Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) and the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) signed a memorandum of understanding in Ankara to enhance collaboration in the field of statistics and to implement technical assistance initiatives.
The signing ceremony, held at TİKA headquarters in Ankara, was attended by Serkan Kayalar, President of TİKA; Dr. Erhan Çetinkaya, President of TurkStat and delegations from both institutions.
The protocol aims to further develop and strengthen the long-standing cooperation between the two organizations and provide technical assistance to countries seeking to enhance their statistical capacities. Additionally, joint activities, including domestic and international training programs, study visits and workshops, will be organized as part of the protocol.
In his speech at the signing ceremony, TİKA President Serkan Kayalar emphasized the significance of the memorandum of understanding in strengthening the cooperation between the two institutions. He noted that the agreement would facilitate the more effective and efficient transfer of both institutions’ knowledge and expertise to beneficiary countries on an international scale.
Kayalar also expressed his belief that the agreement would further deepen the existing cooperation and friendship between the two organizations.
TurkStat President Dr. Erhan Çetinkaya expressed his satisfaction with the memorandum of understanding signed between the two institutions, noting that joint projects and activities will be implemented to share Türkiye’s expertise in the field of statistics with countries seeking to enhance their national statistical systems.
Through the protocol, TİKA and TurkStat aim to transfer technical knowledge and foster collaboration on mutually agreed-upon areas, ultimately strengthening bilateral relations and expanding technical cooperation opportunities in the field of statistics.
In this regard, the collaboration between the two institutions is considered crucial for enhancing the institutional framework of statistical services in the countries receiving technical assistance. It will also support efforts toward digital transformation and the development of data collection, processing and publishing methods in line with international standards across various statistical fields.
Through the TİKA-TurkStat partnership, knowledge and experience-sharing programs have been implemented in numerous countries including Mongolia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Tunisia and Vietnam. Most recently, in August 2024, 45 trainees were trained in Uzbekistan on the development of “International Trade in Goods and Services Statistics” and “Tourism Statistics” as part of the TİKA-TurkStat collaboration. As a continuation of this program, a 10-member Uzbek delegation is set to receive further training at TurkStat, while a training session on “Institutional and Digital Transformation in Statistics” is planned for Djibouti under the same cooperation framework.
Since 2022, Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) has been setting up “Technoclass” innovation classrooms in schools across the Republic of Moldova, equipping them with modern, state-of-the-art technology.
Following the visit of deputies from the Türkiye-Moldova Friendship Group of the Moldovan Parliament to Türkiye, a demand emerged for the establishment of sample laboratories in various regions of Moldova. As part of this project, which aligns with the “Model School Project” implemented by the Ministry of National Education of the Republic of Moldova, laboratories have been set up in five schools.
To date, modern laboratories specializing in physics, chemistry and biology have been made available to students at the following schools: Chisinau’s “Mircea Eliade Theoretical High School,” Floresht’s “Ion Creanga Theoretical High School,” Ceadîr-Lunga’s “Mihail Çakir Theoretical High School,” Kongaz’s “Suleyman Demirel Turkish-Moldovan High School” and Drokia’s “Mihai Eminescu Theoretical High School.”
The Moldovan education system is being enhanced by creating environments where young people can access technological and scientific innovations on par with their peers in developed countries. These modernized schools allow students to cultivate their innovative skills in facilities equipped with the latest technologies.
Renovated Physics Laboratory
TİKA has renovated and equipped the Physics Laboratory at M. Eminescu Drokia High School in Drokia City.
The opening ceremony for the project was attended by Muhammed Ünal, Head of TİKA’s Balkans and Eastern Europe Department (BADA); Marina Morozova, Member of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova; Marcelina Baleca, Head of the General Education Policy Department of the Ministry of Education and Research of the Republic of Moldova; Vasile Cemortan, Governor of Drokia Region; Vitalie Josanu, Drokia Officer of the Prime Ministry of the Republic of Moldova; and Sergiu Prodan, Principal of M. Eminescu Drokia High School.
Speaking at the event, Ünal, Head of the BADA Department stated that as part of the Model School Project carried out by the Ministry of National Education of the Republic of Moldova, TİKA has established innovation classrooms following the “Technoclass” concept in the Chisinau, Floresht, Ceadîr-Lunga, Kongaz and Drokia regions.
Launched in 2022, the project provides a dynamic and enriched learning experience in the fields of physics, chemistry and biology, aiming to empower both educators and students.
MP Morozova expressed her satisfaction with the renovation of the physics laboratory, which has been equipped with modern facilities by TİKA after many years. She stated that the project is an excellent example of how quickly things can change.
High School Principal Prodan conveyed his gratitude to the Turkish people and TİKA for realizing this important project, which is essential for practical training.
