SESRIC organised a Study Visit on Corporate Social Responsibility for the benefit of a delegation of 5 Palestinians on 26-28 February 2019 in Ankara, Turkey.

The main objectives of the study visit were to learn from the Turkish experience in shifting from passive philanthropy to active involvement of all actors in society, and benefit from Turkish experience in developing the Waqf philosophy.

The delegation witnessed firsthand and analyzed examples of best practices and success stories in Turkey in the field of social responsibility and promoting microfinance as a component of Turkey’s overall poverty reduction strategy.

The group visited relevant institutions in the capital Ankara, including the Turkish Strategy and Budget Presidency, the General Directorate of Social Assistance and Solidarity in the Turkish Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Services, the General Directorate of Foundations, the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Organization (KOSGEB), the Organised Industrial Region Directorate OSTIM, and the Ankara Developments Agency.

The delegation also paid a visit to SESRIC Headquarters, where H.E. Amb Musa Kulaklıkaya, DG of SESRIC, and members of the staff received them. SESRIC's staff briefed the delegation on the mission and mandates of the Centre.

During the visit in Ankara, the Palestinian delegation had the chance to explore the management and regulatory framework and the institutional arrangements of Turkey in the area of social responsibility, as well as the role of partnerships between government, business and civil society organisations in stimulating entrepreneurship and development.

The experience and lessons learned from the study visit will help Palestine shape its own model of social responsibility.

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