Strengthening the local economy while enhancing entrepreneurship capacities of migrants to contribute more productively with their skills and business ideas, as well as creating jobs enriches the host communities. This is the main thrust of the ENHANCER (Entrepreneurship Capacities for Sustainable Socio-Economic Integration) Project, launched in 2020, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic that saw enterprises and workers losing their businesses and jobs.
ICMPD is implementing the EU-funded project in cooperation with the Directorate General of Regional Development Agencies under the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Industry and Technologies. It aims to improve employment and livelihood opportunities for local host communities that have a high concentration of migrants, particularly Syrians under Temporary Protection, by:
- Establishing new enterprises and expanding the existing community cooperative network.
- Increasing access to local businesses and development support services.
- Creating jobs among local businesses, supported through start-up grants and subsidies.
- Providing trainings, skills development, and mentorship support for potential entrepreneurs.
- Provision of financial grants and assistance to business start-ups.
- Setting up local facilities where beneficiaries can exchange ideas and experiences.
Over 3,800 Turkish and Syrian entrepreneurs already received trainings across the country; including in Adana, Ankara, Bursa, Gaziantep, Hatay, İzmir, Kayseri, Konya, Mersin and Şanlıurfa; as well as in İstanbul. In addition to more than 2,500 beneficiaries certified in General Entrepreneurship Trainings, 1,300 beneficiaries have been certified in Technical Entrepreneurship Trainings in six sectors: food and agriculture, machinery, shoemaking, furniture, textiles, ready garment, and high technology.
ENHANCER also has two types of mentorships: team mentoring embedded in Hackathon-type events, and structured mentoring in line with the Mentorship Guideline. Within the framework of the first programme, a total of 266 potential entrepreneurs received mentorship. In November, mentorship in the field of finance and taxation to improve financial knowledge to start businesses was concluded. In the framework of the second, 40 mentees completed 320 one-to-one mentorship hours.
Under the Startup Grant Scheme, 106 contracts were finalised. The SME Support Grant Scheme for Job Creation completed 58 out of 64 planned projects. The Scheme created and fully subsidised 402 new jobs through €6.3 million out of the €12.5 million disbursed in grant programmes for Local Common Use Facilities, Institutions, SMEs, Cooperatives and Start-Ups since 2020.
Creating stronger connections within the community
ENHANCER has been hosting events to link entrepreneurs with major buyers, investors, and funding channels. The private sector’s role strengthens beneficiaries’ access to local business and labour markets, promoting awareness on their industries, providing grants to start-up enterprises, and easing entrepreneurs’ access to economic activity.
Overall, 1,086 entrepreneurs were brought together in B2B meetings with a total of 187 new business relationships including business and financial transactions, sales, further business contact in the form of meetings, visits, sharing of sample products or detailed product/business specifications, mentoring, promotion of the business or the products, incubation services, etc.
By actively bridging migrants with their host communities, we create an environment where everyone thrives and benefits. It promotes social and economic integration of migrants in their new homes – albeit in some cases only temporarily. The ENHANCER project is a testament to ICMPD’s broad and holistic approach in migration dialogues, in a forward-looking way that puts the community at its core.says Sedef Dearing, ICMPD Director for Migration Dialogues.
In November, a Business Networking Event in Gaziantep featured a diverse sectoral structure and brought 250 local entrepreneurs together with 42 buyers, including 30 international firms from across Europe and Gulf Countries. These companies operate in sectors such as chemicals, food, agriculture, machinery, paper, packaging, pharmaceuticals, plastics, retail and textiles, and seller companies.
ENHANCER also launched Business Platform, a one-stop-shop for the diverse needs of entrepreneurs and bring together SMEs, cooperatives, corporations, mentors, investors, international organisations, NGOs, and universities. Apart from the opportunities shared by members, it provides information on events that add value to all: from government support to announcements of important financing, mentoring programs, and grant applications to international organisations.
Beyond business: using the technologies and driving policies
In June, the ENHANCER Animation Hackathon gathered more than 100 participants interested in the world of animation, fostering creativity and innovation and nurturing connections in the animation industry. Participants attended a panel discussion with leading figures in the industry, and benefited from mentorship sessions prior to and during the event. Winning teams received a total of €15,000 in three categories: animation exposure principles, technical timing, and idea scenario.
Previously, ENHANCER hosted a Digital Gaming Hackathon for 150 Turkish and Syrian youth interested in designing creative and innovative games, and building business and social networks around gaming. Participants in 37 teams joined interactive workshops in different areas, received mentoring support, met with leading names in the gaming industry, and presented their projects to a jury evaluation. The event brought together over 150 young people with the opportunity to and win €15,000 in prizes.
At a policy and outreach level, ENHANCER integrates migration-sensitive and inclusive development approach in communicating the work of local institutions, government agencies, NGOs, and business opportunities accessible to beneficiaries. Regional and national policymakers, including legislative staff, also analysed existing policies in disseminating to relevant beneficiaries, in finding which frameworks and space work best for their business. Since the launch of ENHANCER:
- 168 local government and non-government institutions’ staff, and 54 from the national level, were trained on migration-sensitive and inclusive development policies and communication.
- Three national policy discussions hosted for project implementing national public institutions and international organisations under the FRiT (Facility for Refugees in Turkey) framework.
- Two policy framework documents on inclusive and migrant-sensitive entrepreneurship and economic development were prepared.
- 125 grant beneficiaries, including SMEs, cooperatives, and Local Common Use Facilities and Institutions, were visited for monitoring, and to provide all beneficiaries information on grant implementation procedures, procurement procedures, and visibility requirements.
ENHANCER has created a web of opportunities and provided linkages between the Syrian refugees under Temporary Protection, and businesses and governance institutions in their host communities. It is a symbiosis, of sorts: as they are given the space to develop their business ideas with the local enterprises, they create tangible contributions to the local economy, which their host community not only actively takes part in but stands to benefit from. This enhances the empowerment of everyone.