In Ankara, the capital of Türkiye, the Fellows will visit various public institutions and international organizations related to policymaking in cooperation and development like the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Disaster and Emergency Management Authority, General Directorate for Cultural Heritage and Museums, UNDP Türkiye and UN FAO Türkiye, among others.
Located in northeastern Türkiye, the touristic Kulakkaya Plateau in Giresun province stands out as a sustainable development site where workshops on local food systems, gastronomy and women’s cooperatives also take place. Through various activities, the Fellows will learn how to strengthen the role of youth and women in agriculture, maximize benefits from the integration of local agricultural products into national development, and incorporate innovation into smallholder agriculture.
Şanlıurfa, Mardin, Hatay, and Adana were among the 11 provinces in southeastern Türkiye hit by the earthquakes in February 2023. Home to innumerable civilizations throughout its long history and renowned for its tangible and intangible cultural heritage, this region also comprises a considerable number of the migrant population residing in Türkiye under temporary protection. This field visit will enable the Fellows to witness relief, recovery and reconstruction efforts for resilient structures, institutions and communities. They will also visit religious landmarks, cultural centers and archeological sites surviving the disaster with no significant damage. Among them is the Archaeology Museum, featuring the world’s largest mosaic exhibition in Hatay, which has hosted for centuries a variety of religions, creeds and cultures in peaceful coexistence. The Saint Pierre cave church, recognized as the world’s very first cathedral by UNESCO, also remains intact in the same province.
Nicosia, the world’s last divided capital, separates the Turkish and Greek Cypriots since 1974 by a UN-patrolled buffer zone. It is also the only divided city with a detailed Master Plan facilitating collaboration between conflicting parties. In 2003, travel restrictions across the Buffer Zone were eased, paving the way to local initiatives for reconciliation and conflict transformation. There the Fellows will visit the bi-communal center called Home for Cooperation, acting as a bridge-builder between separated communities. The venue hosts various artistic and educational programs and activities to foster intercultural trust in Cyprus. The PRIO Cyprus Centre also has an office in the same place, functioning as an independent platform populated by different nationalities dedicated to research and dialogue. It also maintains strong ties with research centers and NGOs in Türkiye and Greece
