8 Milyon Euro: Fueling Social Entrepreneurship for Women and Youth in Turkey
The Southeastern Anatolia Project (SEECO), funded with 8 million Euros, aims to empower women and youth through social entrepreneurship in Turkey’s southeastern region. This initiative, driven by the Karacadağ Development Agency and supported by the Ministry of Industry and Technology, focuses on boosting employment and economic development in provinces like Şanlıurfa and Diyarbakır.
SEECO: A Catalyst for Regional Growth
The SEECO Project, with a total budget of 39.5 million Euros, is scheduled for completion in December 2024. This project represents a significant investment in local development, leveraging the expertise of regional development agencies to maximize its impact. The Ministry of Industry and Technology emphasizes its commitment to fostering balanced national growth by harnessing the potential of each region. Development agencies, operating since 2006, play a crucial role in driving this progress.
The SEECO project extends beyond Şanlıurfa and Diyarbakır, encompassing eleven provinces including Gaziantep, Adıyaman, Kilis, Mardin, Adana, Mersin, Hatay, Osmaniye, and Kahramanmaraş. This broad reach aims to establish a robust model for increasing women and youth employment. By focusing on high-tech and value-added products, Turkey strives to become a strong global competitor. Recognizing the crucial link between entrepreneurship, innovation, and development, the Ministry plans to further encourage initiatives in these areas.
Empowering Social Entrepreneurs
Social entrepreneurship, increasingly recognized in Turkey, addresses societal challenges through innovative services, products, and models. This project acknowledges the need for public institutions to support this ecosystem. These ventures often take the form of cooperatives, NGOs, or businesses, acting as vital players within the social economy. The SEECO Project facilitates the establishment and growth of women and youth-led ventures, ensuring their products achieve deserved value.
Aligned with the 2022-2023 theme of “Youth Employment,” the SEECO Project provides training and mentorship to enhance the skills and employability of women and youth in the target provinces. These efforts aim to stimulate new ventures, strengthen existing ones, and create sustainable livelihood centers catering to diverse community needs.
Karacadağ Development Agency: Leading the Charge
The Karacadağ Development Agency, with its 8 million Euro allocation, spearheads the effort to integrate women and youth into the workforce through social entrepreneurship. By supporting innovative ideas and their transformation into marketable products, the agency fosters the development of a robust regional and national social entrepreneurship ecosystem. This investment translates into tangible opportunities for individuals and contributes significantly to the overall economic prosperity of the region.
The SEECO project stands as a testament to the transformative power of targeted investment in human capital. By fostering social entrepreneurship among women and youth, this initiative not only addresses immediate employment needs but also lays the foundation for long-term sustainable development in Southeastern Turkey.