Financial Inclusion of Refugees & Vulnerable Groups

People who have fled war and persecution can begin to rebuild their lives with respect and dignity if they are given the chance to work and make a living. Türkiye faces ongoing migration challenges due to its critical geopolitical position and its place in the Eastern Mediterranean migration route. Türkiye’s proximity to nations experiencing internal crises is another cause of these challenges.

Türkiye has concentrated on the social and economic integration of refugees to maintain a robust economy in the wake of the increasing refugee influx from neighboring countries since 2011. In this regard, FS TURCASIA has established partnerships with governmental institutions, entrepreneurs, NGOs and financial institutions in Türkiye. Our aim is to facilitate the social and economic inclusion of vulnerable groups including refugees, drawing on our extensive academic and professional expertise.

FS TURCASIA develops the capacities of partner banks, public institutions and private sector actors through inclusive and sustainable financing methods, from design to implementation, to meet the financial needs of refugees and other vulnerable groups and thus facilitate their financial inclusion. We actively contribute to beneficiaries achieving their goals, both in terms of demand and supply. These contributions are made by providing consultancy services for sectoral research, field surveys, and need assessments and by finding instant solutions to reduce risks during implementation.

We seamlessly promote the means to achieve UN SDG 8 - Decent Work and Economic Growth, UN SDG 10 - Reduced Inequalities, and UN SDG 17 - Partnership for the Goals via the projects we have been implementing.

Donor: EU, KfW

Beneficiary: Small and Medium Enterprises Development Organization of Türkiye (KOSGEB)

Year: January 2021 – November 2025

The Empowering the Private Sector to Foster Social and Economic Cohesion in Türkiye (FOSTER) Project, funded by the EU, managed by KfW and implemented by KOSGEB, aims to contribute to the empowerment of the private sector in Türkiye, increase the formal employment of Turkish citizens and foreigners under temporary and international protection and increase the resilience of Turkish SMEs operating in selected 15 provinces most affected by the refugee influx. By empowering the private sector and enhancing SMEs’ resilience, the project seeks to stabilize host regions, support refugees and provide a positive impetus for the vulnerable economy.

Through improved access to finance and grants for SMEs, the project aims to strengthen their position as employers, facilitate the creation and retention of formal employment, and foster the integration of refugees into the Turkish economy.

Donor: European Commission Development Fund (ECDF) and The World Bank

Beneficiary: Eastern Mediterranean Development Agency Region and Dicle Development Agency

Year: December 2022- December 2024

The Social Entrepreneurship, Empowerment, and Cohesion in Refugee and Host Communities in Türkiye Project (SEECO) project, funded by European Commission Development Fund (ECDF) and administrated by the World Bank.

The project will support women’s and youth’s livelihoods by helping to support social entrepreneurship and by promoting community-led activities to improve access to livelihood-related services and infrastructure.

Under the SEECO, Frankfurt School worked as a subcontractor. We engage in the “Consultancy Services for Facilitating Community Implementing Partner (CIP) for Dicle Development Agency Region (Mardin province) – DIKA Lot” and “Consultancy Services for Facilitating Community Implementing Partner (CIP) for Eastern Mediterranean Development Agency Region (Hatay, Osmaniye and Kahramanmaras provinces) – DOGAKA Lot” of the project.

Donor: EBRD

Beneficiary: EBRD, female Syrian refugees with entrepreneurship potential

Year: 2016-2017

The project aimed to address the challenges of Syrian refugees, specifically female refugees, in access to livelihood and entering the local labour market.

Between 2016-2017, we assisted EBRD in launching the "Refugee Response Programme" in nine provinces of South-Eastern Türkiye. The service was provided through direct investments, investments in municipalities, financial literacy & skills verification training, and labour market diagnostics.

Donor: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)

Beneficiary: Small and Medium Enterprises Development Organization of Türkiye (KOSGEB) and Credit Guarantee Fund (KGF)

Year: December 2020 – December 2025

Türkiye Formal Employment Facility, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), managed by KfW and implemented by KOSGEB and KGF, aims to support creating and retaining formal employment opportunities for Turkish Citizens and foreigners under temporary and international protection in 20 selected provinces heavily impacted by the refugee influx.

The project's main objectives are to stabilize host regions, support refugees, and reduce dependency on income transfer programmes by generating sustainable formal employment opportunities for the final beneficiaries. The project explicitly targets SMEs in the project provinces, providing them with improved access to finance through guarantee and interest rate subsidy mechanisms.