Activities

Türkiye adopted the “2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” and has been working with its stakeholders for serving its part in the global efforts. Türkiye has also been integrating SDGs into its national development plans and sectoral strategies. Türkiye is also a long-time member of WTO, GATT and the EU Customs Union in addition to numerous bilateral free trade deals. These all show the value bestowed upon global integration, growth and cooperation. Türkiye’s official agenda focuses on the country’s centennial in 2023; a benchmark date that would shape the mid-to-long-term national trajectory.

“The Impact Investing Ecosystem in Türkiye” report, which was prepared in cooperation with the Investment Office of the Presidency and UNDP IICPSD, was published and launched at the 10th Bosphorus Summit.

A workshop was organised with the call of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and was hosted by the Development and Investment Bank of Türkiye. The workshop had brought together the public and private sector representatives. The report’s findings regarding the necessity of nurturing a national impact investing ecosystem were affirmed during this workshop. The next steps that had been laid out in the workshop were:

Establishing a Turkish National Advisory Board and pushing forward with the GSG processes Sharing the workshop outputs with an extended list of stakeholders by UNDP IICPSD Realizing the Turkish SDG Investor Mapping Study by UNDP IICPSD in close cooperation with the stakeholders based on UNDP’s pilot scheme in Brazil.

In line with these decisions, SDG Investor Mapping Study was then completed by UNDP IICPSD.

The Investment Office of Presidency, Etkiyap, Development Investment Bank of Türkiye, UNDP IICPSD and UNDP Türkiye came together as key stakeholders in impact investment.

A consensus among the key stakeholders of the Turkish impact investing ecosystem regarding the EYDK’s formation was reached. Etkiyap became designated as the lead facilitator for this process.

The first Task Force meeting was held with members from (alphabetically) Development and Investment Bank of Türkiye, Impact Investing Platform (Etkiyap), Investment Office of the Presidency, UNDP Istanbul International Center for Private Sector in Development (IICPSD) and UNDP Türkiye.

Meetings and information sharing with GSG and other country NABs became a part of the process.

In the meanwhile, UNDP IICPSD finalised the SDG Investors Map for Türkiye; having identified impactful business models and investment opportunity areas for the SDG financing.

Task Force started preparation for forming the EYDK.

The Task Force started the process of identifying and interviewing the founding members of the EYDK that was scheduled to be formed in May 2021.

The initial term of the EYDK members was comprised to be via invitation.

The Task Force finalized the preparation of the legal charter, governance structure and the budget for the EYDK.

Meetings and interviews were made with potential members of the EYDK.

The Task Force meeting was held for the last time and the list of EYDK members were confirmed at the meeting.

The Task Force’s duty ended with the formation of the EYDK.

The EYDK was formed and preparatory meetings were held with EYDK members. The president and vice presidents were selected.

Applying to GSG was accepted unanimously.

The first EYDK meeting was held on 26.05.2021.

The publicity of EYDK  took place with the digital launch on 12.06.2021.
The first round table meeting of EYDK was held on 19.08.2021.
The second round table meeting of EYDK was held on 24.08.2021
The second EYDK board meeting took place, as well as the launch of “EYDK as a Catalyser” report that was built on previous national reports, the EYDK survey and the roundtable discussions.Through an evidence-based approach, “EYDK as a Catalyser” report identified four thematic working groups that would execute EYDK’s strategic priorities.
A search conference themed “Strength in Unity” with YASED and PwC was held on 20.10.21.
“White Paper on Impact Measurement and Management” was published.
The report “Strength in Unity”, created in line with the search conference held in October 2021, was published.
“SDG Investments Platform” created by EYDK & UNDP Türkiye partnership, was released.
“Impact Investment Panel” was held in partnership with UNDP Türkiye and United Kingdom Welfare Fund
“Impact Investment and Civil Society Conference” was held in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Directorate for EU Affairs.
The EYDK is a member of The Global Steering Group for Impact Investment (GSG).
An online promotional event about “The Impact Principles” was held for the first time in Türkiye.
The EYDK organized the first of the “Sustainable Future Talks with Entrepreneurs” series with the title “Impact Stories”.
The EYDK participated in the annual GSG Leaders Meeting, as Türkiye’s advisory board.
The EYDK started “EYDK Podcast” to share news from the impact investing ecosystem.
THE EYDK represented Türkiye at the AVPN Conference focusing on building the Asian impact investing ecosystem.
Attending the impact conference in Bangladesh, meeting the Nobel Prize Laureate Muhammad Yunus, the founder of Grameen Bank,
Scaling the “Sustainable Future Talks with Entrepreneurs” (SFTE) series with the second edition being attended by four funds and 17 entrepreneurs, also including an SDG-alignment workshop with the courtesy of Etkiyap,
Launching a new online series titled “EYDK Discovers”, first edition focusing on waste management and circular economy, with the support of Bursa Technical University, Garanti BBVA, and three impact startups,
Organising a panel based on the “Sustainable Future Talks with Entrepreneurs” (SFTE) at the Turkish pavilion in COP27,
Launching the “Joint Forces for Impact Investing” report in coordination with GSG, and in partnership with the impact leaders of Mexico, Indonesia, Korea, and Australia, within the context of a MIKTA side event,
Taking part in two commissions of Türkiye’s 12th Development Plan.
Launching the “The Potential of Urban Healing and Advancement in Türkiye: Through the Lens of Impact Investing” report for promoting place-based impact investing.
Signing the “Sunshine of Şanlıurfa” project contract within the context of ENHANCER (a European Union grant project run by ICMPD and supported by the General Directorate of Development Agencies, the Ministry of Industry and Technology). EYDK partners with Türkiye Grameen Microfinance Program.
The Global SDG Impact Standards Train-the-Trainer was held in Istanbul on February 13-15, 2023. Organized by EYDK under the coordination of Etkiyap and hosted by Sabancı Arf Almost Ready to Fly, the accreditation training program was conducted by two competent trainers from UNDP SDG Impact and Social Value International. The program aimed to provide accreditation for 17 international experts to become educators of SDG Impact Standards.

On March 23, the Impact Investing Advisory Board (EYDK) organsed the “Resilient Cities of the Future Workshop” in partnership with Habitat Association and Harvard Business Review Turkiye. The workshop aimed to discuss steps towards creating positive impacts from social, environmental, and economic perspectives and to support sustainable development and urban resilience inclusively. Experts explored planning, project development, management, and financing within the framework of EYDK’s “Urban Healing and Advancement Report”.
EYDK is committed to sharing the knowledge and experience gained through ecosystem building with our stakeholders at the national and international levels. On March 26th, the President of EYDK, Şafak Müderrisgil, participated in a workshop organized by the Jordan Impact Investment Taskforce in Amman.