Business for Goals (B4G)

Immediately after the Elazığ Earthquake on 24 January 2020, B4G conducted a field visit, and post-disaster situation analysis reports were prepared. Furthermore, sets of proposals about workplace enhancements were formed to be evaluated during TÜSIAD and TÜRKONFED’s Executive Board meetings. The network also organized various webinars and online sessions to identify and respond to the needs of local businesses affected by COVID-19. B4G created a list of trusted PPE manufacturers in Türkiye to help match businesses with global buyers. With the support of the Government of Japan and in cooperation with UNDP and the Directorate General of Regional Development Agencies at the Ministry of Industry and Technology, B4G organized capacity-building activities for 3,000 unemployed young people from sectors defined as fragile (e.g., food, tourism, logistics, machinery, textiles, and the automobile industry).

From providing job opportunities to women in male-dominated sectors to supporting their digital inclusion, see how the private sector in Türkiye is working for gender equality during the #COVID19 pandemic: https://t.co/GzbF6j95OD #Biz4Good pic.twitter.com/a60EUXzgUF

— Connecting Business initiative (@Connecting_biz) August 30, 2021

Further, in 2021, B4G and TÜRKONFED organized business continuity training sessions for small and medium-sized businesses affected by COVID-19 and the Elazig and Izmir earthquakes. In addition, TÜSIAD, with support from The UPS Foundation, B4G and TÜRKONFED organized a series of earthquake-preparedness workshops in February and March 2021 for representatives from local governments and 47 businesses. The workshop participants were taught how to reduce the possible impact of a large-scale earthquake scenario that could affect Istanbul.

B4G and TÜRKONFED also worked with CBI on a study on the impacts of COVID-19 on women entrepreneurs and co-organized a webinar to share best practices from Türkiye on promoting gender-inclusive practices in the private sector.

In October 2021, TÜRKONFED and B4G launched their Business Climate Resilience Project which aims to facilitate multi-stakeholder discussions and to develop a working group for knowledge exchange and coordination on business and climate resilience.

About the Business for Goals Platform (B4G)

Established by TURKONFED, TUSIAD and UNDP in 2019, the Business for Goals Platform serves as a platform open to all large-, medium- and small-sized enterprises willing to integrate the Sustainable Development Goals into their corporate policies and strategies, all public agencies keen on public-private partnership, local governments, academia, international organizations and non-governmental sector.

The Platform fosters joint learning, development and work with its stakeholders. Learn more at business4goals.org

About the Turkish Industry and Business Association (TÜSIAD)

Founded in 1971 to represent the Turkish business world, TÜSİAD is a voluntary, independent, non-governmental organization dedicated to promoting welfare through private enterprise. On account of the institutions represented by its members, TÜSİAD has a significant representative capacity of the economic activity in Türkiye in many spheres such as production, value-added, employment, and foreign trade. TÜSİAD’s activities are aimed at creating social cohesion based on the competitive market economy, sustainable development, and participatory democracy. Learn more at tusiad.org