Issue: 64
Helen Clark, who had meetings in Ankara and Istanbul, inaugurated “UNDP Istanbul International Center for Private Sector in Development” and also launched a regional report entitled “Business Solutions to Poverty” in Istanbul. The UNDP Administrator also visited culture tourism projects implemented in Kars.
The head of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Helen Clark, paid an official visit to Turkey from March 10 -14, 2011.
Helen Clark, who had meetings in Ankara, Istanbul, and Kars during her visit, was accompanied by the Director of the Regional Bureau of UNDP for Europe and Commonwealth of Independent States Ms. Kori Udovicki and UNDP Resident Representative in Turkey Mr. Shahid Najam.
Helen Clark met Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmet Davutoğlu and Minister of State Cevdet Yılmaz in Ankara.
Ms. Clark and Mr. Davutoğlu also signed a partnership agreement to support global poverty reduction.
New UN centers in Istanbul
After the signing ceremony, Mr. Davotoğlu made a statement to the press;
“The important project of ours I discussed with the UNDP Administrator and the UN Secretary General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon is to transform Istanbul into a regional center of the UN. We established a regional research center in Istanbul. We are thinking of establishing a center related to women studies in Istanbul. We would also like to create a center within the UN in Istanbul through peace and mediation intiatives. We would like to become a center for several peace-related, social, cultural activities of the UN.”
Mr. Davutoğlu, who mentioned that he gave a briefing to Ms. Clark regarding Turkey’s official development assistance, stated that one of the most important works with regards to this issue was Least Developed Counties Summit in May, in Istanbul.
In the meantime, UNDP Administrator, Ms. Helen Clark addressed the agreement signed by Turkey would start a new era in relations of UNDP and Turkey.
"Business Solutions to Poverty"
On 11 March, the second day of the four-day visit to the country, the Administrator inaugurated “UNDP Istanbul International Center for Private Sector in Development” that aims to encourage the private sector to take a greater role in anti-poverty efforts and create more jobs.
The International Center for Private Sector in Development will support the development of inclusive and competitive markets and inclusive business models that engage poor people into value chains as producers, employees, consumers and entrepreneurs, with the end goal of economic development.
Another purpose of the centre is to encourage private sector network to work for supporting the achievement of Millennium Development Goals and other globally accepted development goals.
Clark, in her inauguration speech, underlined the global importance of inclusive and sustainable growth and development. Ms. Clark also launched the regional report entitled “Business Solutions to Poverty” in Istanbul.
Meeting with the PM
Helen Clark, who also met women entrepreneurs and had discussions with Turkey’s leaders of industry and business in Istanbul, paid a two-day visit to Kars on 12 and 13 March.
Ms Clark observed the projects implemented under “UN Joint Programme on Alliances for Culture Tourism in Eastern Anatolia” being implemented in association with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and in cooperation with UNESCO, UNICEF, UN World Tourism Organization in addition to the UNDP, promoting culture tourism in Kars.
The Administrator, in her last day in Turkey visit, also made a speech in the Leaders of Change Summit in Istanbul.
During the summit, Ms. Clark had a special meeting with the Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for 45 minutes.
The two leaders discussed bilateral relations between the UNDP and Turkey during the interview.
Who is Ms. Helen Clark?
Helen Clark became the Administrator of the UNDP in April 2009, and is the first woman to lead the organization. She is also the chair of the UN Development Group, consisting of the heads of all UN funds, programmes and departments working on development. Prior to her appointment with UNDP, Helen Clark served for nine years as Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1999 - 2008.
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Ms. Helen Clark, Administrator of the UNDP, paid a visit to Turkey between the dates of March 10 and 14, 2011. Helen Clark, who had meetings in Ankara, Istanbul also travelled to Kars within the context of her visit.
She arrived in Kars on March 12, Saturday with UNDP Deputy Administrator Kori Udovicki, UN Turkey Resident Coordinator Shahid Najam and her UN Joint Programme team.
The delegation, led by Helen Clark was in Kars to follow the projects implemented within the framework of the “UN Joint Programme on Alliances for Cultural Tourism in Eastern Anatolia”.
UN Joint Programme is being implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and United Nations Organisations UNDP (United Nations Development Programme), UNESCO (United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization), UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund) and UNWTO (United Nations World Tourism Organization).
The delegation first paid a courtesy visit to the Governor of Kars Mr. Ahmet Kara.
Here, Mr. Ahmet Kara welcomed the delegation and thanked them for choosing Kars for the implementation of the UN Joint Programme and assured that his and the Governorate’s support to the UN Joint Programme will continue.
Helen Clark thanked the governor for his support from the beginning of the Joint Programme and emphasized the importance of the local and national ownership for the success and sustainability of the Joint Programme.
Minstrels of Kars and local cheese
Following the meeting at governor’s office, Helen Clark visited Kars Museum Room of Children which inaugurated in January 2011.
Clark, here, received information regarding the Museum of Kars and Children’s Museum Room and observed museum training given to children and had a chat with participating children.
Afterwards, Ms. Helen Clark got together with the owners of projects benefiting from the Grant Programme of the UN Joint Programme regarding ongoing activities at Kars Minstrels Culture House.
In the Culture House she had the opportunity of talking to grantees as well as tasting famous local cheese. Her visit to the Culture House ended with a short performance by the Kars Minstrels.
Before leaving Kars, the UN Delegation led by Helen Clark visited Ani Ancient City in the morning of 13 March, Sunday.
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An active engagement of the private sector is critical for the much needed acceleration in the progress for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and other internationally agreed development commitments. Through its core business activities, inclusive market practices and above all on-going corporate social responsibility activities, the private sector has proved its pivotal role in ensuring sustainable development and contributing to job creation, growth and expanded access to products and services.
It is in this context, the Government of Turkey and the United Nations development Programme (UNDP) agreed to establish the Istanbul International Center for Private Sector in Development.
Objectives of the IICPSD
The UNDP Istanbul International Center for Private Sector in Development (IICPSD) builds on Turkey’s convening power and dynamic private sector as well as UNDP’s global mandate to engage the Private Sector constructively in supporting global and local efforts to address development challenges. The IICPSD will have the following objectives:
1) Support the development of inclusive and competitive markets and inclusive business models that engage poor people into value chains as producers, employees, consumers and entrepreneurs, with the end goal of economic development.
2) Foster private sector engagement and advocacy with for example, the UN system for achievement of MDG targets (especially on focus sectors like health, agriculture, education, housing and water and themes like youth, gender, environment) and other internationally agreed development goals (e.g. climate change);
3) Become a center of excellence in terms of capacity development activities that harness Trilateral Development Cooperation and South-South partnership, and promotes skill-building, access to enterprise-related finance, entrepreneurship and assistance to enabling actors;
4) Convene business and supporting actors to expand dialogue and create actionable partnerships between themselves, in support of a development agenda.
Strategy
The objectives will be achieved as a one stop shop service delivery center through research, policy advisory and advocacy, knowledge development and management, MDGs-based partnerships, programme support and capacity development.
What are inclusive business models and what benefits are provided by them?
Currently, many large companies are trying to reach what we identify as the bottom segment of the income pyramid, a market that includes 4 billion people whose yearly income are below 3.000 American dollars according to estimated purchasing power parities. This group, named as the emerging consumers by the private sector, has been left outside the economic activities until now and didn’t become part of business plans. As a result, most of the services given by the private sector didn’t reach this segment constituting the bottom of the pyramid. The inclusion of this group means increasing competitiveness, higher profit rates, more qualified labor force, new producers and consumers and more creative solutions for companies.
In inclusive markets, the poor are incorporated both as consumers and producers. The firms adopting inclusive business models for better access to new markets and observe an increase in their profits by strengthening their value chains. With the new employment fields created by the firms, life quality of low-income people becomes better off and this has a positive effect on the profitability of private sector eventually. Another important effect of the inclusive business models that focus on the market of the poor is supporting entrepreneurship in value chains. Inclusive business models both include the labor force that was previously absent in private sector and improve the quality of the current work group by education. Also, general costs of the companies decrease and flexibility is achieved as poor people can take on roles like producer, wholesaler, and consumer in different parts of the value chain.
When we analyze from the country perspective, the significance of inclusive markets is visible in areas like the provision of basic needs and fields such as health, education where public sector may not be sufficient. Firms implementing inclusive business models reach population segments and regions where state is not adequate. Countries supporting inclusive business models both give way to the growth of private sector and improvement in welfare level as well as acceleration of human development. With the adoption of this market logic, productivity of the country is rising and sustainable development is achieved with the participation of all segments of the society.
How are the practices of inclusive markets in Turkey?
Inclusive business models are becoming widespread in Turkey in order to lower the number of poor, realize human development and increase the participation of private sector in this process. This model, which enables the poor to undertake the roles of consumer, employee, producer and/or entrepreneur, is not just the responsibility of the private sector. The process requires the contributions of institutions like the Turkish government and local civil society associations. This way, the needed legal infrastructure, technical knowledge and financial capability will be provided with the cooperation of these institutions and social awareness will increase with the presence of different actors.
What are Turkey’s priority tasks in inclusive markets?
The “Creating Value for All: Strategies for Doing Business with the Poor” report prepared by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Growing Inclusive Markets (GIM) Initiative lists five main constraints in this area. These are limited market knowledge, insufficient regulatory infrastructure, inadequate physical utilities, lack of information and skills and limited access to financial services. In the case studies conducted, the most common problem is identified as the lack of information and skills. At this point, state’s preparation of the necessary legal framework for inclusive markets has priority. When we look at the situation of private companies, inclusive business models’ contribution to not only long-term human development but also firm’s profitability, market share, value chains that are vital in short-term should be emphasized. The participation of development partners and civil society organizations in this process also creates a significant value.
