with more detailed and point weather forecasting, inform relevant institutions and citizens living in the region regarding the issue, minimize the risks through the early warning system and ensure necessary measures to protect the local community from possible damages.
The Regional Project Coordinator of the UN Joint Programme Mr. Alper Acar who spoke at the kick-off meeting of the project said: “Climate change will affect all segments of society but most seriously the poor.
Disasters such as drought and floods that occur due to changes in precipitation regime are the most significant of these impacts.
When we look at examples around the world, we see that disasters are risks that can be managed and therefore reduced. For example, although the number of people who live in areas prone to disaster risks are higher in developed countries compared to developing countries; the fact that loss of lives caused by disasters is much higher in developing countries draws attention.
This situation shows us that the state of exposure and vulnerability can be reduced with a development approach that takes into consideration disasters.
Through the project whose foundation has been laid in İskenderun Aşkarbeyli, a system that will assist in taking measures to reduce loss of lives and properties before a flood disaster occurs will be established in a region where there is need.
On the other hand, through the trainings that will be realized in the context of the pilot project, awareness will be raised on disasters in the region, the knowledge of the local communities on protection measures will be increased and the first steps of community-based disaster management will be taken.”
The UN Joint Programme on Enhancing the Capacity of Turkey to Adapt to Climate Change aims to integrate climate change adaptation into national, regional and local policies within the framework of future development targets of Turkey in terms of sustainability.
The goal of the Joint Programme is to enhance capacity in order to manage climate change risks that threaten Turkey’s rural and coastal area development.
[BAGLANTILAR]
Radio programmes prepared by the UNDP Turkey has started to be broadcasted on five univerity radios.
Universities which started broadcasting new Horizons are;
Akdeniz University, Anadolu University, Ege University, İstanbul Technical University, Süleyman Demirel University.
New Horizons Programme is broadcasted on Açık Radio (Open Radio) which is an independent readio channle in Istanbul. Programmes which are broadcasted in Turkish are also reachable on iTunes and YouTube.
UNDP, which works for more productive, healthier, more educated and greener future, shares selected stories of these works of UNDP with its audience.
URLs of university radios:
The introductory meeting will be held at university’s Beyazıt Campus on May 5th in cooperation with Faculty of Economics of the University of Istanbul.
Thus the Human Development Report entitled “The Real Wealth of Nations: Pathways to Human Development” will have been introduced at nine universities.
UNDP Resident Coordinator Mr. Shahid Najam introduced the report at Anadolu University and Ondokuz Mayıs University in April.
The Human Development Report entitled “The Real Wealth of Nations: Pathways to Human Development” was presented on April 22nd at Anadolu University.
As Prof. Necat Berberoğlu shouldered moderating the session, Assist. Prof. Tuğberk Tosunoğlu participated in the session as a guest speaker.
UNDP Resident Coordinator introduced the report in conference hall of Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences at Ondokuz Mayıs University in Samsun on April 25th.
Deputy Rector, Prof. Ahmet Bulut, Deputy Head of Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences Assist. Prof. Ahmet Mutlu, several academicians and students attended the panel.
The panel was moderated by Prof. Hüseyin Alper Güzel, who is a professor in Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences and Assoc. Prof. Kürşat Demiryürek attended the panel as a guest speaker.
How did it start?
The Human Development Report entitled “The Real Wealth of Nations: Pathways to Human Development” was first introduced on November 4th, 2010 at Middle East Technical University, simultaneously with the world.
The tour continued with introduction meetings held at Harran University of Şanlıurfa on November 26th, Akdeniz University of Antalya on December 8th, then respectively in Adana and Kars.
The activity organized in conference hall of Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences of Çukurova University was on January 13th, 2011. The Human Development Report was introduced in Kars at Kafkas University, on January 17th, 2011.
The training was held in 29 March - 1 April 2011 in Antalya under GEF supported “Enhancing Forest Protected Area Management System in Turkey Project”.
Protected area policies, current legislations, protected area planning, participation in protected areas, importance of socio-economic and cultural values in planning process, protected area financing, recreation and tourism applications in protected areas, communication and promotion topics were the main training subjects.
Protected area planning samples, tourism practices in Küre Mountains National Park and “Pan Parks” system were also shared with participants.
Ministry of Environment and Forestry staff from “9 Forest Hot Spots” named Kure Mountains, Karçal Mountains, Fırtına Valley, Datça-Bozburun Peninsula, Babadağ, İstanbul Forests, İbradı-Akseki Forests, Amanos Mountains, Yenice Forests, participated in the training.
Training participants were Provincial Directorate of Environment and Forestry staff, Regional Directorate of Forestry Planning Branch Managers and Forest District and Sub-district managers from Küre Mountain National Park buffer zone.
Field visit organized to Antalya Termessos (Güllük) National Park with training participants.
Participants recommended that this training method should be used in other trainings of Ministry of Environment and Forestry.
