Turkey joins the global impact investing movement

Turkey is the latest National Advisory Board to join The Global Steering Group for Impact Investment (GSG), through the creation of the Impact Investing Advisory Board (EYDK). The body brings together 38 leading public, private, and non-profit sector institutions around the vision of making impact investing a mainstream, sustainable, and inclusive choice for investors across the country.

The GSG is an independent organisation that is catalysing impact investment and entrepreneurship to benefit people and the planet. Covering 35 countries through its 30 national and regional advisory boards, GSG brings together leaders from finance, business, philanthropy and governments to drive a shift towards impact economies.

Impact investing is focusing on generating positive, measurable social and environmental impact while targeting financial returns. With $2.3 trillion worth of assets under management according to the IFC, the global impact investing market is gaining momentum. EYDK’s core aim is to place Turkey on this map.

EYDK President Safak Muderrisgil commented: “Already in EYDK’s first year, the readiness and motivation of the key stakeholders have accelerated Turkey’s involvement in the global impact economy in this historic turning point and EYDK is accordingly working towards nurturing the local ecosystem.”

EYDK Secretary General Onur Ilhan added: “As an enabler, EYDK values advocacy on all fronts and supports interventions towards raising awareness, building capacity, spearheading policymaking, and forming a global business and knowledge network.”

Turkey’s commitment has been received positively by the GSG community. GSG CEO Cliff Prior said: “We are delighted to welcome the Turkey National Advisory Board into our growing impact community. This is a crucial time in the fight against climate change and global social challenges. EYDK will be a strong participant in the rapid development of a new investment future with impact transparency, and will help with the mobilisation of capital to places which need it most.“

Benefitting from Turkey’s status as a G20 country connecting two continents, the local impact investing ecosystem has the potential to become an important regional market entry point. On top of evidence-based themes, such as women’s empowerment, refugee livelihoods, the European Green Deal, green cities, and participation finance, EYDK also focuses on strategic angles such as Impact Measurement and Management (IMM) and aims to help nurture impact entrepreneurs and funds.

Civil society meets with impact investments

The “Impact Investment and Civil Society Conference” organized under the partnership of the Impact Investing Advisory Board (EYDK) within the scope of the “Civil Society Dialogue Program between Turkey and the EU” conducted by the Presidency of the European Union took place on March 29.

29 March 2022, İstanbul – The impact investment model, which focuses on generating financial returns by creating positive and measurable social and environmental benefits and reaching the level of 2.3 trillion dollars worldwide, was discussed with the participation of Turkey’s strongest civil society representatives. The “Impact Investment and Civil Society Conference”, organized in partnership with the Impact Investing Advisory Board (EYDK), within the scope of the “Civil Society Dialogue and Civil Society Support Programs Between Turkey and EU” Technical Assistance Project carried out by the European Union Presidency of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was held on March 29, 2022 with 60 participants.

Within the framework of the themes of entrepreneurial philanthropy, transparency and inclusiveness, impact measurement and management, a ground was created at the conference where stakeholders could establish new business partnerships and generate new ideas together. The opening speeches of the conference were made by Ahmet Hakan Atik, Head of the Project Implementation Department of the EU Presidency, Ahmet Şimşek, Deputy Director General of Development Agencies, Duygu Yardım, Expert on European Union Affairs at the Project Implementation Department of the EU Presidency, and Dr. Onur Ilhan, Secretary General of EYDK. Dr. Onur Ilhan said: “In order to place the concept of entrepreneurial philanthropy in our country, it is necessary to raise awareness and develop a common language first”.

Project Implementation Department Head Ahmet Hakan Atik in his opening speech; emphasized the importance given by the EU Presidency, which is the leading institution of the Civil Society Sector, which implements one of the most rooted grant programs for civil society, to the planning and evaluation of supports and projects for civil society with an impact perspective.

The “Horizon Tour with Success Stories” panel took place

Within the scope of the conference; A “Horizon Tour with Success Stories” panel was held, in which the concrete processes of impact investment and the place of non-governmental organizations in the impact ecosystem were discussed. EYDK Secretary General Dr. Among the speakers of the panel, moderated by Onur İlhan, were Halil Fatih Akgül, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Turkish Foundation for Waste Prevention (TİSVA), General Manager of the Turkish Entrepreneurship Foundation (GİRVAK), Mehru Aygül, and Founder and Member of the Board of Açık Açık Association İ. Renay Onur took part.