Which sectors should prefer inclusive business models?
Inclusive business models were implemented by various companies working in different sectors in a variety of countries and positive results were obtained. This model, which gives the role of consumer, buyer and other positions in the value chain to the poor segment simultaneously, is preferred for its benefits by SMEs, large national companies as well as non-profit organizations. The profiles of different companies in the GIM database from various sectors and countries prove that inclusive business models can be implemented in a diverse set of business areas successfully.
What are the differences between CSR projects and inclusive business models?
Corporate social responsibility projects include business-focused social and responsibility investments that may contribute to development. Instead, inclusive market models are directly influencing the main operations of companies. On one hand, activities of the firm are directed towards incorporating poor segments to the value chain, and on the other, realizing MDGs is aimed. Inclusive business models create more effective and lasting social influence compared to CSR projects, since the company’s decision making mechanisms, financial processes and strategic plans also become a vital part. Pro-poor business models, when executed successfully, are both beneficial for the financial performance of the business world and contribution of the ongoing operations to development.
What are the most remarkable, mutually beneficial inclusive business models in the world?
There are many significant examples in the world. First of all, Grameen Bank established in Bangladesh and later opened in many countries in the world can be addressed, with its great success with innovations in microfinance. Also, there are companies that provide high cost medical services, like heart operation, for affordable prices for poor in India with the business model they developed. Other important examples include Vitmark, which assists development of the farming sector in Ukraine’s underdeveloped areas and enables farmers to undertake the role of both productive producer and strong consumer and MTS, which provides health services to poor people with the help of tele-medicine in Belarus.
What are the examples from Turkey?
“Creating Value for All: Strategies for Doing Business with the Poor” report created by UNDP in 2008 is one of the most significant publications on inclusive business models in the world. In our regional report analyzing the examples in developing Europe and Central Asia, a continuation of the 2008 publication, Hey Tekstil was addressed as one of the most important examples of inclusive business models in Turkey. This firm gained hands-on experience about the positive effects of inclusive markets on both human development and company activities. Hey Tekstil preferred to locate its investments in areas that are far from main business centers and other companies do not favor, in order to decrease its costs. As a result, the company both created employment opportunities for more than 1.000 poor people and increased its profitability by %10. UNDP, Intel and Turkcell’s cooperation in a sample tele-medicine project, again in Turkey, inspired the MTS’s project in Belarus. Based on the prepared report, MTS implemented its project to facilitate access to medical services through tele-medicine, helping people that were facing limitations before.
What are some examples of UNDP activities in the world?
UNDP performed important projects in the areas of value chain integration and pro-poor products and services in the world. For example, it worked with Unilever to contribute to vegetable oil production of the Tanzanian farmers by providing resources for feasibility studies, training for farmers and as a result, the income of 6.000 farmers increased by $140 yearly. In another project, UNDP acted together with Ericsson and worked on access to information technology in rural areas. Through steps like arrangement of the necessary infrastructure investments, decline in the costs of tools with common usage and establishing a new model about having access to telephone, the goal of enabling poor people to use telecommunication services efficiently and productively was actualized.
Press release of Ms. Clark with Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmet Davutoğlu was broadcasted by several media agencies such as especially TRT and Anatolian Agency.
Clark, during the inauguration of the Istanbul International Center for Private Sector in Development, answered questions of journalists from Bloomberg TV and CNBC-e.
Helen Clark, who visited Kars to examine cultural tourism projects, supported by the UN, was followed by both local representatives of both the national newspapers and TV channels, and local journalists.
Helen Clark, who participated in Leaders of Change Summit in Istanbul, Turkey in the last day of her visit, also had numerous interviews with national television channels and newspapers.
During interviews, journalists mostly asked Helen Clark questions regarding, to what extend the Millennium Development Goals could be achieved by 2015 and how much progress Turkey had in this area.
I am pleased to have the opportunity to contribute to this panel on a new perspective on development.
Recent years have thrown up enormous challenges to development. Food and fuel crises preceded the global recession – which, beginning in a few markets of the north, rapidly spread its tentacles to most corners of the earth, impacting on the poorest the most.
As well we have witnessed huge loss of life and destruction of livelihoods and communities from mega natural disasters. Japan, a developed country, is in our thoughts right now, as the latest nation to suffer from devastating seismic events, and their aftermath, shortly after the earthquake causing serious damages and loss of life in Christchurch, New Zealand. Just over a year ago it was Haiti which suffered grievously; before that China and Pakistan; before that the Indian Ocean tsunami affecting countries around its rim; and earlier still Turkey, Iran, and others.
Managing disaster risks like these is a huge challenge. As well, climate change and the increasingly erratic and extreme weather it produces add immensely to the risk profile of many countries. Environmental degradation generally and loss of biodiversity also represent significant threats to life on this planet.
Then there are the ongoing conflicts in a number of countries which stand in the way of development, and the high levels of armed violence in a number of countries not formally recognized as conflict zones.
Notwithstanding the many challenges, the world overall has made progress towards the Millennium Development Goals and other internationally agreed goals.
But we do need to accelerate progress in order to achieve the MDGs and other national and international development goals.
The need is urgent. Our world now has a huge population of young people – all with hopes and dreams for the future, but who all so often have deep concern for their future.
On current rates of economic growth and on current economic models, too few jobs and sustainable livelihoods are being created for those who need them.
Sheer frustration about lack of opportunity and about hardship being experienced has played its part in the series of uprisings in the Arab States this year – coupled with the expression of a pent-up desire for greater inclusion and participation and for dignity and justice.
If needs and dreams like these are not met more broadly, then the stability and peace needed for development momentum cannot be attained.
The Importance of Inclusive Growth
In the run up to last year’s MDG Summit in New York, UNDP produced an International Assessment of what it would take to achieve the Goals, drawing on national MDG progress reports and lessons learned across a wide range of countries.
One of the key drivers of progress identified was the need for more inclusive models of economic growth, which could succeed in driving down poverty and in creating decent work and sustainable livelihoods.
High levels of economic growth per se will not achieve that. So often we have seen such growth generated from the extractive industries with little spin off for human development locally.
Going forward, I believe that models of more inclusive growth will need to encompass smart strategies for nations to be able to capitalize far more on their natural endowments of riches than many have been able to hitherto. Doing that effectively will require not only deriving spin offs for jobs and local business, technology transfers, and infrastructure legacies, but also strong and capable institutions and leadership committed to human development.
Achieving inclusive growth is also very much about targeting the sectors, activities, and regions where poor people work and live. In the developing world, 2.5 billion people depend on agriculture for their living. Boosting agricultural production, through measures like providing access to fertilizer, credit, and irrigation services, and improving rural infrastructure will simultaneously reduce poverty and improve food security.
Both Ghana and Uganda provide examples of where investment in the agricultural and rural sectors has had that effect. In Uganda, growth in the agricultural sector accounted for more than half of the reduction in headcount poverty between 1992 and 2003.
The Role of Equity
Inclusive growth should also strive to be equitable growth. While it may seem paradoxical, absolute poverty reduction may be accompanied by greater inequality. That too puts strains on social cohesion and stability.
To promote equity, it is critical to sustain and expand investments in infrastructure and access to social services like health and education.
Public employment schemes, like India’s National Rural Employment Development Scheme, and social protection programmes can be enormously helpful too, in ensuring that nobody drops below a minimum floor of wellbeing and in developing resilience to shocks.
There are the cash transfer programmes of Latin America – such as Brazil’s Bolsa Familia, and Colombia’s Familias en Accion programmes, and others – which target low-income households, help reduce poverty levels, and increase access to education and health services.
Here in Turkey cash transfer programmes address the nutritional needs of impoverished households, and help girls in those families go to school, thereby helping to empower them for the future.
Inequality goes beyond income distribution. It is important to tackle inequalities based on gender, ethnicity, faith, disability, geographic locations, and other factors. Investing in opportunities for women and girls, for example, is not only the right thing to do in equity and human right terms, but it also has multiplier effects for development across communities and generations.
Deliberate strategies are also needed for more equitable access to assets like land and tenure rights. Legal frameworks which work for everyone, and ensure access for the poor to legal rights need to be established.
Decent Work
A particular focus for inclusive growth must be to increase employment which merits the definition of decent work.
Creating job opportunities for young people and harnessing their energies and talents is of great importance right now. The global economic crisis has taken its toll on the young, with recent ILO estimates suggesting that the global youth unemployment rate rose from 11.8 per cent in 2009 to 12.6 per cent last year.
As well, actual labor force participation among youth dropped with the onset of the crisis. That means that fewer young people are actively seeking work. As these discouraged young people are not counted among the unemployed, the level of youth unemployment tends to be understated. The problem also goes beyond unemployment, with youth making up a larger proportion of the working poor. Young women are particularly disadvantaged.
The cost of youth unemployment is not only borne by young people themselves, but also by economies and societies as a whole. In recent years the highest regional youth unemployment rates have been observed in the Middle East and North Africa, where so many young people now see nowhere to go but to the streets in protest. UNDP’s Human Development Reports have warned about the consequences of such lack of inclusion and opportunity for youth in the region for some years.