He also added that the laboratory will serve as a model for how laboratories in other high schools across the country should be designed.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) has established a “Vocational Training and Production Unit” in the town of Saga, Niamey. The unit, equipped with sewing and embroidery machines as well as a sales office, is designed to support vocational training programs for girls at the Saga Orphanage, which is home to nearly 250 orphans.
In Niger, where nearly half the population lives below the poverty line according to international statistics, the rising number of orphans—due to premature deaths and poverty—has become one of the country’s pressing issues.
In addition to the limited formal education provided, the orphanage management organizes various vocational training programs to equip the children with valuable skills and to steer them away from common issues such as begging and theft.
With the vocational unit established on the existing orphanage campus, TİKA supports children receiving vocational training to pursue their professions after completing their formal education, helping them achieve economic independence. Additionally, it is planned that part of the revenue generated from this initiative will be used to meet the needs of other children in the orphanage and to organize new vocational training programs.
The opening and handover ceremony of the workshop, built by TİKA for the orphans of Saga, was attended by Türkiye’s Ambassador to Niamey, Özgür Çınar; TİKA’s Coordinator in Niamey, Tanju Polat; orphanage officials and local administrators.
In his speech, Ambassador Çınar emphasized the significance of the project in helping orphaned children earn a livelihood by integrating them into professional life and he conveyed messages of cooperation, unity and solidarity.
Orphanage officials and local administrators also expressed their gratitude for Türkiye’s support and kindness toward the people of Niger, expressing hope that the cooperation between Türkiye and Niger will continue to grow.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) handed over greenhouses established as part of the “Greenhouse Cultivation Development Project” to local farmers in Montenegro. The aim of the project is to strengthen agricultural production in the country. The handover ceremonies took place in the municipalities of Berane, Petnjica and Pljevlja.
TİKA has been supporting greenhouse production in Montenegro since 2015 as part of the “Support Program for Food Security and Life Safety in the Balkans and Eastern European Countries”. Through the “Greenhouse Cultivation Development Project,” TİKA aims to increase agricultural production in the region and enhance the efficiency of local farmers. To date, approximately 300 greenhouses have been delivered to local producers under this initiative.
The delivery ceremonies for the greenhouses were attended by Türkiye’s Ambassador to Podgorica, Barış Kalkavan; TİKA’s Coordinator in Montenegro, Nihal Ersoy; Petnjica Mayor, Samir Agović; Montenegro’s Director of Agriculture, Miroslav Cimbaljević from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Affairs; Director of the Food Safety, Veterinary and Plant Health Administration, Vladimir Đaković, as well as the greenhouse owners.
Speaking at the delivery ceremony, Ambassador Kalkavan emphasized that TİKA has been supporting agricultural development in Montenegro through its projects and activities for 17 years, contributing to the economic empowerment of local producers and promoting the spread of sustainable agricultural practices.
TİKA Coordinator Ersoy emphasized in her speech that they prioritize projects aimed at improving agricultural employment and preventing external migration in Montenegro. She also noted that careful consideration was given in selecting the entrepreneurs who received the greenhouses as part of the project.
Cimbaljević noted that TİKA has implemented significant projects in Montenegro in areas such as fruit cultivation, beekeeping, greenhouse farming, olive production and raspberry cultivation. He expressed gratitude on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Affairs of Montenegro for TİKA’s support, particularly for helping families in need through greenhouse farming initiatives.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) has renovated Rehabilitation Department Number 1 within the Experimental Prosthesis, Orthopedics and Rehabilitation Center (CREPOR), the only facility in Moldova specializing in prosthetics.
The center, which also houses a prosthetics factory established in 1945 to meet the needs of World War II victims, provides services to over 55,000 war veterans, including 11,800 veterans from Afghanistan and Transnistria.
In addition to serving war veterans, the center provides treatment and rehabilitation for individuals with disabilities and musculoskeletal disorders. It offers a range of services, including physiotherapy, kinesiotherapy, balneotherapy, thermotherapy, ionotherapy, bath therapy and other medical treatments.
As part of the project conducted in collaboration between TİKA and CREPOR, a comprehensive renovation of Rehabilitation Department No. 1 was completed first. In the second phase of the project, new furniture and medical equipment were supplied.
The opening ceremony was attended by Uygar Mustafa Sertel, Türkiye’s Ambassador to Chișinău; Muhammed Ünal, the Head of TİKA’s Balkans and Eastern Europe Department; Adrian Belîi, Head of the Health and Social Security Commission of the Republic of Moldova; Boris Marcoci, Deputy of the Republic of Moldova; Constantin Covrig, Veterans Advisor to the Prime Minister of Moldova; and Veronica Lebedinski, Director of the CREPOR Center.
Speaking at the ceremony, Ambassador Sertel noted that he had visited CREPOR a year ago and was delighted to see the center’s current condition.
