UNHCR and Livelihood Programmes in Turkey Damla Taskin Oslo,15 th November 2017
Current Challenges Desperation, no possible solution Difficult living conditions Lack of sufficient humanitarian funds Burden sharing
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Established on December 14, 1950 by the United Nations General Assembly. The agency is mandated to lead and co-ordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide.
Mission of UNHCR Strives to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another State, with the option to: return home voluntarily integrate locally resettle in a third country.
What does UNHCR do in Turkey? Provides technical support to the GoT and humanitarian aid to refugees in Turkey Cash, tents, heaters, winter support, education etc Resettlement Protection for access to rights Verification of all refugees
DISTRUBITION OF REGISTERED SYRIANS BY AGE AND GENDER 3% 3% 2% 1% 14% 0-4 5-9 6% 4% 3% 2%1% 3% 4% 15% 10-14 15-18 19-24 8% 6% 7% 14% 13% 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49 10% 9% FEMALE 14% 8% 11% 10% 50-54 55-59 60-64 65-69 70-74 9% 75-79 MALE 16% 80-84
250000 OTHER NATIONALITIES AGE BETWEEN 18-59 200000 150000 100000 50000 0 AFG IRQ IRN Others SOM Grand Total Females 25623 34397 10247 3099 1549 74915 Males 83285 48849 15768 4331 1513 153746 Total 108908 83246 26015 7431 3062 228662 Females Males Total
Approach What is Livelihoods? Livelihoods are activities that allow people to secure the basic necessities of life such as food, water, shelter and clothing. Livelihoods implies the transition from relief to self reliance. Income generation is key Wage employment or self employment
What is Livelihoods? Integration its true sense! You become a productive part of the society You are not a burden but contribution to the society Is it easy? Not exactly a walk in the park Requires dedication, collaboration and resources from many parties including Governments
Approach Refugees Entrepreneurs Micro Entrepreneurs Professionals (doctors, lawyers) Farmers Unskilled
Livelihoods Sector Priorities Enhanced capacities of national systems and increased cooperation Increase access to skills, language and vocational training according to market demands and individual interest Increase refugee access to information and services leading to employment Facilitate and strengthen access to enterprise start up and development opportunities as well as greater market access
Livelihoods Strategy Implementation Modalities Cooperation with the Public Institutions Cooperation with the Private Sector Skills Building Fostering Entrepreneurship ISKUR, MoLSS, MoCT, MoNE, VQA Governorates and municipalities
Operation in Turkey Market Assessment İzmir, Bursa,İstanbul Ankara, Kayseri Gaziantep, Hatay, Urfa, Adana, Mersin Value Chain Analysis Furniture Mechanics Automotive Agriculture Textile
Cooperation with GoT Ensuring inclusion in national systems for fair and equal service provision: MoLSS for work permits, advocacy MoCT for small businesses VQA for certification of skills, translation of Vocational Qualifications and standards MoNE for improvement of the capacity of PECs
Cooperation with GoT ISKUR Awareness raising Guide to employment in Turkey Training Programs Job Counsellors: Total 251-81 provinces, Legal Counsellors to be trained
Cooperation with GoT
Cooperation with GoT Registration of Refugees in ISKUR database Tools, equipment, staff Global Training Programme Refugees and Employment Summit May 2018 Implementation of Joint Programmes in 2018
Municipalities, Governors, Sub Governors Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Seyhan Adana Municipality Mardin Yesilli Sub Governor Izmir Governor Sanliurfa Harran Istanbul Sisli, Zeytinburnu Kucukcekmece
Vocational Training
Skills Building
Skills and Language Training
Collaboration with the Private Sector Companies Multinationals and their supply chains Turkish companies Chambers Organized Industrial Zones Business Associations
Questions asked Turkey Operation What is the biggest challenge currently with regards to the refugee phenomenon? Do you or your supply chain companies employ refugees? What is the way forward related to integration of refugees into the labour market?
Turkey Operation What did we learn? Lack of awareness Fear, thinking the procedurewill be complicated A macro competitiveness problem for various sectors Fear of the unknown, language, myths Lack of interest, indifference Expectation of incentives
Collaboration with the Private Sector
Work Permit Regulation 15 January 2016 Temporary Protection, 26 April 2016 International Protection Refugees can work and establish businesses An employer can apply for a work permit 6 months after registration Minimum wage 10% quota Exemption in agricultural and livestock work
Entrepreneurship Start-ups Business Development Support Grants Licensing of non licensed businesses More than 6.500 companies in Turkey
Entrepreneurship SYRIAN COMPANIES 1599 1764 1257 1192 489 27 81 166 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Trainings Counselling 11.389 Counselling on Work Permits and Access to Labour Market 34.864 Counselling on Entrepreneurship 15.502 46.253
Thank you