Yet when growth supports rapid increases in decent work, incomes and opportunities will increase. That spurs virtuous cycles of activity, which generate additional public revenues to support further investments in education, health, and infrastructure, thereby contributing further to growth and stability.
More Inclusive Governance
Recent events in the Arab States also suggest that more inclusive political systems and governance need to accompany the growing of more inclusive economies if growth and stability are to be maintained.
UNDP’s Egypt Human Development Report in 2010 highlighted how young Egyptians were calling for greater consultation and communication between the government and young people. That report now seems particularly prescient.
From the early days of the transition in Tunisia this year, UNDP has provided support for establishing a strategy which could lay the ground for a functioning democratic governance system and economic recovery. Going forward, UNDP is committed to work with countries in the region, at their request, in fostering more inclusive political and economic participation, and securing peaceful transitions.
Development Partnerships
Tackling today’s development challenges requires strong partnerships – and the scope for these is expanding rapidly with the rapid growth of South-South co-operation, of the mega philanthropic foundations and NGOs, and the growing interest of the private sector.
Turkey is one of a number of large and dynamic developing countries which have themselves become significant contributors to international development co-operation.
Recognizing that and the broader geopolitical roles which such nations now play, at UNDP we have sought to lift our relationships with them to new levels.
Last Friday in Ankara, I signed with Turkey’s Minister of Foreign Affairs a new Partnership Framework Agreement as the basis for Turkey and UNDP co-operating globally to advance development. Previous such agreements have been signed with China and Brazil, and others are in the pipeline.
At UNDP, we recognize that the strategies, policies, skills, and expertise which can be exchanged through South-South co-operation are often those best suited to meeting the development challenges faced in the South.
As a global development network with a universal presence, we are in a good position to work with a wide range of partners to facilitate exchanging experiences, and sharing lessons learned and best practice.
A second agreement has also been signed with Turkey, on establishing the UNDP Istanbul International Policy Centre on the Private Sector in Development. It will be a centre of excellence on the engagement of the private sector in development and enhancing its impact. I am particularly keen to see the Centre promote inclusive models of doing business - which create opportunities for local businesses from the micro level up in value chains, and are positive for job creation. The Policy Centre’s establishment is made possible by generous support from Turkey.
Another major event this year will also underline the emphasis Turkey is placing on international development. In two months’ time, the Fourth UN Conference on the Least Developed Countries will be held here in Istanbul. I believe that the LDCs will be looking for an outcome which emphasizes the importance of growth, jobs, trade, and investment – all of which have played such an important role in propelling Turkey and other emerging economies forward in recent years.
Where that momentum is also linked to policies which are inclusive and promote sustainable human development, then our world can work to overcome the many challenges development currently faces.
The report, Business Solutions to Poverty – How inclusive business models create opportunities for all in Emerging Europe and Central Asia, features for the first time case studies from 19 countries in the region, and provides practical recommendations for how to develop inclusive business models.
Take Vitmark in Ukraine. Several years ago, people with low incomes in Ukraine had rarely purchased fresh, high-quality juices, because they were too expensive. Then Vitmark opened up juice factories in three Ukrainian cities and started selling more affordable juices. The company employs and trains local people and procures fruit from local farmers. Salaries offered are one third higher than the regional average. And farmers receive regular training to improve the quality of their produce. At the same time, Vitmark brought the cost of juice down through efficient product packaging and marketing that targeted low-income consumers. The company’s market share increased from 7 percent in 1999 to over 22 percent in 2008.
Kori Udovicki, Assistant Administrator and Regional Director of UNDP’s Bureau for Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), describes the objectives of the report: “There is growing evidence that businesses who engage the poor on the demand side as clients and consumers and/or on the supply side as producers, employees and business owners, can boost their bottom line while creating value for the poor. The report is designed to show that inclusive business is possible, and that successful models have been tested in the ECA region.”
More and more companies around the globe are recognizing that people with low incomes are potential markets and opportunities. Few examples have been available from the region – until now. Researchers – covering every country of the ECA region – were asked to capture examples of successful inclusive business models. Agriculture, financial services, ICT, tourism and waste management are some of the featured sectors. The report also provides market data and concrete recommendations for how to support inclusive business in the region. The need – and the opportunity – for developing these business models is significant, as the report shows. Some 130 million people in the region live on $4.30 a day or less. 11 million people in the ECA region are unemployed and 140 million work in the informal economy.
Almost 19 million people lack access to clean water and almost 40 million lack access to an improved sanitation facility. Health services are often expensive and of poor quality. These needs can be met by using business approaches. Likewise, access to goods and services can increase productivity. Over 5 million people in the region do not have access to electricity and more than 150 million do not have access to financial services. Internet access can also be improved. Over 8.5 million micro and small enterprises (and more if counting the informal ones) and millions of small farms can offer services as suppliers of goods and services.
The UNDP Growing Inclusive Markets in ECA project supports the development of inclusive business models in the region. With a team at the UNDP Regional Center in Bratislava and focal points in 5 ECA countries, it provides brokerage and advisory services for companies and consults government on creating a conducive environment for more inclusive markets.
The Growing Inclusive Markets Initiative, led by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), is a platform to facilitate the engagement of all actors for more inclusive business models so that the pursuits of wealth creation and human progress can work to mutual advantage. It gathers relevant information, highlights good examples, develops practical operational strategies and creates space for dialogue. For more information: www.growinginclusivemarkets.org
UNDP is the UN's global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. We are on the ground in 166 countries, working with them on their own solutions to global and national development challenges. As they develop local capacity, they draw on the people of UNDP and our wide range of partners.
Global exports of creative goods and services—ideas and creativity-centred industries such as arts and crafts, audiovisuals, books, design, films, music, new media, visual and performing arts— have more than doubled from 2002 to 2008, reaching nearly US$600 billion, according to the report.
Despite the 12 percent decline in global commerce in 2008, world trade of creative goods and services continued to expand with an average annual growth rate of 14 percent.
The Report entitled Creative Economy: A Feasible Development Option argues that creativity-centred industries are a source of inclusive economic growth.
The publication produced by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and UNDP showcases more than 40 concrete examples ranging from the fashion industry in Africa and Asia to soap operas in Mexico and Brazil, and from the film industry in India, to reggae in Jamaica and the carnival in Brazil and the Caribbean.
Such industries in developing countries have been promoting trade, while often providing training and employment to the poor.
For example, Nigeria’s US$2.75 billion film industry is the third largest in the world, following the US and India. Nigeria’s ‘Nollywood’ produces more than 1,000 films annually, creating thousands of jobs and is the country’s second most important industry after oil. In recognition of its importance, the Government has invested in the film industry, reforming policies and providing training to promote film production and distribution.
The 2010 Creative Economy Report concludes with 10 policy recommendations on how creative industries can promote inclusive growth.
Turkey in the report
2010 Creative Economy Report suggests creative goods export of Turkey expanded with an annual 14,96 percent increase between 2003 and 2008.
Turkey is ranked 16th among top 20 countries in the world in terms of creative goods export. Among growing economies Turkey is ranked fourth just after China, Hong Kong and India in creative goods export.
However Turkey is the top exporter of personal, cultural and recreational services among developing countries. In the category of exports of performing arts, Turkey is ranked 10th among developing countries.
About the Creative Economy Report
The Creative Economy Report is prepared by UNCTAD and the UNDP’s Special Unit for South-South Cooperation.
In preparing the 2010 edition, UNCTAD and UNDP built upon previous contributions from other UN organizations, such as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the International Trade Centre (ITC).
Celebrating the second anniversary of TGNA Equal Opportunities Commission for Woman and Man, the Convention was held with the participation of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, aiming to contribute to the enrichment and diversification of the efforts for mainstreaming gender equality in all levels of decision making and daily lives of the citizens.
The convention brought together representatives of international community working on gender equality including different institutions of the United Nations; European Parliament; Inter-Parliamentary Union; Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union and chairpersons of the equal opportunities commissions of parliaments and ombudsmen from various countries with parliamentarians and representatives of the media, arts, public and private sectors and civil society organizations.
Istanbul convention provided an opportunity to share national and international experiences of mainstreaming gender equality in all stages of policy formulation and implementation, raising awareness on the issue and functioning of institutions.
The convention also hosted president of UN Women Michelle Bachelet, minister for the equal opportunities of Italy Maria Rosaria Carfagna and head of the mission of the League of Arab States Mohammed El Fatah Naciri.
The convention that contained seven separate sessions resulted in discussion and collection of updated information about recent trends, developments and challenges with respect to gender equality in decision and policy making processes; engagement of stakeholders; women participation in labor force; women’s access to education and role of gender equality commissions and media in creating a gender sensitive society.
Some results
In that respect, the Convention has yielded important results as per the session discussions including but not limited to the following:
• The vulnerability of women is universal since gender inequality is seen in every spheres of life all over the world;
• Gender inequality is a human rights issue and it is crucial to make a special focus on the promotion of women’s rights;
• Special measures should be taken for employment of women in public sector;
• Gender Equality Commissions should have direct relations and effective collaboration with other stakeholders in the field of gender equality. In that respect, it was strongly emphasized that the Commissions should have an independent budget.
• It is crucial that there is a considerable raise in the awareness on gender equality when compared to 10 years before. However, the issue should be discussed accurately and strategically in order not to lose its importance;
• In media, women are often present as an object and rarely as a subject;
• Speaking about equality is an important indicator of inequality in a society.
