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Selected Stories
UNDP Istanbul International Center for Private Sector in Development inaugurated by UNDP’s Administrator Helen Clark, Minister Cevdet Yilmaz and TIKA’s President Musa Kulaklikaya
An active engagement of the private sector is critical for the much needed acceleration in the progress for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and other internationally agreed development commitments. Through its core business activities, inclusive market practices and above all on-going corporate social responsibility activities, the private sector has proved its pivotal role in ensuring sustainable development and contributing to job creation, growth and expanded access to products and services.
It is in this context, the Government of Turkey and the United Nations development Programme (UNDP) agreed to establish the Istanbul International Center for Private Sector in Development.
The UNDP Istanbul International Center for Private Sector in Development (IICPSD) builds on Turkey’s convening power and dynamic private sector as well as UNDP’s global mandate to engage the Private Sector constructively in supporting global and local efforts to address development challenges. The IICPSD will have the following objectives:
1) Support the development of inclusive and competitive markets and inclusive business models that engage poor people into value chains as producers, employees, consumers and entrepreneurs, with the end goal of economic development.
2) Foster private sector engagement and advocacy with for example, the UN system for achievement of MDG targets (especially on focus sectors like health, agriculture, education, housing and water and themes like youth, gender, environment) and other internationally agreed development goals (e.g. climate change);
3) Become a center of excellence in terms of capacity development activities that harness Trilateral Development Cooperation and South-South partnership, and promotes skill-building, access to enterprise-related finance, entrepreneurship and assistance to enabling actors;
4) Convene business and supporting actors to expand dialogue and create actionable partnerships between themselves, in support of a development agenda.
The objectives will be achieved as a one stop shop service delivery center through research, policy advisory and advocacy, knowledge development and management, MDGs-based partnerships, programme support and capacity development.
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Global Compact Annual Meeting Held in Istanbul
(Istanbul, 11 June 2009) — The 7th Global Compact Annual Local Network Forum (ALNF) was organized at Sabanci Center in Istanbul, supported by UNDP Turkey.
More than 350 delegates from nearly 80 countries agreed on a set of recommendations concerning the role of networks in companies’ Communication on Progress, the initiative’s annual disclosure requirement; the engagement of micro enterprises; the engagement of civil society organizations; and the governance of networks. In addition, the Seventh ALNF provided guidance that would contribute to the participants’ production of the annual Communication on Progress; a requirement of the Global Compact which serves to instill accountability, drive continuous improvement, safeguard the integrity of the Global Compact and to develop corporate practices. The number of participants increased by 60% compared to last year’s meeting which took place in Bonn, Germany with 220 participants from 70 countries.
At the closing plenary, participants called for the necessity of increased transparency and accountability, in which the importance of accelerating the integration of the Global Compact’s vision and principles throughout and beyond headquarters was strongly encouraged.
GC Turkey Network Meeting
ALNF also hosted the meeting of GC Turkey Network at a side event, moderated by the GC Turkey Representative Dr. Yilmaz Arguden. After presentations from AKSA, MIKADO Consultancy and Yesim Textile, I had the opportunity to announce the Business Call to Action (BCtA) initiative at the meeting.
More information is available at UNDP New Horizons bulletin.
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Private Sector Joins Hands to Promote Gender Equality in Management
On March 2, 2009 about 95 participants from leading companies in the private sector and civil society organizations gathered at the Sait Halim Pasa Yali to show their support of empowering active participation of women in the private sector and particularly at the executive decision-making level.
The event was organized by KalDer and UNFPA with support from TUSIAD, TURKONFED, TOBB, GYIAD, and the ILO. There was a signing ceremony for which nearly 40 organizations signed the Declaration of Women’s Right to Govern. The declaration is an important aspect of the Global Compact and particularity principles 1 and 6.
The declaration is available here.
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The Case for Responsible Business Practices
While business and the United Nations have different purposes, our objectives increasingly overlap. We focus on peace, development and poverty reduction. Business focuses on profit and growth. However, our overlapping objectives are clear: building markets, combating corruption, safeguarding the environment and ensuring social inclusion. This shared understanding lies at the center of the UN Global Compact, the world’s largest voluntary corporate citizenship initiative with more than 2,700 companies from 94 countries, as well as 500 civil society and international labour organizations, engaged in the initiative. All are working to advance ten universal principles in the areas of human rights, labour standards, the environment and anti-corruption.
The Case for Good Business
Since the Global Compact was established in 2000, corporate responsibility has grown both as a concept and in practice around the world. Its moral validity is now compounded by a strong business case. Proactive corporate policies and practices that respect human rights and ensure safe and decent workplace conditions, environmental protection and good corporate governance create more sustainable value and benefits for workers, communities and society at large. They also enable business to attract and retain skilled workers, save costs, enhance productivity, create trust and positive reputation with stakeholders, and build brands.
