Bahçeşehir University (BAU) actively collaborates with both government bodies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) across a broad spectrum to support and advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This cooperation spans various activities, including the development of policies, joint projects, research initiatives, and publications. Through these partnerships, BAU is committed to fostering impactful and sustainable solutions that address pressing global challenges.
The university engages in continuous dialogue and collaboration with stakeholders to ensure that its contributions to the SDGs are both effective and aligned with national and international objectives. This collaborative approach enables BAU to leverage collective expertise, resources, and networks to drive meaningful progress in areas such as education, innovation, and social development.
Examples of BAU's relationships with NGOs and government for SDG policy can be found in the section below.
1.BAHÇEŞEHIR UNIVERSITY (BAU): A STAKEHOLDER OF “MIGRATION POLICY SPECIALIZATION COMMITTEE” OF MINISTRY OF DEVELOPMENT
Bahçeşehir University participated as a key stakeholder in the formation of Turkey's External Migration Policy within the scope of the Ministry of Development’s 11th Development Plan, which includes the year 2023.
Prof. Dr. Ulaş Sunata, Director of Bahçeşehir University’s Migration and Urban Studies Center (BAUMUS), contributed as an expert on behalf of the university in the Migration Policy Specialization Committee, playing an essential role in the policy development process.
Information regarding Prof. Dr. Ulaş Sunata’s involvement and Bahçeşehir University’s contribution can be found on page "vi" of the commission’s report, accessible via the following link. https://cdn.bau.edu.tr/content/5ugwvuczqjape-migration%20policy_BAU.pdf
2.FROM POLICY TO PRACTICE: THE BAU-THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANİZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS (FAO) PARTNERSHIP FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
Since May 2022, Bahçeşehir University (BAU) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) have been collaborating to advance sustainable food systems, technological innovation, and smart agriculture.
This partnership, formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding, focuses on several key areas, including the creation of a "Learning, Research and Application Platform" and technical cooperation on digital transformation and the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in food systems. The collaboration also emphasizes gender equality and the empowerment of rural women. Through capacity development, knowledge exchange, research, innovation, and data sharing, BAU and FAO are promoting sustainable practices in Turkey, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Advocacy and communication efforts are also central to their work, raising awareness and supporting the implementation of good policies and practices.
https://www.fao.org/partnerships/academia/partner-showcase/detail/fr/c/1675350/
3.BAHÇEŞEHIR UNIVERSITY BECAME A STRATEGIC PARTNER with THE IMPACT INVESTING ADVISORY BOARD (EYDK) AND “ETKIYAP” ASSOCIATION
The foundations of the Impact Investing Advisory Board (EYDK) in Turkey, which will function like a higher council in identifying needs, developing strategies, and formulating policy recommendations for impact investment, were laid in April 2019.
Following its official establishment, the Impact Investing Advisory Board (EYDK) quickly and efficiently commenced its activities, working in close collaboration with all stakeholders in the ecosystem. Through these partnerships, EYDK developed inclusive and data-driven reports. To date, significant progress was made in policy development, market expansion, improving communication through a common language, and research, all while considering Turkey’s strategic priorities.
In March 2022, after swiftly completing a thorough due diligence process, EYDK became a member of the Global Steering Group for Impact Investment (GSG), positioning itself as an active player in the global impact investment ecosystem. As part of global impact investing networks, EYDK has since served as a crucial bridge, bringing global developments to Turkey and sharing Turkey’s best practices with international stakeholders, thus facilitating the allocation of international capital to Turkey. https://www.eydk.org/eydk/
Bahçeşehir University became a stakeholder by joining the Impact Investing Advisory Board (EYDK), which operates across a broad spectrum of activities ranging from contributing to policy development processes related to impact investing to supporting sustainable development through the promotion of best practices.