With regards to gender equality and role of parliaments, particularly gender equality commissions, the participants discussed the possible means to make gender sensitive politics, gender sensitive parliaments and societies. In addition; it was also strongly emphasized that women should not be seen as victims or passive actors of change or recipients of aids but instead actors and leaders for change.
Will be repeated annually
The International Convention on Gender Equality is considered to be the first step of establishing a sustainable knowledge and experience sharing network among gender equality commissions around the globe and expected to be repeated every year hosted by different countries.
The results of the convention will also be brought together in a publication and will be disseminated to national and international actors in the field of gender equality.
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FriendFeed is among the most widely used social sharing networks in Turkey.
Social media links of the United Nations Development Program Turkey are as follows:
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Friendfeed
• Flickr
Audio and video services
You can reach New Horizons, the monthly e-bulletin of the UNDP in Turkey in audio and video formats since January.
Podcasts which are broadcasted in Turkish can be accessed through undp.org.tr in addition to YouTube and the iTunes Store.
Audio and video podcasts of New Horizons are broadcasted on Mondays.
Open Radio which broadcasts on FM frequency 94.9 in Istanbul, shares the New Horizons program, every Monday at 09:30 with its audiences.
Programs prepared by the UNDP Turkey Office are recorded at studios of Radyo İlef of Faculty of Communication of Ankara University and Open Radio in Istanbul.
New Horizons podcast page
Open Radio, Internet publication
Open Radio podcast channels
The website which includes purposes, activities and up-to-date developments of the center, provides information regarding growing inclusive models.
You can access to the web-site of the international center from http://iicpsd.org.
The web-site, which is in English, will soon have contents in Turkish.
It is aimed the Istanbul International Center for Private Sector in Development to include private sector more actively in efforts for fighting poverty.
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“The Integration of Economic Principles into Planning Process of Marine and Coastal Protection Areas Workshop” was held in Ankara.
The workshop has been organized in the context of the “Strengthening Marine and Coastal Protected Area Network of Turkey Project”.
The Ministry of Environment and Forestry Environmental Protection Agency for Special Areas (EPASA) President Ahmet Özyanık underlined that Turkey is the country, which has the largest protection areas in the Mediterranean, in his opening speech of the workhop that was organized by EPASA and UNDP in Turkey.
“This fire should last”
Mr Özyanık said that the “Strengthening Marine and Coastal Protected Area Network of Turkey Project” functions as “a lighter to start a fire towards strengthening the sensitivity in this field.”
Ahmet Özyanık said “We should work continuously to make sure this fire lasts forever”.
Özyanık mentioned that Turkey has the required infrastructure to develop the “Strengthening Marine and Coastal Protected Area Network of Turkey Project”.
Representatives from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, the Ministry of Transport and Communications, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Ministry of Public Works and Settlement, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs participated in the workshop along with the officials from the Undersecretariat for Maritime Affairs, the General Directorate for Nature Conservation and National Parks, the General Directorate of Forestry, EPASA, UNDP Turkey and the related NGOs.
Presentations and evaluations were delivered at the workshop about coastal and marine ecosystem services and products, the rationale and the importance for evaluating them, the integration of the economic principles into planning and the planning case study for the Datça-Bozburun SEPA.
Experts representing different but related disciplines such as architecture, engineering, culture, local policy, art, urban planning, construction, environment, ecosystem, geology and meteorology came together and shared their knowledge and experiences via this convention.
Forming new approaches with respect to sustainable housing development, which does not exhaust the current natural resources, was one of the important topics discussed in the convention.
On the second day of the convention, Dr. Katalin Zaim, UNDP Turkey Environment and Sustainable Development Programme Manager was attended to a session entitled “ Sustainable Housing Design, Urban and Environmental Standards Related Approaches” where experts discussed the approaches to sustainability in housing and environmental design by looking at Turkish and international cases.
Katalin Zaim who made a presentation on Energy Efficiency in Buildings said “Energy efficient buildings are one of the key solutions on combating climate change and IPCC estimates that by 2030 thirty percent of the projected GHG emissions in the buildings sector can be avoided with net economic benefit.”
She also added that employment opportunities, poverty alleviation, and reducing energy import dependence are the co-benefits of energy efficient buildings.
Katalin Zaim also gave some examples on energy efficiency projects in Croatia, Armenia and Bulgaria.
Energy efficiency project
In 2011 UNDP Turkey and General Directorate of Electrical Power Resources Survey and Development Administration (EİE) has started a project entitled “Promoting Energy Efficiency in Turkey” which aims to ensure reducing energy consumption in new and existing buildings in Turkey.
Turkish Ministry of Public Works and Settlements and Turkish Prime Ministry Housing Development Agency (TOKİ) are other partners of the project.
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The aim of the project is to enhance the capacity for local implementations which will support the management of forests with nature, human and industry dimensions and to implement financial support mechanisms in the Anatolian Diagonal.
The project will be implemented by the General Directorate of Forestry (OGM), Baku Tbilisi Ceyhan Crude Oil Pipeline (BTC Co.) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Turkey.
The project will be realized within the area of six Provincial Directorates of Forestry which covers 15% of Turkey’s forest areas (Adana, Amasya, Artvin, Erzurum, Kahramanmaraş, Trabzon) and in 15 provinces of BTC pipeline route (Kayseri, Adana, Osmaniye, Sivas, Artvin, Ardahan, Kars, Erzurum, Erzincan, Kahramanmaraş, Hatay, Rize, Trabzon, Gümüşhane, Bayburt). The pilot implementations of the project will focus on the provinces Kars, Ardahan and Kahramanmaraş because of their rich forest values.
The project will reach its targets through enhancing the knowledge and experience of the governmental bodies, universities, local governments, and NGOs to locally identify the economic, social and environmental services of forests; to implement pilot projects on ecosystem services and economic values that forests provide; and enhancing the management system of forests.
The project will not only contribute to OGM’s works on planning and management of forests, but will also support pilot implementations of local people and local enterprises on forest biodiversity, sustainable forest management, alternative energy resources and natural resource management.
UNDP Turkey and BTC works together since 2004 to support NGOs, local governments and local enterprises located on BTC pipeline route through Small Investments Fund (SIF) to implement projects on conservation of biodiversity, efficient use of energy and use of alternative energy resources in Anatolian Diagonal.
The series of participatory workshops that commenced in May 2010 and that aimed to establish the content of the Strategy have gained speed with the “Turkey’s National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy and Action Plan” workshop organized on 24-25 March 2011 in Ankara.
The content of the strategy that was formulated by institutions which participated previous meetings in five main headings namely “Agriculture and Food Security”, “Water Resources Management”, “Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services”, “Natural Disaster Risk Management” and “Public Health” was addressed in more detail in this workshop.
Each institution participated in discussions in their own field of work as well as the discussions on cross-cutting issues, thus bringing a different perspective and dimension to these identified headings.
Approximately 70 experts from 35 institutions working in various fields such as the affiliated institutions of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs as well as the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Transport, Public Works and Settlement, Health, and National Education, Undersecretariat for Maritime Affairs, Turkstat, Turkish Standards Institution, Turkish Grain Board, Turkish Red Crescent Society, Prime Ministry Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency, Turkish Foundation for Combating Soil Erosion, for Reforestation, and the Protection of Natural Habitats (TEMA), and Prime Ministry Housing Development Administration of Turkey attended the workshop.
Ready in spring
Turkey’s National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy is expected to be finalized in April 2011 once the Ministry of Environment and Forestry receives the final official comments from institutions.
The Strategy is also expected to contribute to Turkey’s Tenth Development Plan.
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.
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Volunteer workshops have been organized in Bartın and Kastamonu in October 2010 in aiming to develop Volunteer Support System in Küre Mountains National Park and its buffer zone.
As a result of these workshops, WWF-Turkey, project partner of “Enhancing Forest Protected Areas System in Turkey Project”, has prepared “Küre Mountains National Park Volunteer Works Guide” and established “Küre Mountains National Park Volunteer Support System”.
Volunteers of Küre Mountains National Park have started their work, defined on volunteer basis in these workshops.
We have directly asked about volunteer work to those taking active part in volunteer support system. UNDP Turkey monthly news bulletin New Horizons has made an interview with Bartın volunteer Kübra Çetinkaya and Kastamonu volunteer Uğur Gürsoy.
UNDP Turkey: How did the idea of being a volunteer for Küre Mountains National Park (KMNP) come up? Have you had any information about National Park and work implemented in National Parks?
Kübra Çetinkaya: As Bartın is a small city, there is few facilities and activities for students. That is why I wanted to work as a KMNP volunteer in order to more interact with people in my leisure time. We haven’t got any information about Küre Mountains National Park activities. We have been informed by the announcements in the KMNP website and other social media sources.
Uğur Gürsoy: The region where I live, is harboring the most beautiful places of Küre Mountains National Park. Volunteerism started with the idea of “taking responsibility’’ in protection and promotion of my region. As a person living interpenetrated with nature, I have followed the progress made after the gazettement of Küre Mountains National Park in 2000. The idea of being a part of PAN Parks network makes me happy. With this system Küre Mountains National Park will be the most different National Park of Turkey. This certification system will also bring more responsibilities to us.
UNDP Turkey: What does being KMNP volunteer mean to you?
Kübra Çetinkaya: In fact it means a lot; being a Küre Mountains National Parks volunteer means a lot; understanding the language of nature and responding its needs, listening the problems of local people, trying to find solutions for those or communicate these to relevant authorities, and also means being friends of old people in villages.