Objective of the Project
The Global Environment Facility (GEF) funded Enhancing Forest Protected Areas Management System project is implemented by UNDP Turkey; and executed by Ministry of Environment and Forestry, General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks, and General Directorate of Forestry under the partnership of General Directorate of Forest-Village Relations, General Directorate of Afforestation and Erosion Control, in partnership with the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) Turkey. The project aims to create a model to enhance nature conservation and sustainable resource management in Küre Mountains National Park and its buffer zone, and disseminate this model to other 8 forest hotspots in Turkey.
[BAGLANTILAR]
The workshop was organized by UNESCO Paris office in order to share best practices and lessons learnt as well as for building a corpus of knowledge based on the Joint Programmes’ experience.
Turkey is represented by the UN Joint Programme Manager Neşe Çakır, Berna Bayazıt (UNDP), Serra Aytun (UNESCO), Nilgün Çavuşoğlu (UNICEF), Evrim Ulusan and Semih Yılmaz (Ministry of Culture and Tourism).
The other workshop participants were MDG-F Secretariat, UN Agencies’ Representatives (UNICEF, UNDP, UNESCO) from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Macedonia, Department of Cooperation and Cultural Promotion, AECID Madrid, UNESCO Paris, UNESCO Venice Office.
The workshop was begun with presentations with a view to place all participants at the same level of knowledge regarding the idea of developing a KMS and its relevance for Culture and Development.
During the workshop JP participants were presented and discussed the good practices, lessons learnt and impacts of the JPs to the targeted MDGs.
Existing cooperation between GDF and UNDP Turkey has been enhancing with the presentations to share the knowledge and experience UNDP Turkey have on the national and local projects about climate change, energy efficiency, biodiversity.
First presentation of the series by Dr. Katalin Zaim, Programme Manager of UNDP Turkey, informed GDF officials about how UNDP works globally and nationally in Turkey.
Dr. Katalin Zaim highlighted the importance of the cooperation between GDF and UNDP Turkey with her presentation about the present and future projects.
Second presentation on the National Climate Change Action Plan is submitted by Deniz Gümüşel, one of the UNDP Turkey’s project managers.
Next presentations about pilot projects in Seyhan Basin, GEF-SGP projects, Second National Report on Climate Change and Küre Mountains will be submitted by the project managers in May.
For further information about Wednesday Conferences of GDF and UNDP Turkey’s presentations, please contact with Forest Engineer Emrah Kabasakal or UNDP Project Administrator Nuri Özbağdatlı.
UNV programme of which regional meeting was held in Ankara in April is represented by UNDP country offices in many countries.
Mr. Ghulam Isaczai, who had an interview with Mr. Murat Ünlü, Anatolian Agency reporter regarding UNV programme and its works in Turkey, said that the year of 2001 was announced as “Year of Volunteers” in UN General Assembly.
Isaczai, who pointed the programme aimed to support governments and countries through volunteers, addressed that volunteers contributed to determination of related policies and preparation of infrastructure in this regard.
As Isaczai touched upon their supports to governments in several places in the world in the last 40 years, he told that the their last aim was to provide more volunteers by spreading volunteerism and to integrate volunteers in to voluntary development programmes.
Isaczai said “Management of volunteerism is one of our tasks. Many countries and governments have volunteers; yet they do not know how to manage or motivate them.”
Isaczai, who reminded that the UN General Assembly decided to stress works to be accomplished in 2011 since it was the tenth anniversary of the Year of Volunteers, stated they held meetings to encourage volunteerism by gathering shareholders of the programme for one year within this scope.
Isaczai, who mentioned that they organized many regional consultancy meetings, said the first was in Equador and the second was in Turkey.
Isaczai stated that as there were voluntary representatives from the Middle East, Middle Asia and Eastern Europe in the meeting for two days in Turkey, there were also representatives of Turkish public authorities.
Isaczai remarked that there will be global conference held in Budapest in September within the framework of outcomes they had in these meetings.
8,000 volunteers
The chief of Development Divison of UNV programme, who stressed that volunteerism vastly contributed peace and development, also said that this was important for actualization of Millennium goals of the UN.
Isaczai told there were 8,000 volunteers who provided important support to the UN system.
As Isaczai emphasized most of volunteers worked in developing countries and supported governments in many issues related to development, he also mentioned a significant number of volunteers were included in humanitarian works and refugee camps.
Isaczai, who provided information about works in Turkey, asserted there were 35 UN Volunteers in Turkey most of which worked at UNHCR activities.
Isaczai imparted they had been working on how to increase capacities of related organization with volunteers and they would appoint a representative the following month. Isaczai said “We hope to increase the number of volunteers in Turkey.”
Isaczai expressed that they could provide some technical resources to Turkey and make use of youth capacity of Turkey.
“Online volunteering”
The chief of Development Divison of UNV programme who provided information about ''Online volunteering'' system, articulated the number of UNVs as 10,000 and this was an enlarging area for themselves.
Isaczai stated that they were enabling to gather people across the world, so that a person sitting in his house could be able to provide help, for example, a person in need in Nepal.
As Isaczai attracted attention to reflection of power of this platform and technology to social arena, he said this platform, as it enables volunteers to reach the field, put forth breathtaking outcomes.
Isaczai suggested this platform to people who were not able to work in the field or would not prefer working in the field.
