The first step was taken towards the implementation of the “Strengthening Turkey’s Participation in International Development Cooperation Project”. Part of the “South-South Co-operation, it has been executed by TİKA with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The gathering at the project presentation was attended by State Minister Prof. Dr. Said Yazıcıoğlu, UNDP Turkey Representative Mahmud Eyub, TİKA President Musa Kulaklıkaya along with many guests and invitees.

In his speech, TİKA President Musa Kulaklıkaya indicated that Turkey’s place is significant among the development community because it is a development aid donor and a development aid receiver at the same time. President Kulaklıkaya also pointed out that Turkey is more frequently being referred to as an emerging donor country because of moving up its Official Development Assistance (ODA) from 339 USD in 2004 to 650 USD, which is the average for the following 3 years. The President Kulaklıkaya further stated that the “South-South Cooperation Project” is also important for the national policies of Turkey.

UNDP Turkey Representative Mahmud Eyub stated that South-South Cooperation Project gained importance from the first day of its implementation in 1978 and Turkey has ascended to the level of being a donor meanwhile. Eyüp pointed out that the main aim of the project is to strengthen and increase the capacity of Turkey as an emerging donor by increasing the effectiveness of Turkish ODA in compliance with the Paris Declaration Principles of the ownership, harmonization, management for results and accountability. He also stated that UNDP Turkey will play a coordinating role during the implementation of the project. Eyüp stated that the project will support TİKA to increase its capacity on various subjects related to the project implementation in terms of making the organization contribute to an increase in the capacity of the international aid structure.