During periods when immigration movements get extraordinarily intense, economic, social and cultural problems increase. Reducing such tensions that may arise among the society due to various reasons, raising social awareness and strengthening social cohesion are objectives that are strategic as much as they are urgent. In the study conducted by İNGEV Social Research Centre (TAM) with persons in charge in nongovernmental organisations and public institutions regarding the Syrians under Temporary Protection Status in the 10 provinces that were impacted the most from immigration, the present mutual cohesion between the two societies and the effective awareness studies conducted were examined. One of the key findings of the study has been that the local populace had uncertainties regarding the immigration wave they faced and that they suffered misinformation, and accordingly many facts thought as wrong or many wrongs thought as fact turned into urban legends without basis. The study presented to the Directorate General of Migration Management in cooperation with Norm Consulting aims to combat against all these prejudices and false beliefs and make contribution to the topic of how to increase social awareness.
İNGEV England Representative
Dr Emre Eren Korkmaz assumed the duty of İNGEV England Representative. Korkmaz, academician at Oxford University, will work on developing the relationships between İNGEV and relevant organisations in England in line with our human development vision.
HDI and Measurement of Sustainable Development Objectives
Preparations for the Human Development Index (HDI) 2020 are underway. The workshop held under the hosting of Marmara Municipalities Union provided the roadmap for the new period context through a wide participation and efficient group studies. Two separate reports will be published within the scope of HDI 2020; for districts (HDI-D) and metropolitan municipalities (HDI-MM). There are significant developments in terms of sub-indexes. The addition of the sub-index of gender and study of environment as a separate topic are among the primary context expansions. Utilisation of an artificial intelligence program for data analyses is also among stipulated developments. Another important development is that a special section will be present in both reports dedicated to sustainable development objectives (SDO). During the studies conducted in cooperation with UCLG, the opportunity to relate HDI and SDOs was defined. HDI-D has been met with widespread interest since its first year, and made significant contribution to the spread of human development concept.
Social Media Reliability, Gender and Social Cohesion
Human Development Monitor (HDM) began the new period in cooperation with İstanbul Bilgi University Faculty of Communication. First period topics consist of social media reliability, gender, social cohesion and refugee perception. The reports will begin to be published as of March. İstanbul Bilgi University and İNGEV will share the reports through joint activities. HDM aims to monitor social developments in fields of priority regarding human development and to develop social policy recommendations in line with this. The reports are prepared by assessing a field survey representing Turkey.
Gender Perceptions Research: Is it OK to Slap Women in Particular Situations?
Even though majority in Turkey agrees that inequality of opportunity based on gender exists in the society, we run the risk of accepting it as natural. Only 29% of the society think that men and women have equal opportunities. The majority of men admit that ‘it is more difficult to be a woman in Turkey’, and ‘women face more problems than men do in social life’.
The results of the research conducted in cooperation with INGEV TAM and Istanbul Bilgi University Faculty of Communication are released. According to the research, we have come a long way towards the equality, but there is still a long way to go.
Three out of every four people in society don’t think that ‘family unity will be broken when women participate in working life’ and they say that ‘active participation of women in working life will be good for the economy’. On the contrary, about one in four men is of the opinion that ‘if the husband does not allow, a married woman should not work’. Working life is also painful for women. Women (63%3) and (54%) men agree that ‘the women face discrimination at workplace.
Vast majority of the people say they are against violence. On the other hand, there are still a considerable number of people in favor of violence against women in certain situations. Ten percent of men have the idea that ‘in some cases, a woman can be slapped by her husband’. Another critical problem for violence against women is that one out of every four men thinks ‘if a woman is smacked by her husband, she should not tell others’.
For your questions and inquiries about the report: can.cakir@ingev.org
Brand-New Gender Sensitive Labor Market Assessment by INGEV
INGEV, with the funding and support of Save The Children, conducted an analysis of labour market assessment for vulnerable people living in Istanbul. The report titled “Gender Sensitive Labour Market Analysis” Report aims to empower economically vulnerable young females and males from refugee and host communities through decent work opportunities in order to realize their untapped potential, reduce inequality in their standards of living and contribute to economic development of the whole society. Besides that same report focuses on improving the economic conditions of displaced people in a gender-sensitive manner (i.e. gender equality in education, increasing women’s participation in the workforce, closing the pay gap between women and men, etc.) and look for opportunities to provide decent work both to women and men for more dignified, sustainable and satisfying labour conditions from a gender sensitive perspective.