Isaczai said “UN volunteerism is an experience for persons to enrich themselves. so that people can work for issues, concerning the entire world such as environment and poverty”, as he called all volunteers and voluntary organizations to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Year of Volunteers.
In addition to these, Isaczai mentioned two criteria fro applicants; they must have two years of experience and be older than 25.
Isaczai also added that there was no upper age limit and they needed every kind of experience.
[BAGLANTILAR]
The trainings are formulated in two rounds; the first round tour carried out between 17 January-12 February 2011 in both Antalya and Ankara and the second round tour carried out between 21 March - 07 April in Kızılcahamam.
LAR II Project targeted the local elected representatives and appointed managers overall Turkey.
The content and training materials are designed according to the outcomes of the Training Needs Assessment Report which is conducted between April-September 2010 in 11 pilot local authorities.
The trainings are delivered by a group of 25 trainers and 7 guest speakers who are acknowledged on the in-service trainings at the local authorities.
The trainings topics include; Effective Working Relationship with Elected Representatives and Appointed Managers, Gender Mainstreaming, Strengthening Vision at the Local Authorities, Project Cycle Management and EU Funds, Communities of Practice, Fiscal Management and Budget.
Quantitatively, 1.505 local authority officials - of which 918 of them are the local elected representatives, 587 are the appointed managers- are trained at the end of the trainings.
Besides, qualitatively, the participant evaluation questionnaire outcomes proved high participant satisfaction of the quality, content and organizational success of the trainings.
The trainings not only provided knowledge on the issues but also provided a kind of platform to share their experiences and best practices and a well-established network.
Authorities whcih participated:
The topic of this episode is the United Nations becoming more efficient, more innovative and more competitive in the Turkish textile sector and its contributions in favor of becoming a more active actor in struggle with gender inequality and increasing environment sensibility.
UNDP Turkey: Hello, this is the New Horizons Podcast of United Nations Development Programme Turkey. The topic of this episode is the United Nations becoming more efficient, more innovative and more competitive in the Turkish textile sector and its contributions in favor of becoming a more active actor in struggle with gender inequality and increasing environment sensibility. There is a United Nations Joint Programme entitled Harnessing Sustainable Linkages for SMEs in Turkey's Textile Sector and we will discuss this joint programme with Ms. İnci Ataç Rösch. Welcome.
İnci Ataç Rösch (İ.A.R.): Thank you.
UNDP Turkey: You are the head of the United Nations Joint Programme and you ensure the coordination, because this project is carried out by more than one UN agency and General Secretariat of the Istanbul Textile and Apparel Exporters’ Associations (İTKİB); “what does this project mean and what do you do?”, first of all we shall start by discussing these questions.
İ.A.R.: Thank you very much. This is such an important project, such a big project. Although its budget is relatively small, its aims are bigger. What we highlight – especially the issue I am highlighting- is that this is a project formed in order to provide support to SMEs in the textile sector. It is orientated not for regions having developed textile sector, but for regions which are developing. Thus provinces which have development potential, yet have low shares from Turkish national income, were selected. Implementations will be carried out in these four provinces.
UNDP Turkey: Which provinces are these?
İ.A.R.: Malatya, Adıyaman, Kahramanmaraş and Gaziantep.
UNDP Turkey: These provinces are close to each other.
İ.A.R.: They are close to each other. They are complementary through the perspective of textile industry; they have a complementary structure. Thus, there is an important coordination dimension to the project. Implementations will be carried out primarily in these four cities. Since three UN agencies and General Secretariat of the Istanbul Textile and Apparel Exporters’ Associations (İTKİB) are involved, the project is on the ground in both Ankara and Istanbul. It is a complex and integrated project. Involvement of three UN agencies shows that the textile industry is analyzed through three different perspectives.
UNDP Turkey: If you would like to, we shall highlight these there different UN agencies; which ones are involved in this project?
İ.A.R.: Yes, for example, United Nations Development Programme which brings the economic perspective in to the business development perspective.
UNDP Turkey: Then UNDP works with you.
İ.A.R.: UNDP yes. It is a UN agency which is involved in the project from the economic and business development perspective. There is International Labor Organization in the project. It brings in a different social perspective which emphasizes decent working conditions. The third perspective comes into the agenda from the United Nations Industrial Development Organization – UNIDO through environmental sensitivity and environmental sensitivity based on industrial development. So this multilateral approach to the textile industry through these three perspectives is one of the most important properties of the project.
UNDP Turkey:You started the project a very short time ago and you aim to complete it within 2012. Actually it is not a long period. These four cities are not the first ones that might come to mind; yet they have high potential. How were these chosen and what exactly are you going to do in these four cities? Shall we talk about this a little bit?
İ.A.R.: As I have mentioned, these were chosen because they have this potential. These do not have developed textile industries; but they are developing textile industries. Because, as you know, within the Millennium Development Goals, we have to take measures against poverty. Thus, these four cities were picked since there will be a contribution to the poverty title of the Millennium Development Goals. Their contributions to the national income are relatively low, yet they have potentials and they complete each other as I have mentioned.
