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TURKEY'S
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
2° VNR Ee I)
“Strong Ground towards Common Goals”
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1. TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION .....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................9 2. PROCESS OF AND METHODOLOGY FOR REVIEWING TURKEY’S PROGRESS TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS..........................................................................................................................................................................11 2.1. Stocktaking Analysis Project ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................12 2.2. Partnerships for Engaging All Relevant Parties in the Process.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................12 2.3. Database for Best Practices and Projects Related to of SDGs.........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................14 2.4. Multi-stakeholder Consultation Processes ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................15 2.5. Summary of Main Messages and Political Ownership................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................15 3. INTEGRATION OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS INTO NATIONAL AGENDA...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................17 3.1. Creating Ownership for SDGs...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................17 3.1.1. High-Level Ownership of SDGs.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................17 3.1.2. Inclusion of SDGs in the Agenda of TGNA.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................17 3.1.3. Audit by the Turkish Court of Accounts.............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................18 3.1.4. Role of Local Governments in SDGs.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................18 3.1.5. Private Sector’s Ownership of SDGs......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................20 3.1.6. Awareness-Raising Activities ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................21 3.2. Integration of SDGs into National Policies....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................21 3.2.1. SDGs in the 11th NDP Specialised Commissions (OIKs) ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................21 3.2.2. Inclusion of SDGs in Annual Programmes...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................22 3.2.3. Turkey’s Stocktaking Analysis Project under SDGs .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................22 3.2.4. Indicators for Monitoring National Policies in the Implementation of SDGs..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................23 3.3. Developments in Sustainable Development Indicators ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................24 3.3.1. Turkey’s Current Situation vis-à-vis Global SDG Indicators Framework...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................24 3.3.2. Increasing Awareness and Ownership for SDG Indicators....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................26 3.4. Integration of Three Dimensions of Sustainable Development.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................26 3.4.1. SDG Heat Map.........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................27 3.4.2. Interlinkages between SDGs in the context of Turkey ..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................29 3.5. Institutional Mechanisms ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................31 3.5.1. Transition to Presidential Government System ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................31 3.5.2. Institutional Mechanisms Established for SDGs following 1st VNR .....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................32 3.5.3. Distribution of Institutional Roles in Monitoring SDGs...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................35 3.6. Challenges and Opportunities Encountered in the Implementation Process..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................35 4. LEAVING NO ONE BEHIND...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................38 4.1. Policies for Women........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................39 4.2. Policies for Children and Youth....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................40 4.3. Policies for Persons with disabilities and Elderly.............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................43 4.4. Policies for Refugees under Temporary Protection........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................44 5. PROGRESS TOWARDS SDGs AND NEXT STEPS................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................50 5.1. SDG 1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................51 5.2. SDG 2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................55 5.3. SDG 3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................59 5.4. SDG 4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................64 5.5. SDG 5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................69 5.6. SDG 6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................73 5.7. SDG 7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................77 5.8. SDG 8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all..................................................................................................................................................................82 5.9. SDG 9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................90 5.10. SDG 10. Reduce inequality within and among countries.........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................95 5.11. SDG 11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................100 2 TURKEY’s 2nd VNR 2019 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS “Strong Ground towards Common Goals”
5.12. SDG 12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................106
5.13. SDG 13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts .....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................110
5.14. SDG 14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................114
5.15. SDG 15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and
