Three Million Trees – Refugee Employment Initiative in Turkey Implementation Place: Gaziantep Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) Implemented by: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)  GIZ Program: Cash for Work Activities Program Project Term: 15.09.2018 - 20.02.2019 Total Number of Beneficiaries: 1001 Syrian Female Beneficiaries: 161 Syrian Male Beneficiaries: 696 Turkish Female Beneficiaries: 41 Turkish Male Beneficiaries: 103 Total Number of Saplings Number of Planted Saplings: 561.000 Number of Planted Lavender: 15.000  'The first lavender garden in Gaziantep'

Background

Turkey has taken in more than 3.6 million Syrian refugees since the beginning of the crisis in Syria, making it the country hosting the most refugees throughout the world. The refugees are provided with basic services by the Turkish state, but most of them lack opportunities for earning income and acquiring vocational qualifications. Against this background, the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) contributes to efforts to provide training and income opportunities for refugees and members of the host communities and supports peacebuilding and intercultural activities with the aim of strengthening social cohesion at local level. Gaziantep had been selected as a project location in phase-3 of the project, for its tremendous challenges posed by mass migration of especially Syrian refugees over the past years, and for its considerable need of opportunities for forestation.

Objective

To implement effectiive and mimmediate measures to provide livelihood opportunities for Syrian refugees and vulnerable Turkish citizens (beneficiaries) in providing services to all citizens by planting saplings. In addition, the Syrian beneficiaries to receive Turkish Language training, thus removing an important barrier to the intergartion in Turkish Society and work in Turkey.

Target Audience

The project targets to registered Syrian refugees under temporary protection and vulnerable members of the host community. The project particularly targets disadvantaged and vulnerable groups such as households with female heads as well as single parents, disabled individuals, victims of gender-based violence and people in need of psychosocial support.

Activities

• Temporary Employment: Beneficiaries were registered to the project and temporarily employed with a salary corresponding to the local minimum wage.  Work contract, social security number and individual bank accounts to receive salary payment were provided to all beneficiaries into formal labor system. 
• Turkish Language Training: Syrian beneficiaries received Turkish Language Training to remove an important barrier to the social integration into Turkish society an enabled them to better access the labor market. MoNE certificates were provided to the Syrian refugees who completed the courses successfully. 
• Childcare Activities: Childcare services provided to enable mothers to work on the project during the working hours to foster women's participation in labor market.
• Planting activities: The ecological awareness of the beneficiaries were increased. Through its reforestation activities, 651.000 saplings plnated and watered producing sustainable environmental effects. The first lavender garden established with 15.000 lavender in Gaziantep region.
• Irrigation System: Drop irrigation system was installed for permanent watering of saplings.
• Social Cohesion Activities: Social and cultural activities were organised among different groups (Syrian refugees and vulnerable Turkish citizens) in order to support intercultural communication and social cohesion.
• Medical Checkups: Medical checkups were performed for the newly employed all beneficiaries at the beginning of the project.
• Catering & Transportation Services: Catering and transportation services provided to the beneficiaries within the scope of the project.