Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) launched a vital development project for the Agadez region of Niger and the nearby Eladep Village, which have been severely affected by global warming and drought.
The historically significant city of Agadez, situated on the southern edge of the Sahara Desert, faces severe challenges from drought, global warming, and irregular migration. Positioned near the Libyan and Algerian borders and at the crossroads of migration routes to Europe, the region contends with issues such as human trafficking and drug smuggling.
In response, the Agadez Youth Council, established by the Government of Niger, works to steer young people away from harmful behaviors and guide them toward productive activities.
A modern agricultural center established in Eladep village
TİKA has established an agricultural production and trial center on a 2-hectare plot in Eladep Village, located 7 kilometers from Agadez.
The center’s infrastructure is designed to enable farmers to produce crops year-round, independent of the rainy season. It is equipped with a garden, a water well, a water tank, solar energy systems, a storage facility, California-style irrigation systems, seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, irrigation containers, shovels, rakes, and other essential agricultural tools.
The opening and delivery ceremony for the project, implemented with the support of the Agadez Municipality and the Sultanate of Agadez, was attended by Albakari Illa Garo, the Sultan of Agadez’s representative; Ibrahim Idrassi, President of the Agadez Youth Council; Ghali Elingui, Chief of Eladep Village; TİKA officials; and local farmers.
The agricultural production and trial center aims to diversify agricultural and livestock activities in the region, encourage youth involvement in production, and address challenges related to water access.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) has renovated the building housing the Religious Administration of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the Muslim Association of Ukraine, which was damaged during airstrikes on Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine.
The Islamic Cultural Center, which suffered significant damage in the intense airstrikes on Kyiv, is home to institutions such as the Religious Administration of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, the Muslim Association of Ukraine, and the Union of Ukrainian Muslim Women. Thanks to TİKA’s efforts, the center has been restored to a functional and usable state.
The center’s mosque, which serves as a place of worship for Muslims in Kyiv, particularly Crimean Tatar compatriots, has been renovated and reopened for worship.
The damaged windows, doors, walls, and lighting systems of the building—including the sewing workshop recently established by TİKA under the Union of Ukrainian Muslim Women—have been fully repaired and are now operational.
The Islamic Cultural Center not only hosts the religious and cultural institutions of Crimean Tatar compatriots but also serves as a place of worship for all Muslims with a special focus on Crimean Tatars. This center, where Muslims gather for religious and special occasions, plays a vital role in addressing the religious and social needs of the Muslim community amidst the challenging conditions of war in Ukraine.
The Mushroom Biotechnology Laboratory, established by Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan’s Azad Jammu and Kashmir region, was inaugurated during a formal ceremony.
The opening ceremony, held at the Goira Agricultural Complex, was attended by Azad Jammu and Kashmir Agriculture Minister, Serdar Mir Ekber Han; TİKA’s Head of the East and South Asia, Pacific and Latin America Department, Dursun Ali Yaşacan; TİKA’s Coordinator in Islamabad, Muhsin Balcı; officials from the Ministry of Agriculture; and numerous farmers.
Speaking at the ceremony, Azad Jammu and Kashmir Agriculture Minister Ekber Han emphasized that the region’s cool climate and nutrient-rich soils are ideal for mushroom cultivation. He noted that the laboratory established by TİKA will equip local residents with the knowledge and skills needed for mushroom farming. Additionally, the mushroom seeds produced at the facility will be distributed to the community through grant programs, significantly contributing to the growth of the local economy.
In his speech, TİKA’s Head of the East and South Asia, Pacific and Latin America Department, Dursun Ali Yaşacan, emphasized TİKA’s contributions to enhancing production capacities in the region. He underscored that the project provides both economic and social benefits. Yaşacan added that increasing technical capacity, producing mushroom cultures, and conducting training programs will help raise awareness among farmers about the potential of mushroom cultivation.
The “Radio Museum,” constructed by Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) at the headquarters of Radio Pakistan, the country’s largest broadcasting network, was inaugurated during a formal ceremony.
The museum is enriched with valuable documents on Pakistan’s radio history, vintage broadcasting equipment, musical instruments, and archives of historic radio programs. It aims to promote Pakistan’s cultural heritage while documenting the country’s historical evolution of radio broadcasting.