halt biodiversity loss ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................117
5.16. SDG 16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and
inclusive institutions at all levels ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................121
5.17. SDG 17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development ...................................................................................................................................................................................................125
6. CONCLUSIONS ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................131
7. ANNEXES: ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................133
7.1. ANNEX-1: SDG Focus Areas:............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................133
7.2. ANNEX-2: Sustainable Development Indicators, 2010-2017 ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................134
2. LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
3. LIST OF TABLES
Table 1. SDG Voluntary National Review, Organising Partnerships and Responsibilities ...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................14
Table 2. SDG Practices in Municipalities ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................19
Table 3. Indicators Produced in Turkey by Tiers, February 2019.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................24
Table 4. SDG Heat Map .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................28
Table 5. Interaction between SDGs ...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................30
Table 6. Distribution of Institutional Responsibility by SDGs ..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................33
Table 7. Population by sex and age group, 2018, TURKSTAT ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................38
Table 8. SDG Focus Areas ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................50
Table 9. Share of Sources in Power Generation .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................78
Table 10. Employment Data .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................86
Table 11. Sectoral Distribution of GDP at Current Prices (2000-2017), with 2009 Reference Year ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................91
Table 12. Solid Waste Data .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................102
Table 13. Turkish Bilateral Official Development Assistance by Region (million USD) ..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................127
4. LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1. Distribution of Indicators by SDGs ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................25
Figure 2. Structure of Presidential Government System ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................31
Figure 3. Poverty Gap .....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................52
Figure 4. Sectoral Water Use for Turkey ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................75
Figure 5. Gini Coefficient ...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................96
Figure 6. Share of Turkish Official Emergency and Humanitarian Aid in ODA (%).............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................128
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TURKEY’s 2nd VNR 2019
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
“Strong Ground towards Common Goals”
FOREWORD
We adopted in 2015, along with all World Leaders, the “2030
Agenda for Sustainable Development” that addresses,
with a common understanding, issues such as protecting
the environment, improving quality of life and economic
growth, which are issues recognised by all in an era when
global problems need global solutions. Through this new
global approach to development that would guide us on a
more sustainable course of development, we formulated
the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which includes
169 targets, based on the motto of “leaving no one behind”,
aiming at leaving not a single person or country behind.
We assembled on the same platform a broad range of
targets, including engaging all communities in the global
efforts to reduce poverty and enhance people’s well-
being, responding to the needs of disadvantaged groups,
eliminating inequalities, strengthening economic growth and
technological development as well as employment, ensuring
industrialisation, protecting ecosystems, adopting sustainable
patterns of production and consumption, and preventing
waste.
We aim at handing over to our children, our grandchildren and
future generations the same world as we inherited, or even a
better one. Therefore, we must implement SDGs with a firm
resolution.
Turkey views strong ownership and leadership by the states
as essential to achieve successful outcomes during the
implementation of the SDGs, which represent an inclusive and
results-oriented framework urging all countries to act at the
local, national and international levels.
Turkey has emphasized its commitment on every occasion to
contribute to a sustainable world since the adoption of Agenda
2030. Demonstrating a strong ownership, Turkey was among
the first 22 countries that submitted a VNR Report during the
2016 HLPF.
On 20 September 2016, on the speech delivered on the
occasion of the first anniversary of the adoption of SDGs, at the
71st United Nations General Assembly, we emphasised that
the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development was created
jointly and that it included ambitious and transformative goals
for everyone; and we called upon countries to sustain the flow
of official development assistance, which is the most important
funding for the Least Developed Countries (LDCs). As a result
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TURKEY’s 2nd VNR 2019
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
“Strong Ground towards Common Goals”