He emphasized that Türkiye was actively supporting the Republic of Moldova in various areas and mentioned that tangible results had been achieved through the projects implemented by TİKA.
BEED Head Ünal noted that out of nearly 500 projects and activities implemented since the opening of the TİKA Chișinău Program Coordination Office in 1994, 50 were in the field of health.
He expressed his satisfaction that patients receiving treatment at the renovated and fully equipped 40-bed Rehabilitation Center No. 1 could quickly return to their daily lives and resume their activities.
CREPOR Director Lebedinski expressed her gratitude to TİKA and the Republic of Türkiye for implementing such an important project. She also conveyed her satisfaction with the opportunities now available to patients as a result of the renovations carried out in the section, which had not been updated in 22 years. She noted that war veterans, in particular, benefit from the improvements made in this area and expressed her excitement about the enhanced services they will receive as a result.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) organized a two-week sewing training program for people with disabilities at the Tlamelong Rehabilitation Center, run by the Botswana Red Cross Society.
Previously, TİKA had supplied the center’s sewing workshop with nine sewing machines and three overlock machines. As part of the project, a two-week training program was launched, along with the provision of fabrics and necessary equipment to support the center’s activities.
The training program was inaugurated with a ceremony attended by Türkiye’s Ambassador to Gaborone, Ahmet İdem Akay; TİKA’s Coordinator in Pretoria, Abdulkadir Abukan; Secretary General of the Botswana Red Cross Society, Kutlwano Mukokomani, board members, instructors and students from the Tlamelong Rehabilitation Center, as well as representatives from Botswana TV and various newspapers.
In his speech, Türkiye’s Ambassador to Gaborone, Ahmet İdem Akay, highlighted the projects that TİKA had previously implemented in the country and affirmed that Türkiye would continue supporting the development of Botswana.
Speaking at the opening, TİKA’s Coordinator in Pretoria, Abdulkadir Abukan highlighted various vocational training programs and projects TİKA has implemented for people with disabilities in the region, noting that the agency’s activities in Botswana have intensified each year.
Botswana Red Cross Society Secretary General Kutlwano Mukokomani discussed the efforts of the Tlamelong Rehabilitation Center to support the rehabilitation of disabled individuals. He also acknowledged past contributions and expressed his gratitude to TİKA for its continued support.
After the speeches, the training area was inaugurated, new fabrics and equipment were delivered and the training program commenced.
About the Tlamelong Rehabilitation Center
The Tlamelong Rehabilitation Center has been providing vocational training for individuals with disabilities since 1974, offering courses in tailoring, gardening, cooking and poultry farming. Currently, 36 disabled individuals aged 18 to 35 from various regions of Botswana are receiving boarding education at the center. Participants in the training program also receive separate literacy and fundamental formal education.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), in coordination with local authorities, provided humanitarian aid packages to the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the regions impacted by the flood disaster, aiming to help heal the community’s wounds.
On October 4, 2024, heavy rainfall in Bosnia and Herzegovina triggered widespread flooding in several regions. Reports indicate that at least 20 people lost their lives due to floods and landslides in the cities of Jablanica, Konjic, Fojnica and Kiseljak.
The southern and central parts of the country, particularly these cities, were severely impacted by the disaster. Numerous homes were destroyed and some areas were completely submerged.
Additionally, the highway and railway infrastructure connecting the southern and northern regions of Bosnia and Herzegovina suffered significant damage due to the flooding.
Search and rescue operations are being conducted by teams from the Civil Protection Administrations of both the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republika Srpska, alongside mountain search and rescue units previously trained by TİKA.
TİKA on the ground from day one
TİKA was the first international organization to coordinate with local governments immediately following the disaster.
In collaboration with the Islamic Community of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Merhamet Humanitarian Aid Association, TİKA delivered 300 aid packages containing food, hygiene materials, boots and blankets to families in the affected areas.
A Tailoring and Fashion Design department was established at Isra Girls High School, located in the Sinjel district of Palestine, with support from Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA).
Sinjel, a town of 6,000 residents situated north of Ramallah, has increasingly been subjected to attacks by Israeli forces and illegal settlers, while the socio-economic conditions in the area continue to deteriorate.
The ongoing attacks by Israel in the Gaza Strip have also led to a sharp rise in unemployment rates in Sinjel, as in many other regions of Palestine.
Girls learning “Tailoring and Fashion Design”
Established in 1996, Isra Girls High School with 277 students launched a Tailoring and Fashion Design department through support from TİKA, aimed at equipping students with vocational skills and creating job opportunities.
As part of the project, the school was provided with equipment such as integrated sewing machines, overlock machines, steam irons, mannequins and cutting tables.
