Photo:©FAO

Şanlıurfa – Today, Nikolaus Meyer-Landrut, the Ambassador and Head of the EU Delegation to Turkey, arrived in Şanliurfa province to meet partners and beneficiaries, and to visit the ISKUR Service Point for employment and the Agricultural Skills Development Programme, both of which are implemented by FAO in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the Ministry of Labour and Social Services through an USD 11 million grant, generously funded by the European Union.

The visit was opened by Viorel Gutu, Subregional Coordinator for Central Asia and FAO Representative in Turkey, who welcomed more than 80 attendees to the event held at the Şanlıurfa Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry. Other key attendees included: Libor Chlad, Head of Section, Facility for Refugees in Turkey at the EU Delegation to Turkey; Metin Esen, Deputy Governor of Şanlıurfa; Aylin Çağlayan Özcan, Director-General of the General Directorate of EU and Foreign Relations at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry; Zeynel Abidin Beyazgül, Mayor of Şanlıurfa; Sürur Kır, Acting Head of the Training and Publication Department at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry; Uğur Tunç, Deputy Head of Department at the Foreign Relations and Projects Department of the Turkish Employment Agency (İSKUR) and Provincial Directors.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has been very challenging for all of us in different ways, but its impact hit hardest the most vulnerable individuals who work in agriculture”, Gutu explained. He made a point of thanking agricultural workers for their great efforts in ensuring that food reached our tables during the crisis. Gutu also emphasized the positive impact of employment service points and the Agricultural Skills Development Programme, which have increased the opportunities available to Syrians and Turkish people, helping them to obtain jobs in the agri-food and livestock sectors.

The EU Ambassador affirmed these sentiments and noted that “the project was well positioned to respond with appropriate interventions to address these needs”. He added that the European Union (EU) is proud to contribute to the efforts of the Turkish government in the area of employment, and especially the agricultural employment of refugees, which is one of the main priority areas for collaboration between the EU and the Government of Turkey.

During the visit, the Head of the EU Delegation visited the İŞKUR Service Point established at the Şanlıurfa Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry. Together withthe Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and Ministry of Labour and Social Services, FAO has supported the establishment of İŞKUR Service Points in ten different provinces. The opportunities they provide will help many Syrians and Turkish inscribe themselves on the government’s employment register, connect with employers and companies, obtain formal jobs and receive training.

The Ambassador also visited the Agricultural Skills Development Programme in the Şanlıurfa Metropolitan Municipality to observe the work of the Sapling Nursery and Afforestation programme, undertaken by more than 50 Syrians under Temporary Protection (SuTPs) who reside in the province. This programme provides short-term employment and income support to some 1 500 vulnerable SuTPs and International Protection Applicants and Status Holders (IPASH) in ten provinces, while contributing to the development and rehabilitation of local community assets. This 50-day programme helps to equip beneficiaries with skills that will increase their chances of finding employment in the agricultural sector. At the end of the event, the Ambassador, along with key Turkish government officials, planted olive trees as symbol of peace and cooperation.

This generously EU-funded project, implemented by FAO in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the Ministry of Labour and Social Services, aims to provide technical assistance to build the resilience of 6 000 Syrians under Temporary Protection and host communities in Turkey, by supporting socio-economic integration and creating livelihood opportunities through the provision of technical support in the agri-food and livestock sectors.

LINKS:

The crisis in Syria: http://www.fao.org/emergencies/crisis/syria/en/

Syria Refugee Response Plan: http://www.fao.org/emergencies/resources/documents/resources-detail/en/c/1294569