Issue: 14
Within this framework, a field coordination system has been put into practice to implement the HTP and to demonstrate this programme to health employers and employees throughout the country. In line with UNDP rules and regulations applied in the project, 16 doctors, acting field coordinators, were recruited since the start of the project on 1 January 2006; and a new understanding of capacity building was adopted in the Ministry of Health to assist the Ministry’s efforts for building a more dynamic inner mechanism. UNDP supports the Ministry in areas that need improvement in the sustainability of the national healthcare system, notably in the financial management, recruitment, and procurement of health services.
The field coordinators have already monitored and evaluated the HTP and its applications in the pilot provinces. They visited approximately 12,000 health institutions, including village clinics, dispensaries, and hospitals in larger population areas. The HTP and its priorities were demonstrated to the managers and staff at these units. The importance of patient-focused services has been highlighted and the spirit of the HTP has been conveyed to the health managers. In the overall sense, the purpose behind these institutionalization efforts is to reduce the gap between the provinces throughout the country and the central governmental body, i.e. the Ministry of Health.
The specific objectives, set in line with HTP, are to: (I) re-structure Ministry of Health for more effective stewardship and policy making; (ii) establish a nation-wide health insurance fund; (iii) introduce family medicine as the model for the provision of primary health care services (iv) ensure financial and managerial autonomy for all hospitals irrespective of ownership; and (v) set up a fully computerized health and social information system.
In Turkey, there is still a major segment of the population with little or no access to health care systems. Poverty is clearly an obstacle to the achievement of health-related goals, such as reducing infant and maternal mortality rates… Within the scope of the Millenium Development Goals, the Health Transition Project aspires to increase life expectancy, improve the quality of individuals’ lives, eliminate the disparities between different regions and socio-economic groups, by improving health status indicators. In the light of this, the field coordinators of HTP aim at improving accessibility of health care services, reinforcing the quality of primary health care services and strengthening the administrative capacity of the institutions in the health sector.
The eastern province of Kars and its 385 villages lie under heavy snow during the long winter months. In most of these villages, access to clean water is not a problem, but sanitation is! Lack of proper sewerage system is the most serious cause of contagious diseases that may frequently result in child deaths. Karaurgan village, with a population of 750 and 35 km from the nearest town of Sarıkamış, is one such remote place.
Human and animal wastewater runs in open drains on the streets where children play, and mixes into the neighbourhood brooks and streams. Unable to avoid contact with contaminated water, especially during summer months, a high percentage of village children suffer from diseases all too often. Karaurgan folks decided not to tolerate any more of this. And instead of waiting for the governmental authorities to come and fix the problem, they decided to go to the government themselves and ask for service. And in doing this, they assumed self responsibility. Each and every household in the village gave a hand in this common cause and helped build a sanitary sewerage system for their community.
Thanks to Karaurgan people’s solidarity and vision, this cooperation has now extended beyond the village boundaries and turned into a project with national and even international dimensions. What is today happening in Karaurgan is very significant, not only as an example of participatory community cooperation, but also as a model of building environment-friendly wastewater treatment system, of which there are only three other similar examples in Turkey so far.
The wastewater project of Karaurgan does not use state-of-the-art technology. It’s fairly modest, natural and inexpensive. In this system, disposed water is treated in a completely biological medium with the help of reed plants and the resulting clean water is used in the irrigation of agricultural lands.
Briefly here is the technique: Wastewater is first transferred, through a concrete sedimentation tank, into a large pool covered with grit and reed plants. As a result of contact with the roots of the reeds, the organic particles in the wastewater go through a transformation. Due to the activity caused in the system, organic substances disintegrate, nitrogen elements decompose, and phosphorus and heavy metals are isolated on the surface of the grit filling, thus removed from the wastewater. Reeds are tightly planted inside the grit filling which is laid on an impermeable base covered with a coat of clay. Through their roots, reeds transfer oxygen to the lower layers of the system which lack oxygen, thus enabling aerobic microorganisms to feed and multiply. The reed plants also serve as an insulation for the microorganisms, especially when covered under snow. Treated clean water is then dischared through irrigation pipes onto agriculatural fields.
