The “Adana Vocational Training Centre Project”, that is being implemented in cooperation with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and Adana Chamber of Industry (ADASO) with the financial support of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), was launched in Adana.

The project launch event was attended by Mr. Zeki Kıvanc, Board Chairman of Adana Chamber of Industry (ADASO), Mr. Barış Dinçer, European Bank for Reconstruction nd Development (EBRD) Deputy Head of Turkey and Head of Office in Ankara, Mr. Claudio Tomasi, Resident Representative a.i. of United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Turkey, Mr. Adnan Ünverdi, Board Chairman of Gaziantep Chamber of Industry (GSO) as well as respective  representatives of public institutions and organizations.

The project, which is shaped according to local needs and economic structure in Adana, aims to provide Adana Chamber of Industry (ADASO) with high calibre technical assistance and consultancy services for the establishment and functionalization of the Adana Vocational Training Centre. Once established; the Centre will both target the demand and supply side of local economy through well-structured business model, a viable business plan. The centre will be designed to have strong and functional links with other complementary initiatives such as the Innovation Centre and the SME Capability Centre to be established in the economic geography of Adana and Mersin in cooperation with UNDP and ADASO.

The centre will also provide vocational training programs to meet the specific needs of SMEs. In addition, those who receive training in the vocational training centre and enterprises that benefit from the SME Capability Centre, another initiative, will be introduced to each other in the subsequent periods. With the Vocational Training Centre to be established, both the people of the region and the Syrians under temporary protection will benefit from qualified vocational trainings to meet the economic needs of the region.

Mr. Claudio Tomasi, Resident Representative a.i. of UNDP Turkey said: “ Adana Vocational Training Centre Project is also very important for being the very first financing agreement between the European Bank for Reconstruction & Development (EBRD) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the world.” He added that “According to the Directorate General of Migration Management as of December 2018, Turkey hosts more than 3 million Syrians under temporary protection and these people are mainly located in the Southeast Anatolia Region bordering Syria, but as the crisis continued, the population has expanded to other regions as well, including the province of Adana. Leveraging on UNDP’s long-lasting experience and know-how on local socio-economic development accumulated in Southeast Anatolia Region of Turkey, in the context of Syrian crisis response, UNDP facilitated establishment and operationalization of a Vocational Training Centre in Gaziantep in collaboration with Gaziantep Chamber of Industry. Since 2016, it has been providing specialized occupational capability development services to the Syrians under temporary protection hosted by Gaziantep as well as the members of the local community. Now, UNDP will carry over its expertise to Adana in provision of technical assistance to the Adana Chamber of Industry in conduct of sectoral analyses, demand analyses, development of business model, design and implementation of capacity development programs, and the physical design of the Adana Vocational Training Center.     I believe that all components and activities of the project will be successfully accomplished and targets of the project will be fully achieved with strong cooperation of Adana Chamber of Industry, European Bank of Reconstruction and Development and UNDP”.

Also, a cooperation protocol was signed between Adana Chamber of Industry and Gaziantep Chamber of Industry in order to share experience and vision, and to cooperate with Gaziantep Chamber of Industry Vocational Training Centre with regard to the training programs to be provided to increase qualified labour force.

Mr. Zeki Kıvanc, the Chairman of the Board of Adana Chamber of Industry (ADASO) said “We will take an important step for the improvement and development of the industry of our region and our country within the framework of the protocol of cooperation between our Chamber and Gaziantep Chamber of Industry. We will join our forces”.  Kıvanç continued his words as follows: “With the Adana Vocational Training Center Project, which we will take steps today, we hope to train qualified labor force for the needs of these investments. We expect that the people who will be trained here will contribute to our region strategically with qualified vocational training. Adana Vocational Training Center, which will be shaped according to local needs and economic structure of the region, will be integrated with other macro projects we want to bring to our region. This Center will be designed to have strong and functional connections with other complementary initiatives such as the Innovation Center and the SME Capability Center that will be also established in Adana with the cooperation the Ministry of Industry and Technology, UNDP and our Chamber. As the Adana Chamber of Industry, we are very pleased to launch such an important regional project”.

Within the scope of Adana Vocational Training Centre Project, the current situation will be determined by means of sectoral and field-level analyzes to be conducted and the business model and plan of the Centre will be prepared. In addition, based on the needs of the local labour market and the demands arising from the SMEs in the region, customized training modules will be designed specific to Adana Vocational Training Centre and cooperation will be made with İŞKUR and KOSGEB for vocational trainings. Another component will be capability development and mentoring. In this context, the Adana Chamber of Industry will be provided with mentoring services on the competence and skills necessary for the Vocational Training Centre to function optimally. In addition, technical support will be provided for certification within the scope of the project. It will be supported to carry out the necessary procedures for the certification of Adana Vocational Training Centre and to conduct the accreditation procedures of the Centre.

European Bank for Reconstruction nd Development (EBRD) Deputy Head of Turkey and Head of Office in Ankara, Barış Dinçer: "We are very pleased to launch this important regional project with the Adana Chamber of Industry and the United Nations Development Program Turkey Office. As the first partnership between the EBRD and UNDP, the project will be a striking example in terms of demonstrating the compatibility of EBRD's development mission with the Sustainable Development Goals. In the 10th anniversary of our activities in Turkey, as EBRD,  we published the new country strategy for the 2019-2024 period. One of the four main issues in our new strategy is; the promotion of economic inclusion and gender equality through private sector participation. We conduct significant activities with the private sector on the basis of projects and policy studies in the areas of skills development, employment and access to finance for the social sectors, particularly for young people, women, communities living in less developed regions and refugees that can less benefit from economic opportunities.

We aim to contribute to the employment of qualified personnel which are needed by the private sector, especially SMEs in the region, and to create permanent and sustainable economic opportunities for the people of Adana and the Syrians under temporary protection and other refugees through this center of which we have contributed to its establishment.  As EBRD, we supported Gaziantep Chamber of Industry Vocational Training Center to become an accredited Test Center with a similar partnership. The Center was launched in 2018 and serves the integration of the local community and Syrians under temporary protection and other migrants into their labor market by converting their previous learning into internationally recognized certificates. This time, we aim to bring the experience we gained from this cooperation to the region in a more comprehensive manner, under the auspices of Adana Chamber of Industry with the expertise of UNDP" said.

Adana Vocational Training Centre Project, on one hand, will contribute to the national strategies for quality labour force and quality vocational training, while on the other hand, will contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals.