Entrepreneurship has an enabling potential for accelerating economic growth and providing income generation activities for underserved populations around the globe. Refugee entrepreneurship plays a crucial role in providing sustainable livelihood opportunities and self-resilience for refugees while contributing to social cohesion. 

Türkiye has a diverse range of experiences in the refugee entrepreneurship area, encompassing both successes and challenges. Especially in recent years, Türkiye has been witnessing more targeted entrepreneurial support programmes for refugees and members of the host community. Türkiye provides an enabling environment for refugee entrepreneurship along with support programmes by public institutions, NGOs, UN organizations, and other stakeholders.

The “Refugee Entrepreneurship: Good Practices and Recommendations from Türkiye’s Experiences” report, soon to be published, is a collaboration between UNDP's Istanbul International Centre for Private Sector in Development, UNDP Türkiye, and the International Labour Organization (ILO). The report offers a forward-thinking outlook on advancing refugee entrepreneurship. Drawing from more than a decade of experience, the report provides valuable insights and lessons learned, serving as a guiding resource for countries in similar contexts.

A validation meeting held on March 5, 2024, with key stakeholders, including international organizations and NGOs working on the subject, enriched the report's findings and recommendations. The event commenced with a detailed presentation of the report's key findings, focusing on the journey of refugee entrepreneurship and targeted programs in Türkiye. Expert insights from an open discussion provided crucial messages and details to strengthen the report for its launch.