The report findings also indicate that most promising business sectors for the employment pathway are Food Production; Healthcare Services; Hospitality (incl. accommodation, food servicing, travel operations); information and communication technology; Textiles/Apparel/Shoes; Wholesale and Retail Trade. Favourable occupational groups in these sectors comprise of marketing and sales positions; production and assembly line jobs; repairs and technical support; product development and design roles; logistics and supply chain operations.
HDI 2019 Steering Committee Held
İNGEV in its first year, has conducted HDI-D (Human Development Index-Districts) in local level in order to measure and monitor human development in 150 districts. By extending its scope, in the year 2017, number of districts reached up to 186. From this year onwards, HDI includes not only districts but metropolitan municipalities.
HDI Steering Committee was held at the Union of Marmara Municipalities. Metropolitan municipalities and districts, scholars, international institutions, NGOs and private sector representatives shared and exchanged ideas about the scope of HDI-D and HDI-M (Human Development Index-Metropolitan). The scope of the research will expand now with new indexes and data resources. The efficient usage of these mediums by the districts in micro-level and it’s being supported by central government and other shareholders increase the quality of life.
İNGEV and UCLG-MEWA recently signed a cooperation agreement to assess UN Sustainable Development Goals as local metrics in relation with HDI-D and the implementation of HDI-D in different countries of Middle East and Western Asia. HDI Steering Committee also shared their thoughts on which fields HDI-D and UN SDGs can match and which data source can be measured.
İNGEV Brought Together Syrian SMEs with ITO and KOSGEB
In the context of EBRD supported “Business Development Mentorship for Syrian Companies” project, İNGEV brought together Syrian SMEs which INGEV provides mentorship services for with İTO (Istanbul Chamber of Trade) and KOSGEB (Small and Medium Enterprises Development Organization of Turkey), the meeting was hosted by İTO.
Opening speeches for the meeting hold at İTO were given by İNGEV’s Director Berk Çoker and Burak Öztemel from the İTO’s Project and Business Development Directorate.
Following the speeches, İTO representatives informed Syrian SMEs about the history, corporate structure, activities and events of İTO. Moreover, İTO representatives gave a presentation on the Trade Ministry’s trade incentives, credits, and trainings and symposiums organized by the Chamber.
SMEs expert from KOSGEB, Kerim Bilir, has also informed Syrian company representatives about the financial supports and fair incentives for SMEs
İNGEV and UCLG-MEWA Signs Cooperation Agreement
İNGEV and UCLG-MEWA will work on the assessment of the Human Development Index-Districts (HDI-I) as metrics in which the UN Sustainable Development Goals are measured and implemented in different countries in the Middle East and West Asia Region.
İNGEV’s Human Development Index-District report aims to measure and monitor human development at local level. Today, as localization is increasing, local policy instruments affecting human development are also diversifying. The effective use of these instruments by local governments on a micro scale, and support by other stakeholders, especially the central government, improves the quality of life.
İNGEV and UCLG-MEWA, the most important organizations in their fields, aim to strengthen these efforts in the field of supporting local governments.
ActHuman “Digital Governance Opportunities for Municipalities” Workshop was Held at Marmara Municipalities Union
ActHuman’s second term has started with the cooperation of INGEV, IPM and Oxford University. Marmara Municipalities Union hosted the second term’s first consultancy meeting which aims to determine “The Digital Management Opportunities for Municipalities”.
Dr. Eren Korkmaz from Oxford University made a presentation on “The Digital Management Opportunities for Municipalities”. Dr. Korkmaz shared his ideas on the technology, social transformation, the latest technologies, the opportunities presented by the digital management and correct practices on this issue.
Following the presentation, municipalities, public institutions, international organizations, INGOs and private sector representations provided their opinions about the content of opportunities report to be prepared for municipalities.
During the workshop, participants mainly discussed about the issues such as the needs of municipalities for their digital management, technologic applications to improve the municipalities’ management capacities, the better ways of organizing municipalities and cooperation, and good examples applicable for Turkey.
As a result of the three months-research process, the digital management opportunities report will be published.