Turkey Social Entrepreneurship Network Conference convened online

"Turkey Social Entrepreneurship Network Conference: Building Bridges" took place on September 9-10 in digital format as part of Turkey Social Entrepreneurship Network project, an initiative led by Vehbi Koç Foundation and carried out in partnership with Koç University Social Impact Forum (KUSIF), Ashoka Foundation Turkey, Social Innovation Initiative Association (SIID), Association for Innovative Solutions in Sustainable Development (SKYÇD),TED University Istasyon TEDU, Mozaik Foundation (Bosnia-Herzegovina), and Social Enterprise UK.

The conference, which opened with speeches by Erdal Yıldırım, General Manager, Vehbi Koç Foundation, Ambassador Faruk Kaymakçı, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Director for EU Affairs, Bülent Özcan, Director, Financial Cooperation and Project Implementation, EU Affairs, and Gonca Ongan, PhD, Executive Director, Koç University Social Impact Forum (KUSIF), also hosted speakers from Turkey and other countries. The online conference addressed topics such as Ecosystem Development, Advocacy, Capacity Development, and Access to the Ecosystem, Developing Dialogues and Building Partnerships.

Erdal Yıldırım, General Manager, Vehbi Koç Foundation, said that the Foundation launched the Turkey Social Entrepreneurship Network project in 2018 as part of the Civil Society Sector Partnerships and Networks Grant Program with the support of European Union and the Turkish Central Finance and Contracts Unit. Erdal Yıldırım also noted that the project aims to contribute to the development of a social entrepreneurship ecosystem that will enhance the capacities of NGOs and activists, and promote stronger dialogue with public institutions. Erdal Yıldırım added that the consortium took several important steps in the last two years toward this purpose thanks to efforts of the strong project partners and participating partners across Turkey.

Ambassador Faruk Kaymakçı, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Director for EU Affairs, informed that the Civil Society Support Programs I and II have so far extended €10.4 million to support 79 projects in total, emphasizing that these efforts will continue to ensure that social entrepreneurship is better understood in Turkey, and to raise awareness in the civil society and relevant segments.

In his speech during the conference, Bülent Özcan, Director, Financial Cooperation and Project Implementation, EU Affairs, said that the directorate was established four years ago to support the civil society sector as part of the European Union grants extended to Turkey, and informed that it has been instrumental in securing funding amounting to €20 million through four different programs for 120 NGOs in an effort to strengthen the civil society in Turkey. Özcan added that Vehbi Koç Foundation and all project partners have built a massive infrastructure and that they will continue to work together for the same purpose in the times to come. Özcan also gave the good news about a new project in cooperation with UNDP to support the social entrepreneurship ecosystem in Turkey.

Gonca Ongan, PhD, Executive Director, Koç University Social Impact Forum (KUSIF), explained that the project was launched by drawing from the needs of social entrepreneurs in Turkey and those working in this field, and added that they published Turkey Social Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Case Analysis, which provided insights into the social entrepreneurship potential in Turkey. Ongan noted that they shared the findings of the study with nearly 500 public institutions, civil society activists and social entrepreneurs. Ongan also said that they continue bring together social ventures, individual and corporate contributors, and people interested in social entrepreneurship on the digital platform, which currently has 1,800 members.

During the conference, European Venture Philanthropy Association’s (EVPA) DACH regional manager and public private sector initiative leader Anja Koenig and Asian Venture Philanthropy Association's Europe Director Kurt Peleman talked about “How to Develop the Impact Investment Ecosystem”. Other speakers included environmental scientist and Ashoka senior fellow Uygar Özesmi, PhD on “Buying from Social Initiatives,” SocialValue UK and Social Value International CEO Ben Carpenter on “New Trends in Social Impact Management: Where is the World Headed?”, E-Bursum founder and computer scientist Mesut Keskin on “Public and Private Sector Partnership Developers,” and Açık Açık Association Chairman and İBB Spor İstanbul General Manager İ. Renay Onur on “The Public’s Role in Supporting Social Entrepreneurship”.

Find out more about the Turkey Social Entrepreneurship Network.

