Launched with UNDP support, “SDG Investment Turkey” shows investors how to ensure their funds contribute to sustainable development

Istanbul, 3 February 2022 – A new digital platform launched today will guide investors to initiatives in Turkey that deliver measurable progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and created by the Impact Investment Advisory Board (EYDK), “SDG Investment Turkey,” aims to mobilize private sector funds for impact investments aimed at protecting people and planet. Designed as a one-stop-shop for investors, entrepreneurs and funders, the new platform provides unified standards, tools, services and best practices to identify SDG investment opportunities in Turkey.

“Without the engagement of the private sector, we stand no chance of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals,” said UNDP Turkey Resident Representative Louisa Vinton. “That is why we are so pleased to be launching this new platform, which will provide guideposts for investors looking to help to protect our planet and people’s wellbeing while securing a good return.”

“The private sector plays an important role in achieving the sustainable development agenda in Turkey” said Şafak Müderrisgil, President of EYDK”. “The SDG Investments Turkey Platform will provide investors with investment opportunities based on impact data and standards, share audited success stories, and raise awareness on SDG-aligned impact investments. We believe that this platform, which aims to mobilize private sector, will also shed light on the importance of impact measurement and management, and will be a reference point for raising awareness against impact washing. We will see that SDG-anchored impact investment will be incrementally increasing and more success stories will be created through this platform.”

“SDG Investment Turkey” showcases promising areas for SDG-centered investment in Turkey and lists specific investments with high SDG impact. Prospective investors will find investment-related information on regions, sectors, expected impact, indicative return, market timeframe, investment timeframe and ticket size. Among the sectors profiled are: consumer goods, education, mineral processing, finance, food and beverages, healthcare, infrastructure, renewable resources, resource transformation, services, transportation, technology and communications.

The investment opportunity areas and SDG investment list were developed in line with the SDG Investor Map for Turkey, which was created by UNDP Turkey with technical assistance from UNDP’s Istanbul International Center for the Private Sector in Development (IICPSD).

The platform also features stories of successful SDG impact investments in Turkey and contains a knowledge repository on impact investing that includes extensive training materials available free of charge. The training content in the platform is created in cooperation with IICPSD.

The target audience for the platform includes investors that wish to invest capital to achieve the SDGs, foundations that would like to measure the impact towards SDGs, private capital funds, bond issuers and enterprises that wish to adapt their internal decision-making mechanisms with SDGs to verify contributions and obtain independent assurance.

The platform is also expected to benefit academicians who would like to receive impact management and measurement training to improve the decision framework for SDG impact standards, consulting companies that wish to act as accredited independent assurance providers, development financing institutions that aim to find partners to support local investment opportunities or SDG-related projects, and public institutions that wish to attract private investment to their countries to help development of their societies.

EYDK was founded to develop an impact investing model and create a well-functioning impact investing ecosystem in Turkey. With UNDP as a partner, EYDK aims to bring together all stakeholders to make impact investing a mainstream investment model in Turkey.

To access the SDG Investment Turkey platform: https://sdg.eydk.org/

For more information:

Sezin Bulum (Ms.), Marjinal Porter Novelli +90 533 282 2970  sezinb@marjinal.com.tr

Bahar Paykoç, UNDP Turkey, bahar.paykoc@undp.org

UNDP partners with people at all levels of society to help build nations that can withstand crisis, and drive and sustain the kind of growth that improves the quality of life for everyone. On the ground in 177 countries and territories, we offer global perspective and local insight to help empower lives and build resilient nations. tr.undp.org

EYDK

Impact Investing Advisory Board (EYDK) aims to facilitate the development of impact investments and establish a well-functioning ecosystem in Turkey, and has a vision to make the impact investment model a widespread, sustainable and inclusive investment option in Turkey. https://www.eydk.org/about-eydk/