Turkey - Social Entrepreneurship, Empowerment, and Cohesion in Refugee and Host Communities in Turkey Project
GENERAL INFORMATION
Location: Turkey (Ankara and 11 provinces: Adana, Mersin, Gaziantep, Adıyaman, Kilis, Mardin, Hatay, Osmaniye, Kahramanmaraş, Diyarbakır, and Şanlıurfa)
Organization(s) Involved: Ministry of Industry and Technology (MoIT), World Bank, European Union
SUMMARY
The SEECO project aims to support women and youth within refugee and host communities in Turkey by expanding economic opportunities and improving social cohesion. The project, which is funded by the European Union and administered by the World Bank, will be implemented across 11 provinces with the Ministry of Industry and Technology (MoIT) as the leading institution. Key activities include support for social enterprises, the establishment of community livelihood facilities, and capacity strengthening of national and local actors. An IT Specialist will be appointed to coordinate all IT-related activities, ensuring the project’s effective delivery and the achievement of its objectives.
OBJECTIVES
- Expand economic opportunities for women and youth in refugee and host communities.
- Improve social cohesion among refugee and host communities through enterprise development.
- Support the creation and sustainability of social enterprises.
- Strengthen institutional capacities for livelihood development.
CONTEXT AND BACKGROUND
The SEECO project addresses the economic and social challenges faced by women and youth in refugee and host communities across Turkey. The project responds to the need for sustainable economic opportunities and enhanced social cohesion, focusing on social entrepreneurship and community-based livelihood facilities. The targeted provinces are areas with high concentrations of vulnerable refugees, requiring coordinated efforts to support social enterprises and facilitate participatory decision-making processes.
IMPLEMENTATION: ACTIVITIES AND METHODOLOGIES
Key Activities:
- Development and maintenance of a Project Management Information System.
- Establishment of a grievance recording system and project website.
- Coordination of IT-related activities with the MoIT and other stakeholders.
- Supervision of software development for system integration and report generation.
Innovative Methodologies:
- Use of proven civic technology for online platforms.
- Implementation of a digital outreach strategy for beneficiaries and partners.
Resources:
- Financial: EU funding of €39.5 Million.
Human: IT Specialist, MoIT IT Department, PIU consultants. - Technical: Software development, web services, and IT infrastructure.
Partners and Stakeholders:
- MoIT, World Bank, European Union, selected Development Agencies (DAs).
PROJECT OUTCOMES & LESSONS LEARNED
Main Outcomes:
- Establishment of functional social enterprises benefiting women and youth.
- Development of community-based livelihood facilities.
- Strengthened institutional capacities at the national and local levels.
Lessons Learned:
- The importance of local engagement in decision-making processes.
- Challenges in integrating existing IT systems with newly developed software.
- The need for continuous technical support and training for sustainability.
IMPACT
Impact on Community: The project has significantly improved the economic opportunities available to women and youth in refugee and host communities, fostering social cohesion and contributing to local development.
Youth Involvement: Youth have been actively involved in social entrepreneurship activities and community engagement initiatives, contributing to the project’s success.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The SEECO project is expected to conclude in the last quarter of 2024. The project has a strong focus on sustainability, aiming to ensure the long-term use of IT systems and community facilities established during its implementation.