İNGEV

ActHuman Awards Held at the Pera Museum…

Initiated by İNGEV (Human Development Foundation) and first organized in 2023, the ActHuman Human Development Awards were presented for the second time this year. At the ceremony held on the evening of Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at the Pera Museum, awards were presented to individuals and institutions that created significant impact in areas such as women’s empowerment, social innovation, the fight against inequality, environmental sustainability, social cohesion, reconstruction in earthquake-affected regions, rights-based work, and inclusivity.

At the end of the evening, the Prof. Fuat Keyman Lifetime Achievement Award—named in memory of the late Prof. Dr. Fuat Keyman, one of the founding members of INGEV and Vice Rector of Sabancı University—was presented to Ömer Madra.

The evening was hosted by Kübra Par, and the opening speech was delivered by İNGEV President Vural Çakır. The ceremony was attended by distinguished guests from civil society, academia, and the private sector.

Award Recipients

In the Women’s Empowerment category, Defne Women’s Cooperative was honored for the production network and culture of solidarity they established following the earthquake. On behalf of the cooperative, Nesrin Deli received the award from Şengül Akçar, President of the Foundation for the Support of Women’s Work (KEDV).

In the Social Innovation category, awards were presented to Pelin Baykan (Anlatan Eller), who has made sign language a native language of accessibility, and Yasemin Kireç (Anadolu Meraları), who has developed nature-compatible agricultural models. They received their awards from Zehra Öney, President of the Women in Technology Association, and Faruk Eczacıbaşı, Vice Chairman of Eczacıbaşı Holding.

In the Combating Inequality category, Hacer Foggo (Deep Poverty Network) was awarded for her persistent efforts to make urban poverty visible. She received her award from Emine Erdem, President of the Federation of Sectoral Associations (SEDEFED).

In the Environmental Sustainability category, Nejla Işık was honored for her determined advocacy in defending the Akbelen Forest in Muğla and bringing the issue to national attention. She received her award from Altan Ertürk, President of TÜSES (Foundation for Social, Economic and Political Research of Turkiye).

In the Social Cohesion category, Delal Dink (Hrant Dink Foundation) was recognized for her work promoting coexistence among differences. On behalf of Delal Dink, Sibel Asna, a board member of the Hrant Dink Foundation, received the award from Seçkin Karataş, General Manager of the Community Volunteers Foundation (TOG).

In the Reconstruction and Livelihoods in Earthquake Zone category, Sema Genel Karaosmanoğlu (Support to Life Association) was honored for developing sustainable solutions during times of crisis. She received her award from Hansın Doğan, UNDP Turkiye’s Portfolio Manager of Private Sector and Strategic Partnerships.

The Special Award for Reconstruction was presented to Müge Aydın (Arsuz Women’s Cooperative), who has built a new life in Hatay through the labor and solidarity of women. She received her award from Hande Tibuk, President of TİDER (Basic Needs Association).

Also in the same category, Yousra Khamis (Bilsan Atölye), a Syrian migrant who settled in Turkiye and created a hopeful production model, was awarded. She expressed her gratitude to İNGEV through a video message.

In the Rights-Based Work category, Ruşen Yücesoylu Karakaya, the pioneer of the İSİAS Justice Vigil, was honored for her determined pursuit of justice. She received her award from NOW Primetime News Anchorman Selçuk Tepeli,

In the Inclusivity category, two awards were presented: one to lawyer Sedef Erken (Istanbul Autism Volunteers Association) for her advocacy for the rights of individuals with autism, and the other to the team behind the TV series “Kızıl Goncalar” (Esma Yılmaz, Mina Demirtaş, Şükrü Necati Şahin), recognized for its portrayal of societal polarization. Sedef Erken, together with her son Ozan, received the award from Esra Bezircioğlu, President of KAGİDER (Women Entrepreneurs Association of Turkiye).

The Prof. Fuat Keyman Lifetime Achievement Award was given to Ömer Madra, a pioneering voice in Turkiye known for his broadcasting based on human rights, climate awareness, and conscience.

A Testament to Collective Conscience for Human Development

The ActHuman Human Development Awards aim to increase the visibility of individuals and organizations contributing to human development in Turkiye, support the dissemination of good practices, and raise social awareness in these areas.

