Category: Events

“Overcoming Barriers Workshop” Was Successfully Concluded!

As part of our project “Empowering Disabled Women and Girls through Sports and Livelihood Opportunities,” we successfully organised the “Overcoming Barriers Workshop” in collaboration with Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality (GBB) and the GBB Engelsiz Yaşam Merkezi.

The workshop, which began with opening speeches, brought together 77 participants, primarily academics.

Six thematic committees were formed to address key issues:

  • Challenges faced by individuals with disabilities and their families
  • Social, cultural, employment, and sports opportunities for women with disabilities
  • Education, rehabilitation, and support mechanisms for children with disabilities
  • Social security, in-kind, and financial assistance for people with disabilities
  • Accessibility and support services provided by local governments
  • Medical reports and healthcare services related to disabilities

The workshop concluded with the presentation of key outcomes by the committees, followed by a closing speech from Fatma Şahin, Mayor of Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality. Together, we took concrete steps towards breaking down barriers and fostering empowerment!

 

EYDK Chair Şafak Müderrisgil Joined the “Invest in Türkiye Talks” Podcast Series!

EYDK Chair Şafak Müderrisgil joined the “Invest in Türkiye Talks” podcast series, prepared by the Investment Office of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye!

In this episode, Şafak Müderrisgil discusses a range of topics, from launching Türkiye’s first social impact bond to strengthening the sustainable finance ecosystem. Her visionary approach, which transforms investment into a powerful tool for social and environmental change, is shared with listeners.

To listen click here:

🟢 Spotify
🟣 Apple Podcasts
🔴 YouTube

Kicking Off 2025: First Meeting of the Year!

We came together with our members to strengthen Türkiye’s impact investing ecosystem and reinforce our shared vision.

Highlights from our meeting:
✅ Insights from GSG Impact & global impact investing updates
✅ Presentation of EYDK’s 2025 Action Plan & sector priorities
✅ A warm welcome to our new members
✅ Review of key ecosystem reports

At EYDK, we remain committed to driving the growth of impact investing in Türkiye with the support of all our stakeholders. 🌍✨

Empowering Disabled Women and Girls through Sports!

As EYDK and Etkiyap Consortium, we proudly hosted unforgettable sports matches at the Gaziantep Büyükşehir Belediyesi Engelsiz Yaşam Merkezi as part of the “Empowering Disabled Women and Girls through Sports and Livelihood Opportunities” project. This initiative aligns with the UNESCO Fit for Life program and is supported by the British Embassy Bilateral Program.

On December 18-19, inspiring sports matches were organised with the participation of teams from various disciplines to spark interest in sports and inspire women and girls:

🏀Gazişehir Gaziantep Sports Club Wheelchair Basketball Team

🤾‍♀️Hammerjack Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality Women’s Handball Team

🤾‍♀️Osmaniye Arena Handball Team

🏐Merinos Women’s Volleyball Team

A heartfelt thank you to all the teams and audiences who joined us. Together, we experienced the power of unity and solidarity in an event where sports broke all barriers!

“Changing the Game”: The First Session of the Sustainability Reporting Training Program Took Place!

As EYDK, the first session of our training program, organised under the collaboration protocol we signed with POA to promote the implementation of International Sustainability Standards (ISSB) in Türkiye, was held on December 12-13, 2024. Program implemented through the invaluable contributions of trainers from our education partners, Etkiyap and Sachi Sustainability Consultancy, and with the participation of EYDK member organisations.

Module 1-The Process of Change: Focused on the transition from ESG to impact-driven reporting, offering an introduction to global sustainability standards with an emphasis on various forms of capital.
Module 2-Sustainability Reporting Standards: Explored the “5W1H” approach to sustainability reporting, addressing evolving reporting standards and strategies for aligning with global frameworks.
Module 3-Case Analysis: Scheduled for 2025, this module will provide participants the opportunity to translate theoretical knowledge into practical application.

Şafak Müderrisgil Participated in Turkish Capital Markets Summit 2024!

