Linking Eastern Anatolia to Progress (LEAP)
Budget: 2.959.404
USD
Timeline: January
2001- May 2006
What is the situation?
Eastern Anatolia is regarded as the least developed region
of Turkey. Although the government has implemented a number
of policies in different parts of the region, the disparity
between Eastern Anatolia and other parts of Turkey has continued
to widen. Rural communities have suffered from serious migration;
a deterioration in living conditions and poor social services.
A lack of young, educated manpower has hampered efforts to
implement development programmes.
Although the region benefits from government subsidies there
is little private sector industrial activity and the potential
for generating new jobs is extremely low. While most economic
activity is concentrated in farming, the level of productivity
and marketing of agricultural products is not enough to support
a self-sufficient and sustainable economic system.
Thanks to its natural beauty, Southeastern Anatolia has strong
tourism potential. In particular the Çoruh Valley, with its
high mountains, fast flowing river, historical towns and villages,
could be a highly attractive destination for summer tourists.
The area provides a fascinating fusion of the cultures of
Eastern Anatolia and the Black Sea, and the Kaçkar Mountains
offer highly attractive possibilities for canoeing, rafting
and trekking. Although seasonal, tourist activities in the
Valley could bring economic life and new opportunities to
the region in the long term.
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community training programme on realising
local tourism assets brings participants from
all backgrounds |
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What is our mission?
The programme aims to support the areas of rural development,
local entrepreneurship and rural tourism by helping to set
up Sustainable Human Development models. These models will
help to increase income and reduce socioeconomic disparities
in the area while improving gender balance and safeguarding
the environment. The models being developed will be comprehensive,
effective, repeatable, extendable, and participatory. They
will be relevant to the economic and social needs of the target
population and environmental needs of the project area and
shared with the major stakeholders of the programme.
LEAP promotes close working
relations with central and local government institutions in
the design and implementation of project activities. It also
co-operates closely with local NGO's and other institutions
to encourage strong ownership of the program and to ensure
sustainability of the policies and structures developed.
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Farmers in Turkey's eastern Kars Province
learn how to make silage so as to help increase
dairy production |
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How are we doing this?
Phase 1 of the LEAP program was launched in mid-2001, focusing
on three main areas of activity:
- Participatory Rural
Development
- Business Development
- Rural Tourism
Participatory rural
development activities were implemented by an NGO as a
sub-contractor and District Development Councils were established
in selected districts to facilitate participation. A series
of capacity enhancement activities, such as training sessions
and demonstrations were organized to increase the participatory
and sustainable development potential of the rural communities.
In three years of Project implementation, more than 2000 farmers
participated in the Project activities.
A Business Development
Center was established in early 2003 at Ataturk University
in Erzurum. So far more than 600 local entrepreneurs have
benefited from the access it offers to business development
services and investment ideas. From Jan 2005 the center's
services will be extended to Erzincan and Bayburt provinces.
Activities to develop
Rural Tourism as an alternative source of income have
been carried out for Coruh Valley since mid 2003. An Action
Plan was prepared and work to implement it began in September
2003. Related to this, LEAP supported institutional capacity
building in the Ispir and Yusufeli districts of Coruh Valley.
The activities included inventory studies and research which
can be used in promotional materials and product development.
The most recent activity in the scope of LEAP
is 'Support to development of organic agriculture in Kelkit
Region'. This initiative is a partnership project with
Aydin Dogan Foundation in order to increase the positive impact
of the private sector investment on organic agriculture/animal
husbandry on farmers of the region. The initiative is a private-public
partnership model involving Dogan Organic Products Company,
Ataturk University Aydin Dogan Vocational School, and Gumushane
Governorate at the local level. For more information on the
initiative, click
here.
In cooperation with local
administrative bodies and NGOs in the region, LEAP is also
supporting a number of development initiatives in areas such
as:
- Women's employment
- Setting up Youth Centres
- Use of natural gas
and geothermal energy
How will Turkey benefit?
The development models produced by this programme -- which
are repeatable, extendable, participatory and tailored to
the economic and social needs of the target communities in
the region --will be a valuable means for both government
and non-governmental bodies to maximize the use of scarce
resources in other regions in an effective way for local development.
Enhanced capacity will benefit the communities in the region,
allowing them to make use of local, national and international
sources for their own sustainable development efforts.
Who are our Partners?
- Government of Turkey
State Planning Organization
- Swiss Agency for
Development and Cooperation
- Atatürk University
College of Agriculture, Research Institute of Environmental
Problems, Advancement Center for University-Industry Relations
- Erzurum, Erzincan
and Bayburt Chambers of Commerce and Trade, Kazim Karabekir
Municipality
- Olur Senkaya, Susuz,
Damal and Çildir District Governorate, Kars Provincial
Directorate of Agriculture
- Yusufeli and Ispir
Municipalities and District Governorates
Sustainable Urban and Rural Development Association
- Erzurum Women Entrepreneurs
Association
- Eastern Anatolia
Animal Breeders Association
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Berna Bayazit
Programme Associate, UNDP
Tel: (90-312) 454 1126
E-mail: berna.bayazit@undp.org
Erol Cakmak
LEAP Programme
Coordination Unit
Atatürk Üniversitesi Rektörlük Binasi Dis Iliskiler Koordinatörlügü
25240 Erzurum
Tel: (90-442) 231 1012
Fax: (90-442) - 236 1014
E-mail: zyurttas@atauni.edu.tr
cakmak@atauni.edu.tr
Participatory Rural
Development Component
Gez Mahallesi Menekse Sokak No: 12
25040 Erzurum
Tel: (90-442) 235 5644
Fax: (90-442) 23 7127
E-mail: surkalerz@surkal.org.tr
Entrepreneur Support
in Eastern Anatolia
Atatürk Üniversitesi Mühendislik Fakültesi binasi giris kati
25240 Erzurum
Tel: (90-442) 236 0075, 231 4624, 231 4882
Fax: (90-442) 236 0074
E-mail: gidem@atauni.edu.tr
Tourism Development
in Eastern Anatolia
Atatürk Üniversitesi Rektörlük Binasi Dis Iliskiler Koordinatörlügü
25240 Erzurum
Tel: (90-442) 236 1718
Fax: (90-442) 236 1014
E-mail: kenanb@atauni.edu.tr
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