Uğur Gürsoy: If we consider volunteerism as accomplishing something without remuneration, we are the individuals who are giving efforts without waiting individual profits but only to serve for the development and maintenance of KMNP. As much as the environmental consciousness of people increases, this volunteerism becomes more important. National Park needs more volunteers due to its larger size, fauna and flora values, and unique ecosystems.
UNDP Turkey: What are the topics of volunteer activities in KMNP? What kind of benefits will there be for the national park and local people?
Kübra Çetinkaya: Our volunteer works are based on listening to problems and demands of local people, learning the food culture, local traditions, the changes from past to present, the relationship of life styles with forests and nature, and things to do during significant natural events. Our works are focused mainly on “Oral History’’. We have learned the difficulties and problems of local people and informed the authorities. We tried to overcome their feeling of solitude.
The harmony and cooperation between all the organizations implementing the project and volunteers helps us to meet with other people and enables meeting of ones who likes being volunteers. We are making brain storming on various subjects with different stakeholders and so we shape our work with better ideas.
Volunteers’ working system is implemented under defined methods for different interest topics of volunteers. We communicate through telephone, e-mail, yahoo, and facebook messages.
Uğur Gürsoy: In volunteer activities, I do guidance services for the visitors of the National Park. I organize amateur KMNP visits. We have established a NGO, and we aim to develop social projects for the National Park. I have always been telling the benefits of natural and cultural values protection to local people in this region. I do also take photographs of KMNP, by which I communicate the beauty of KMNP and my region. I believe that KMNP will gain a new dimension by being a member of PAN Parks. Our local citizens have already initiated small business as home pensions with their own resources.
“Volunteerism is really a different feeling”
UNDP Turkey: What are all those activities that you have carried out as the Küre Mountains National Park volunteer brought to you? Could you advise for those volunteer activities based on social responsibility? How these shall be promoted?
Kübra Çetinkaya: Being KMNP volunteer made me more active, increased my interaction with people. I have learned that old people living alone need talks and I can overcome this by communicating with them. I have started to listen people without any prejudice and as a result widen my vision.
Of course I recommend being a volunteer. My own experience shows that before being a volunteer, I was a very timid person; my communication with the people was limited. These volunteer activities increased my self confidence.
Little gifts (pens, notebooks etc) and volunteer certificate as a result of the works can encourage volunteers. We can also promote participation by telling how we interact with different people.
Uğur Gürsoy: Particularly KMNP volunteerism is really a different feeling. It gives me a great pleasure to serve even a little bit to the nature which is at human’s service. You meet different people and make friends under each volunteer activity. People should definitely do something for the environment they live in. People should get rid of the feeling of “I cannot do anything” and start from a point.
Volunteerism activities should be communicated more and people should be invited to attend these activities. I believe that there are significant number of people who would be interested in contributing these works, however as they are not aware of and have no information they cannot provide support.
UNDP Turkey: What are your suggestions for more effective volunteerism in KMNP?
Kübra Çetinkaya: We need both financial and morale support to be more active. We can prioritize volunteerism by doing more and different activities. Seminars, conferences and site visits can be organized.
Uğur Gürsoy: I believe that anyone can be a volunteer in a defined subject. The ideas, opinions and assistance of people living around the project implementation areas should definitely be taken. This is important in order to take full support of the people and increase ownership for the success of the project. These projects should take more attention the media. People should not isolate themselves from the society. Each person should share his/her information and experience with others.
This picture demonstrates that lynx has been breeding as a rare species of Sarıkamış Allahuekber Mountains National Parks in Kars which hosts to a great number of mammals such as wolf, bear, wild cat, wild boar, marten, fox and roe deer as well.
Lynx is five times as heavy as a feral cat and males can get a weight of thirty kilos. In addition to this, this animal can catch the hunts ten times bigger than itself.
A 220 kilo-weight red deer had been lately recorded among its hunts. Generally, lynx hunts small rodents, rabbits, birds, roe deer and mountain goats.
Because the number of adult lynxes between one and three can leave in a territory about 100 square kilometres, they prefer living in big and protected areas.
Hence, lynxes have become extinct in some Europe countries. It was recorded that sometimes lynxes can be killed by the wolves.
The name of this animal in Latin and English, “Lynx” comes from the origin of the Indo-European word “Leuk”, that means “Light”, because of the animal’s big and bright eyes. With the help of reflective layers (Tapetum lucidum) take place in their eyes, lynxes are able to see very well at nights.
How have they been caught?
The president of Kuzey Doğa Society, Dr. Çağan Çekercioğlu explained how these lynxes have been photographed for the first time in East Anatolia.
According to the society official, a lynx, with its two babies walked in front of the photo traps in Sarıkamış Allahuekber Mountain National Parks. It was the second cat species viewed in this area.
This study’s being done in partnership with the Ministry of Environment and Forest, General Directorate of Nature Protection and Natural Parks, Kars Provincial Directorate of Environment and Forestry and Kafkas University.
These special cameras, having warmth and motion sensors, take photos of wild animals those walking in front of them.
They have being settled to the areas under the leadership of Emrah Coban, the science director of Kuzey Doğa Society, to take photos of wild animals that could exist.
The photos have being analysed by controlling the photo traps regularly, so that the living species and the numbers of them can be determined.
It is almost impossible to observe the wild animals especially like felines being active at nights; but it can be possible to determine the extinction of the livings with the help of the photo traps.
In this photo which was taken at 03:06 in the morning, a lynx and the two babies after their mother have been walking in front of the photo trap. The second baby’s been looking at the machine curiously.
Rare species
The officials guess these babies might have been born in last year in spring; because the babies normally live with their mother about 10 months after they are born.
To take the photos of a rare animal with its babies such as lynx known as the “ghost of forest” has shown that, the photo trap studies have been very important about the scientific researches and protecting the nature.
Kuzey Doğa Society implements the project aiming at researching the large carnivore species of Sarıkamış, reducing the large carnivore-human conflict and developing wildlife tourism in Sarıkamış Forests, Allahuekber Mountains National Park in association with the directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks of Turkish Ministry of Environment and Forestry and the financial support that’s been given by SGP/GEF/UNDP and Born Free Foundation of Britain.
Photo on this page is taken by Batur Avgan © 2011
Coloured photo: Çiğlikara Nature Protection Area, Antalya, 10 September 2010
B/W pics on gallery: Sarıkamış Allahuekber Mountains National Park, Kars, 8 October 2010, taken by the project staff.
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Local IT Employment Project (“Yerel Bilişim Elemanlarının Yetiştirilmesi” projesi) is implemented in cooperation of Development Centre Association, TUBİDER IT Sector Association, Diyarbakır Local Agenda 21 City Council and IT Academy.
Within the "Youth Employment Grant Programme" training will be realized at Diyarbakır Habitat IT Academy that was established in partnership of UNDP, The Prime Ministry State Planning Organization, Youth Association for Habitat, Microsoft The Academies that established also with supports of local administrations, trainings are given on leadership, project cycle, presentation technique, and youth rights, basic computer and network setup etc. Target group of these trainings include young people, representatives of non-governmental organizations and public workers.
Besides in that Local IT Employment Project, 60 young people will receive trainings in Web Programming, Web Graphic Design, System and Network Expertise areas at this Academy.
Minstrelsy Tradition, which has been included in 2009 to the Representative List of the Unesco Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, is a very important part of Kars’ rich cultural heritage.
Several activities within the scope of the UN Joint Programme have been carried out in order to safeguard and sustain this tradition.
Namely, support to the 5th International Minstrels Festival, publication of a music CD that contains works of Kars Minstrels and the last but not least opening of the Kars Minstrels Culture House in January 2011 by UN Turkey Coordinator Shahid Najam.
In order to complement this initiative a special training programme for making and performing of the traditional musical instruments "saz" and "tar" have been kicked off.
With an Implementation Partnership Agreement signed with Kars Hoteliers and Restaurants Association (KARSOD), two training programmes on the making and performing of traditional musical instruments, "saz" and "tar" have been started.
The programmes, scheduled over a period of 5 months and has 20 participants.
150 days of training
The training programme is carried out by Salih Şahin who developed his skills as an apprentice of his father who owned a music house where saz and tar making and folk music performing practiced.
Şahin has worked as saz performer in chorus. He also collected and researched traditional music and poetry belonging to Kars, Ardahan and Iğdır.
He wrote the books namely "Poetry Traditions", "Saz Methods" , "Kars Poetry in Northeast Culture", "Kars- Ardahan- Iğdır Folk Music and Dances", "Azeri and Kars folk music" which were recognized as source books by Ministry of Education.
He has trained many trainees during the folk music and saz training programmes who are currently recruited by Turkish Radio Television.
In the 150 days of training, the duration for the performing Tar and Saz scheduled as 156 hours, while "Tar” and “Saz" making will be 153 hours.
This initiative is expected and believed to contribute to the viability, transmission and promotion of Kars’ Intangible Cultural Heritage.
What is UNJP?
The UNJP is funded by the MDG Achievement Fund entrusted to United Nations Development Programme by the Government of Spain.
The programme is implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and United Nations Organisations UNDP (United Nations Development Programme), UNESCO (United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization), UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund) and UNWTO (United Nations World Tourism Organization).
With these study visits, NTT members had the opportunity of seeing best practices of labour market structure, institutions and their functioning in these countries.
In Austria, NTT visited Austrian Federal Ministry of Employment, Social and Consumer Protection, BAZ (Vocational Training Centre), Austrian Employment Agency Regional Office in Mödling and two Project offices; Sprungbrett Spacelab Projects.