UNDP Turkey: This programme is financed by Millennium Development Goals Achievement Fund. Thus it is financed by the Spanish Government and there is İTKİB, representing the private sector and three UN agencies involved as well. You had mentioned two pillars while we were discussing previously. During the programme, one of the jobs to be accomplished is efficiency, and the other one is competitiveness. Could you clarify what efficiency and competitiveness exactly mean?
İ.A.R.: Of course, the project has predictions and activities for increasing innovation and efficiency. Especially harnessing sustainable linkages by SMEs in these four provinces is very important.
UNDP Turkey: It focuses on SMEs.
İ.A.R.: It focuses on SMEs, but it is not possible to focus only on SMEs. For improvement of SMEs, there is a need for buyers, large producers, exporters to improve as well.
UNDP Turkey: Maintenance of this set of actors is probably very important in this regard.
İ.A.R.: Absolutely. It is not possible to develop SMEs by focusing only on SMEs without paying attention to the entire textile industry. Thus, I would like to touch upon activities of the project regarding these issues. For instance; there will be formed a value chain in the project, plus it is important to use an existing platform, an existing portal for this aim.
UNDP Turkey: Let me digress; what do you mean with value chain?
İ.A.R.: Value chain is a portal of factors such as an internet site which brings together producers, exporters and buyers. Think of a portal, similar to Facebook. You will see that small producers can gather with the biggest buyers or buyers with producers or buyers with suppliers. The portal aims to maintain this. Actually it is a portal which can be used for every sector or industry. We would like to have it used for the textile industry and implemented in these four provinces.
UNDP Turkey: You shoulder the responsibility to speed up and ease activities which might take a long time otherwise in terms of the textile industry. This is the dimension of efficiency. What goals are there for competitiveness in your programme?
İ.A.R.: For the “competitiveness” dimension, SMEs should take a step towards corporate social responsibility with an aim of development of the Turkish textile industry. There has to be awareness raised in SMEs regarding this issue. For raising awareness, of course, there has to be an estimation of the situation in these four provinces and Turkey. “What is the situation of Turkey in textile industry?”, “to what extent does it use corporate social responsibility?”, and “if not why?”, these questions need to be answered. Following this, there will be given training which should be sustainable corporate social responsibility training. What is emphasized along with corporate social responsibility is an improvement of working conditions, increase in environmental awareness, gender sensibility and maintenance sustainability for the industry. That means these should be affordable.
UNDP Turkey: Actually what you listed including volunteerism are sub-topics of corporate social responsibility. These are necessary conditions for international partnerships, aren’t they?
İ.A.R.: Absolutely. It is necessary at least to create awareness regarding corporate social responsibility for producers to reach buyers. Then, they need to take the further step. This is the buyers’ demand.
UNDP Turkey: You start with an idea of micro firms, small firms with big international targets, so that it will be grounded on a strong base and the further phases will be easy.
İ.A.R.: There is one more aspect; producers are aware of the demands of buyers, but they might not know how to start. So, - of course large exporting firms in the textile industry knows these quite well – one of the aims of the project is to explain what corporate social responsibility is to SMEs.
UNDP Turkey: In the meantime, you have a goal of establishing a consultation center in cooperation with universities.
İ.A.R.: Definitely; a consultation center is one of our goals.
UNDP Turkey: Let us end the programme with the last points you have touched upon. Thank you very much for joining us. Ms. İnci Ataç Rösch, UNJP Manager. We discussed a project which focuses on environment, gender disparity and development of private sector and we have come to the end of the New Horizons Podcast of United Nations Development Programme Turkey. This podcast has been recorded at the studio of Radyo İlef of University of Ankara. You can follow our podcasts on Açık Radyo (Open Radio) on FM frequency or on the internet on undp.org.tr, on iTunes as podcast format, as well as on YouTube in video format. Our username on social media is undpturkiye. Hope to see you next week, good bye!
In this episode of the New Horizons Programme, our topic is the national communication of Turkey against climate change which has turned into a global reality.
UNDP Turkey: Hello, this is the New Horizons Podcast of United Nations Development Programme Turkey. In this episode of the New Horizons Programme, our topic is the national communication of Turkey against climate change which has turned into a global reality. The second national communication has currently been prepared and the Ministry of Environment and Forestry works with the UNDP. What does Turkey aim to do regarding this issue? How will the process continue? We will discuss these with our contributors. Ms. Fulya Somunkıranoğlu, welcome. You are Head of Climate Change Office of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry and Dr. Öznur Oğuz Kuntasal, welcome.
Öznur Oğuz Kuntasal (Ö.O.K.): Thank you.
UNDP Turkey: And you are manager of the aforementioned project. If you would like, let us start with asking Ms. Somunkıranoğlu. What is National Communication and what is the process? When did the climate change issue first start to be discussed in the world?
Fulya Somunkıranoğlu (F.S.): The climate change issue first started to be discussed in 1992. When countries started to feel the negative impacts of greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere, they brought a convention into the agenda in 1992 and they decided to find a solution. And they separated countries into various categories. These are; countries which were going to have targets to decrease greenhouse gas emissions, countries to finance the process and poor countries without any responsibilities. In 1992, during the convention, Turkey was included in both countries with a target of decreasing greenhouse gas emissions and countries to finance the process.