Supported by TİKA, the museum also highlights the impact and historical significance of Radio Pakistan, which operates an extensive media network comprising 80 broadcasting units across 32 publishing houses nationwide.
The opening ceremony was attended by Berk Ece, Counselor of the Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye in Islamabad; Dursun Ali Yaşacan, TİKA’s Head of the East and South Asia, Pacific and Latin America Department; Muhsin Balcı, TİKA’s Coordinator in Islamabad; officials from Radio Pakistan; representatives of Turkish institutions; and numerous journalists and television broadcasters.
Speaking at the ceremony, Department Head Yaşacan emphasized that Radio Pakistan has served as a voice of unity, progress, and change since its establishment in 1947, providing information and preserving cultural heritage. He noted that the museum will not only keep Pakistan’s radio history alive but also strengthen cultural ties between Türkiye and Pakistan.
Radio Pakistan, a cornerstone of the country’s media history, has played a significant role in fostering social change and shaping national identity. The establishment of the Radio Museum aims to preserve this media legacy, raise awareness in society, protect cultural heritage, and promote media literacy through exhibitions and organized events.
In collaboration with Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) and the Senegalese Ministry of Justice, two modern greenhouses have been established on the grounds of Sebikotane Prison to support training and rehabilitation efforts. These facilities enable inmates to acquire greenhouse cultivation skills while serving their sentences.
The project, implemented in partnership with the National School of Penitentiary Administration under the Senegalese Ministry of Justice, features two greenhouses, each spanning 2,500 square meters. Located within Sebikotane Prison and supervised by the Dakar Regional Prison authority, the initiative provides inmates with a chance to develop professional skills and embark on a path toward a fresh start.
As part of the project, a drip irrigation system was installed across a 5,000-square-meter greenhouse area. Additionally, vegetable seeds, fruit seedlings, fertilizers, humus soil, and various agricultural tools were provided, ensuring the necessary infrastructure for production.
A significant portion of the vegetables cultivated in the greenhouse established by TİKA will be allocated for inmates’ consumption, while the surplus will be sold. The revenue generated from these sales will be utilized by the prison administration to support prisoner rehabilitation programs.
The project aims to facilitate inmates’ reintegration into society upon their release and reduce the likelihood of reoffending by equipping them with skills in greenhouse cultivation.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) has provided 458 sets of traditional folklore costumes, specially crafted in Türkiye, to the folk dance teams of Turkish and Tatar compatriots affiliated with the Romanian Democratic Turkish Union and the Romanian Muslim Tatar Turks Democratic Union.
Turkish and Tatar communities in Romania actively work under the umbrellas of these unions to preserve, celebrate, and pass down their social and cultural heritage to future generations. Folk dance events hold a particularly significant place among these efforts.
Our compatriots, who perform traditional folk dances during festivals, shows, and competitions, have played a vital role in showcasing Turkish culture to Romanians and preserving this rich heritage from the past to the present.
TİKA delivered costumes featuring traditional clothing and accessories—including headgear, headscarves, shirts, bindallı, shalwars, üç etek, belts, socks, shoes, and jodhpurs—representing the regions of Kandıra, Zonguldak, the Aegean, Central Anatolia, the Black Sea, Kütahya, Elazığ, Sakarya, Diyarbakır, Artvin, Kırklareli, Ankara, Thrace, and Crimea. These costumes were provided to the Romanian Democratic Turkish Union and the Romanian Muslim Tatar Turks Democratic Union for use by folk dance teams composed of women, men, and children.
The project aimed to support the folk dance teams of the Turkish and Tatar unions in better representing their cultural heritage at various events, enhancing the preservation and development of national and cultural values, and most importantly, promoting a sense of social unity and awareness among young people.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) has established an Olive Oil Production Unit on the campus of the Ministry of Agriculture in Muzaffarabad, the capital of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir region of Pakistan. The facility was inaugurated during a formal ceremony.
The opening ceremony was attended by the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Minister of Agriculture, Serdar Mir Ekber Han; TİKA’s Head of the East and South Asia, Pacific and Latin America Department, Dursun Ali Yaşacan; TİKA’s Coordinator in Islamabad, Muhsin Balcı; officials from the Ministry of Agriculture; as well as numerous farmers and local residents.