In his speech, İNGEV President Vural Çakır stated:

“The ActHuman Awards are not a gesture of gratitude, but a form of testimony. These stories from all over Turkiye show us that human development is not measured solely by numbers, but by the lives touched, by tireless efforts, by courage, and by hope.”

A Journey That Will Continue

ActHuman will continue in the years to come to support and give visibility to individuals and organizations that contribute to human development. These awards, which shed light on Turkiye’s human development journey, also serve as a collective call of conscience for a more just, inclusive, and sustainable future.

Contact:
İNGEV – Human Development Foundation
info@ingev.org

INGEV Joins the Social Value Global Network!

We are thrilled to join the Social Value Family with the goal of creating measurable, strong, and sustainable impacts to fight social inequalities and support human development!

As İNGEV, we are now a corporate member of Social Value Turkiye, the local affiliate of the globally recognized Social Value International network, which leads in social impact and social value practices worldwide.

Through this membership, we aim to adopt the best practices in social value measurement and management to amplify the societal impact of our initiatives.

Together, we strive for a fairer and more sustainable world!

Lessons for Women’s Empowerment in the Earthquake Region

Please find attached the lessons learned from projects supporting the recovery of women-owned businesses in the earthquake-affected region. These insights capture effective approaches for enabling women entrepreneurs to rebuild their businesses, strengthen financial resilience, and achieve sustainable growth. We believe this document can serve as a valuable resource for designing effective projects in the future to foster economic recovery and gender empowerment.

Click to read: https://ingev.org/reports/Women-of-Recovery-Hand-in-Hand.pdf

İNGEV’de-Dijital-Dönüşüm-ve-Adres-Değişikliği

Digital Transformation and Address Change at INGEV

As part of our ongoing strategy, INGEV’s digital transformation journey continues to evolve.

At the start of 2024, we migrated all video training resources on entrepreneurship and employment for vulnerable groups to the INGEVGDM web portal. These free services, designed for women, youth, and micro and small-scale entrepreneurs, are further enhanced with two monthly webinars.

Starting December 2, our Central Office’s remote working schedule, previously set at two days per week, will shift to four days per week. Alongside this change, we are relocating our Central Office to Kolektif House in Ataşehir.

Meanwhile, our Entrepreneurship Support Center in Şanlıurfa and all field operations will continue uninterrupted. Our goal is to increase efficiency at the center while enhancing our impact in the field.

Together, With Sincerity…

Please update your records with our new address:

İNGEV Central Office Address:
Nidakule, Kolektif House, Ataşehir, Istanbul

Kahramanmaraş: Rebuilding and Looking to the Future

The insights we gained from the “Women Entrepreneurs in the Reconstruction Process Conference,” held on November 21 in Kahramanmaraş in collaboration with the Federation of Sectoral Associations (SEDEFED), highlight once again the immense potential the region holds in its economic and social reconstruction efforts.

The economic rebuilding of Kahramanmaraş following the February 6 earthquakes is not merely about replacing what was lost. Instead, it represents a forward-looking, visionary approach.

Mustafa Buluntu, President of the Kahramanmaraş Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KMTSO), shared with great enthusiasm the multifaceted developments in the aviation industry. This initiative clearly shows that the city has established a new focal point in industrial development and set ambitious goals for itself.

Vural Çakır, President of İNGEV, emphasized the critical role of women’s participation in economic life for the country’s overall development. He noted, “With the Eleleyiz Project, we provide women entrepreneurs with opportunities to restructure and sustainably grow their businesses. Empowering women means empowering society. On the other hand, we must also acknowledge the heroism of this city by giving credit to our women entrepreneurs in the post-earthquake recovery process. Being a woman, an entrepreneur, and persevering through such a challenging time is truly remarkable—it is a form of heroism. “

UNDP Turkey’s disaster region representative Hamit Doğan and Kahramanmaraş TOBB Women Entrepreneurs Board member Ümmügülsüm Betül Zabun provided concrete examples illustrating the multiplier effect of increasing the number of women entrepreneurs and their economic contributions in the city’s reconstruction process. Existing projects aimed at women entrepreneurs once again demonstrate that social development is not solely an economic matter but also supports social solidarity and sustainability. However, enhancing and ensuring the continuity of these efforts remains of vital importance.