Click to access the Turkey Social Entrepreneurship Network’s digital portal.Turkey Social Entrepreneurship Network Conference: Building Bridges took place on September 9-10 in digital format as part of Turkey Social Entrepreneurship Network project, an initiative led by Vehbi Koç Foundation and carried out in partnership with Koç University Social Impact Forum (KUSIF), Ashoka Foundation Turkey, Social Innovation Initiative Association (SIID), Association for Innovative Solutions in Sustainable Development (SKYÇD),TED University Istasyon TEDU, Mozaik Foundation (Bosnia-Herzegovina), and Social Enterprise UK.

The conference, which opened with speeches by Erdal Yıldırım, General Manager, Vehbi Koç Foundation, Ambassador Faruk Kaymakçı, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Director for EU Affairs, Bülent Özcan, Director, Financial Cooperation and Project Implementation, EU Affairs, and Gonca Ongan, PhD, Executive Director, Koç University Social Impact Forum (KUSIF), also hosted speakers from Turkey and other countries. The online conference addressed topics such as Ecosystem Development, Advocacy, Capacity Development, and Access to the Ecosystem, Developing Dialogues and Building Partnerships.

Erdal Yıldırım, General Manager, Vehbi Koç Foundation, said that the Foundation launched the Turkey Social Entrepreneurship Network project in 2018 as part of the Civil Society Sector Partnerships and Networks Grant Program with the support of European Union and the Turkish Central Finance and Contracts Unit. Erdal Yıldırım also noted that the project aims to contribute to the development of a social entrepreneurship ecosystem that will enhance the capacities of NGOs and activists, and promote stronger dialogue with public institutions. Erdal Yıldırım added that the consortium took several important steps in the last two years toward this purpose thanks to efforts of the strong project partners and participating partners across Turkey.

Ambassador Faruk Kaymakçı, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Director for EU Affairs, informed that the Civil Society Support Programs I and II have so far extended €10.4 million to support 79 projects in total, emphasizing that these efforts will continue to ensure that social entrepreneurship is better understood in Turkey, and to raise awareness in the civil society and relevant segments.

In his speech during the conference, Bülent Özcan, Director, Financial Cooperation and Project Implementation, EU Affairs, said that the directorate was established four years ago to support the civil society sector as part of the European Union grants extended to Turkey, and informed that it has been instrumental in securing funding amounting to €20 million through four different programs for 120 NGOs in an effort to strengthen the civil society in Turkey. Özcan added that Vehbi Koç Foundation and all project partners have built a massive infrastructure and that they will continue to work together for the same purpose in the times to come. Özcan also gave the good news about a new project in cooperation with UNDP to support the social entrepreneurship ecosystem in Turkey.

Gonca Ongan, PhD, Executive Director, Koç University Social Impact Forum (KUSIF), explained that the project was launched by drawing from the needs of social entrepreneurs in Turkey and those working in this field, and added that they published Turkey Social Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Case Analysis, which provided insights into the social entrepreneurship potential in Turkey. Ongan noted that they shared the findings of the study with nearly 500 public institutions, civil society activists and social entrepreneurs. Ongan also said that they continue bring together social ventures, individual and corporate contributors, and people interested in social entrepreneurship on the digital platform, which currently has 1,800 members.

During the conference, European Venture Philanthropy Association’s (EVPA) DACH regional manager and public private sector initiative leader Anja Koenig and Asian Venture Philanthropy Association's Europe Director Kurt Peleman talked about “How to Develop the Impact Investment Ecosystem”. Other speakers included environmental scientist and Ashoka senior fellow Uygar Özesmi, PhD on “Buying from Social Initiatives,” SocialValue UK and Social Value International CEO Ben Carpenter on “New Trends in Social Impact Management: Where is the World Headed?”, E-Bursum founder and computer scientist Mesut Keskin on “Public and Private Sector Partnership Developers,” and Açık Açık Association Chairman and İBB Spor İstanbul General Manager İ. Renay Onur on “The Public’s Role in Supporting Social Entrepreneurship”.

Find out more about the Turkey Social Entrepreneurship Network.

Click to access the Turkey Social Entrepreneurship Network’s digital portal.