UNDP Turkey: Actually, a long standing problem started.
F.S.: Absolutely. From 1992 until 2004, Turkey tried to solve the problem, but had judicial struggles. This process ended up with a result of inclusion of Turkey only to the group of countries that had to decrease greenhouse gas emissions; but not in countries to finance the process. Actually the fight against climate change, in real terms…
UNDP Turkey: Creating awareness…
F.S.: ...and creation of awareness started after this period. May 24th 2004. Afterwards…
UNDP Turkey: The date is so close.
F.S.: You are right. Actually Turkey was an inactive player. In 2004, it became an active player. After this date, you can spot that Turkey’s activeness and the level of awareness in either activities done within Turkey or projects carried out by the Ministry has increased. Meanwhile, it was not only about awareness raising in the public sector; but also in the public arena. If you watch commercials, you might come across some climate change or greenhouse gas issues somewhere in it. Now on TV or in radio programmes such as this, we discuss “how can we decrease greenhouse gases?” or “How can we fight climate change?”, and this raises the awareness of the public…
UNDP Turkey: The rise in awareness has turned into a certain, highlightable fact. I would like to ask Ms. Kuntasal briefly. In the introduction part, we mentioned national communication – but what is it exactly, whom is it prepared for? Could you please tell a little bit about it for the ones who don’t know?
Ö.O.K.: Let me mention it briefly; Ms. Somunkıranoğlu has already spoken about it. Countries who are party of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) are obliged to report to the secretariat of the UN how much they obey the rules of the convention. They report these in certain periods of time to the secretariat in Bonn. Turkey is obliged to report its actions since it is a party of the Convention. Thus, the national communication summarizes what has been done in several headings.
UNDP Turkey: This means the communication sheds light on what has been done; not what will be done.
Ö.O.K.: That’s right. It both puts forth what has been done so far and enables us to have a road map by detecting what is missing. Thus it is an important process showing the existing and missing activities. Turkey presented its First National Communication to the secretariat in 2007. In 2006 preparations were started and completed. Right now, preparations for the second communication has been continuing.
UNDP Turkey: In which years does Turkey have to report? Is there a certain period or frequency?
Ö.O.K.: UNFCC, the secretariat of the UN sometimes determines it. It is approximately three to four years; these reports are submitted in the dates they determine.
UNDP Turkey: When is the next submission for Turkey?
Ö.O.K.: The next submission date – as I have just said – will be announced by the Secretariat.
UNDP Turkey: Yet preparations have still been continuing.
Ö.O.K.: It can be three to four years. Currently the submission date is the end of this year.
UNDP Turkey: Until the end of 2011… I would like to ask you again, Ms. Somunkıranoğlu. You are the head of Climate Change Office of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry. Why is such cooperation important with UNDP regarding such an important topic, and in the process of preparation of a communication summarizing what Turkey has done, could you tell us about your partnership with the UNDP?
F.S.: We cooperate with the UNDP not only on the Second National Communication Project; but on many other projects. I believe we are an easy going and hard working team. We worked with the UNDP on the development of the adaption capacity of Turkey to climate change and preparation of the Climate Change Action Plan, and now we work together on the preparation process of the Second National Communication. The reason why we chose UNDP for the Second National Communication is that we accomplished a project which was financed by Global Environment Fund with UNDP. There is an accumulated capacity. We wanted to include this capacity in the process. So we chose the UNDP to work with us for the Second National Communication.
UNDP Turkey: Could you give some hints about the second communication, regarding featured developments? What kind of developments are there that we can highlight?
F.S.: As Ms. Kuntasal has just mentioned; the Climate Change Second National Communication is prepared under nine headings. The phase in between the first and the second communications is to analyse what kind of actions need to be done in Turkey– let me remind you that the first communication was in 2007 – and will give us projections regarding what kind of activities public institutions did in sectors of Turkey. Meaning, what is the target for greenhouse gas emissions in Turkey and what can be done? Actually the first is a road map.
UNDP Turkey: We discuss a communication which intersects with all segments of the community and all sectors of the economy.
F.S.: Right. A participatory process is planned for. UNDP is the irrevocable UN agency for successfully carrying out participatory processes.
UNDP Turkey: When did you start initiating the project and at which phase are we? What are the outcomes?
Ö.O.K: The project started in October. We had the first workshop in November. There was a variety of participants; private sector, NGOs, universities.
UNDP Turkey: It started at the end of 2010.
Ö.O.K.: We started the project at the end of 2010. Thus the process has been continuing. We will have intensive workshops about participatory processes in the following months. We have a workshop at the end of this month. We try to include everybody as much as possible. Because topic titles are very wide; policies, stocks of greenhouse gases, affectability-effects of emissions, adaptation, research, systematic analysis, education in Turkey regarding climate change, what the level of awareness raising in public is, what has been done… There are many topics such as financial resources and technology for decreasing emissions and adaptation. Thus we work for each topic separately with related experts. And we organize workshops about participatory processes for each topic. After the report has been prepared, the workshops will be included in this process, the national communication will finally be prepared and completed with contributions of all shareholders and related groups.
