GAP and UNDP Sustainable Development Program
Year 1995 is the landmark for Southeast Anatolia Project (GAP) to be renowned as a sustainable human development project, and this approach reflects in implementations since then. In the case of GAP, this approach has been developed by internal and external factors. While internal factors include experiences of GAP Administration since its establishment and the changes in the region’s social structure and human geography as a result of the Project, external factors appear to be the changes in development paradigms on international scale.
Another important happening in 1995 was the cooperation of UNDP Turkey and GAP Administration to identify sustainable human development. As a result of these studies, fundamental criteria of sustainable development in the GAP Region have been identified regionally and in accordance with these, a program, composed of 29 projects, named "Reduction of Socio-economic Disparities in the GAP Region", a.k.a "GAP Sustainable Development Umbrella Program", was developed with the cooperation of GAP Administration and UNDP, and has been implemented since 1997. This programme includes projects mostly related to sustainable usage of natural resources and protection of the environment, gender-balanced development, eradication of poverty and integration of disadvantaged groups into development, support to entrepreneurship in the region, improvement of human resources, strengthening participation and local capacity.
Following the conclusion of the first phase of this program in 2004, it was only possible with the financial resources secured from the Swiss Government to launch the second phase, "Strengthening Integrated Regional Development and Reduction of Socio-Economic Disparities in the GAP Region". The second phase, which was concluded in November 2007, aimed at social development and increasing employment of disadvantaged groups (women, youth, and children working in streets).
As of March 2008, UNDP Turkey and GAP Administration partnership continue with a new project, "Innovations for Women’s Empowerment: A Workable Model for Women in Turkey’s Southeast Anatolia Region". The project has been signed by GAP Administration, Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and UNDP on 25 March 2008, and has become effective. Project, which is financially supported by the Swedish International Development Agency (Sida), aims at women’s empowerment in Southeast Anatolia in social and economic life through innovative production-marketing related strategies and re-branding. It is also aimed that the project will enhance women’s labour market participation, brand women products and develop new sales and marketing opportunities.
Project Activity Report for January - June 2009
Project Activity Report for May - December 2008
Summarized Project Activity Report for May 2008-June 2009
Project Activity Report for January-December 2009
Last Update : February 3rd, 2009
