Examples of inter-sectoral partnership at local level for seasonal migrant workers in agriculture

and other rural disadvantaged groups

Professor Zeynep SIMSEKHarran University

Faculty of Medicine, Public Health DepartmentSanliurfa, Turkey

* ŞANLIURFA

ŞANLIURFA AND HARRAN UNIVERSITY

GAP

Project

1995

Research and evidence(All universities have similar vision and mission statements)

• Vision:Harran University has …… strong relations with the society through scientific research and educational services ……….

• Mission: ……. producing knowledge and technology at a global scale, … to act effectively and distinctively for a sustained progress of the society.

Essentials for collaboration• Identification of problem (research)• Needs assessment to determine community needs• Finding possible solutions based on the system of country

(laws, policies, institutions etc)• Mobilising resources and people (social planning)• Advocacy and awareness-raising actions• Gradual building of partnership with relevant stakeholders• Empowerment of disadvantaged /marginalised groups• Setting up feed-back mechanisms • Use of results and dissemination to stakeholders and

implementation local level

Using appropriate mechanism, systems, councils ….FOR BUILDING TRUST

Research!

• Who? scientists, researchers• Why?

– To take degree or title?– To be academics?– To be useful for community?

• Where? – Library, bookshelf?– Computer, CD etc?

• Use of results? – Scientists?– Students?– Policy makers, service providers?

• Feed back mechanisms?– From university (academician) to policy makers, service providers (GO, NGO)

• Type of research?– Description, cross-sectional, case control?– Intervention?

Finding implementable and sustainable solutions

• What is the system of country?– Legislation– Public institutions– Staff quality and quantity– Councils for collaboration– Procedures for inter-sectoral collaboration– Collaboration with university– Qualification of academics/ researchers – Political infrastructure

What can be done?

‘My experience based on small projects’

Some evidence to persuade authoritiesfor COLLABORATION

49.466.780.5Fully vaccinated children

38.122.110.3Malnutrition of children

60.032.919.8Illiterate men

90.152.918.3Illiterate women

Migrants workers in agric.

South-Eastern

Anatolia*

Turkey* averageBasic indicators %

**Source: TPHSı 2008. Hacettepe University Population Institute, 2009, Ankara.

Invisible- hidden

Health problems Mortality and morbidity level are higher than others

Inadequate knowledge and skills

Inaccessible services

Poverty

Education

The fundamental conditions and resources for health are:

peace, shelter, education,

food, income, a stable eco-system,

sustainable resources, social justice and equity

Problems and needs assessment

Shelter

Partnership for the Seasonal Migrant Workers in Agriculture

• Joint programme of United Nations and Sabanci Foundation (Turkish NGO)

• Sanliurfa Governorship – Health and Education Directorates

• Harran University• Sanliurfa Municipality• Sanliurfa City Council’s Women Committee• NGOs (especially women and children)

Systematic analyses of how the role of different sectors can positively influence the mobile

services ‘engage in working toward solutions’

Access to services are vital to eliminate

social exclusion

Use of results and their dissemination

• Ministry of Health• Ministry of Education• Ministry of Interior • Ministry of Labour and Social Security• Turkish Employment Agency (ISKUR)

Empowerment Programmes

• Health and social education programmes

• Establishment of an NGO: Association of Protecting and Improving the Rights of Seasonal Agricultural Workers (METİDER)

www.metider.org.tr

Training Programme for the Village and Underdeveloped Districts Headmen

Training Programme for the Village and Underdeveloped Districts Headmen

• Women’s health (mother-child health, violence, adolescent marriages, marriages within the family )

• Girls’ education• Availability of social services to women under risk (poor,

broken families)• Protection and development of women’s rights

– Sanliurfa Village and District Chiefs Association– Provincial Health Directorate– Social Services Directorate– Population Directorate– Public Education Directorate – Sanliurfa Municipality

Training Programme for the Village and Underdeveloped Districts

Headmen• 186 girls enrolled at schools• 46 women referred to the Employment Agency for placement• Relations established between headmen and the City Council’s

Women’s Committee – higher interest of headmen in women issues

• 470 citizens identified ‘at risk’ and directed to Social Services• Learning from training shared with community by the

headmen, reaching indirectly over 34.000 people• A book named “Headmen Guide” published• More interaction and network among the experts from key

local authorities • Increased exposure and established relations between village

headmen and public institutions

”Young-to-Young” Programme

“Young-to-Young” Programme

• 26 young seasonal migrant workers (aged 18-24) chosen for training

• They were trained on health, gender equality, access to education and social services, citizen rights and government services

• After 5-day training, each young trainee passed on this information to their peers

• The programme reached a total of 652 young people

Certificates were given by the Rector of Harran University

“Women Hand-in-Hand” Programme

•Harran University Medical School Public Health Dept•Sanliurfa Municipality• 67 Village Headmen •City Council Women’s Committee•Provincial Health Directorate•Provincial Education Directorate •Social Services Directorate•Local Employment Agency

350 women were trained

Aims of the “Women Hand-in-Hand” Programme

• To identify and train women as “community leaders” who can take an active role in local decision-making mechanisms

• To raise awareness of other key community stakeholders with regards to gender issues and women-friendly policies and practices

• To increase participation in women’s support activities and Vocational Training Centres

• Training covered topics of “participation in local decision-making mechanisms”, “city services”, “public services”, “education”, “health” and “violence”

• 311 women from 50 different districts attended the training and received certificates on 5 February 2010

• 91 women registered as members to City Council’s Women Committee and 50 women appointed to Women Centres of the Municipality as “community leaders”

Outcome of these programmes:

All young participants enrolled at schools, or vocational training courses

Education is an instrument for social change

Building trust by academic leadership was key

• Building trust is key to develop and maintain inter-sectoral action

• Building and nurturing trust among all partners has been a challenging and time-consuming task, but it provided a strong foundation for effective working relationships

• Every academics should learn and take roles to develop inter-sectoral collaboration

Thank you