UNDP Turkey: Let us highlight again, when will the preparation completed?
Ö.O.K.: As we have discussed before, it will be prepared and submitted by the end of this year.
UNDP Turkey: It will be prepared by the end of 2011 and everybody will be able to analyze what Turkey has done so far. There will be a communication created in leadership of the Ministry of Environment and the UNDP through workshops you mentioned by inclusion of several shareholders. Thank you very much for joining us. Ms. Fulya Somunkıranoğlu, Head of Climate Change Office of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry and Dr. Öznur Oğuz Kuntasal, Manager of UNDP Turkey Climate Change Second National Communication Project were our contributors. We have come to the end of the New Horizons Podcast of United Nations Development Programme Turkey. This podcast has been recorded at the studio of Radyo İlef of University of Ankara. You can follow our podcasts on Açık Radyo (Open Radio) on FM frequency or on the internet, on university radios in our broadcasting network, on iTunes as podcast format, on undp.org.tr, as well as on YouTube in video format. Our username on social media is undpturkiye. Good bye!
The topic of this episode is computers and development. How can IT be used in cooperation with the private sector in education, health or rural development; what kind of examples are there in Turkey?
UNDP Turkey: Hello, this is the New Horizons Podcast of United Nations Development Programme Turkey. The topic of this episode is computers and development. How can IT be used in cooperation with the private sector in education, health or rural development; what kind of examples are there in Turkey? We will discuss this topic with Mr. Afşar Akal. Welcome.
Afşar Akal (A.A.): Thank you. I wish you a succesful broadcast.
UNDP Turkey: You are Business Development Manager for Digital Transformation Programmes of Intel Turkey. You have three different projects carried out in association with the UNDP; before touching upon these, we can talk about the upper chords of these projects if you would like. How can computers be used for the aim of development? How did you start?
A.A.: Our perspective is that not only the rich can benefit from technological opportunities; but people who do not have the financial capabilities, can have a chance to use these opportunities of technology. Thus, we are willing to unite people in rural areas that have financial difficulties, women, children, and students with IT, no matter what financial or physical difficulties exist. In order to do this, we try to have projects without shareholders – who are ecosystems, meaning computer producer, service, software, context telecommunication services. We have approximately three or four year private – public sector cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme. Three of these projects were successfully carried out. We, as Intel, are a shareholder of the UN Global Compact since June 2009 and we have been trying to come up with solutions and work with the United Nations and guide it among 59 companies.
UNDP Turkey: Let us clarify the UN Global Compact. It is an agreement for the inclusion of the private sector in development efforts more actively and Intel is party to it. Three of the projects you have just mentioned were accomplished a short while ago. They were all works which could constitute an example in their own areas. They were innovative. Let us touch upon these separately. The first is, for example, “Telemedicine Project” carried out in Adıyaman. What is exactly meant by telemedicine and what kind of a project did Intel form in cooperation with the UNDP?
A.A.: Telemedicine technologies are very expensive, yet not very new. When analyzed, there exists information sharing between hospitals and medical doctors regarding prognosis, treatment and consultation. These technologies can be utilized in developed places with large resources; however in cooperation with the UNDP, we discussed how an ordinary citizen or person in rural areas can benefit from this technology. We had such an aim; sometimes due to being far away, expenditures might cost much more than the cost of treatment. But if there is a computer and a broadband internet connection, if you prepare a platform for information sharing regarding prognosis, treatment and provide video phone calls, cases which are not so serious can be treated – let us put it differently, not treated; but diagnosed and then you can come up with solutions.
UNDP Turkey: What kind of an example can we give in order to enable our audience and listeners to visualize the process? There is a patient, and you and your project step in. Then what happens?
A.A.: We chose two places in Adıyaman. One of them is Çakırhöyük town of Besni county which 72 kilometers away from anywhere. There is a family doctor and a midwife nurse working at a health center which is 20km away in a mountain meadow. Of course, everybody cannot use technology comfortably. We worked with an expert who is a clinical expert and is able to use technology comfortably. Training was given regarding how to use these technical devices; some of them are communication devices such as devices used for calls - similar to cameras; and some of them were treatment devices such as an EKG device, devices for testing blood glucose level, and an ultrasonography device which can be connected with USB. Then we gave them a simple model. We said “you treat the patients. Some of them have to be forwarded to hospitals. You need to have a consultation with a specialist doctor. Can you find solutions with these technologies by getting into one-to-one contact with these specialist doctors before forwarding these patients to hospitals?''
UNDP Turkey: “Development with IT Project” is carried out in Çukurova region in association with the UNDP, SPO and Çukurova Development Agency. How were IT and rural development brought together?
