05.06.2025
New opportunities for refugees
More than 2.7 million Syrians are still living in Türkiye. GIZ is promoting their economic empowerment and strengthening social cohesion in the host communities.
For more income, better nutrition and genuine future prospects: in Hatay Province in Türkiye, a cooperative is bringing together people of different origins. Its members – both Syrian and Turkish – cultivate edible mushrooms in 25 greenhouses. With a 220-tonne harvest, turnover of more than 2.7 million Turkish lira (EUR 60,000) and 10 new production sites, this is a visible transformation in a region badly hit by the devastating earthquake in 2023. Local families are benefiting, particularly from the income generated by the sale of high quality products.
A big impact in turbulent times
Projects like this are as important as ever – notwithstanding the change of regime in Syria, returning home remains uncertain for many refugees in the region. The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is promoting their economic empowerment and strengthening social cohesion in the Turkish communities that are hosting large numbers of Syrians. It is advising municipalities and delivering training for entrepreneurs and municipal employees in conjunction with local partners, as well as supporting business start-ups and helping to rebuild existing companies. GIZ’s work here is commissioned by the German Development Ministry (BMZ) and the European Union.
There are quantifiable results. After the earthquake, 716 Syrian and Turkish entrepreneurs built or rebuilt their livelihoods with the help of emergency grants. The GIZ team responded immediately with services adapted to the circumstances, as in the above example, and thus helped to stabilise the situation. And GIZ’s support did not end there. In the meantime, 11,500 people in the region have improved their work situation and 5,850 people have attended courses to develop key vocational and business skills.
Quality knows no limits
Ninety-three per cent of the small businesses that received support are stable and still operating today. One of these belongs to Mohammed Eido from Aleppo, the founder of Brokar Curtains. ‘I wanted to show that quality knows no limits,’ he says. Today his company exports home textiles to several countries – with a workforce that includes Syrian and Turkish people.
GIZ works closely with communities, chambers of commerce, schools and civil society organisations in southern Türkiye. Together they are building trust, creating opportunities and instilling courage in challenging times.