The building of the natural wastewater treatment system in Karaurgan is presently in its final stage. Construction, temporarily halted due to severe weather conditions, will be resumed in Spring.
TUBITAK (Scientific & Technological Research Council of Turkey) gives technical support to the project which is jointly conducted by UNDP, BTC Company, Kars Governorship and Provincial Administration, Surkal Development Society, and Karaurgan Development Association. President of the association, Osman Nuri Kılıç said that, in addition to the US$ 26,535 granted by the ‘Small Investments Fund’ of UNDP and BTC, Kars Governership contributed machinery, piping supply and labour support worth twice or three times that amount. Kılıç added that Karaurgan vilagers also worked collectively in infrastructural preparations, pipe carrying and laying, and all kinds of foremanship.
Collective work in villages is generally led by the village headman. But finding funds to build a sewerage system is beyond villagers’ capacity. International organizations usually want to work with an association or some form of NGO. They support projects through such local organizations. Karaurgan Development Association was founded with the encouragement of ‘SURKAL Sustainable Development Society’. Osman Nuri Kılıç informed us that, in addition to UNDP/BTC funds, Karaurgan Association also receives funds from the European Commission to support dairy farming business in Karaurgan where animal husbandry is quite developed.
SURKAL’s Sarıkamış Branch Coordinator Osman Ağar said, Karaurgan Development Association gave inspiration to nearby villages in the area. Recently founded ‘Development Association of Akören Village’ and ‘Association for Fighting against Poverty’ in Yeniköy Village set further examples for civil initiatives in the region.
The overall aim of Karaurgan Development Association is to implement projects serving all kinds of rural development problems, as well as environmental protection efforts. Karaurgan has lately been faced with a drinking water problem, due to the inadequate capacity of clean water pipes, as the water from the treatment plant will be used for agricultural irrigation. In Karaurgan, where the efficient and economic use of water is becoming increasingly important, everybody looks forward to the opening of the wastewater treatment plant.
The treatment plant is designed to serve a population of 750, but unfortunately, due to the topographical structure of the terrain, it will not reach 14 houses. But Murat Karadağ and many other village residents say they are willing to donate some part of their lands for building a possible additional plant.
Full support from the Governor
Kars Governor Mehmet Ufuk Erdem is a dedicated follower of the Karaurgan Project. Erdem stresses the importance of the project as a perfect example of the close cooperation among different institutions, as well as of the feasibility of environmental protection implementations.
Governor Erdem said that solving the sewerage and sanitation problems of other villages in the province is on their agenda, adding that the Karaurgan model has been a successful experience which could prompt the EU and the World Bank to allocate their sources for similar future projects.
Kars Provincial Administration Secretary-General Ali Salğar, who has been actively supporting the project right from the beginning, points out to the importance of Public-State cooperations in development, adding that their contribution to the project has been much greater than it was initially promised.
Temporarily stopped due to winter conditions, work will be resumed as of 15 April-1 May, 2007.
Since September 2004, UNDP Turkey and Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) Pipeline Company have been jointly implementing the SIF Project, within the framework of the ‘BTC Environmental Investments Programme’ which aims to protect the natural resources while contributing to the sustainable economic development of the poor populations in the regions through which BTC pipeline passes in Turkey.
BTC Pipeline (which transports crude oil from Baku, Azerbaijan through Tbilisi, Georgia to Ceyhan in southern Turkey) passes through geographical regions which are exceptionally rich in bio-diversity, endemic species and ecological wealth. Yet, from the human and economic perspective, these regions are generally well below the national average of development and consequently, economically vulnerable and highly dependent on natural resources. SIF Project supports local and regional sustainable development initiatives through “ecologically sustainable operation models” which encourage innovative and protective techniques in the management of natural sources; by involving local stakeholders in the projects and sharing best practice examples with them; and by providing poorer populations with new and sustainable livelihood opportunities, thus contributing to the income increase in the region. UNDP encourages project partnerships among local and/or national civil society organizations, local communities and private sector establishments.
Small Investments Fund Project has a total budget of US$ 325,000. Currently, three of the sub projects are completed; the rest are expected to be concluded by mid 2007.