The transformative role of civil society in impact investments was discussed

In the second half of the conference, workshop sessions were held on “Entrepreneurial Philanthropy”, “Impact Measurement and Management” and “Transparency and Inclusion”. In the sessions, 32 different institutions presented their opinions and suggestions on the transformative role of civil society in impact investments.

The data collected at the conference will be a roadmap

The civil society working group, which will operate within the EYDK, will use the data collected during the conference to prepare an action-oriented report. The report to be prepared will be adopted as a roadmap and will ensure that actions are taken to strengthen the relationship between civil society and impact investments.

For more information:

Sezin Bulum, Marjinal Porter Novelli +90 533 282 2970 sezinb@marjinal.com.tr

EYDK (Impact Investment Advisory Board) is founded by 30 leading institutions with the aim of making impact investing a mainstream investing model in Turkey while establishing international partnerships, models and projects in impact investing. EYDK’s top priority is enabling the realisation of the necessary regulations for impact investing, creating a transparent and inclusive ecosystem, raising awareness and competence, and designing a national framework for impact measurement and management. https://www.eydk.org/about-eydk/

British pioneers share wisdom on impact investing
with Turkish peers

Mobilizing private capital is crucial to achieve a sustainable future,
say experts at online forum organized by UNDP and EYDK

24 March 2022, İstanbul – British pioneers in social investment shared their experiences with leaders of Turkish finance, industry and trade at an online panel discussion organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in cooperation with Turkey’s Impact Investment Advisory Board (EYDK). Funded by the UK Prosperity Fund, the session is part of a four-year global initiative by UNDP to channel US$1 trillion in fresh funding into the environmental and social targets embodied in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The keynote speaker at the event was Sir Ronald Mourad Cohen, Chair of the Global Social Impact Investment Steering Group (GSG) and the Portland Trust. In 1972, Cohen founded Apax Partners, a pioneering British venture capital firm. He chaired the Social Impact Investment Taskforce established under the UK’s presidency of the G8 (2013-2015). More recently, Cohen has been spearheading the UK social investment movement, aiming to combine financial returns with tangible social and environmental progress.

“Impact investment has now become a mainstream subject everywhere, because government leaders and others realize that without bringing private capital to achieve the social priorities and environmental objective of governments, it’s very difficult to fund the efforts to meet challenges,” said Sir Ronald Mourad Cohen, Chair of the Global Social Impact Investment Steering Group (GSG) in his keynote speech. “We can begin to innovate in ways to attract the privet capital. It can come in the form of social impact bonds or development impact bonds, it can come through the creation of outcome funds to pay for the results achieved by these bonds, it can come through impact private equity and impact venture capital and now it’s coming 3 trillion dollars’ worth of a sustainability linked bonds. All of these tools are available to tackle the big social challenges that faces. I hope your panel will show the way forward to using them at scale”.

“Impact investing is a crucial tool to close the gap between the ambitious targets of the SDGs and the financial resources the world has available to pursue them,” said UNDP Resident Representative Louisa Vinton in opening the event. “If we don’t manage to engage private capital in achieving the SDGs, we won’t stand a chance of protecting our planet and its people.”

Other speakers included Kutlu Karavelioğlu, Deputy Chairman of Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM); Serkan Valandova, Secretary General of the International Investors Association (YASED); Cliff Prior, CEO of the Global Steering Group for Impact Investment; Adam Richards, Director of Impact in Social Value International (SVI); Ahmet Cüneyt Selçuk, Financial Investment Manager of the Investment Office of the Turkish Presidency; Şafak Müderrisgil, President of EYDK,  Jamie Banks, from the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office; and Fabienne Michaux, Director of UNDP’s SDG Impact programme.

The event was designed to share British and Turkish experience and know-how in channeling private investment funding into ventures that deliver better solutions for people and the planet. Topics of discussion included measuring investment impact, setting global standards and raising investor awareness. Participants were also briefed on the work of the Global Steering Group for Impact Investment and the G7 Impact Taskforce co-led by the UK and Global Steering Group for Impact Investment (GSG).