And by working both collectively and individually to combat corruption in business practices, Global Compact participants are helping to ensure that the performance, integrity and effectiveness of the private sector are not undermined. It is certainly the case that corruption impedes the development of markets, drives away investment, increases the cost of doing business and undermines the rule of law. It has a corrosive effect on democracy and the general well-being of a nation.
In fact, the financial markets are beginning to truly take notice of the value of values. From asset managers, pension trustees and stock exchanges to project lenders and insurers, the investment community increasingly connects environmental, social and governance performance to long-term corporate valuations. Turkey’s own Istanbul Stock Exchange was among the first exchanges to join the Global Compact.
Putting Principles into Practice
Companies participating in the Global Compact are expected to implement universal principles into their business strategies and practices and to engage in projects that advance broader development goals of the United Nations. The implementation of universal principles into business is a long-term process and, therefore, the Global Compact emphasizes the importance of following a path of continuous improvement. This requires the sustained support of corporate leadership through ongoing activities and partnerships, as well as a company’s engagement in dialogues, willingness to learn and dedication to practical actions.
Many encouraging signs suggest that companies understand the benefits of implementing the ten principles of the Global Compact into business practices. The Global Compact has seen that the principles can become part of a smart corporate strategy that reduces risks and enhances core competencies, at the same time maximizing environmental, social and governance benefits.
Good progress is being made, but there is still much to be done to put a human face on globalization. We need more innovative business approaches that serve both society and commerce.
The rising interest in the Global Compact in Turkey – with the recent joining of Koç Holding, Açik Radyo, PTS Worldwide Express and Eczacibasi Holding, among others – is a good step forward for increasing the scale and scope of corporate responsibility around the world. And importantly, following a value-based approach to business can contribute to the further integration of Turkey into the global economy and the international community. The values of the Global Compact are universal and enjoy political and social legitimacy virtually everywhere in the world. Companies, academia, labour and civil society organizations in Turkey are encouraged to learn more about engaging with the Global Compact and playing a role in producing widespread positive change.
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The Administrator Opened the New Private Sector Office in Istanbul
UNDP Turkey’s new office in Istanbul for Private Sector Partnerships was officially opened with a ceremony by the UNDP Administrator Kemal Dervis and the Besiktas Mayor Ismail Unal on November 13, 2007. Besides the private sector partners of UNDP Turkey, Deputy Governor of Istanbul and Besiktas District Administrator along with other public officials were in attendance at the event. The office aims to develop new partnerships with business sector in achievement of MDGs, while promoting the principles of UN Global Compact.
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35 New Turkish Companies Joined the UN Global Compact
The Global Compact welcomed 35 new participants, including Turkey’s one of the largest conglomerates Sabanci Holding, at a ceremony organized by Koc Holding and Quality Association on November 12, 2007. The signing ceremony, held in presence of the former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, was followed by a Global Compact Leaders’ Gala Dinner attended by 300 business participants. With the new expansion, the total number of participants in Global Compact Turkey Network will have reached to 125.
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Turkish Society for Quality’s 16th Quality Congress:
The 16th Quality Congress, took place between 12 and 14 November 2007 with the participation of former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and UNDP Administrator Kemal Dervis as the keynote speakers. The Congress was attended by 4,000 business participants to discuss the corporate citizenship, the UN Global Compact, the MDGs and role of business in sustainable development under the theme, “Global Competitiveness and World Citizenship.” UNDP Turkey through its Private Sector Office in Istanbul provided organizational support to the event.
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Third Phase of Life Plus Youth Fund Commenced
The implementation of the youth projects that received funds in the context of the third phase of the Life Plus Youth Programme established by Coca-Cola Turkey and UNDP has commenced. In the third phase 9 projects from Antalya, Balıkesir, Amasya, Erzurum, Istanbul, İzmir, Manisa and the Nomad villages were funded. One of the projects is a peer education program on puppetry as a drama tool in formal education institutions executed by Puppet and Mask Researches Association. (More and More)
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The Global Compact National Network Meeting
Koc Holding, in collaboration with UNDP Turkey and CSR Association, organized the Annual Meeting of the UN Global Compact Turkey Network under the theme, “Creating Value with the Global Compact” on October 25, 2007. Georg Kell, the Director of the UN Global Compact and Ali Koc, the member of board of Koc Group were among the key note speakers. UNDP and CSR Association supported the Koc Group with the organization. At the event, Mr. Claud Fussler, the author of “Raising the Bar” presented the Turkish translation of his book, as printed by Koc Holding with the support of Sabanci University and UNDP Turkey.
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Youth and ICT Summit
A Youth and ICT Summit was organized by Youth for Habitat Association within the context of UNDP Turkey’s digital inclusion projects supported by various IT companies, namely Vodafone, Microsoft, Netron, Intel and Cisco. The summit received the participation of top managers from partnering IT companies, government representatives and voluntary trainers. The initiative, which supports Government’s policy on transformation to information society has mobilized over 200 voluntary trainers from over 50 cities. A Learning Management System for e-learnings is aimed to be launched by February 2008.
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