In Slovenia the team visited Employment Service of Slovenia (ESS) and Waff project Office.
UN Joint Programme “Growth with Decent Work for All National Youth Employment Program and Pilot Implementation in Antalya”, aims to reduce unemployment and increase participation of young women to labour.
With this aim the UN Joint Programme is preparing a National Youth Employment Action Plan.
This action plan will support the Joint Programme’s objective of creating decent job opportunities for the youth between the ages 15-24; and also Turkey will fulfil its obligations in preparing a National Youth Employment Action Plan after joining the United Nations Youth Employment Network (YEN) in January 2006.
Action plan is in Autumn
In this regard, a National Technical Team (NTT) was established by representatives from Turkish Employment Agency (ISKUR), State Planning Organization (DPT), Ministry of National Education, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Turkish Statistic Institute (TURKSTAT), Youth Employment Association, Turkish Confederation of Employer Associations (TİSK), Confederation of Turkish Trade Unions (TÜRK-İŞ), Confederation of Turkish Real Trade Unions (HAK-İŞ) and Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey (DİSK).
At the end of January 2011, draft National Youth Employment Action Plan on which National Technical Team has been working was presented to Mid-term Evaluation Conference of the UN Joint Programme.
Subsequently, an NTT Feedback workshop was held in February 2011.
Stakeholders and experts presented their evaluation about migration, gender equality, regional differences, and rural development on draft Youth Employment National Action Plan.
National Youth Employment Action Plan is expected to be finalized in Autumn 2011.
In Sustainability Academy that was organized by Odak Kurumsal, the experts of UNDP Turkey Environment and Sustainable Development Programmme made several presentations on Transition to Low Carbon Economy.
In the training, Dr. Katalin Zaim, UNDP Turkey Environment and Sustainable Development Programme Manager made a speech on “Low Carbon Development, Green Growth and Green Jobs”.
Other experts from UNDP Turkey Environment and Sustainable Development Programme shared their experiences and knowledges on following topics:
• Energy Efficiency and Eco-Efficiency
• Biodiversity and Ecosytem Services in Low Carbon Ecomomies
• Low Carbon Economy-Governance and Regional Approach in Climate Change
• Sectoral Decision-making Processes in Low Carbon Development Strategy
• Turkey’s Climate Change Strategies in Transition to Low Carbon and Climate Resillient Economies
• The Importance of Private Sector and Corporate Social Responsibility in Low Carbon Development
The sessions will take place every month in Istanbul Boğaziçi University Alumni Association (BÜMED) facilities in different themes on sustainability.
Representatives from different platforms
Sustainability Academy aims to share knowledge and raise awareness on social, environmental and corporate sustainability and to support the creation of Green Business Models.
Also through the Academy it is aimed to create a platform where private sector, government agencies, NGOs and academicians can share their experiences on Green Business World.
The participants first discussed the analysis carried out on management of city councils and works of mukhtars as well as the management of present participatory tools in pilot local authorities in the workshop which was organized under the scope of Support to Further Implementation of Local Administration Reform in Turkey Project (LAR II. Phase).
The workshop hosted six participants from each of the pilot municipalities and two from each of the special provincial administrations.
The participants were informed about the best scenarios and examples in other countries and discussed the proposals to increase the public participation at municipality/provincial councils, city councils and works of mukhtars.
The first workshop on the same topic was organized in Ankara in November 2010.
What is the project?
Support to Further Implementation of Local Administration Reform in Turkey Project is being implemented by the Ministry of Interior with the technical assistance of the UNDP and funded by the European Union within the scope of the EU-Turkey Pre-Accession Financial Co-Operation Programme.
The specific objective of the project is to develop and strengthen the administrative capacity and co-operation of the Ministry of Interior (particularly General Directorate of Local Authorities, governorates and district governorates), unions of local authorities and local authorities themselves in the task of ensuring effective implementation of new policy and legislation on local administration.
The conference has been held with the cooperation of UNDP Bosnia and Turkey offices, hosting of Istanbul Chamber of Commerce and Bosnia Herzegovina Bursa Honorary Consulate, and assistance from TİKA and RUMELISIAD.
Companies from both countries that conduct business in sectors like furniture, vegetables, forest fruits, meat, milk, honey came together in this organization to discuss business opportunities and connect to new trade partners.
UNDP officials from Bosnia and Turkey presented the status of the above-mentioned sectors in these countries, pointing out to the market circumstances, role of private sector as well as duties of the state and custom regulations.
The participants also visited the office of Istanbul International Centre for Private Sector in Development (IICPSD), which was inaugurated by UNDP Administrator Helen Clark in early March.
UNDP Istanbul International Centre for Private Sector in Development aims to increase the involvement of private sector in development efforts.
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Under the scope of Tourism Development in Eastern Anatolia Project (TDEAP), a ceramics atelier was built in Uzundere district Center in cooperation with Uzundere Municipality.
This unit has been used for a training program since June 2010 in developing ceramics manufacturing techniques for producing souvenirs symbolising the region’s tourism assets.
In order to manufacture such souvenirs, original designs were created by ceramics artist Atila Çakır and along the training program applied to models.
It is expected that designing, modelling and moulding of local souvenirs and manufacturing them with a market orientation in an on-site manufacturing and training atmosphere to create a sustainable capacity among local women. And this capacity is expected to turn into entrepreneurial activities.
Tablets displaying Oskvank (Çamlıyamaç) Church, Tortum Waterfall and Medresah with Twin Minarets, doodahs of two-headed eagle, mountain goat and squirrel, pots, bowls and magnets decorated with motifs unique to the region are available in the atelier and various sale points in Uzundere and Erzurum.
The women initiative of Uzundere (UZKADER) will undertake future manufacturing process in the atelier with the support of TDEAP and Uzundere Municipality.
Besides tourist souvenir business, UZKADER and TDEAP are also working in close cooperation to develop the skills for natural fruit processing, packaging and labelling to maximize the use of the potential in miscellaneous commercial ways.
TDEAP jointly executed by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Ministry of Culture and Tourism and EFES Company since April 2007, aims to contribute to the living standard of local people by improving tourism activities in the Çoruh Valley.
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In this part, our topic is a dream-like academy from Istanbul; Dreams Academy
UNDP Turkey: Hello, this is the New Horizons Podcast of United Nations Development Programme 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. In this part, our topic is a dream-like academy from Istanbul; Dreams Academy... We will discuss with our contributor about this academy. President of Alternative Life Association and Project Coordinator of Dreams Academy, Mr. Ercan Tutal, welcome!
Ercan Tutal (E.T.): Thank you.
UNDP Turkey: First of all, let us start by asking how this idea for an academy came about and why this academy was founded.
E.T.: The idea of Dreams Academy, actually... there have been projects run in parallel with each other by the Alternative Life Association for 8-9 years, related to equal and active participation of disabled people in social life – projects such as Diving is Freedom, Alternative Camp and Istanbul Without Obstacles, gave an opportunity for disabled participants, whose total number reaches thousands, to discuss, share and showcase their lives, wishes, demands and dreams. And we at that time, while hosting disabled young people within the concept of integration into education and sports, observed that they have incredible talents to enrich daily life and can do many things in music and performance if they are given the chance. From this point, and of course in the world, there are many people who have set a very high bar in these fields of art although they are disabled. We founded Dreams Academy with thoughts of “why don’t we have our own stars?”, or “why don’t we reach young disabled people we lock up in their houses and do not allow to go out into the streets?”.
UNDP Turkey: Alternative Life Association, as evident from its name, is a nongovernmental organization, focusing on disabled young people to some extent. When you came to the Dreams Academy phase, you turned a dream into reality by establishing many partnerships, and UNDP is involved as one of the main partners. It is already clear from its name: Dreams Academy... Can you describe a little bit what Dreams Academy is?
E.T.: We can describe Dreams Academy as covering a wide range of activities. It is an alternative arts academy which introduces performing arts, plastic arts and visual arts free of charge to people who are socially disadvantaged due to their disabilities, chronic diseases and temporary situations, and is supported and carried out by an existing international volunteer network. That is, it is no different from education programmes of conservatories or arts universities; it is planned to let these people, who were kept out of a way due to an elitist approach, complete their education. This is a kind of factory where young people – participating students and candidates, having various talents in arts, dance, drama, photography, filming, DJing or animation, feel free and for the first time meet arts materials, information and have the opportunity to perform.
UNDP Turkey: It began in Beşiktaş, Istanbul; then continued onto the Anatolian side in association with Ataşehir Municipality. We touched upon socially-disadvantaged young people. Can you make this clearer? What kind of young people are involved in Dreams Academy? There are, for instance, blind people, the mentally disabled. How can their talents be realized?
E.T.: We can categorize disabled people into four groups: the blind, the physically disabled, the deaf and the mentally disabled. In Dreams Academy, we take action regarding these disability categories without any selection processes, any elitist approaches and any exams; but with an approach of highlighting their CANs instead of their CANTs. Thus, we welcome everybody who says “I have never had the opportunity for an education like this” or “I was kept outside of this process in some way”. We have an affluent programme. There are many tutors who voluntarily work and there are artists.
UNDP Turkey: Actually, regarding this dimension of the project, it is seen as an important example of social inclusion, both in Turkey and abroad. It was recently awarded with many prizes, wasn’t it?