Speaking at the ceremony, Azad Jammu and Kashmir Minister of Agriculture Ekber Han highlighted the deep-rooted friendship between Türkiye and Pakistan, recalling that Türkiye was the first country to provide aid after the devastating 2005 earthquake. He stated that the establishment of the olive oil production facility is a testament to these enduring ties.
In his speech, TİKA’s Head of the East and South Asia, Pacific, and Latin America Department, Dursun Ali Yaşacan, noted that TİKA has implemented approximately 700 projects since 2010. He emphasized that the Olive Oil Production Unit will contribute to increasing olive oil production in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
The unit, established by TİKA, has a production capacity of 100 liters of olive oil per hour. It is expected to benefit approximately 5,000 farmers in its initial phase, enabling them to produce olive oil locally without the need to travel to other cities outside Muzaffarabad.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) completed the renovation and repair of two schools in the Kale-i Zal district of Kunduz province, Afghanistan. The schools were inaugurated with an official ceremony.
The opening ceremony carried out in collaboration with TİKA and Kunduz Province’s National Education Directorate, was attended by Kari Salih Muhammed Nikmel, Deputy Director of National Education for Kunduz; Mevlevi Gül Rahman Muaviye, Education Director of Kale-i Zal; Mikail Taşdemir, TİKA’s Coordinator in Mazar-i-Sharif; Dr. Ahmet Çanga, Mazar-i-Sharif Desk Officer; as well as teachers, students, parents, and village elders.
As part of the project, the roofs of the schools were replaced, the interior and exterior walls were repainted and replastered, and the doors and windows were repaired. Additionally, suspended ceilings and fans were installed to enhance air circulation in the classrooms. Solar panels were added to meet the schools’ electricity needs, and additional equipment was provided to support both students and teachers.
Speaking at the ceremony; Kunduz Deputy Director of National Education, Kari Salih Muhammed Nikmel stated that the renovation and repair work carried out by TİKA exceeded their expectations. He emphasized that Türkiye and TİKA have long supported the Afghan people, particularly through contributions to education in Afghanistan. Highlighting the role of such projects in preparing younger generations for a brighter future, Nikmel expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the Turkish people and TİKA.
TİKA’s Coordinator in Mazar-i-Sharif, Mikail Taşdemir stated that the renovation and repair of Halil Saadet Primary School and Martyr Abdul Samet Mahdum Secondary School, originally built by TİKA in 2007, have provided approximately 2,500 students with a safer and more modern learning environment. Taşdemir highlighted that the project aims to enhance the quality of education in the region and support children who represent the future’s promise. He emphasized that TİKA will continue its educational initiatives across Afghanistan.
Local residents and education officials pledged to maintain the improved physical conditions and uphold the quality of education at the renovated schools. The project was recognized as a significant step in strengthening the bonds of friendship between Türkiye and Afghanistan. The local community expressed their gratitude and satisfaction, thanking Türkiye for its support.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) has established a physical therapy unit at the Mental Disability Rehabilitation Center in Hisar, Tajikistan. Additionally, the center’s bakery has been renovated and equipped with modern facilities.
The Hisar Mental Disability Rehabilitation Center, operating under the Tajikistan State Social Protection Agency, is one of 11 rehabilitation centers in the country. It provides care and treatment to 240 patients with various mental health conditions.
The physical therapy unit, addressing one of the center’s most critical needs for its 240 patients, was established as part of a collaborative project between TİKA and the Social Protection Agency.
The opening ceremony was attended by Hakim Holzoda, President of the Social Protection Agency; İbrahim Ethem Ünal, TİKA’s Coordinator in Dushanbe; representatives from the Tajikistan Ministry of Health and Social Protection; and staff from the Turkish Embassy in Dushanbe.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, officials from the Tajikistan Ministry of Health and Social Protection expressed their gratitude to Türkiye and TİKA, noting that the support provided to the center would greatly enhance the quality of its services.
TİKA continues to improve the living conditions of socially vulnerable groups and individuals in need through its projects in Tajikistan, while also contributing to the country’s social development.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), in collaboration with the Nayaba Women Manufacturers Association, has established a Regional Packaging and Production Workshop in Niamey, the capital of Niger.
