What is the project about?

Support to Local Businesses in Apparel, Textile, Leather and Footwear Sectors in Earthquake-Affected Provinces Project (STRIDE) is an emergency recovery and resilience initiative led by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). It is designed to revitalize the apparel, textile, leather, and footwear sectors in the Turkish provinces of Hatay and Kahramanmaraş, which were among the hardest-hit areas by the catastrophic earthquakes of February 6, 2023.

The project addresses both physical and socio-economic challenges through a multi-pronged strategy. This includes:

• The reconstruction and equipping of production facilities.
• Business development support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
• Vocational and technical training with a focus on vulnerable groups (particularly NEET youth and women).
• Mental health and psychosocial services to promote workforce well-being and community resilience.

It contributes to long-term recovery by supporting production capacity, improving workforce skills, rebuilding community infrastructure, and ensuring sustainable economic growth in line with Türkiye’s national priorities and UNDP’s strategic frameworks. 

The activities implemented within the project are carried out by UNDP with the financial contributions of the Governments of Sweden and Romania, in cooperation with the Eastern Mediterranean Development Agency (DOĞAKA), Trauma and Disaster Mental Health Studies Association (TARDE) and IHKIB Education Foundation.

What has been the situation?

The February 2023 earthquakes caused unprecedented human and economic loss in southern and southeastern Türkiye:

• At least 50,700 lives were lost, over 313,000 buildings were destroyed, and 3.3 million people were displaced.
• The earthquakes obliterated 220,000 businesses, resulting in a 33% drop in formal employment in the region.
• The provinces of Kahramanmaraş and Hatay saw a collapse in insured employment: 68% and 58% losses respectively.
• Key sectors—particularly textiles and footwear, which are crucial to Türkiye’s economy—suffered heavily. Before the earthquake the region accounted for 61% of Türkiye's carpet exports and 17% of its textile output. Hatay alone produced 35% of the country’s footwear.
• Around 13,000 textile companies and 630,000 employees were impacted due to the earthquake.
• Small Industrial Zones (SIZ) and Organized Industrial Zones (OIZ) were severely damaged. Many businesses were forced to operate in temporary container settlements with limited infrastructure and equipment.
• The labor force declined drastically due to displacement, trauma, inadequate living conditions, and loss of livelihoods, jeopardizing supply chains and export capacities.

What is our mission?

The project aims to support sustainable economic recovery and strengthen the resilience of the textile, apparel, leather, and footwear sectors in the earthquake-affected regions. Specifically, the project aims to:

• Restore physical production capacity through the provision of common-use facilities and modern equipment.
• Rebuild and enhance business operations for SMEs, enabling them to reintegrate into supply chains and global markets.
• Create decent and inclusive employment opportunities, especially for vulnerable groups such as NEET youth and women.
• Promote social and psychological resilience through structured mental health services integrated into economic recovery.
• Contribute to a more inclusive, sustainable, and innovative industrial development model in line with Türkiye’s national priorities and UNDP’s 2021–2025 Country Programme.

This mission is rooted in the belief that economic revitalization, workforce empowerment, and social well-being must go hand-in-hand in post-disaster recovery. 

How are we doing this?

The project is implementing a comprehensive, multi-level approach through four strategic outputs, each with associated activities:

Output 1: Infrastructure Rebuilding

• Common-use Shoe-Upper Facility in Hatay’s Antakya city: Establishment of Hatay Footwear Manufacturers Common Use and Production Facility with the Government of Romania fund and in cooperation with East Mediterranean Development Agency (DOĞAKA) and supporting 160 relocated shoemakers with industrial space, modern equipment, and materials.
• Common-use Laser Cutting Facility in Kahramanmaraş: Establishment of common use and automatic laser fabric cutting facility with the Swiss fund and in cooperation with DOĞAKA and Kahramanmaraş Chamber of Tailors and Apparel Manufacturers and so addressing space and equipment constraints faced by small apparel producers.

Output 2: Business Development

Activities for business development and job creation are carried out by IHKIB Education Foundation.

• Skill development training on design, marketing, digital tools, and export readiness.
• Legal counseling, branding, and e-commerce training for SMEs.
• B2B events to reconnect businesses with international buyers and supply chains.

Output 3: Employment Generation

• Vocational training programs, including “Training of Trainers” for key industry roles like stitching, pattern making, and yarn production.
• Focus on NEET youth and women, especially those living in container settlements.
• Job-matching services connecting trained individuals with employers across the value chain.

Output 4: Mental Health and Resilience

Activities for mental health and resilience are carried out by Trauma and Disaster Mental Health Studies Association (TARDE) 

• Operationalization of an Occupational Mental Health Center in Reyhanlı OIZ, staffed by bilingual psychologists.
• Psychoeducation and counseling for workers and their families.
• Awareness-raising campaigns on mental health issues such as trauma, anxiety, and domestic violence, integrated with workplace resilience efforts.

How will Türkiye benefit?

The project offers both immediate recovery and long-term developmental benefits for Türkiye:

Economic Recovery

• Restores operational capacity in key export industries, which are crucial for national economic performance.
• Supports the re-emergence of regional production hubs like Hatay and Kahramanmaraş.
• Helps SMEs improve efficiency, quality, and access to international markets.

Employment and Inclusion

• Generates jobs for at least 1,000 individuals, including 400 women and 200 NEET youth.
• Promotes gender inclusion and social cohesion by prioritizing marginalized populations.

Social Resilience

• Enhances the mental well-being of earthquake survivors, reducing long-term psychosocial burdens.
• Integrates mental health into economic recovery, helping ensure a more stable and productive labor force.

Capacity Building and Innovation

• Facilitates the modernization of small businesses through cutting-edge equipment and training.
• Encourages value-added production, including digital transformation, branding, and supply chain integration.

Alignment with National and Global Goals

• Reinforces Türkiye’s national strategies for regional development, disaster recovery, and economic inclusion.

Advances the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to decent work, industry innovation, and reduced inequalities.