Category: Events

Rt Hon Nick Hurd’s Türkiye Programme Continued with the Zero Waste Foundation on Its Second Day.

On the second day of the Türkiye programme of Rt Hon Nick Hurd, Chair of GSG Impact, our engagements continued with the Zero Waste Foundation.

Rt Hon Nick Hurd, Chair of GSG Impact; Şafak Müderrisgil, Chair of EYDK; and Tuğçe Söğüt, Secretary General of EYDK, met with Samed Ağırbaş, President of the Zero Waste Foundation and COP31 High-Level Climate Champion, and his team.

The meeting focused on the potential contributions of GSG Impact and EYDK at both national and international levels in the COP31 process, particularly in relation to climate finance, private capital mobilisation and the development of investable project pipelines.

Drawing on GSG Impact’s global experience through its National Partners across different countries, the growing climate resilience finance agenda strengthened by international platforms, and EYDK’s ecosystem-convening role in Türkiye, the meeting explored concrete areas of collaboration from an impact investing perspective.

Istanbul Meetings with Rt Hon Nick Hurd, Chair of GSG Impact, Focusing on Impact Investing and Climate Finance!

On 6–7 May, we held a series of high-level meetings in Istanbul with Rt Hon Nick Hurd, Chair of GSG Impact, focusing on impact investing and climate finance.

On the first day of the visit, Nick Hurd met with Şafak Müderrisgil, Chair of EYDK; Tuğçe Söğüt, Secretary General of EYDK; Poyraz Koğacıoğlu, Executive Vice President of TSKB; and Özgür Temel, General Manager of Maxis.

The meeting focused on Türkiye’s impact investing ecosystem and financing instruments, with particular emphasis on the Türkiye Green Fund –a first-of-its-kind initiative in Türkiye and globally, financed through a loan.

Following the meetings, a dinner was held with the participation of representatives from İşbank, İş Asset, Maxis and Boğaziçi Ventures, together with the British Consul General to Istanbul. The discussion focused on how private capital can be mobilised for adaptation and resilience investments in the context of COP31.

Marmara Impacthon: A Sustainability & Impact Ideathon Leading up to COP31

As EYDK, we took part among the jury members at Marmara Impacthon, contributing to the evaluation of ideas through an impact-oriented lens.

Organised under the leadership of Marmara University STKAM and held on 18–19 April 2026 at Göztepe Campus GençOfis, Marmara Impacthon was an inspiring marathon supporting impact-driven green ideas.

Innovative ideas developed across areas such as food, energy, water, textiles, transportation, waste management, and the circular economy were strengthened through a mentorship process before being presented to the jury. Impacthon evolved into a dynamic space where ideas transformed into tangible solutions and impact-oriented thinking was actively experienced.

We believe that such platforms play a key role in expanding impact-oriented thinking and empowering young people to take an active role in this field.

New Perspectives in Impact Accounting

At the “True & Fair” Guide Roundtable organized by Social Value Türkiye, Tuğçe Söğüt, Secretary General of EYDK along with Ayşe Arıak Tunaboylu and Ceyda Özgün, Technical Committee Members of EYDK took part in the discussion.

The “True & Fair” Guide aims to make not only companies’ financial data but also their social and environmental impacts visible, offering a more transparent and holistic reporting approach.

During the meeting, discussions focused on:

  • Technical terms used in the guide and their meanings in Turkish literature
  • Potential implementation challenges within Türkiye’s reporting ecosystem
  • Strategic solutions to enhance transparency and accountability

EYDK also shared insights on the upcoming Impact Accounting Pilot planned to be implemented in Türkiye.

Jeremy Nicholls’ new book, “The Accounting Paradox”, deepens the discussions around impact accounting and provides an important perspective for the development of the field.

ChangeNOW 2026!

In partnership with the Investment and Finance Office of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye, EYDK co-organised a panel at ChangeNOW Summit 2026 (March 30 – April 1) in Paris, sharing Türkiye’s evolving impact investing landscape with an international audience.