A.A.: As I have mentioned before, we want these people to meet with technology. And generally people in rural areas are timid since they don’t tend to be familiar with these technologies, they dont have the financial possibilities or don’t have guides whşch could help them learn about technology. Our perspective is; let us choose two villages, through a selection process in which Çukurova Development Agency and SPO are involved. We wanted to computerize certain places, such as schools, internet-access centers in schools, neighborhood units and SMEs. We provided the necessary infrastructure there. We provided portable and simple computers for children’s use in classes in the framework of the project, named interclass one-to-one teaching pilots. We had a good project there and United Nations Development Programme especially engaged non-governmental organizations into the project quite well at the scaling phase. Training about how to use computers were given to local people. Volunteers from Youth association for Habitat went there. A village in Çotlu county and a village in Mut county of Adana were pilot areas. They told every person how to use computers and there is nothing to be afraid of. We teach farmers, young people – generally they are prone to computers – but women, even old people were provided with information about how to access to internet, read newspapers and if necessary how to use video phone calls.
UNDP Turkey: This project, Development with IT Project, was carried out in Adana and Mersin and the aim was not only to increase access to internet; but contribution to rural development by use of it at key points was an important example. There is a web-site; koydehayatvar.com.
A.A.: If you would like, I shall briefly talk about it. We designed a portal in order to enable agriculture consultants, qualified university graduates to build up contents, share them with their peers and guide each other. Approximately twelve agriculture consultants upload contents about various issues, such as greengages, animal hospitals, plant mites and methods for protection from them. Then they introduce these to farmers who demand consultancy or they provide information access to their other friends.
UNDP Turkey: Let us highlight koydehayatvar.com and last but not least let us touch upon the “Include Me” Project. There is a portal, named benidahilet.org; what is this portal related to?
A.A.: In our country, a computer is used as a consumption tool. We, as Intel, encourage the use of computers not just as consumption tools; but as a means of content-building. This is an education project and in association with the Ministry of National Education and the UNDP, we came up with a project which was inspired of the idea of how children, who would be information workers in the future when employed, could be a part of content-building. At this point, Youth Association for Habitat from youth non governmental organizations supported us very much. The aim is to have a project which enables children to do activities they can easily do such as telling stories, writing papers, drawing pictures and illustrating animations, and to transform them into teaching materials by illustrating them on a white screen and uploading them though concept production and to share them with their peers – everybody cannot build up content on computers though. This project aims to maintain cooperation in between schools, students and teachers, in the meantime, to enable students to have knowledge about context-building.
UNDP Turkey: As evident from its name, include me, benidahilet.org, the basic approach is to enable children and teenagers to acquire awareness that computers are not a consumption or game tool; but is a means for concept production. Thank you very much for your participation.
A.A.: I thank you for inviting me to your programme.
UNDP Turkey: Business Development Manager for Digital Transformation Programmes of Intel Turkey, Mr. Afşar Akal was our contributor, so we have come to the end of the New Horizons Podcast of United Nations Development Programme Turkey. This podcast has been recorded at the studio of Açık Radyo (Open Radio) in Istanbul. You can follow our podcasts on Açık Radyo (Open Radio) on FM frequency or on the internet on undp.org.tr, on iTunes as podcast format, as well as on YouTube in video format. Our username on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Flickr is undpturkiye. Hope to see you next week, good bye!
The topic of this part is corporate service corps or corporate volunteerism.
UNDP Turkey: Hello, this is the New Horizons Podcast of United Nations Development Programme in Turkey. UNDP, which works for a more productive, healthier, more educated and greener future, has stories to tell you. In every part of the podcasts, we share selected stories of these works of UNDP. The topic of this part is corporate service corps or corporate volunteerism. How would it be if the firm you were working at would enable you to get involved in volunteer actions for development projects in various countries? We will discuss this topic. Our contributor is Ms. Özlem Çalışkan. Welcome.
Özlem Çalışkan (Ö.Ç.): Hello.
UNDP Turkey: You are the manager of UNDP Corporate Service Corps Project. We shall start with the concept of corporate volunteerism. I have just mentioned; the firm you work at appoints you in a project in a country where you would like to get into voluntary events. You work with IBM for this project. What has been done so far?
Ö.Ç.: IBM Corporate Service Corps Programme is a global programme which has been initiated in the framework of corporate citizenship and corporate social responsibility activities of IBM. As you have said, it is a corporate voluntary service programme. This programme has been implemented in twenty different countries in the world. When it was started, it was implemented in five countries. It began to form in 2007. In 2008, it was actualized and today it has been implemented in twenty different countries. It has been implemented in developing countries such as Bulgaria, Brazil, China and Egypt as well as Turkey. In this programme, as you have touched upon, applicants who are in the first 15 percent in terms of performance, are appointed to teams to work in developing countries.
UNDP Turkey: This means, an employee can become a volunteer only if he/she is successful in his/her job, correct?
Ö.Ç.: Absolutely.
UNDP Turkey: This from employers’ perspective, probably motivates employees.
Ö.Ç.: Yes, actually in the first phase, this programme was shaped as a Leadership Development Programme of IBM. IBM is a large and integrated company in global and integrated markets, and it wants to have employees who have appropriate skills in order to work in a global and integrated world. The contribution of the programme should be analyzed through this perspective. It was shaped in order to develop human resources and leadership skills; yet this programme does not only contribute to IBM. Meanwhile, it introduces worldwide consultancy to all developing countries and local agencies. IBM employees, who have knowledge of technology developed by IBM for many years, voluntarily share their experiences with local institutions.