Unfortunately, the magnitude of the region’s needs is still deeply felt. Severe funding shortages make it challenging to expand ongoing projects further. Additionally, urban reconstruction efforts are progressing slower than expected. At the current pace, it seems it will take at least five more years to declare many areas “completed.”

Following Şanlıurfa, Gaziantep, and Hatay, we are delighted to support women entrepreneurs in Kahramanmaraş as well. However, we are also acutely aware that our efforts remain small compared to the scale of what still needs to be done. We will continue to do our utmost to contribute to the city’s economic and social fabric.

Our hope is that these efforts will grow and strengthen, creating even greater impacts. We wish for Kahramanmaraş to achieve the future it deserves as soon as possible during this reconstruction process.

During this special event, organized in collaboration with the Kahramanmaraş Chamber of Commerce and Industry, EYODER also held a workshop on the green transformation of women entrepreneurs and SMEs.

Sürdürülebilir-Başarı-İçin-Etki-Ölçüm-ve-Tasarım-Modeli

Model for Impact Measurement and Design for Sustainable Success

The İNGEV Impact Measurement and Design Model stands out as a unique strategic tool that thoroughly analyzes the social change created by social programs. This model ensures that social programs achieve their societal benefit and sustainability goals through comprehensive impact analyses. At İNGEV, we aim to create strong and sustainable impacts by working alongside stakeholders at every stage, from program design to impact measurement, rather than offering only short-term solutions.

The İNGEV Model is based on internationally recognized OECD-DAC criteria, including “Effectiveness, Sustainability, Compatibility, Efficiency, Impact, and Relevance.” It analyzes program impacts in three main categories: Direct, Societal, and Environmental impacts. In addition to these main categories, we assess the Relevance and Sustainability criteria to evaluate how well programs respond to the needs of beneficiaries and other stakeholders and how well the outcomes align with the objectives. This system provides a comprehensive impact analysis of each program’s performance, clearly highlighting areas for improvement.

One of the most striking features of the model is the use of the Social Return on Investment (SROI) principle to measure the value created by social programs in financial terms. SROI offers a financial expression of the transformation of investment into social benefits, allowing us to assess programs’ overall performance from a broader perspective. This approach enables us to present the long-term societal and environmental impacts of programs and their potential return on investment with concrete data.

Finally, we are proud to have completed the Social Impact Analysis of the “Sabancı Republic Mobilization 2023” project in September, one of Turkey’s largest social responsibility movements launched by Sabancı Holding for the 100th anniversary of our Republic. In this analysis conducted using the İNGEV Impact Measurement and Design Model, the changes created by seven different projects led by 13 Sabancı Group affiliates under the coordination of Sabancı Holding were thoroughly evaluated. We are honored to accompany the Sabancı Group on this meaningful journey, as they mobilize all volunteers with the vision of being a pioneer and role model in the field of sustainable living.

The İNGEV Impact Measurement and Design Model enables organizations to carry out more successful, effective, and sustainable social projects. With this model, we aim to maximize social benefit at every step.

Steps for Social Cohesion in Şanlıurfa…

The Bridges “Incubation and Small Grant” Program, carried out by INGEV at the Business Development Center in Şanlıurfa, provides new opportunities for entrepreneurs, helping them achieve success. The program has been offering basic and advanced entrepreneurship training to aspiring entrepreneurs for five years, and as of 2024, 211 people have received Basic Entrepreneurship Training. Of these, 126 completed the Advanced Entrepreneurship Training. By the end of the year, 325 people are expected to complete Basic and 190 people Advanced Entrepreneurship Training.

This program does not simply offer training; it transforms the lives of entrepreneurs. For example, 100 entrepreneurs who completed Advanced Entrepreneurship Training received partial grants to help cover their startup expenses, giving them a strong start.

One inspiring success story is Enver, who came to Turkiye from Syria in 2013 with 25 years of experience in painting and decoration but was unable to work due to a lack of tools and equipment. With the support of the Bridges program by INGEV and DRC, he received business management training and the necessary equipment, enabling him to establish his small business. Today, he is one of the most renowned decorators in Şanlıurfa Siverek, and his work is widely admired.

