The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Impact Accelerator’s second field visit has been organized by WFP, UNDP and Ministry of Foreign Affairs between August 20 and 23 in 3 different cities. 13 teams and 16 founders joined the field visit and observed the situation on the ground in Istanbul and in Gaziantep with a final day of meeting government entities, UN Agencies and impact professionals in Ankara.
In Bozöyük the participants in the Water and Sanitation Cohort were hosted by Eczacıbaşı Innovation Center with the participation of senior management explaining how the large-scale operations of the Holding is maintained and developed. The facilities were toured by the participants and information sessions were held.
The Digital ID and Livelihood Cohort was hosted by Turkish Red Crescent Community Centre in Bağlarbaşı where founders spent time with ESSN beneficiaries discovering their problems and understanding the complexities of building more permanent livelihood opportunities. Founders also visited WFP Office in Istanbul and met with field officers and NGOs collaborating with WFP to address the needs of the Syrians.
The founders spent 2 days in Gaziantep in meetings and field visits to informal houses in Nizip and to Vocational Training Center in Gaziantep. The cohorts were hosted by field experts who gave insights to the unique challenges in Gaziantep, which hosts about half a million Syrians under temporary protection.
The Vocational Training Center explained to the founders how the vacant positions in the city’s developing export-oriented businesses were surveyed and job programs had been developed in partnership with international and national donor organizations.
In the last day in Gaziantep, more than 10 regional and international experts representing aid organizations, INGO’s and government entities met with founders in deep one and one sessions to build concrete plans of implementation and action based on the needs that were identified by the founders and the field experts.
In Ankara, UNDP hosted the founders after the delegation had a visit to Anıtkabir. More than 16 institutions ranging from UN Agencies and Government institutions have sent their experts to meet the founders. More than 100 mentorship and interaction sessions were conducted which will enable the companies to build and refine their implementation plans until the showcase day in Ankara on September 12th and Demo day in Istanbul on September 13th.
