CO-HOSTING ORGANIZATIONS
UNDP
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) works in more than 170 countries and territories, helping to achieve the eradication of poverty, and the reduction of inequalities and exclusion. For more than 50 years the UNDP has worked in close partnership with the Government of Turkey and numerous national and international institutions, including NGOs, academics and the business community. UNDP co-leads the Refugee and Resilience Response Plan to the Syria Crisis (3RP) at regional level and in Turkey.
UNHCR
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), UN Refugee Agency, is a global organization dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights and building a better future for refugees, forcibly displaced communities and stateless people. Since 1960, UNHCR has been working in close cooperation with Turkey on asylum and refugee issues. UNHCR facilitated the development and adoption of the Global Compact on Refugees and is playing a catalytic and support role in its implementation, notably through the upcoming Global Refugee Forum. UNHCR’s Turkey operation is one of its largest operations globally, and UNHCR co-leads the 3RP in Turkey and in the Region.
IOM
The International Organization for Migration (IOM), UN Migration Agency, is the leading inter-governmental organization in the field of migration and works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners. IOM works to help ensure the orderly and humane management of migration, to promote international cooperation on migration issues, to assist in the search for practical solutions to migration problems and to provide humanitarian assistance to migrants in need, including refugees and internally displaced people. IOM provided technical support and expertise to the development of the Global Compact for Migration and serves as the coordinator and secretariat of the UN Migration Network. With over 25 years operational experience in Turkey, IOM Mission in Turkey is now one of the largest globally.
Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality
Gaziantep is an economic center for Southeastern and Eastern Turkey, with the largest organized industrial area in Turkey and holds first position in exports and imports. Gaziantep also has a developing tourist industry, is one of the leading producers of machined carpets in the world, as well as one of the important agricultural centers of Turkey with its extensive olive groves, vineyards, and pistachio orchards. In addition, the Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality is among the leading Turkish municipalities in hosting 500,000 Syrians, while Ms Fatma Şahin, the Mayor of Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality, is the president of the Union of Turkish Municipalities, the Vice-President of United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) and the President of United Cities and Local Governments Middle East and West Asia Section (UCLG-MEWA).
UCLG-MEWA
United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) is a world organization dedicated to promoting the values, objectives and interests of local and regional governments across the globe. It is the largest local government organization in the world, with a diverse network of members that include both individual cities and national associations of local governments. UCLG Middle East and West Asia Section (UCLG-MEWA) is one of the nine sections of UCLG World Organization
WALD
Founded in 1993, World Academy for Local Government and Democracy (WALD) is a non-governmental organization which aims to re-observe, continuously discuss and develop principles that local governments are based on. WALD believes that democratic local governments are the main institutions which will ensure the settlement and the survival of democracy and human rights. With this belief, WALD contributes to the democratization process and faster development of society by supporting projects and offering solutions to the issues in the fields of human rights, democracy, education, health, sustainable development and culture. WALD has been particularly active in facilitating refugees’ access to assistance services, notably in Istanbul.
TBB
Union of Municipalities of Turkey (TBB) was established in 1945 to support the empowerment of local governments and their effective service provision, to safeguard their rights and interests, to strive for the strengthening of local democracy, to introduce them to recent developments and innovations at the global level, and to represent them in national and international platforms. The Union, among other things, organizes training programs for mayors, council members and municipal personnel, represents municipalities in international and national platforms, provides municipalities with assistance and guidance to support their improvement, and encourages exchange of experience. 252 Metropolitan, Provincial and Town Municipalities are part of the Union which is presided by the Mayor of Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality, Fatma Şahin.