UNDP Turkey: Actually it is a good example of inclusion of the private sector in development and includes reforms which form an example for many other firms. On one hand, there is the dimension of increase in efficiency; and on the other there are dimensions of both support for volunteerism and support for development projects. Let's assume that the firm chose who to go and sent them to a country. This country shall be Turkey, for instance. They come to Turkey, meet with UNDP Turkey, what would they do?
Ö.Ç.: First of all I would like to tell you about our partnership structure, because the project has been implemented differently. This project has been implemented through international non governmental organizations in association with IBM in the world. Partnership structure in Turkey was shaped as a private-public sector project and the project has been implemented by UNDP, the State Planning Organization, Corporate Volunteer Association and Digital Opportunity Trust - a Canadian NGO - in cooperation with IBM. That means there is a five partner structure in Turkey. We, as implementing partners, give suggestions to IBM regarding where to implement the project, which topic to focus on and which places are in the most need. Of course, all project partners decide at the end. For years, as you know, we, UNDP, are on the ground in Turkey and have a deep knowledge on these issues. Thus, we have well-developed long-term partnerships with local partners. It is necessary to form and shape certain projects which should be designed to last for 30 days and to develop strategic planning and marketing.
UNDP Turkey: Of course there is a time limitation. As a result, employees come to Turkey in their sabbaticals and go to the places you select in the context of the project.
Ö.Ç.: Yes, absolutely.
UNDP Turkey: Where are these places?
Ö.Ç.: These provinces are – I would like to give examples from where we implemented the project so far – we began in Mersin. Two teams worked in Mersin in two different phases. Following that, two different teams worked in Gaziantep. I would also like mention that these teams are always different, the same teams don’t always go to the same places. The third place was Malatya. At the moment a new team is getting ready to arrive in Turkey. A three month term of work will be completed and during April, they will work with local institutions in Kayseri. The current team composes of 12 people. Another important element we should discuss is that there is a homogeneous and multi-cultural structure in teams. Participants are not only from developing countries; yet they come from IBM offices from all over the world.
UNDP Turkey: Employees of this big company in several countries come here in mixed groups. Well, our followers would ask, what do they do when they come. In which projects are they appointed?
Ö.Ç.: I would like to give an example from the works we have done so far. For example; we did activities such as strategic planning, marketing and communications for development of tourism of Mersin. We, in association with Gaziantep Municipality, had a project for the enhancement of IT infrastructure of Gaziantep Municipality and for the introduction of smart-city suggestions for Gaziantep. We worked towards the introduction of innovation and R&D and industrial special offers in association with Gaziantep Chamber of Industry. We also worked for strategic and organizational planning and in the general sense business planning of Gaziantep Cyberpark. In Malatya, we worked in coordination with Malatya Governorship, in cooperation and hosting of the Fırat Development Agency. The Apricot Accreditation Body was a recently-founded institution there. We formed a business and strategic plan for this agency. We also run a project for the development of tourism.
UNDP Turkey: So actually there are various sectors. You may be led to think that were only computers in the project, since we have been talking about an IT company.
Ö.Ç.: Actually we should have put it differently. IBM is not fully-known. In general, it is known as a technology, IT or computer firm; yet it is one of the biggest consultancy companies. One of its most important three competences is consultancy. It has paid attention to have a varied distribution within our teams. In our teams, there are various experts on sales, human resources, finance, IT. As I have said, these are all IBM employees.
UNDP Turkey: Let us give a few examples. These are short and very intensive programmes, aren’t they? Because, as we have just mentioned, employees do voluntary actions in a country during their sabbaticals. What have been the outcomes so far?
Ö.Ç.: Of course, we work to meet the needs that local institutions tell us about. Of course, these institutions in cities know what their primary issues are better than we do. We turn them into a project with the help of our expertise. As I have just mentioned, for instance, if there is a target for tourism and local authorities are willing to develop this area, we come up with a project by discussing it with our partners and we introduce our suggestions at the end of one month. After we introduce our suggestions, we are unfortunately not involved in implementation. Implementation is completely carried out by beneficiary institution and its partners.
UNDP Turkey: You actually shoulder a guidance responsibility along with UNDP, IBM and other partners in order to constitute a road map.
Ö.Ç.: And we develop strategies. These strategies are locally implemented; yet we, of course, follow the procedure as well. We are in contact with them even after completion of the project. We periodically – semi-annually or annually – follow up how the outcome of the project has been actualized, where they were used for, and if not then why.
UNDP Turkey: You construct a partnership structure most firms might be willing to take as an example. Thank you very much for joining us. Ms. Özlem Çalışkan, UNDP Corporate Services Corps Project Manager was our contributor, so we have come to the end of the New Horizons Podcast of United Nations Development Programme in Turkey. This podcast has been recorded at the studio of Açık Radyo (Open Radio) in Istanbul. You can follow our podcasts on Açık Radyo (Open Radio) on FM frequency or on the internet on undp.org.tr, on iTunes in podcast format, as well as on YouTube in video format. Our username on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Flickr is undpturkiye. Hope to see you next week, good bye!