The opening ceremony of the project was attended by the Consul General of the Republic of Türkiye in Jerusalem, Ambassador İsmail Çobanoğlu; TİKA’s Coordinator in Palestine, Orhan Aydın; Deputy Minister of Education of Palestine, Dr. Nafi Assaf; Sinjel Mayor, Mutaz Abdurrahman; Birzeit Education Director, Luay Rimawi; Ministry of Education Vocational Education Department Director, Cihad Draidi, along with school administrators and students.
“The only department in the region”
Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Minister Assaf emphasized that Türkiye’s support during these challenging times for Palestine holds great significance for them.
Stating that they have consistently received strong support, particularly political backing, from President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Deputy Minister Assaf expressed his gratitude to TİKA and Türkiye for establishing the first and only department in the Birzeit region. He highlighted that TİKA has supported the Palestinian people through such projects for many years.
The Consul General of Türkiye in Jerusalem, Ambassador Çobanoğlu, also emphasized that Türkiye and the Turkish people have always stood in solidarity with Palestine. He noted that TİKA has implemented numerous projects in Palestine, particularly in vocational training, employment and income generation, and expressed pride in these efforts.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) supported a visit program organized by Croatian high school and university students to the Srebrenica Memorial Center in Potočari, marking the 29th anniversary of the Srebrenica Genocide.
The visit, named the “Never Forget Convoy,” was organized by the Bosniak National Minority Council of the City of Zagreb and took place on October 11-12, 2024 with the support of TİKA.
The project aims to help young people from different regions of Croatia gain awareness of the historical events in the region and broaden their perspectives by meeting one-on-one with witnesses of the genocide.
The program seeks to raise awareness and prevent similar tragedies in the future by giving participants the opportunity to study these historical events on-site.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), in collaboration with the FOREM Association, established a “Mushroom Production Farm” for educational purposes at the Education and Innovation Center in the Bordj El Kiffan region of Algeria.
The farm, established through the cooperation of TİKA and the FOREM Association, was inaugurated with a ceremony attended by Türkiye’s Ambassador to Algeria, M. Mücahit Küçükyılmaz; TİKA’s Coordinator in Algeria, Gökçen Kalkan; FOREM Association President, Prof. Dr. Mustafa Hiyati; and other distinguished guests.
At the opening, Ambassador Küçükyılmaz emphasized that mushroom production in Algeria is almost non-existent and noted that this project, initiated by TİKA, will serve as a pioneering effort in advancing mushroom cultivation in the country. He highlighted that Türkiye is eager to share its expertise in testing and developing new agricultural products with Algeria and mentioned that the project will focus on training young people in mushroom cultivation. Ambassador Küçükyılmaz expressed his gratitude to TİKA for its significant contributions to the project’s realization.
At the opening, FOREM Association President Prof. Dr. Mustafa Hiyati noted that mushroom production in Algeria is currently only a few hundred tons and emphasized that this project presents a valuable opportunity to boost production and promote wider consumption. He also expressed his gratitude to TİKA for their support.
After the opening ceremony, mushroom cultivation training commenced with the participation of 30 people.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) has implemented a support project for Qalqilya Kindergarten, the first preschool in the city, located in the Qalqilya region of Palestine.
The poor physical conditions of the school, which is managed by the Al Murabitat Charitable Society—founded in 1960 and run by women—were improved, creating a modern educational environment.
As part of the project, various materials such as furniture, toys, televisions, air conditioning and camera systems were provided to the kindergarten. The capacity of the newly renovated kindergarten increased from 70 to 165 students.
The project also contributed to women’s employment. In addition to the existing staff, five more women were hired at the upgraded school.
Qalqilya Kindergarten, one of TİKA’s projects supporting sustainable development in education, production and employment in Palestine, now aims to offer quality education to more children with its enhanced facilities and expanded capacity.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) established a Reusable Sanitary Pad Production Workshop in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital, to improve women’s access to hygienic products and support their participation in social life.
The fact that 75% of women, particularly in rural areas, lack access to sanitary pads contributes to the spread of infectious diseases and disrupts girls’ education. To address this issue, TİKA collaborated with the Orphan Child Care Center to establish and operationalize the Reusable Sanitary Pad Production Workshop.
The necessary production materials were supplied, and 15 women were employed.
Ethiopian Minister of Women and Social Affairs Visits Workshop
Ethiopian Minister of Women and Social Affairs, Dr. Ergogie Tesfaye, visited the workshop and expressed gratitude to Türkiye for TİKA’s sustainable projects.
Türkiye’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, Berk Baran highlighted that TİKA has implemented over 200 projects in Ethiopia to date, further strengthening the cooperation between the two countries.
In addition to producing sanitary pads, the project creates job opportunities for women in need, particularly those caring for orphans, offering both economic support and contributing to girls’ education.
The workshop plays a crucial role, especially in the social empowerment of women.
