The Clean Construction System Project, implemented in cooperation with Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Türkiye and the UNDP Seoul Policy Centre, was introduced to the public at a launch event held at the Panorama 25 December Gaziantep Defence Heroism Panorama and Museum. As part of the launch, the beta version of the system was presented and the platform was officially opened for public access, enabling citizens to digitally follow the construction and investment projects carried out by Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality.

Hosted by Mert Fırat, UNDP Türkiye Goodwill Ambassador, actor and social entrepreneur, the programme highlighted the importance of international cooperation, transparency and citizen-oriented digital solutions in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals and emphasized that the Clean Construction System is a good practice that will strengthen trust in public administration.

Delivering the opening remarks of the launch, Mayor of Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality Fatma Şahin stated that Gaziantep has maintained strong cooperation with United Nations agencies for many years and that every project developed with UNDP has been built on a swift and trust-based partnership. Noting that they brought together the open data experience of South Korea and Seoul Metropolitan Government with the expertise of Gaziantep’s own engineers, Şahin drew attention to the fact that the 21st century is the century of data and emphasized that development starts at the local level. She stated that the earthquakes of 6 February 2023 once again demonstrated the importance of building resilient cities, and that the Clean Construction System represents an important step towards strengthening transparency, coordination and citizens’ access to information. She emphasized that Gaziantep would continue to follow global agendas and work through scientific methods, noting that their aim is to make Gaziantep a more resilient, more sustainable and happier city through common wisdom and cooperation.

UNDP Türkiye Resident Representative Monica Merino, who spoke afterwards, underlined the importance of the project in terms of digital governance and transparency, stating: “Inspired by the Seoul Metropolitan Government's model and adapted to Gaziantep's local needs, the Clean Construction System strengthens transparency, traceability and accountability in public construction processes. From UNDP’s perspective, this project is a strong example of how technology can be used as a tool for more open, participatory and trust-based local governance.”

At the event, Lim Chun-geun, Assistant Mayor for Seoul Metropolitan Infrastructure, Seoul Metropolitan Government, addressed the participants through a video message. Emphasizing that Seoul’s experience provides a valuable reference for Gaziantep, Lim Chun-geun added: “Seoul’s Clean Construction System also started as a simple process management tool at first. However, it has reached its current form after constantly developing and evolving to reflect user needs and adapt to changes in the digital environment, and it is still at the center of change. I expect that Seoul's experience and know-how will continue to be a valuable reference in strengthening the transparency and safety in the public construction sector of Gaziantep.”

In his remarks, Deputy Governor of Gaziantep Sedat Sezik recalled that the earthquakes of 6 February 2023 caused major destruction in Gaziantep, particularly in the districts of Nurdağı and İslahiye, and stated that a comprehensive reconstruction and transformation process was launched after the disaster. Noting that Gaziantep today resembles a large construction site with ongoing public investments, he emphasized that accountability, transparency and effective oversight are more important than ever during such an intensive reconstruction period. The Deputy Governor stated that the Clean Construction System plays a critical role in this process and will make an important contribution both to the transparent monitoring of public investments and to citizens’ easy access to information. He also noted that this practice implemented in Gaziantep could achieve successful results and become an exemplary model leading to wider implementation across Türkiye.

Following the remarks, promotional videos were screened to present the development process of the Clean Construction System and demonstrate how the platform operates. Localized in line with the needs of Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality, the system will enable the Municipality’s construction and investment projects to be managed through a single digital platform. Citizens will also be able to follow the location, scope, progress and completion status of projects in real time through its map-based interface. In this way, the platform will both strengthen project management and internal coordination within the Municipality and facilitate citizens’ access to information on municipal services.

The event continued with a panel titled “Knowledge Sharing and Future Vision: Transparent and Citizen-Oriented Local Governance through the Clean Construction System.” Moderated by Ceyda Alpay, Economic Growth and Competitiveness Portfolio Manager at UNDP Türkiye, the panel brought together Ahmet Ertürk, Deputy Secretary General of Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality, and Sertaç Berber, Clean Construction System Project Specialist at UNDP Türkiye. The speakers discussed the development process of the system, its expected contributions to Gaziantep, and the citizen participation mechanisms planned for the next phase. The panel particularly focused on digital municipal governance, transparent investment management, institutional efficiency and strengthening citizens’ trust.

Delivering the closing remarks of the programme, Youngchan Kim, Policy Specialist on Governance and Gender at the UNDP Seoul Policy Centre, reflected on the partnership approach and future vision of the project with the following words: “What we brought to Gaziantep was not a completed system, but a seed. Gaziantep took that seed and grew from it something of its own, with UNDP Türkiye beside it at every step. It took root because the ground was already prepared: Gaziantep knew well the recovery it sought; one that is transparent, effective, and centered on its own citizens.”

The launch programme concluded with a group photo with the participation of project partners and guests.

The Clean Construction System Project aims to strengthen transparency, accountability and effective management in the construction and investment projects carried out by Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality through a digital project management infrastructure developed specifically for the Municipality. Drawing on the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s Clean Construction System as a reference model, the platform has been developed in collaboration with Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality, UNDP Türkiye and the UNDP Seoul Policy Centre, with support from the Government of the Republic of Korea through the UNDP Seoul Policy Centre’s SDG Partnerships Programme. By adapting this international good practice to the Gaziantep context, the project contributes to digital transformation and open governance in local governments, while positioning Gaziantep as one of the leading cities in this field.

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UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet.

Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality is one of Türkiye’s leading metropolitan municipalities, pioneering the sustainable development of the city with a participatory, transparent and innovative local governance approach. Through projects implemented across a wide range of areas, from infrastructure and transportation to culture and tourism, from social services and the environment to digital transformation, the Municipality adopts a citizen-oriented service approach.

The UNDP Seoul Policy Centre is a policy centre within UNDP’s global development and policy network that supports the sharing of the Republic of Korea’s development experiences with other countries. Through the SDG Partnerships Programme and the South-South and Triangular Cooperation approach, the Centre contributes to knowledge sharing, policy dialogue and the adaptation of good practices to local contexts among countries.

Seoul Metropolitan Government is a local government recognized for its digital practices that strengthen transparency in public construction projects, citizens’ right to information and open public data sharing. The Clean Construction System / Construction Allimi model provides an important good practice example in the field of transparency and accountability by making information on public construction projects accessible to citizens.

Within the framework of its development cooperation with UNDP, the Government of the Republic of Korea supports the sharing of Korea’s policy experiences and good practices with partner countries. This cooperation contributes in particular to the implementation of the SDGs, the strengthening of public institutional capacities, and the adaptation of innovative development solutions to different national and local contexts.

The Clean Construction System Project is implemented in cooperation with UNDP Türkiye, Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality and the UNDP Seoul Policy Centre, inspired by the good practice model of Seoul Metropolitan Government. The project aims to strengthen transparency, traceability and citizens’ access to information in municipal construction processes in Gaziantep. Through the platform, citizens will be able to access information on the construction and investment projects carried out by Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality in a digital environment.