This project, carried out in partnership with INGEV and DRC, provides crucial support to entrepreneurs not only at the startup stage but also during the critical early phase of their businesses with consulting in accounting, marketing, taxation, and legal matters. By connecting local suppliers and new entrepreneurs, the program continues to transform the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Şanlıurfa.

The Business Development Services within the Bridges IV Project are implemented by INGEV and DRC and are funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through the German Development Bank (KfW).

Kahramanmaraş-ve-Hatay'da-Umut-Tohumları

Seeds of Hope in Kahramanmaraş and Hatay: Stories of Resilience from Women Entrepreneurs

Focusing on empowering women economically in earthquake-affected regions, INGEV’s Eleleyiz project continues to be a symbol of hope through its extensive fieldwork in Kahramanmaraş and Hatay. Observations in both cities reveal the determined efforts of women entrepreneurs and small businesses working to revive the local economy despite the devastating effects of the earthquake. While Hatay still bears the scars of the tragedy, Kahramanmaraş has made significant progress in overcoming the disaster’s impact through relentless work over the past 1.5 years.

In this challenging period, local shopkeepers in both cities are working tirelessly in roadside and container markets to keep the economy alive. Regardless of sector or business size, women entrepreneurs stand out as the most resilient figures in this recovery effort. Through the Eleleyiz project, INGEV sheds light on their inspiring stories, highlighting the challenges, resilience, and successes behind their determined efforts. By sharing the stories of two of these remarkable women, we aim to bring you closer to the courage and tenacity that fuels their contributions to the local economy:

Pumpkin Dessert Producer (Hatay): Specializing in a unique pumpkin dessert prepared in lime water, this entrepreneur sourced pumpkins from local farmers, operated a small factory, and engaged in wholesale trade. Now, she is working to rebuild her business. Despite managing a considerable operation, she lacks financial knowledge and has irregular accounting services. She needs insights into revenue, cost structures, profit margins, pricing, and cash flow. Although she can apply for small grants like those from INGEV, she currently lacks the capacity to provide the necessary documentation for larger loans such as those from KOSGEB.
Tarhana Producer (Kahramanmaraş): This entrepreneur sourced raw materials from local farmers to produce tarhana and chips for wholesalers, retailers, and consumers. Before the earthquake, they produced 500 kg daily, though current operations are at a reduced capacity. With strong demand, their goal is to double production capacity to pre-earthquake levels, yet they face scaling challenges in all areas of production. Despite running a large operation, they lack basic financial monitoring tools for tracking costs, revenues, profit margins, and cash flow.

Under the guidance of Renan Burduroğlu, these inspiring women entrepreneurs completed business development consulting, developed business plans with the support of the Eleleyiz project, and took concrete steps forward.

Eleleyiz further organized supplier and buyer events in Hatay and Kahramanmaraş across food, textiles, stationery, handicrafts, furniture, and cosmetics sectors, helping women entrepreneurs build new commercial connections. In supply chain meetings with national brands like Migros, g2m, Metro, and Coca-Cola, women entrepreneurs received valuable feedback to help them enter new markets and gained opportunities to expand their market share.

These events, a strong example of local collaboration, were organized in partnership with the Turkiye Local Humanitarian Forum in Hatay and the Kahramanmaraş Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KMTSO) and the TOBB Women Entrepreneurs Board in Kahramanmaraş. They achieved great success with the participation of local actors, serving as an inspiration for future efforts.

In the second half of November, the “Women Entrepreneurs in the Reconstruction Process” Conference will be held in Kahramanmaraş. This unique event brings together organizations like INGEV, KMTSO, SEDEFED, and EYODER to collaborate on impactful projects for women entrepreneurs in the region. The event will gather women entrepreneurs, economic actors, civil society, and academia to discuss the challenges and opportunities for women entrepreneurs in the reconstruction process. The aim is to evaluate progress so far and outline target areas for future initiatives.

The evaluations highlight the continued importance of access to finance and grants for women entrepreneurs. Financial literacy, record-keeping, branding capacity, and digital skills also emerge as critical areas for support. Collaboration with local and national actors to utilize resources effectively remains essential.

We hope that the networks of cooperation and solidarity we have established to empower vulnerable groups in earthquake regions will continue to grow hand in hand!

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