For more information:

Sezin Bulum, Marjinal Porter Novelli +90 533 282 2970 sezinb@marjinal.com.tr

Deniz Şilliler Tapan, UNDP Turkey, deniz.tapan@undp.org

 

UNDP partners with people at all levels of society to help build nations that can withstand crisis, and drive and sustain the kind of growth that improves the quality of life for everyone. On the ground in 177 countries and territories, we offer global perspective and local insight to help empower lives and build resilient nations. For more information, see: tr.undp.org

EYDK (Impact Investment Advisory Board) is founded by 30 leading institutions with the aim of making impact investing a mainstream investing model in Turkey while establishing international partnerships, models and projects in impact investing. EYDK’s top priority is enabling the realisation of the necessary regulations for impact investing, creating a transparent and inclusive ecosystem, raising awareness and competence, and designing a national framework for impact measurement and management. https://www.eydk.org/about-eydk/

 New digital platform promotes investments
for people and planet in Turkey

Launched with UNDP support, “SDG Investments Turkey” shows investors how to ensure their funds contribute to sustainable development

Istanbul, 3 February 2022 – A new digital platform launched today will guide investors to initiatives in Turkey that deliver measurable progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and created by the Impact Investing Advisory Board (EYDK), “SDG Investments Turkey,” aims to mobilize private sector funds for impact investments aimed at protecting people and planet. Designed as a one-stop-shop for investors, entrepreneurs and funders, the new platform provides unified standards, tools, services and best practices to identify SDG investment opportunities in Turkey.

“Without the engagement of the private sector, we stand no chance of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals,” said UNDP Turkey Resident Representative Louisa Vinton. “That is why we are so pleased to be launching this new platform, which will provide guideposts for investors looking to help to protect our planet and people’s wellbeing while securing a good return.”

“The private sector plays an important role in achieving the sustainable development agenda in Turkey” said Şafak Müderrisgil, President of EYDK”. “The SDG Investments Turkey Platform will provide investors with investment opportunities based on impact data and standards, share audited success stories, and raise awareness on SDG-aligned impact investments. We believe that this platform, which aims to mobilize private sector, will also shed light on the importance of impact measurement and management, and will be a reference point for raising awareness against impact washing. We will see that SDG-anchored impact investment will be incrementally increasing and more success stories will be created through this platform.”

“SDG Investment Turkey” showcases promising areas for SDG-centered investment in Turkey and lists specific investments with high SDG impact. Prospective investors will find investment-related information on regions, sectors, expected impact, indicative return, market timeframe, investment timeframe and ticket size. Among the sectors profiled are: consumer goods, education, mineral processing, finance, food and beverages, healthcare, infrastructure, renewable resources, resource transformation, services, transportation, technology and communications.

The investment opportunity areas and SDG investment list were developed in line with the SDG Investor Map for Turkey, which was created by UNDP Turkey with technical assistance from UNDP’s Istanbul International Center for the Private Sector in Development (IICPSD).

The platform also features stories of successful SDG impact investments in Turkey and contains a knowledge repository on impact investing that includes extensive training materials available free of charge. The training content in the platform is created in cooperation with IICPSD.

The target audience for the platform includes investors that wish to invest capital to achieve the SDGs, foundations that would like to measure the impact towards SDGs, private capital funds, bond issuers and enterprises that wish to adapt their internal decision-making mechanisms with SDGs to verify contributions and obtain independent assurance.

The platform is also expected to benefit academicians who would like to receive impact management and measurement training to improve the decision framework for SDG impact standards, consulting companies that wish to act as accredited independent assurance providers, development financing institutions that aim to find partners to support local investment opportunities or SDG-related projects, and public institutions that wish to attract private investment to their countries to help development of their societies.

EYDK was founded to develop an impact investing model and create a well-functioning impact investing ecosystem in Turkey. With UNDP as a partner, EYDK aims to bring together all stakeholders to make impact investing a mainstream investment model in Turkey.

To access the SDG Investments Turkey platform: https://sdg.eydk.org/

For more information:

Sezin Bulum (Ms.), Marjinal Porter Novelli +90 533 282 2970  sezinb@marjinal.com.tr

Bahar Paykoç, UNDP Turkey, bahar.paykoc@undp.org

UNDP partners with people at all levels of society to help build nations that can withstand crisis, and drive and sustain the kind of growth that improves the quality of life for everyone. On the ground in 177 countries and territories, we offer global perspective and local insight to help empower lives and build resilient nations. tr.undp.org

EYDK

Impact Investing Advisory Board (EYDK) aims to facilitate the development of impact investments and establish a well-functioning ecosystem in Turkey, and has a vision to make the impact investment model a widespread, sustainable and inclusive investment option in Turkey. https://www.eydk.org/about-eydk/

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More resources: About Us | UNDP Turkey News | Publications | All Projects

“Unity is Strength” Report announced:
EYDK’s 2022 action plan has been drawn up

The report titled “Unity is Strength” was prepared in line with the outputs of the Search Conference held on October 20, 2021 by the Impact Investment Advisory Board (EYDK) with the support of YASED and PwC.
EYDK Secretary General Onur İlhan stated in the report that in addition to the European Green Deal, women’s empowerment and the livelihood opportunities for refugees, green cities and participation finance also stand out as strategic themes.

