Project description:

Challenge: One major challenge was ensuring that the project management team had the necessary competencies to drive the project forward. Given the project’s broad and diverse stakeholder base, maintaining strong and transparent communication proved to be a major challenge. A further challenge was implementing a measurable feedback loop for all the activities. Processes were supported by evidence and backup documentation, and a key challenge encountered during the process was the integration of such a system into banking project-evaluation processes for the first time, with no existing examples to draw from.

Solution: The DAC Gender Marker, implemented by TKYB, has incorporated this system into its projects, not only for economic development but also for gender equality. This implementation integrates gender equality through three key solutions: Women-Sensitive Planning, where strategic objectives are defined with a gender perspective throughout the project lifecycle; Gender Equality Analysis, which ensures that gender-based inequalities are addressed at every stage; and Capacity Building, providing training and tools to institutions to embed gender equality into their work.

Result: The project has contributed to raising awareness about women’s empowerment at both institutional and societal levels. There has been a noticeable increase in women’s workforce participation, with more women in leadership positions and entrepreneurial roles. It has also improved women’s access to financial services. The project has helped many organizations integrate a focus on women’s empowerment, which has been recognized as a social issue and key driver of economic development. This approach has accelerated Türkiye’s progress toward achieving its Sustainable Development Goals.

Partners:

French Development Agency (AFD), Frankfurt School of Finance & Management

Category: Good Governance

Company: Development and Investment Bank of Türkiye (TKYB)

About the company: 

Development and Investment Bank of Türkiye (TKYB) has a mission to meet the financing and consultancy needs of investors in line with the sustainable development priorities of Türkiye, to contribute to the wider distribution of capital, supporting structural transformation, and cooperation with domestic and international organizations. In line with this mission, the Bank considers environmental and social sustainability a fundamental component of sustainable and inclusive development. The Environmental and Social Policy of TKYB covers all employees and activities of the Bank.