Sub-projects within the framework of SIF Project:
Photo: Gökhan Değirmenci
During the meetings, organized by UNDP Turkey, DEIK (Foreign Economic Relations Board), KAGIDER (Women Enrepreneurs Association of Turkey), GYIAD (Young Businessmen Association of Turkey) and ITO (Istanbul Chamber of Commerce), members of the business community, in search of new business ventures, consulted face to face with UNDP’s international experts about doing sustainable business with companies in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia, Georgia and Ukraine. GYIAD President Pınar Eczacıbaşı, ITO President Murat Yalçıntaş, DEIK’s Chairman of the Executive Board Rona Yırcalı and UNDP Turkey Representative Mahmood Ayub delivered the opening speeches of the conference where participants held panel discussions on “UN’s Millenium Development Goals and Regional Growing Sustainable Business” and “Business Opportunities in Southeastern Europe and Caucasia”.
The “growing sustainable business” concept, advocated by UNDP in both Turkey and the countries of Southeastern Europe and Caucasia, is developed to assist private sector companies make profit while also contributing to the development targets of the country they are operating in. Unlike ‘corporate social responsibility’ and ‘sponsorship’ which are non-profit activities, companies which do ‘growing sustainable business’ only work in their specific area of operation, while making money during the process. Carrying out a profit-oriented business practice, they also serve to the general development of their country.
Currently, ‘growing sustainable business’ is practised in 12 countries worldwide. Some of the GSB companies and their area of business are:
* Ericsson (rural telecommunication)
* Unilever (Allanblackia Oil Supply Chain project)
* Total (hydro-carbon transport)
* E7 Fund (23-million-dollar rural electrification project)
* Societe Generale (credit extension to SMEs)
* Kevian (fruit processing)
* BushProof (clean water)
* Tetra Pak (development of the dairy sector project)
Regional Growing Sustainable Business in Q-A
Profit-oriented operations of private sector companies in developing countries which also contribute to the needs and development of the society. Three criteria must be met for an operation to be called “growing sustainable business”:
1. It must be carried out in the specific business area of that company;
2. It must provide economic benefit to the poorer sections of the society;
3. It must be sustainable.
To offer the Turkish business community opportunities to do business in the countries of Southeastern Europe and Caucasia with the assistance and support of growing sustainable business experts of the region.
In Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia, Georgia and Ukraine.
The conference was free of charge. The aim was to provide an opportunity for Turkish companies and international experts to meet face to face and discuss growing sustainable business.
Because in doing growing sustainable business, they make profits as well as contributing to the development of the country. In addition, they get the opportunity to reach out to new international markets.
First and foremost, it must have business development project in its operational area. Then, it should contact UNDP’s GSB expert to discuss how to design the project to be profitable and at the same time beneficial to national development.
Project owners, including civil society organizations, local governmental bodies and provincial administrations, have been awarded financial support by the ‘Grants Programme’ for their poineering work in advocating and strenghening the principles of sustainable development on the local or regional level. The overall objective of the Project is to encourage and improve local sustainable development by contributing to the enhancement of national capacity in the management of natural and environmental resources.
The sustainable development approach, which emphasizes the preservation of existing natural resources and the needs of future generations, while currently taking steps towards progress, underlines the success of the 23 grant-winning projects from a total of 18 Turkish provinces in which the Project is being implemented. “Integration of Sustainable Development into Sectoral Policies Project” is carried out with the implementation support of UNDP/Turkey, under the coordination of the Turkish State Planning Organization.