E.T.: The biggest reason for the quick success of Dreams Academy is its strong partnership structure. I think it is a successful role model or model practice for maintenance of cross sectorial relations. As you have mentioned, United Nations Development Programme is on one side and State Planning Organization is on the other, representing the Government. There is the Vodafone Turkey Foundation involved, representing the private sector side. On the opposite side, there are local governments which provide us with appropriate places to work from and in the middle of this structure there is a non governmental organization. These projects are frames which enable social enterprises and social responsibility to turn into sustainable social investment and development.
UNDP Turkey: This project is an example regarding both its partnership structure and its aims, targets and methods.
E.T.: Yes, its structure is strong, since it was not planned as a sponsorship system. This enables the project to be sustainable and reduces risks. When something is looked at both internationally and locally, it becomes evident that the project can be a model for other non governmental organizations, carrying out all of these activities. Dreams Academy works like a factory which enables people to express themselves as artists and to perform, and creates opportunities regarding labour, for example a social inclusion band member, earning an income - the same is valid for musical students and artists of Dreams Group. There are “production studios” which can be used by students who are interested in photography, painting; this is why I used the word “factory”. This model certainly captured interest in Europe as well. After being awarded with the Golden Compass, it became an issue debated in workshops and seminars in Europe. Eventually this project was ranked among the first top ten out of 150 projects from 23 countries in the European Social Innovation competition run by Euclid Network,and the Six Young Foundation in cooperation with the European Commission. We, representatives of the UNDP, Ayder and Vodafone Turkey Foundation made presentations in Bilbao which is the Silicon Valley of social enterprise. Our presentation was the favorite one among the entire projects.
UNDP Turkey: Actually there are various successes and awards, when Dreams Academy is mentioned. How can a person reach you to get information?
E.T.: They can reach us on duslarakademisi.org.
UNDP Turkey: People who are willing to participate as volunteer tutors can also reach you through the same web address as well, can't they?
E.T.: Everybody can reach us on the same web address.
UNDP Turkey: One last question...What is your own personal link with this project?
E.T.: If there is an existing social problem, there is certainly a solution; this can be a step taken by one person. I, as a citizen and an intellectual with a logic of why I should not be that man, being sensitive to his country and era, could not be indifferent to the existing problems that I know about.
UNDP Turkey: And you then took action and found yourself in this project. Thank you very much Mr. Ercan Tutal, President of Alternative Life Association (Ayder) and Project Coordinator of Dreams Academy for joining us. We have come to the end of the New Horizons Podcast of United Nations Development Programme Turkey. This podcast has been recorded at the studios 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, goodbye!
In this part, our topic is UN’s work in the field of enhancement of capacity of Turkey to adapt to climate change.
UNDP Turkey: Hello, this is the New Horizons Podcast of United Nations Development Programme 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 activities of UNDP. In this part, our topic is UN’s work in the field of enhancement of capacity of Turkey to adapt to climate change. You may not have heard of UN Joint Programme, entitled Enhancing the Capacity of Turkey to Adapt to Climate Change. This joint programme is aimed at integrating climate change adaptation capacity to Turkey’s policies, agendas and targets. Well, with regards to this, what has been done? Where does the money come from? We will discuss these with Mr. Atila Uras, Joint Programme Manager. Welcome!
Atila Uras (A.U.): Thank you!
UNDP Turkey: If you like, we shall discuss the joint project, entitled Enhancing the Capacity of Turkey to Adapt to Climate Change and we know that this is financed by Millennium Development Goals Achievement Fund. Let us start with talking about this dimension and the background of this project.
A.U.: Yes, actually, this is beyond being a project; is a joint programme. Here, we can say that this is a globally implemented programme, which tests the UN to see if it is moving as a unitary organization. In our programme, there are 4 UN agencies working on the same path.
UNDP Turkey: Which UN Agencies?
A.U.: First and foremost UNDP, as well as UNEP, UNIDO and FAO all work together.
UNDP Turkey: Country offices of these agencies meet and contribute to the programme. Meanwhile, you have different partners while running this programme, don’t you?
A.U.: Of course; because UN always works with public agencies. They work to actualize commitments to meet international agreements and a country’s needs, and to extend assistance in that direction. Thus, we should include not only the UN; but also ministries to this executive partners’ group. Especially the Ministry of Environment and Forestry is the focal point of climate change issues in Turkey; yet it is not possible to complete the frame without the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and Ministry of Industry and Commerce. Certainly, beyond the entire group, the State Planning Organization is one of the important partners of our programme.
UNDP Turkey: You have been carrying out this programme with government agencies, NGOs, universities and other partners. We will touch upon this; but for now you can tell us if there is climate change in Turkey, as we have mentioned in the name of the programme; Enhancing the Capacity of Turkey to Adapt to Climate Change. Can we proceed talking about this?
A.U.: Yes, we face the question of “is there actually climate change?”. We can describe climate change as follows; the climate always changes, it has always changed and will always change; but now, there is a human factor. That is, humans have accelerated recent climate cycles. When analyzed globally, we live in a fragile, small shell and while human beings consume it, the climate change issue is added as an extra difficulty. In this process, starting with use of fossil fuels by human beings since the industrial revolution, sunlight, which turns the Earth into a habitable place, cannot leave of the atmosphere. When it remains inside the atmosphere, the Earth becomes warmer just like a humid and warm greenhouse. This is why there is climate change. We all know this; drought in 2007-2008, floods in unexpected areas, extreme warmth, excessive rainfall and a decrease in the amount of snow are indicators of changes.
UNDP Turkey: These are outcomes of the situation. It is not only factors in Turkey that affect climate change here. What changes happened recently and which factors triggered climate change in Turkey?
A.U.: We are a developing country and there are prices of development. It is obvious that development efforts bring various environmental problems; but regarding climate change, problems caused by development are not the only cause of environmental problems. This is a process affecting social life, socio-economic life, economies and efforts for development. Turkey, certainly, has a role in it; because we need to improve our industry and agriculture, and produce energy for development. All of these have contributing effects to greenhouse gases; that means, we have a share in it too. When we evaluate the response, the IPSS, which is an international agency publishing technical reports, indicates that Mediterranean Region has a high ranking among the seriously affected regions. This means that a large part of Turkey remains in the mostly-affected regions. The Mediterranean Basin, and so Turkey, is among the seriously affected countries.
UNDP Turkey: Carbon dioxide emissions are assumed to be the primary reason of climate change. Are there any other reasons triggering it?
A.U.: Certainly there are other greenhouse gases. There are emissions of other gases which do not have the same effect as carbon dioxide. There are also serious emmissons from industrial activities, and also there are natural cycles. The axis of the Earth, proximity to the Sun, concessions in the orbit; but when they all happen together…
UNDP Turkey: Can increase in carbon dioxide emissions in Turkey trigger climate change in another country? Or how can climate change in a different place affect Turkey? Is it possible to see this happening?
A.U.: The wind, the tide, nature is not limited to borders. Things happen beyond borders. There are various ongoing cycles even if human beings did not exist. Climates change, ice ages may begin, masses may disappear; but there is a human factor now. What we do, in a sense, bad behaviors - for example; incorrect use of fossil fuels in the past in today’s developed countries – create global problems. Even though we stop carbon emissions, effects of climate change will continue for tens of years. That is why we talk about adaptation in addition to reduction.
UNDP Turkey: It highlights the necessity of global action and a global partnership rather than territorial partnership. Let us talk about things done in Turkey. I think one side of climate change adaptation is reduction and prevention of climate change. What has been done in Turkey, in this regard?
A.U.: Both reduction and adaptation go parallel to each other; you need to support international efforts with local works. Turkey has been shouldering a very active role in climate change negotiations for the past 2 years. Especially after it adhered to the Kyoto Protocol in 2009, this process accelerated and now it is very active in international processes. On the other hand, whatever we do now, we will still have to live with the effects of climate change for tens of years to come, as I have just mentioned.
UNDP Turkey: Even if carbon dioxide emissions now stop…
A.U.: Of course, even if it stops, we need to do something locally. We need to revise our development plans with regards to climate change. In order to do this, various actions from local ones to national ones are necessary.
UNDP Turkey: In this sense, what kind of common efforts did the UNJP have with the Turkish Government so far? And what are your other recently carried out projects?
A.U.: There are many adaptation projects, carried out within the joint programme. We can group these into 3 different categories. One is works at political level, meaning development of climate change adaptation strategy of Turkey with government agencies. We will have had the draft prepared within 1 month.
UNDP Turkey: Will the draft be prepared in 2011?
A.U.: Of course. We will have achieved this strategy.
UNDP Turkey: What will Turkey gain from this strategy?
A.U.: This strategy will draw our road map. We must have different actions in different places according to that road map; it is not very easy to have a national action plan. Effects of climate change even in the same province or in the same basin differ greatly.
UNDP Turkey: Are we talking about a strategy which touches upon reasons and on the other side outcomes?
A.U.: Of course. The strategy will determine the guidelines, and then there can be dimensions of the strategy for river basins, agriculture basins or territories of provinces. We must actualize the action plan with related financial resources.
UNDP Turkey: You will carry out this type of policy examples or road maps in different places of Turkey. In which basins or districts are you currently active?
A.U.: We worked in Seyhan River Basin as a pilot region; and we have been continuing this work. It predominantly composes 95 percent of Kayseri, Niğde and Adana. We worked towards 18 success stories in the basin as an example of struggle with different effects, in cooperation with various public agencies, universities and NGOs, within the context of the grant programme. We also work in other places in Turkey. Our sample works are related to water efficiency in Ankara and Bursa. We supported initiatives within the scope of communications and accessible analyses, for example, and the establishment of an action plan on climate change in Van. These are a few examples, we have many projects carried out in several places.