Niger faces significant challenges in food security, national stability, and energy needs. The industrialization process, a cornerstone of development, is hindered by various obstacles. Despite the country’s economy being largely based on agriculture and animal husbandry, even basic production activities like packaging cannot be performed locally due to technological limitations.
In this context, TİKA established the “Regional Packaging and Production Workshop” in cooperation with the Nayaba Women Manufacturers Association to support the participation of women manufacturers in Niger’s industrial production processes.
The approximately 200-square-meter semi-closed hangar of the Nayaba Women Manufacturers Association in Niamey was renovated and transformed into a modern production facility. The facility now includes training classrooms, boutique spaces, and additional production areas, along with machines for shell-crushing, grinding, oil extraction, drying, roasting, labeling, and dating to process agricultural products. The workshop is also equipped with furniture, such as tables and shelves, as well as air conditioning and refrigeration units.
Daily capacity increased from 50 liters to 60 liters
The workshop opening was attended by Can Onat Atış, 3rd Secretary of the Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye in Niamey; Tanju Polat, TİKA’s Coordinator in Niamey; Rabi Arzika, President of the Nayaba Women Manufacturers Association; and many Nigerien women producers.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Rabi Arzika, President of the Nayaba Women Manufacturers Association, emphasized the significant increase in production capacity thanks to the support provided by TİKA. Arzika stated, “With TİKA’s support, our daily peanut oil production capacity has increased from 50 liters to 60 liters per hour. We would like to express our gratitude to the Republic of Türkiye and the Turkish people for this invaluable support.”
Strong support for women producers
The Regional Packaging and Production Workshop, established as part of the project, will serve the 63 members of the Nayaba Women Manufacturers Association, as well as hundreds of women producers across Niamey. Thanks to the workshop, women producers now have the opportunity to process, package, and label their products more efficiently and in accordance with industry standards.
The project aims to reduce time and labor losses in agricultural production and packaging, ultimately helping to prevent market losses.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), in collaboration with the Afghanistan National Saffron Union, provided equipment and material support to farmers in western Afghanistan. This region is home to over 50,000 saffron farmers, the majority of whom are women, producing some of the world’s highest-quality saffron.
TİKA supplied 4,500 small and large baskets for harvesting and transporting saffron, 10 tables, chairs for separating saffron stigmas from flowers, 20 drying machines, 4 bagging and packaging machines, and a saffron storage tank.
The delivery ceremony for the materials was attended by Sinan İlhan, Turkish Consul General in Herat; Arafat Deniz, TİKA’s Coordinator in Herat; İbrahim Adil, President of the Afghanistan Saffron Union; Necibullah Rahmeti, Deputy President of the Herat Chamber of Agriculture; and farmers from various districts and villages.
Speaking at the event, Consul General İlhan highlighted the heightened appreciation for farmers during the pandemic and emphasized that agriculture will continue to play a vital role in the future. He also underscored the significance of the support provided for saffron production.
TİKA’s Coordinator in Herat, Arafat Deniz emphasized that agriculture is Afghanistan’s primary source of income. He noted that previous efforts, such as distributing saffron bulbs, helped expand the cultivation of this valuable crop. Now, the provision of equipment and machinery aims to enable farmers to work more efficiently.
Afghanistan National Saffron Union President İbrahim Adil highlighted the existence of 38 unions across the country and expressed gratitude to Türkiye and TİKA for their support of this significant project, which seeks to increase saffron production.
This initiative, which will initially benefit 1,000 farmers in Herat, aims to enhance economic returns and agricultural income by enabling the local processing and packaging of saffron in rural areas.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) distributed food parcels containing essential supplies to 1,500 families affected by the devastating cyclone in the Sittwe region of Myanmar’s Rakhine state.
Cyclone Mocha, which struck Myanmar’s Rakhine state in July, caused extensive damage to numerous settlements. Many families, already struggling to access basic food supplies due to ongoing regional conflicts, are now fighting to survive with the help of humanitarian aid.
The food aid distributed by TİKA offered crucial support to struggling families in the region while strengthening the bonds of friendship between Myanmar and Türkiye.
Families who received the food parcels expressed their gratitude to Türkiye and TİKA, sharing their appreciation for the assistance provided.