Having been announced in an online event held on January 26, the report set forth the focus areas and themes of EYDK which is positioned as the national supreme board in impact investments that aim to provide financial returns by creating a positive, measurable social and environmental impact and reach the level of 2,3 trillion dollars on a global scale. Within the scope of these findings, the mission and duties of the EYDK working groups were conveyed.

At the online search conference organized by the Impact Investment Advisory Board (EYDK) with the support of YASED and PwC on October 20, thirty one leading speakers shared their views in four thematic sessions. As a result of the opinions, the roles of EYDK were confirmed as raising awareness and developing a common language, supporting the establishment of a national impact ecosystem, supporting and guiding policy dialogue and national goals, establishing strong partnerships with local and global business and knowledge networks, and ensuring the development of national impact measurement and management capacity.

Expected perspectives from EYDK

Additional perspectives that EYDK is expected to have in a way that will reinforce its existing perspectives of capacity building, awareness raising, establishing impact partnerships, supporting the national ecosystem and policy makers are stated to be as follows: assuming an active, central and guiding position in policy dialogue, supporting impact entrepreneurs and impact funds, and carrying out more comprehensive studies in the field of impact measurement and management for sustainable impact capital flow.

In addition to the existing European Green Deal, women’s empowerment and livelihood opportunities for refugees, EYDK was requested to take an active role in green cities and finance themes and develop collaborations and projects within the scope of Istanbul Financial Centre.

In the context of the demands, EYDK’s focus groups, job descriptions and 2022 action plan proposals were announced in the report. The focus groups are as follows: Impact Partnerships Focus Group, Sustainable Development and Policy Focus Group, Capacity Building Focus Group, Corporate Communication Focus Group.

The first meeting of the focus groups is in February.

EYDK Secretary General Onur İlhan: “The descriptions of main roles of EYDK in the search conference were finalized as raising awareness, strengthening the impact economy by supporting all stakeholders, supporting the creation of human resources, establishing local and global partnerships and actively managing policy dialogue. In addition to the European Green Deal, women’s empowerment and  livelihood opportunities for refugees, green cities and participation finance also emerged as strategic themes. Our four focus groups, which will assume these roles and themes and produce results, will hold their first meeting in February.”

“The report will guide the development of impact investing”

YASED Secretary General Serkan Valandova stated: “As YASED, we follow our sustainability and ESG agenda through the work we carry out with all our valuable members and stakeholders within the scope of our Sustainable Development Platform. One of the most important goals of our platform is to increase impact investments in order to make faster and more concrete progress towards sustainable development goals. As the most important organization serving this purpose, we are aware of the critical importance of the mission undertaken by EYDK, and therefore, we aim to contribute to the healthy development of our country’s impact investing ecosystem and to the spread of impact investments by actively participating in the EYDK. We are confident that it will successfully guide our joint efforts to develop the We would like to point out.”

“The development of impact investments depends on the growth of the impact ecosystem”

Akif Koca, PwC Government and Public Services Advisory Leader, said: “Impact investing provides an important opportunity for private equity to bring innovative solutions to socioeconomic problems. As sustainable models that provide financial and social benefits together increase, the interest in this field grows with it. Further development of impact investments will depend on the growth of the impact ecosystem and the dissemination of successful models.”

Another important step has been taken for Turkey with the search conference themed “Strength in the Unity” 

Founded by leading organizations to elevate Turkey to the global industrial platform of impact investment, EYDK-Impact Investment Advisory Board collaborated with YASED and PwC to organize a search conference themed “Strength in Unity”. Thus, another important step has been taken to include Turkey in the world of global impact investments whose volume has reached 2.3 trillion dollars.