UNDP Turkey: You contribute to policy making and carry out sample projects… I should emphasize that this programme is funded by Millennium Development Goals Achievement Fund, how do you receive this funding?
A.U.: Yes, Millennium Development Goals Achievement Fund was a fund, extended to the UNDP by the Spanish Government at a global level.
UNDP Turkey: Are all of the expenses funded by this?
A.U.: Yes, the whole of the programme is financed by this fund. Of course, there were some ocular contributions from either grant programmes or cooperation with public agencies; because only one source is not enough. This is an over-all struggle, and we want and expect all sources of countries to be included and to sustain these efforts with resources of these countries.
UNDP Turkey: Thank you very much for your participation. Details can be found on www.iklimmdgf-tr.org. Today, Mr. Atila Uras, Manager of Enhancing the Capacity of Turkey to Adapt to Climate Change Joint Programme of the United Nations was our guest speaker. We have come to the end of the New Horizons Podcast of United Nations Development Programme Turkey. This podcast has been recorded at the studios of Radio İLEF of University of Ankara. You can follow our podcast on Açık Radyo (Open Radio) on FM frequency or on the internet, as well as on YouTube in video format. Our username on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Flickr is UNDP Türkiye. Hope to see you next week, goodbye!
In this part, our topic is equal opportunities; years of efforts of women’s movements for equal opportunities for men and women has taken another further step forward with the establishment of Woman – Man Equal Opportunities Commission in Turkey. What does the commission do, and what is the link with UNDP on this issue?
UNDP Turkey: Hello, this is the New Horizons Podcast of United Nations Development Programme Turkey. UNDP, which works for a more productive, healthier, more educated and greener future, has stories to tell you. In every part of the podcast, we share selected stories of these works of UNDP. In this part, our topic is equal opportunities; years of efforts of women’s movements for equal opportunities for men and women has taken another further step forward with the establishment of Woman – Man Equal Opportunities Commission in Turkey. What does the commission do, and what is the link with UNDP on this issue? I will ask these questions to our guest speakers. Dr. Leyla Şen, welcome!
Dr. Leyla Şen (L.Ş.): Thank you!
UNDP Turkey: You are Democratic Governance Programme Manager at the UNDP Turkey, and Ms. Aygül Fazlıoğlu, welcome!
Aygül Fazlıoğlu (A.F.): Thank you!
UNDP Turkey: You are a specialist at the Woman – Man Equal Opportunities Commission of Turkish Grand National Assembly and a sociologist; welcome again. First of all, I would like to ask you Dr. Şen; could you tell us a little bit of the background of UN’s and especially UNDP’s interest in women – men equality of opportunities?
L.Ş.: Thank you very much. UN and UNDP have prerequisites for social gender equality, equality of men and women, sustainable and fair development. Although women compose 50 percent of the world population, they have serious problems with gaining access to opportunities in every part of the world. And if I start with the definition of development as given by Amartya Sen, we can shed a light on why we are working towards increasing people’s ability to control their own lives and making it feasible to achieve all that they can achieve.
UNDP Turkey: Let me briefly explain Amartya Sen; he is one of the primary advocates of the concept of human development and emphasized that human development should be measured not only in terms of economic development; but also by social factors. In the meantime, this week is March 8 – International Women’s Day; this is one of the reasons of inviting you to our podcast. This is the 100th anniversary, isn’t it? Exactly this year, 2011; could you briefly talk about this? About International Women’s Day…
L.Ş.: Sure. As you know, the actual name of this very special and meaningful day is International Working Women’s Day and it was initiated by union movements in the 19th century, and was actually shaped by women’s movements in America. There had been criticisms; such as “should just pay attention to the problems of women on only one day”, but is at least one more step towards equality. Whatever happens, even if it is only one day, it is very important; I would like to thank you for giving us the opportunity at least to point out the inequalities in the world.
UNDP Turkey: Happy International Women’s Day. Ms. Fazlıoğlu, you are a specialist at the Woman – Man Equal Opportunities Commission at the Turkish Grand National Assembly and a sociologist. Let us look at these women’s movements. Can we analyze women’s movements in Turkey and how the movement ended up with the establishment of such a commission? Could you tell us about this, please?
A.F.: Thank you. It is indeed a good question. When we analyze the women’s movement in our country, we realize that it started spreading after 1990s, and as you all know, Turkish women were given right to vote and to be elected for the parliament earlier than many other women were in the world. According to the existing situation, especially at the legislative level, there are many adopted laws and legislations in favor of women in either the Turkish Penal Code or the Turkish Civil Code or business world; and an agency was founded in 1990 in order to strengthen the national women’s movement. However, the parliamentary branch was missing. Woman – Man Equal Opportunities Commission was founded at the Turkish Grand National Assembly on March 24, 2009, pioneered especially by women's NGOs in Turkey. Since its establishment, despite being a recently established commission, it has been contributing to works to strengthen and develop especially women’s rights, and it has also been working at the parliament at legislative level. It is involved in one-to-one active works with NGOs. Meanwhile, it works with national and international agencies to promote women’s rights.
UNDP Turkey: Cooperation activities have been partially continuing since 2009. Of course, we are talking about a commission, which was founded after such a long process. There are a variety of women’s problems in Turkey. There are honor killings on one side and murders of women on the other side. The other problem is representation. There are many topics, such as representation of women in the parliament, labor and management. Which of these do you focus on?
A.F.: Now, if we are talking about the point we have reached, women’s participation in decision-making mechanisms is important. Instead of working only for one area, the commission works for women to make their voices heard more in politics, the economy, education, health, access to important sources and management of these resources. We are involved in serious projects.
UNDP Turkey: Women will both have a say on these sources and have an ease of access to them.
A.F.: Absolutely!
L.Ş.: Excuse me. May I interrupt? It is not only about access. I worked in the eastern and southeastern parts of Turkey for such a long time. There, even in villages on the Black Sea coast, women are acting as the safe of a house. Meaning, they can have access to money and to other resources. However, the nuance is if they have the right to control. Yes, they can reach it; but can they control it? I guess, if we address both access and control, we will be touching upon the issue in a detailed way.
UNDP Turkey: Then, we shall add one more point; women will be able to reach, control and manage these resources. These will be the same as what men have. Well, what are the solution suggestions? We know that the criteria, you have just mentioned are not at the level we should have in Turkey.
A.F.: Our basic and important problem is the necessities of labor markets. For instance; regarding labor, if women possess some qualifications and have an education, these will strengthen women. The focal point is strengthening women. With regards to the education dimension, in Turkey, the level of literacy is at 81.6 percent; of course the aim is to make it 100 percent; the same is also valid for health. According to the latest data, there are significant decreases in maternal mortality and baby mortality ratios. Regarding labor, the ratio is 25.6 percent, of course, these ratios can increase. The next term and elections that are going to be held on June 12th, constitute a significant importance for women. Currently, the ratio of representation of women in the parliament is 9.1 percent; of course, we desire this ratio to increase and to reach 30 or 40 percent; NGOs have been working significantly on this as we all know. It is necessary to support these works. By the way, I think the NGO branch of these works and lobbying are so important. There is a significant potential female group in Turkey. We should get them to demand, and make necessary mechanisms, which will promote them further. But this is not possible to initiate on their own. This requires NGOs, the private sector and parliament to work towards this; we should work for making all of these move on this issue. I think we should all show solidarity with women .
UNDP Turkey: We have discussed the commission, working since 2009. What does it do in cooperation with the UNDP? Do you have any policy suggestions, any concrete or other projects, Dr. Şen?
L.Ş.: Let me put it this way; as Ms. Fazlıoğlu has just mentioned, this one is one of 17 special commissions of the Grand Assembly, initiated for social gender equality, woman - man equality of opportunities; and they have 2 main segments; yet there are many segments. One of them is inclusion of social gender equality in law making procedures; and the other one is …
UNDP Turkey: We mean to all types of laws, don’t we? Not only the ones for male-female equality…
A.F.: We would like to add that dimension and awareness raising to every law.
L.Ş.: Yes; but when Turkey is analyzed within the perspective of international actors, there are such criticisms; Turkey has well-developed legislations; yet it has problems with implementing them. In this regard, the role of the commission is to activate these practices. Now, I would like to say something related to your previous question. Yes, our cooperation axis with the commission is related to social gender equality in decision-making processes and active monitoring of practices, besides women’s movements, which are active and well carried out. It would be right to say that our actions condense on these three main points. If I may, I would to announce one thing; we would like to have our colleagues to join a fair society with gender equality. We have an international meeting on social gender equality, on March 24 and 25 at Grand Cevahir Hotel in Istanbul. People and guest speakers, who possess a deep knowledge on these issues, will be joining us. If you can join us too, we would be very pleased.
UNDP Turkey: Everybody can easily participate in this meeting. International Social Gender Equality Meeting on March 24 and 25, in Istanbul… You search on the internet and check the web-site. We have come to the end of the New Horizons Podcast of United Nations Development Programme Turkey. This podcast has been recorded at the studios of Radio İLEF of University of Ankara. You can follow our podcast on Açık Radyo (Open Radio) on FM frequency or on the internet, as well as on YouTube in video format. Our username on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Flickr is UNDP Türkiye. Hope to see you next week, goodbye!