Some of the grant-winning projects are:
|
|
Project owner |
Name of the project |
|
Project owner |
Name of the project |
|
1 |
Diyarbakır Greater City Municipality |
Solar energy training and application park in Diyarbakır |
12 |
Eastern Anatolia Agricultural Producers and Livestock Farmers Association |
Widespread establishment of mobile laboratories serving to scientific agricultural production |
|
2 |
Konya Chamber of Industry |
Training on solid waste management |
13 |
Nature Association |
Introducing sustainable tourism in residential areas for improving the protection of Gediz Delta |
|
3 |
Social Progress and Initiative Association of Değirmendere and Nearby Villages |
Rozakanina |
14 |
Düzce Municipality |
Preservation of natural resources |
|
4 |
Şırnak Municipality |
Clean water for healthy life in Şırnak |
15 |
Chamber of Industry of the Aegean Region |
Awareness-raising among industrial companies on the principles of sustainable development |
|
5 |
Adıyaman Municipality |
A clean page for us and for our city |
16 |
İncirlik Municipality |
Governance Council of Incirlik |
|
6 |
Kayseri Chamber of Commerce |
Increasing the efficiency and productivity of electric energy in the business sector and in households |
17 |
Turkish Foundation of Technical Professionals |
Training on the transition from conventional agricultural methods, which cause pollution on the drinking water basin of Samsun city’s dam, to safe ecological production methods |
|
7 |
Bursa Greater City Municipality |
Participatory training on sustainable environment |
18 |
Mersin Chamber of Commerce and Industry |
Support to young, innovative entrepreneurs |
|
8 |
Yumurtalık Municipality |
Sustainable tourism development training in Yumurtalık-Zeytinbeli township |
19 |
Kocaeli Provincial Administration |
Training for local people on transition to organic farming in the Yuvacık Dam Basin in Kocaeli province |
|
9 |
Human and Nature Association |
Ecotourism in sustainable development |
20 |
Konya Commodity Exchange |
Awareness-raising on the importance of tree planting in the fight against biological degredation |
|
10 |
Selçuklu Municipality |
“Welcoming a future which respects environmental preservation” |
21 |
Sarıkaya Municipality |
Sustainable utilization of Sarıkaya’s geothermal sources for heating |
|
11 |
Adana-South Region Rotary Club |
Water culture in a viilage environment |
22 |
Sivas Provincial Administration |
“Energy is the source of all things” |
|
|
|
|
23 |
Tosyöv- İstanbul Support Association |
Preperation Project on strenghening environmental protection, organization, and the management of solid waste disposal in İstanbul/Dudulu Organized Industrial Zone |
Aimed at reducing the detrimental effects on the health of rural people, especially of women, caused by using wood and dung as fuel, this project will be first implemented in pilot areas of Ankara province.
In the scope of the project, a working group visited Ankara’s Çamlıdere town, and Çukurören and Yılanlı villages during 15-17 January. A workshop was organized in Kızılcıhamam/Ankara, in which Energy Market Regulation Board (EPDK) Chairman Yusuf Günay, Undersecretary of Energy and Natural Resources Ministry Sami Demirbilek and Chairman of Turkish Parliament Energy Commission Soner Aksoy, Ankara Governor Kemal Önal, bureaucrats, local protocol and representatives from civil society organizations, universities, banks, LPG companies and private sector participated. UNDP’s Sustainable Energy Politics Consultant Andrew Yager, World LPG Association’s (WLPGA) Board of Directors member Kimball Chen and WLPGA Director James Rockall were also among the participants.
The project partners decided to conduct a series of studies on how to use clean and health-friendly sources of energy, instead of the traditional wood and dung which are both inefficient and risky to human health. It was agreed to encourage the use of environment-friendly LPG energy as an alternative to pollution causing and health hazardous wood and dung. As a measure to facilitate the widespread usage of LPG, microcredit system will be established in order to increase the purchasing power of the local rural people and build the necessary economic structure. Village women will be provided with market facilities to sell their handicrafts and home-made foods.
UNDP Turkey Representative Mahmood Ayub stated in his speech at the workshop that, within the framework of the “Generalization of LPG in Rural Areas” Project, which is executed by World LPG Association with UNDP partnership in six other countries, Turkey is one of the pilot countries. Ayub emphasized UNDP’s support to sustainable development and the importance of renewable energy projects within this framework, adding that, UNDP is assisting countries to determine their climate change policies.
The Steering Committee of the project includes Energy Market Regulation Board’s LPG Department Head Güngör Azim Tuna, Turkish LPG Association’s President Mehmet Ali Neyzi and Vice President Selim Şiper, WLPGA Director James Rockall and UNDP Turkey Programme Director Katalin Zaim.