Adopting a data-based, transparent and inclusive approach, the Impact Investment Advisory Board (EYDK) aims to bring together the wide network of participants in the impact investment ecosystem with the search conference they held with the support of YASED and PwC.  EYDK also seeks to expand on the insights and propositions presented about the working groups in its report titled “EYDK as a Catalyser”.

In the report, Impact Partnership Working Group that will make Turkey the center of impact investing in the region and build a global business and information network, Sustainable Development and Policy Working Group based on Turkey’s national interests and potential, Capacity Building Working Group that will increase technical knowledge level especially impact measurement and management field and Corporate Communications Working Group that will direct international awareness studies are identified.

“We aimed to elaborate the insights by discussing”

Making a statement about the search conference, Şafak Müderrisgil, President of EYDK commented, “The field of impact investing aims to generate financial gain by putting the positive and measurable social and environmental impact at the center of investments and impact investment activities started in Turkey in April 2019. The two reports published by UNDP in November 2019 and March 2021 and the establishment of EYDK by leading public and private sector institutions and non-profit organizations in April 2021, and the publication of the ‘EYDK as an Enabler’ report in September 2021 have become two important milestones. With the search conference titled “Strength in Unity” that we organized with the cooperation of YASED and PwC, we aimed to elaborate on the action plan proposed within the report we published and the insights created for the working groups, by discussing with a wide network of participants.”

Louisa Vinton, Resident Representative of UNDP Turkey and keynote speaker at the conference said “With global funding needs estimated at up to USD 7 trillion per year, the sweeping ambition of the Sustainable Development Goals to end poverty, eliminate hunger, reduce inequality and fight climate change has spurred worries that there is simply not enough money available to achieve them. Fortunately, impact investing offers one way to close the gap, and UNDP is helping the private sector in Turkey to identify investments that can generate returns while delivering measurable progress in protecting the planet and improving people’s lives.”

“The interpretations of the conference will be shared with the public”

Stating that impact investing is a new concept not only for Turkey but also for the world, Müderrisgil said, “Together, we will seek answers to the questions such as ‘How Turkey will position itself in the global impact investment environment which has reached a volume of 2.3 trillion dollars’, ‘How it will determine its strategies and policies, which sectors it will prioritize’, and ‘In which areas it will develop capacity, and how it will operate national and international cooperation mechanisms’. The search conference, together with representatives of our 34 member institutions from the public and private industries as well as non-profit organizations, will also lend an ear to other key stakeholders in the impact investing ecosystem. Since this conference will also allow us to collect data, I would also like to announce that the interpretations and results of the conference will be compiled into a report and shared with the public.”

Turkey’s national priorities will be supported in line with the impact investment

Founded by leading institutions that came together to bring Turkey to the world stage in the field of impact investing, the Impact Investing Advisory Board (EYDK) announced the report titled “EYDK as an Catalyser” in the online meeting held on Tuesday, September 28. The report includes the Sustainable Development Goals, the basic principles of impact investing and the opportunities that await Turkey in this new field. It also underlines the importance of acting in harmony with Turkey’s national priorities and being able to direct these priorities from the EYDK’s perspective.

Placing positive, measurable social and environmental impact at the centre of investments and financial gain impact investing has reached 2.3 trillion dollars globally. Impact Investment Advisory Board (EYDK) representing Turkey in this emerging field has published its first report.

The report titled “EYDK as an Catalyser” builds on previous national reports, the EYDK survey completed in June 2021, and the comprehensive roundtables held in August. In the report, a data-driven, transparent and inclusive approach has been adopted. The report outlines that four potential working groups have been identified to implement EYDK’s action plan: Sustainable Development and Policy, Institutional Communication, Impact Partnerships and Capacity Building.

Making a statement regarding the report, Şafak Müderrisgil, President of EYDK, said, “This first report represents a new stage in the work carried out since April 2019 by public and private sector leaders and non-profit organizations to popularize the impact investment model in Turkey.” She emphasized the importance of revealing the strategic priorities and the themes of working groups as well.

Onur İlhan, Secretary General of EYDK, said, “These working groups will also focus on the European Green Deal, women’s empowerment and the livelihoods of asylum seekers in addition to the Board’s main objectives of such as supporting national priorities and guiding them from the perspective of its impact, participating in international business and information networks, raising local competence and awareness.”

To view the report, please click: https://docs.google.com/viewerng/viewer?url=https://www.eydk.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/RAPOR-1.pdf