Information regarding Bahçeşehir University's collaboration with the relevant NGO and its membership can be accessed through the following link.
https://www.eydk.org/eydk-uyesi-olan-bahcesehir-universitesini-ziyaret-ettik/?lang=tr
4.COOPERATION PROTOCOL BETWEEN BAHÇEŞEHIR UNIVERSITY, ISTANBUL METROPOLITAN MUNICIPALITY, AND ISTANBUL FIRE DEPARTMENT
Bahçeşehir University signed a cooperation protocol with the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and Istanbul Fire Department. According to the protocol, the stakeholders declared their commitment to working together to raise awareness, particularly among children and the general public, about ways to protect against various disasters and emergencies. The parties will collaborate on projects, identify challenges and issues, and conduct educational activities aimed at addressing these challenges as part of their partnership.
As part of the collaboration, Bahçeşehir University will also provide capacity-building training for officials working on relevant issues at the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality.
The website for one of the projects implemented under the cooperation, the "Heroic Firefighters" project, can be accessed via the following link.
https://www.kahramanitfaiyeciler.org/
5."WOMEN, RESILIENCE, AND RECOVERY: BAHÇEŞEHIR UNIVERSITY AND WOMEN'S NGOS in ACTION"
Bahçeşehir University, in collaboration with the Professional Women's Network and Women Entrepreneurs Association of Turkey (KAGIDER), organized a workshop focused on mapping women-centered NGOs operating in the regions affected by the February 6, 2023 earthquake.
The event that took place on March 2, 2023,. The primary aim of this workshop was to identify gender-based challenges faced by women in the earthquake-affected areas, discuss potential solutions, and foster coordination among women-focused civil society organizations active in the region.
Over 20 women-focused NGOs, committed to addressing women's issues, providing support, and empowering women in the disaster zone, came together at the workshop hosted by Bahçeşehir University. The university was represented by Rector Prof. Dr. Şirin Karadeniz and Social Impact and Responsibility Director, Prof. Dr. Sis Hall. During the workshop, a comprehensive mapping of urgent needs in the region was conducted, detailing which NGO was addressing specific issues, identifying existing needs, and exploring potential collaborations. The outcomes of this mapping study were shared with the public and policymakers to inform future actions.
6-FROM WATER SCARCITY TO WATER SECURITY: NAVIGATING CHALLENGES, DISCOVERING SOLUTIONS: "Water is Life Water Means Food”; Collaborative Workshop with BAU and FAO
Bahçeşehir Universtiy and CIFAL Istanbul hosted the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations at Bahçeşehir University for 16 October 2023 World Food Day with this year’s theme “Water is Life Water Means Food.”
This thought-provoking and enlightening event, the "FAO – BAU World Food Day Workshop" a gathering that transcended disciplines and united academics, professionals, and students in a profound exploration of water's pivotal role in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and ensuring food security.
The workshop, held under this year's theme of "Water is Life, Water is Food," served as a platform for diverse minds to come together and deliberate on pressing global issues around water and food. Academics and experts from various fields and organizations collaborated with passionate students in a concerted effort to project the criticality of water in CIFAL Istanbul’s collective journey toward sustainability.
During the event participants engaged in insightful discussions encompassing multifaceted topics. From the great importance of water in realizing SDGs to the complicated connection between water availability and food safety, the conversations were rich in depth and scope. The workshop delved into advocacy and effective communication strategies vital for fostering sustainability and emphasized the significance of democratic participation concerning water, food, and energy.
The event not only shed light on the challenges but also illuminated promising pathways toward a more sustainable future. By fostering a space for dialogue and knowledge exchange, attendees gained a deeper understanding of the intricate interplay between water, food, and broader sustainable development agendas.
CIFAL Istanbul extends its heartfelt gratitude to all attendees, speakers, and contributors for their invaluable commitment to advancing discussions on sustainability and food security. Together, we are poised to take meaningful steps in safeguarding our planet's resources and ensuring a more resilient and equitable future for all. 
7.BAHÇEŞEHIR UNIVERSITY - TURKISH CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY ASSOCIATION, “BEING A WOMAN IN DIFFICULT TIMES” PANEL
In response to the profound impact of the earthquakes and the struggles faced by women in the affected regions, Bahçeşehir University, in collaboration with the Turkish Corporate Social Responsibility Association, organized the panel and workshop titled “Being a Woman in Difficult Times” as part of the “International Women’s Day” on March 8 2023.
