The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Turkey Announces Yusuf Yazıcı as “No Poverty Advocate”

April 27, 2021

UNDP Turkey announced Mr. Yusuf Yazıcı, a national football star now playing at France’s Lille club, as the “No Poverty Advocate”

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Turkey Office continues to enlist leading persons in the society to advocate for 17 Sustainable Development Goals to mobilize persons and organizations for action on the important issues that impact the planet and humanity.

UNDP Turkey held an online appointment ceremony and press conference on 27 April to announce the Advocate for Global Goal 1 “No Poverty”. The national football star Yusuf Yazıcı, who started his football career at Trabzonspor in Turkey, and now playing at Lille club in France’s top league “Ligue 1”, was appointed as the UNDP Turkey’s “No Poverty Advocate”.

The online press conference was moderated by UNDP Turkey’s Goodwill Ambassador Mert Fırat, with the attendance of Mr. Claudio Tomasi, UNDP Turkey Resident Representative.

Expressing that the new mission made him proud and happy, national football star Yusuf Yazıcı said: “Setting out on this journey, my goal is not to assist people in poverty, but contribute to finding ways to eradicate poverty. In my opinion, tackling poverty is not some charity, it is an all-out effort to build justice and peace across the world. I am so excited for the opportunity to combine my personal experience with the knowledge and means of UNDP in this field. I am all ready to do my best.”

Mr. Claudio Tomasi, UNDP Turkey Resident Representative, said: “I am honoured to name Mr. Yusuf Yazıcı as “No Poverty Advocate” of UNDP Turkey. One billion people may be pushed to living in extreme poverty by 2030, a quarter of them as a result of COVID-19. The pandemic has more than ever showed the whole world that we should leave no one behind because “No one is safe until everyone is safe!”. Eradicating poverty is not a task of charity, it's an act of justice and the key to unlocking an enormous human potential. Together, we can end hunger, wipe out diseases and give everyone in the world a chance to thrive and live a prosperous life. I believe Yusuf Yazıcı and UNDP will come together with this advocacy appointment and contribute greatly to the promotion of Goal #1: No Poverty. I think Yusuf Yazıcı will successfully spread the word for us in our efforts to build resilience for vulnerable groups.”

For the record of this press conference:

Link: https://youtu.be/6XsDLdv5y_U