On December 10, 2024, at the Turkish Capital Markets Association event, EYDK Chair Şafak Müderrisgil, participated as a speaker in the panel titled “​​Circular Economy and Finance: Investments Shaping the Future”

In her speech, she addressed the importance of impact investing, one of the key components of sustainable finance, and the role of impact investments shaping the future within the fields of circular economy and finance.

In this panel, Şafak Müderrisgil provided a detailed evaluation of the developments in the global and Türkiye impact investing markets, the data-driven studies conducted, and the strategic significance of Türkiye’s potential for impact investing in the context of the circular economy and green transformation.

The “Green Risks and Social Risks in the Context of Climate Change” Panel Successfully Concludes at COP29!

Between 11-22 November 2024, the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was held in Baku, Azerbaijan, under the theme “In Solidarity for a Greener World”. On the 5th day of the conference, during the thematic day “Energy/Peace, Relief and Recovery Green Risks” Impact Investing Advisory Board (EYDK) hosted a panel titled “Green Risks and Social Risks in the Context of Climate Change” at the Türkiye Pavilion.

The panel, organised by EYDK, was moderated by Hale Özsoy, EYDK Executive Board Member and Director at Turkven, and featured distinguished speakers, including Wiebke Schloemer, Director for Türkiye and Central Asia at the International Finance Corporation (IFC); Fezal Okur Eskil, Chief Strategy, Business Development and M&A at Yıldız Holding; and Çağla Eker Altınkulp, Head of Climate Change and Sustainability Management at Industrial Development Bank of Türkiye (TSKB). The panel focused on the causes and impacts of green and social risks, their interconnections, and solutions to enhance the resilience of societies and institutions in this context.

Click Here to Access the Press Release.

Inspiring Speech by Şafak Müderrisgil on “Impact and Assurance” at the International 28th Türkiye Internal Audit Congress!

At the International 28th Turkish Internal Audit Congress, organized by the Institute of Internal Auditing – Turkey (TİDE), Chair of EYDK Şafak Müderrisgil addressed the theme of “Impact and Assurance” in the session titled “Impact and Assurance in the ESG Journey: Aligning with Current Standards and Practices”

Leading his speech with the question, “How can an institution be resilient without internal auditing?”, Müderrisgil emphasized that monitoring and measuring impact are key to ensuring trust and a strong governance culture.

During the session, the importance of effective internal auditing in contributing to the sustainability and reliability of organizations was highlighted, along with discussions on the relationship between impact and assurance in audit processes.

Looking to the Future with Şafak Müderrisgil at the 17th İstanbul Apparel Conference of the Turkish Clothing Manufacturers’ Association!

EYDK Chair Şafak Müderrisgil met with the ready-to-wear ecosystem at the Turkish Clothing Manufacturers’ Association (TGSD) 17th Apparel Conference at Çırağan Palace.

In a panel moderated by Sanem Dikmen, the future of ready-to-wear was approached from an impact perspective. Müderrisgil emphasized the importance of innovations and sustainable practices in the sector.

The significance of creating impact and sustainability will shape the future of this dynamic industry!

EYDK Accelerates Transformation in the Business World: SDG Impact Standards Trainings Continue with the Third Session!

The Impact Investment Advisory Board (EYDK) continues its training programs with the mission of accelerating transformation in the business world by integrating Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Impact Standards into managerial processes. Within this framework, EYDK held the third SDG Impact Standards Training with trainers from its member organizations, Etkiyap and Sachi Consulting, hosted by the Türkiye Sınai Kalkınma Bankası (TSKB) in Istanbul from October 9-11, 2024.

As of 2024, EYDK has launched “SDG Impact Standards Training” for its members. The training process began with an introductory session for C-Level executives on February 13, 2024, followed by training programs held in Ankara and Istanbul. The third session, held from October 9-11 and lasting a total of 2.5 days, brought together experts from the private and public sectors, focusing on the management of environmental and social impact in the business world and leading the adoption of these standards as a working model in Türkiye.

Click Here to Access the Press Release.