The workshop was convened with the aim of analyzing the issues faced by women in the earthquake zone after the disaster, identifying potential solutions, and delivering the recommendations of civil society and academia to policymakers.
During the opening session of the program, Prof. Dr. Çisil Sohodol, Director of BAU’s Social Impact and Responsibility Center, provided insights into the challenges faced by women during disasters and their specific needs, emphasizing the importance of involving women in disaster preparedness and management processes to build resilient communities, referencing relevant United Nations reports.
Nuran Aksu, speaking on behalf of the Turkish Corporate Social Responsibility Association, shared the results of their research on women’s perceptions in the business world, highlighting how women’s vulnerabilities deepen during disaster periods and the critical importance of focusing on women-centered initiatives.
Following the opening remarks, a panel moderated by Prof. Dr. Çisil Sohodol featured contributions from Arzu Pınar Demirel, Chair of Impact2030, Deniz Altuntaş, Event and Project Coordinator of the Gender and Women’s Studies Center at Kadir Has University, Prof. Dr. Pınar Melis Yelsalı, Director of BAU Equal and Leader of Women's Studies, and Şadan Ertekin Mis, General Coordinator of Mikado. Their presentations sparked significant interest among the attendees.
In the final section of the program, a workshop was held where participants discussed project and solution proposals based on the issues identified in the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) report concerning the earthquake region, adopting a collaborative approach.
The resulting shared with stakeholders by Bahçeşehir University and the Turkish Corporate Social Responsibility Association.
8.BAHÇEŞEHIR UNIVERSITY IS SERVING AS PART OF THE FABLE CONSORTIUM with NGOs
Bahçeşehir University is working as the Turkish partner of the global FABLE Consortium, which consists of researchers developing nationally coherent pathways aligned with global sustainability goals, including the Sustainable Development Goals and the targets of the Paris Climate Agreement.
FABLE country teams are at the heart of FABLE's mission. Country teams develop national bottom-up pathways for sustainable food and land-use systems that describe the changes needed to achieve mid-century sustainability objectives. They also engage with national governments to promote ambitious sustainable policies. FABLE Secretariat is led by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network, the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, and the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT. https://fableconsortium.org/about/
The team is led by the Bahçeşehir University's Research Center for Sustainable Food Systems (BAU SUGAM), an initiative that consolidates all the partnerships and projects the university has been involved in concerning food and agriculture. The primary objective of the center is to enhance the value chain of the food system, following sustainable development principles, from farm to waste disposal. Recognizing the responsibility of universities and in alignment with this purpose and scope, BAU SUGAM serves as a hub, guiding all relevant stakeholders on this multidisciplinary and inclusive path.
Information regarding Bahçeşehir University’s role as the Turkish partner of the relevant civil society organization and its involvement in policy development processes related to the Sustainable Development Goals can be accessed through the following link.
https://fableconsortium.org/turkey/
9.BAHÇEŞEHIR UNIVERSITY AND ROTARY ESTABLISHED A PEACE CENTER TO SERVE in MENA
All of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, are closely linked to the achievement of global and regional peace. In this regard, developing policies that contribute to peacebuilding, identifying challenges and issues, and training qualified professionals to work in this field are closely related to sustainable development.
Bahçeşehir University, in partnership with Rotary and CIFAL Istanbul, which operates under the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), has established a Peace Center. This center aims to contribute to global peacebuilding and sustainable development by developing relevant policies and educating the necessary human resources.
In January 2023, The Rotary Foundation Trustees approved Bahçeşehir University to host the next regional Rotary Peace Center. Rotary, considered more than 30 internationally recognized universities across eleven countries, and Bahçeşehir University was selected to host the new peace center for its global reach, expertise and high-level programming in peace and development, study environment and accessibility, capacity to host 40 fellows a year, and commitment to partner with Rotary.
Detailed information regarding the establishment of the center can be accessed through the following link.
https://rpc.bau.edu.tr/pages/about-us/
The certificate program aims to focus on various aspects of peacekeeping, peace-making, and peacebuilding processes by equipping community leaders with advanced knowledge and skills that focus on pivotal issues pertinent to the MENA region. These include land and identity disputes, climate change, food insecurity, refugee integration, and community development.