of this approach, Turkey went beyond its commitments for official development assistance and sustained and increased it year- on-year. The Second Voluntary National Review Report of Turkey is the product of a process which we initiated by sending a circular to all our institutions, and it was conducted by demonstrating a highest-level political ownership. We, as Turkey, address international issues, global matters and regional matters with a human-centred approach upholding law and justice. We wholeheartedly believe in the prevention of ongoing wars and conflicts, building peace, sustainable development, an equitable distribution and solidarity. With her long-standing tradition of state and democracy, Turkey, relying on its central geographic location, vast historical experience, young and educated population, and strong institutions and dynamic economy, will celebrate the Centenary of our Republic in 2023. We are working tirelessly to achieve our goals for 2023 and we will achieve these goals through the principles of sustainable and human-centred development. We are aware that the national goals can be attained through international solidarity and cooperation, along with a national vision. This report presents Turkey’s progress on policies, legislation, implementation and projects as well as the steps necessary in the future, in the context of Sustainable Development Goals. Solving global problems depends on joint efforts on the basis of cooperation and effective multilateralism. Indeed, we always emphasize solidarity on all global matters, including in particular global stability. We know that our goals for 2023, and the 2030 Goals afterwards, can be achieved by such a solidarity, and we therefore make our preparations accordingly. Recep Tayyip ERDOĞAN President 5 TURKEY’s 2nd VNR 2019 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS “Strong Ground towards Common Goals”
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY As Turkey moves forward economically and socially along its development journey from the past to the future, it also prioritises environmental protection and improvement in line with its global responsibilities. In that context, our country has emphasised, at every opportunity, its commitment to work for a sustainable world since the adoption of 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Thus, it was among the 22 countries, which submitted their first Voluntary National Review (VNR) Reports to the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) in 2016, demonstrating its strong ownership towards the Agenda. Turkey’s first VNR Report laid down a roadmap elaborating the planned steps to achieve SDGs. Its 2nd VNR Report of 2019 focuses on the status of progress towards the SDGs. Turkey prefers implementing and monitoring SDGs with a holistic approach, by integrating them into National Development Plans (NDPs) and sectoral strategies. Since the UN Conference on Environment and Development held in Rio in 1992, Turkey has reflected the concept of sustainable development in its National Development Plans (NDPs), which represent the highest level of political framework. Following its reflection in the Plan, the concept of sustainable development has also been integrated into sectoral and thematic national policy and strategy documents. This accumulated experience, along with strong infrastructure and institutional mechanisms, provides a strong ground towards Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Presidency of Strategy and Budget, which is also in charge of preparing NDPs, is the national focal point for SDGs and it has carried out the coordination of the 2019 VNR preparations. The process commenced with the highest-level political ownership upon H.E. President Erdoğan’s call on all government entities. Within the scope of the VNR preparations, legislative and institutional framework, policies and projects were reviewed from SDG perspective. This VNR Report assesses the progress covering the period of 2010-2018 with an emphasis on the period following the adoption of Agenda 2030. The report determines areas to be focused for each goal, and examines the targets in a systematic approach. The analysis reveals that most targets have directly or indirectly 1 The Law on Foreigners and International Protection provides the legal basis of individuals seeking international protection in Turkey, whereas Temporary Protection Regulation constitutes the legal framework for temporary protection status given to Syrians. Said Law and Regulation provide the basis of assistance for asylum-applicants and Syrians under temporary protection, including access to health and education services, as well as access to legal employment. been incorporated in policy documents, and the legislation provides adequate framework for the implementation of SDGs. Furthermore, in an institutional scale, it has been determined that the responsibilities of the institutions in Turkey, which were specified in policies and legislations, have been fully aligned with SDGs. Upon reviewing the projects, the gaps and challenges in implementation have been determined. In the overall context of SDGs, Turkey stands at an advanced level particularly in respect of policies, strategies and legislation, while there is room for improvement in practices and projects. An overview of progress in this VNR proposes that SDG 1, SDG 3, SDG 6, SDG 7, SDG 9 and SDG 11 stand out as goals towards which significant progress has been achieved. While there is progress on other SDGs, it is required to accelerate efforts to address gaps in implementation and increase quality. In this respect, there is a need to enhance financial and technical capacities for some of the goals. Immediately after the adoption of Agenda 2030, Turkey designated the responsible and relevant institutions for the 218 indicators that apply to Turkey, and in February 2019, Turkish Statistical Institute published the SDG Indicators Set comprised of 83 indicators. While the ratio of produced indicators is higher for SDG 3, SDG 7 and SDG 9; further work is needed for SDG 1, SDG 2, SDG 12, SDG 13 and SDG 14 indicators. Turkey achieved significant progress through effective social policies on reducing poverty, improving access to basic services, reducing inequalities and caring for the vulnerable. Especially, policies to reduce inter-regional infrastructural disparities and promote technological means across the country marked an inclusive development pathway. Looking ahead, Turkey will focus on maintaining the pace of progress, and improving the quality and effectiveness of the acquired services. Based on the principle of equity, efforts will be sustained to evenly distribute the outputs of increased prosperity among all segments of the society, especially among the vulnerable groups. Along with its assessments regarding vulnerable groups under each SDG titles, the VNR Report also addresses the progress within the context of the principle of “leaving no one behind” in a separate chapter. Thereby, the actions for women, children, and persons with disabilities, elderly and refugees1 are reviewed in an inclusive and holistic approach. 7 TURKEY’s 2nd VNR 2019 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS “Strong Ground towards Common Goals”