Agricultural Bridge: Empowering Socio-Economic Integration of Syrians in Türkiye

Brussels famous InfoPoints continue! And FAO was happy to join DG INTPA in organizing a hybrid Infopoint with participants on-site in Brussels and connected online from around the globe.

FAO Türkiye, the FAO Liaison Office in Brussels, Representatives from the European Commission Directorate General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR) and Representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Türkiye participated in this hybrid InfoPoint Conference.

Organized by FAO Liaison Office in Brussels and the European Commission services, the event presented progress and achievements of the EU-funded project “Building Resilience of Syrians Under Temporary Protection and Host Communities in Türkiye through Supporting Socio-Economic Integration and Creating Livelihood Opportunities”. A project that is funded through the EU Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian Crisis (EUTF Syria) and is implemented by FAO and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the Ministry of Labour and Social Security of Türkiye.

Raschad Al-Khafaji, Director of the FAO Liaison Office in Brussels, provided welcoming remarks, underlining the importance of ensuring that success stories like this one be given the appropriate visibility and noting that the project was an excellent example of multi-partner collaboration to empower women, create job opportunities and provide dignity to the beneficiaries.

Angela Atzori, Head of Sector Trust Fund and EU Trust Fund Manager for the Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian Crisis DG NEAR expressed appreciation for the event and for the opportunity to discuss the EU-funded project implemented by FAO in Türkiye. She highlighted how the project has been improving the livelihood of many vulnerable Syrian and Turkish agriculture workers, women and men.

Sub-Regional Coordinator for Central Asia and FAO Representative in Türkiye Viorel Gutu, who gave the event’s keynote speech, explained how creating employment opportunities ensures the stability and resilience of Syrians under Temporary Protection (SuTPs) while contributing to the socio-economic development of host communities.

Fuat Kasımcan, Director-General of the General Directorate of European Union and Foreign Relations of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Türkiye, expressed his appreciation for the support the project has gained, as well as the collaboration of the Ministry with FAO.

The participants received a small gift bag with some of the products produced by the cooperatives supported in this project including mandarin cologne, lavender sachet, lavender oil, dried thyme, sakura tie pin, mandarin Turkish delight, some of them marketed all over Turkey.