79 social service professionals in Adıyaman, Kahramanmaraş and Hatay received training to better meet the needs of the earthquake-affected communities

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) contributes to designing and delivering accessible and gender-sensitive social services in the aftermath of the devastating February earthquakes that hit 11 provinces across southern Türkiye. In September 2023, UNDP has initiated a series of capacity-building training sessions for effective post-earthquake social service delivery, under the US$1.7 million initiative funded by the United Kingdom aiming to build community-based models for earthquake recovery through vocational training, employment and social services. 

The training took place in earthquake-hit Adıyaman, Kahramanmaraş and Hatay provinces, in collaboration with the municipalities. A total of 79 professionals, of which 46 are women, working in the field of social service provision in the municipalities, as well as workers in various public institutions in these provinces specializing in social services and related fields, participated. 

UNDP brought together professionals from different areas of social services to provide insight and capacity building on core values and principles in social work practices, service provision methods for people with special needs, outreach activities, social work in shocks and disasters, and service providers' well-being. 

The participants stated that these activities are critical in recognizing the professional values and technical details of the field as well as acknowledging the vital role of social work to restore normal life in the region, especially for vulnerable groups like women, elderly and persons with disabilities.

Professionals from various institutions emphasized the importance of inter-institutional collaboration and coordination and discussed service mapping. Training sessions helped participants to gain awareness about the basic approaches, improve their technical skills, and refresh professional knowledge. 

“Social work is essential for empowerment and resilience,” said UNDP Türkiye Gender Specialist Gökçe Bayrakçeken Tüzel. “Enhanced capacities of service providers, and professionals will help to trigger the coordination between the different institutions acting as the connected parts of social services in each province and better meet the needs of communities.”

With this training UNDP aims to support the social service provision with the principle of “leaving no one behind” and contribute to the improved recovery and resilience of communities in the earthquake zone. The training sessions will be repeated in Adıyaman, Kahramanmaraş and Hatay in October 2023.