Project advisor Timur Demirel gave the following information about the “Clean Energy in Development” project: “People in rural areas of Turkey who traditionally depend on wood and dung for energy consumption want to get rid of this practice. Because of economic limitations and environmental conditions, these sources of energy were local people’s only choice until now. But it’s time to show them that they may have other options. We started this project to introduce a modern and clean energy source to rural regions and help local people utilize this energy easily. We will first prepare a model project to be implemented in pilot areas. We’ll facilitate the contribution of all related stakeholders for the project to reach all our target groups, so that rural people, especially women, can now take a break from the ardous and often undignified burden of wood chopping and dung collecting. Gradually clean energy will reach all villages of Turkey. ”
Project staff from the General Directorate of Agricultural Production and Development, General Directorate of Organization and Support, and Project Management Unit from Sivas and Erzincan attended the meeting to assess the progress on the performance of the project, chaired by Ismail Elmas, Assistant General Manager of the General Directorate of Agricultural Production and Development.
In order to increase the performance and harmonization of the project, the participants discussed rural development project examples from Turkey and from around the world, as well as procurement methods to be followed throughout the project and the progress achieved so far, including monitoring and evaluation of the project, on the first day of the meeting.
Community and Cooperative Developmentcomponent of the project was the topic covered on the second day of the sessions. Community and Cooperative Developmentis a key component which aims to ensure sustainable, self-managed improvement of participating communities. It is also intended to assist individual members of the community, particularly the poorer ones, to increase their income and thus reduce poverty in the community, through Community and Cooperative Capacity Building, and Cooperative Initiative Funds. Izmir Bademli Agricultural Nursery Development Cooperative which has been acclaimed for its successful cooperative principles, planning, management and administration, was also invited to the meeting to give a best practice example for the participants.
Sivas-Erzincan Development Project focuses on increasing agricultural productivity and income levels of the rural poor in the less developed parts of Sivas and Erzincan provinces; on expanding rural employment opportunities and encouraging individual and group initiatives of smallholders; enhancing social and productive infrastructure; building and strengthening self-sustaining institutions that cater directly to the rural poor; and improving the living conditions of the rural poor, especially of women. In this context, in terms of eradicating poverty and promoting gender equality, the project ensures significant progress towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Sivas and Erzincan provinces.
Under the US$1.36 million project, UNDP will work with enterprises and other stakeholders in eight countries – EU members Bulgaria, Hungary, Lithuania, Poland and Slovak Republic, as well as in candidate countries Croatia, Macedonia, and Turkey. The project will assist the integration of social and environmental concerns in business operations and in corporate interaction with government, trade unions, business associations and communities on a voluntary basis.
“The main objective is to accelerate in the new EU region the implementation of CSR practices, which are seen as a vehicle for EU harmonization, social cohesion and improving competitiveness,” said Ms. Lyra Jakuleviciene, regional project leader and head of office for UNDP Lithuania.
The project, which is expected to continue until mid-2008, will comprehensively map out CSR activities and actors in the eight countries; identify capacity gaps and areas where support to both business and governments is needed; facilitate exchange of experience and good practices; raise awareness; and support national stakeholders through national and local-level capacity building initiatives.
The project will address both local and foreign enterprises in the eight countries, and will be implemented by UNDP offices in-country, in cooperation with national and regional partners. Business networks in Spain, the UK and Germany will contribute through exchange of experience and good CSR practices.
UNDP will also engage business and professional associations, national and local governments, trade unions, academia, non-governmental organizations and media to promote multi-stakeholder dialogues on CSR.
A report containing a baseline study of CSR activities to date in the region as well as examples of good practices, tools and recommendations will be presented at a regional conference planned for mid-2007.
The project covers three main components: 1) Situation analysis of CSR in the Project countries; 2) Promotion of multi-stakeholder dialogue; 3) National and local capacity building.
Project duration is 18 months, with a total budget of 1.36 million USD (775,636 Euro). The contribution from the European Commission stands at 620,199 Euros, while UNDP is contributing 155,437 Euros.