On the opening day, the panel “Mobilising Impact Capital: Türkiye as an Emerging Investment Hub” opened with remarks by Ahmet Cüneyt Selçuk, Advisor at CBYFO, and moderated by Tuğçe Söğüt, Secretary General of EYDK, brought together Şafak Müderrisgil, Chair of EYDK; Esen Altuğ, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Türkiye to the OECD; and Poyraz Koğacıoğlu, Executive Vice President at TSKB. The discussion explored how Türkiye’s sustainability vision is translating into investable opportunities, alongside the growth of the impact investing ecosystem, the mobilisation of capital for impact, and the role of innovative financing instruments.

As capital is increasingly directed with purpose, Türkiye continues to strengthen its position as an emerging hub for impact investment.

Reviewing Our 2026 Agenda with Our Members!

We were delighted to meet with our members to reflect on the latest developments in the impact investing ecosystem and to share our priorities for the year ahead.

The meeting provided an opportunity to review the work undertaken since the start of the year, as well as the key areas that will shape our focus in the coming months. Highlights included:

  • ChangeNOW Summit (EYDK & CBYFO)
  • Impact Accounting Pilot Programme
  • COP31 consultations and international collaboration
  • European Impact Investing Market Sizing
  • Impact Investing Glossary

By fostering dialogue, shared learning and collaboration, we continue to contribute to a stronger impact investing ecosystem in Türkiye.

COP31 Consultation Meeting | An Impact Economy Perspective for COP31

An Impact Economy Perspective for COP31

The COP31 Consultation Meeting held on 26 February 2026 provided an important opportunity to rethink Türkiye’s climate action through the lens of financing architecture.

As EYDK, we brought an impact economy perspective to the thematic sessions on Implementation Tools: Climate Finance, Technology and Capacity Building, Climate Change Adaptation, Youth and Climate Ambassadors. 🌱

During the meeting, as the National Partner of GSG Impact, we shared how EYDK can serve as a bridge by integrating global experience in ecosystem building and capital mobilisation–developed across different countries–with our work in Türkiye. 🌐

We consider it critical to strengthen the financing dimension of the climate agenda within the COP31 process and to advance outcome-based, accountable impact investing instruments.

The success of climate action depends on mobilising the right capital with the right instruments–and on ensuring that young people are actively integrated into decision-making processes. ♻️

Chair of EYDK and Trustee of GSG Impact Şafak Müderrisgil met with Mehmet Fatih Kacır, Minister of Industry and Technology of the Republic of Türkiye.

📍Chair of EYDK and Trustee of GSG Impact Şafak Müderrisgil met with Mehmet Fatih Kacır, Minister of Industry and Technology of the Republic of Türkiye.

During the meeting held on 25 February, discussions focused on the impact economy, which is gaining momentum globally and in Türkiye and becoming increasingly embedded in mainstream markets, as well as on potential areas of collaboration and future projects. The role of impact investing and impact-oriented policy tools in strengthening the alignment between development and industrial policies was also explored.

We believe that for the impact economy to deliver meaningful results, it must gain traction not only within the private sector but also across public policy, enabling more strategic use of resources and progress toward sustainable development goals.

We thank the Minister for his kind hospitality and valuable insights.

Strategic Dialogue Towards COP31

Şafak Müderrisgil, Chair of EYDK and Trustee of GSG Impact, convened with Samed Ağırbaş, President of the Zero Waste Foundation and COP31 High-Level Champion, for a strategic consultation on the evolving priorities of COP31.

As Türkiye prepares to host COP31, discussions focused on aligning global climate ambitions with actionable national pathways. EYDK and GSG Impact’s institutional experience from previous COP processes was shared, highlighting mechanisms that translate climate commitments into investment-ready opportunities.

The dialogue explored policy frameworks capable of generating measurable impact, strengthening climate action, advancing sustainable development, and fostering impact-driven partnerships across sectors.

At EYDK, we regard multi-stakeholder engagement as fundamental to climate-focused transformation and position impact investing as a strategic lever to mobilize private capital at scale.

EYDK and the Presidency Investment and Finance Office Reviewed the 2026 Impact Investing Agenda

Şafak Müderrisgil, Chair of EYDK and Trustee of GSG Impact held a meeting with Burak Dağlıoğlu, President of the Investment and Finance Office of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye.

During the meeting, priorities for 2026, strategic directions, and potential areas of collaboration were discussed. Since 2019, the Presidency Investment and Finance Office has played an active role in shaping Türkiye’s impact investing ecosystem supporting the implementation of related policies and practices, and aligning impact investment activities in Türkiye with international investors.