Key Highlights
- Since 2021, the Social Entrepreneurship, Empowerment, and Cohesion Project (SEECO) has provided entrepreneurship training to over 4,000 women and youth in refugee and host communities in 11 provinces.
- The Socially Inclusive Green Transition Project (SOGREEN) builds on these results and will offer reimbursable financing to more than 1,800 small and medium enterprises (SMEs), of which 60% of are women-led or women-owned and offering business incubation and acceleration grants to over 3,000 entrepreneurs, with the same percentage of women beneficiaries.
- SEECO has established 14 community facilities and expects to establish 76 more, providing services such as childcare, safe transportation, and social entrepreneurship hubs. SOGREEN will advance these efforts by developing 175 green community economic facilities with a similar, gender-responsive design.
Challenge
Türkiye faces challenges in fostering inclusive economic opportunities, particularly for women. As of 2023, female labor force participation was just 35%. Women also have limited access to finance—63% have bank accounts versus 85% of men. Female-led businesses face stricter collateral demands than men and have limited access to information about available financial support and resources. Moreover, women typically bear the bulk of the care burden, which can limit their access to economic opportunities. Regional disparities and institutional gaps deepen inequalities. Women and youth lack the skills and access required to benefit from emerging green job opportunities, hindering equitable growth.
Approach
The SEECO and SOGREEN projects aim to promote inclusive economic opportunities, reduce inequalities, and support Türkiye's green transition.
The SEECO and SOGREEN projects integrate comprehensive, gender-sensitive interventions to empower women by addressing barriers to access to finance, information, skills, and social capital. Both projects are implemented by Türkiye’s Ministry of Industry and Technology and regional Development Agencies, with technical support from the World Bank.
Both projects incentivize female-led and -owned enterprises and encourage enterprises to hire more women. For example, SEECO sought to provide 70% of financial grants to social enterprises that are managed by or benefit women. SEECO also targets women and youth in refugee and host communities, tackling barriers to economic participation through tailored entrepreneurship training and financial subgrants. SOGREEN will provide reimbursable financing to more than 1,800 SMEs, along with grants, ensuring that 60% of beneficiaries are women-owned or women-led businesses.
To address knowledge barriers faced by female entrepreneurs, the projects deliver personal initiative entrepreneurship, financial and digital literacy, climate resilience, and legal and business planning modules. These interventions are grounded in global evidence, informed by detailed local needs assessments and market studies, and are proven to enhance women’s skills and empower enterprises to establish and grow successfully.
Additionally, SEECO promotes women’s inclusion by providing childcare services at livelihood facilities (for example, entrepreneurship centers, food production workshops, co-working spaces, artisan marketplaces and others). The project also provides free and safe transportation for women to these facilities. Male family members of women participants are also involved to enhance buy-in and support for women’s participation in the project. SOGREEN is replicating and scaling up these approaches nationwide and will also integrate women into decision-making processes for the design of livelihood facilities, ensuring 50% participation of women in these planning activities.
The work of the projects would not be possible without enhancing the capacity of local government institutions, such as Development Agencies, to support sustainable livelihoods for the most vulnerable women. SEECO and SOGREEN have allocated financing to improve local capacity to implement interventions targeting women.
Results
Increased female employment has played a significant role in driving economic growth in Türkiye over the past two decades. With their focus on women’s economic empowerment, SEECO and SOGREEN address inequalities, enhance institutional capacity, and enable marginalized groups to participate in equitable, sustainable economic development.
Since 2021, the project has benefited over 4,000 participants, established 14 community facilities, and initiated 76 more, including in areas affected by the 2023 earthquakes. These efforts promote social cohesion, support economic recovery in vulnerable regions, and enable sustainable livelihoods.