CIFAL Istanbul, as the local training center of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), will provide further academic studies, field visits, seminars, and workshops for the program fellows, deepening the program’s perspective.
Sustainable Peace in the Middle East and North Africa region.
BAU President Prof. Esra Hatipoğlu points out the critical position of BAU by saying “Bahçeşehir University brings deep local expertise in the Middle East and North Africa, embodying a commitment to multiculturalism and understanding” and she added that “Our collaboration with Rotary, a renowned leader in peacebuilding, merges academic rigor with hands-on knowledge, allowing us to address conflict transformation with a practical, grounded perspective and transitioning peace from a hopeful aspiration to an achievable goal.”
10.SDGS AND BEYOND: CHALLANGES AND OPPORTUNITIES AT THE WAKE OF 2030
In collaboration with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), Bahçeşehir University's Center for Society, Health, Behavior, and Prevention, Bahçeşehir University Faculty of Law, and CIFAL Istanbul, a roundtable meeting titled “SDGs and Beyond 2: Challenges and Opportunities for the Post-2030 SDGs” was held on November 9, 2023, with the participation of UNITAR Director Alex Mejía.
During the meeting, discussions were held on analyzing the problems and challenges on the path to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, as well as exploring potential opportunities to accelerate the process.
Efforts were made to ascertain the advancement status of individual Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), identifying those that have made notable progress and those facing critical challenges, while seeking actionable strategies to expedite their advancement.
Information regarding the roundtable meeting on the challenges and issues related to the SDGs, as well as potential opportunities and solutions, held in collaboration between NGOs and universities, can be accessed through the following link.
https://cifalistanbul.org/sdgs-and-beyond-challanges-and-opportunities-at-the-wake-of-2030/
CIFAL Istanbul, CIFAL Istanbul Youth Platform and School of Government and Leadership will host Mr. Alex Mejia, Director of the Division for People and Social Inclusion at UNITAR and Head of CIFAL Global Network, at tomorrow’s roundtable meeting on “Leadership in Times of Global Challenges”.
11. BAU and UNITAR LEADERSHIP in TIMES OF GLOBAL CHALLENGES PANEL
Bahçeşehir University held the Leadership in Times of Global Challenges panel in collaboration with UNITAR and CIFAL Istanbul. The panel brought together a wide audience to discuss the obstacles to sustainable development, the challenges being faced, and the necessary national policies and partnerships required to overcome them. Key topics included strategies for addressing global crises, fostering resilience, and promoting collaborative efforts across sectors. Following the event, a comprehensive report detailing the outcomes and recommendations was published.
12.Bahçeşehir Üniversity as a Member Of Agroecology Coalition to Transforming Food Systems
The multiple interlinked crises in food, climate, and biodiversity present both an urgency and an opportunity to bring together diverse forces and sectors to support a bold proposition put forward by a wide range of actors: transforming food systems through agroecology.
In 2021, the United Nations Food Systems Summit (UNFSS) focused attention on the need for concerted action to rethink food systems.
The Coalition was set up in this context to provide a mechanism for countries and organizations to collaborate on food systems transformation through agroecology to address multiple crises simultaneously.
The Coalition’s work is guided by the 13 principles of Agroecology defined by the High-Level Panel of Experts for Food Security and Nutrition (HLPE-FSN) of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) that are aligned with the 10 Elements of Agroecology adopted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)’s Council in December 2019.
Today, the Coalition has established itself as an important voice for agroecology in different spaces, including in high-level policy dialogues. Its work and this strategy aim to amplify voices that need to be more widely heard and heeded and to strengthen the impact of its members through collective effort.
The Agroecology Coalition supports the acceleration of food system transformation through agroecology and the implementation of country pathways in five workstreams:
https://agroecology-coalition.org/principles-and-vision/
At the front and center of the Coalition are its members from different stakeholder groups and regions. Our diverse and growing membership gathers around 300 members. Bahçeşehir University is one of the members of the coalition and serves a a partner in working groups below.
https://agroecology-coalition.org/members/
Agroecology Coalition has set up six Working Groups:
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