TESEV Discussed the Future of Cities at Marmara Urban Forum (MARUF)

1. Planning First, What is Next?

In this session, organized in collaboration with TESEV and CDP, we discussed the transition of city plans which include goals such as climate change, sustainable mobility, and gender equality from theory to practice. We focused on the implementation processes, concrete outputs, and monitoring mechanisms of these plans. The session was moderated by TESEV Research Director Itır Akdoğan and featured speakers  Lea Busch from CDP, Prof. Dr. Osman Balaban from METU, Emre Oğuzöncül from EBRD, Dr. Susanne Boehler Baedeker from Rupprecht Consult GmbH, Canan Pala Giliğ from Bursa Metropolitan Municipality, and the Mayor of Bakırköy, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ayşegül Ovalıoğlu.

2. From Data to Policy: Child-Focused Local Governance

In this session, organized in collaboration with TESEV and UNICEF, we examined the data, policy, service, and budgeting processes that form the basis for creating more livable cities for children. We addressed topics such as safe learning environments for children, early childhood development, and disaster risk reduction with concrete examples. Moderated by TESEV Research Director Itır Akdoğan, the session featured speakers Gökçen Yılmaz Tokgöz and Dr. Hayriye Görkem Güner from UNICEF, Andrea Torres from the Van Leer Foundation, and Dr. Aysel Madra from Suna’s Daughters.

3. MARUF x Civicship Forum| Best Practices and Insights from THE: PLACE Program

In this forum, where best practices and perspectives on the collaboration between civil society and municipalities were discussed, TESEV’s Project Manager Gizem Fidan Kaya participated as a speaker as part of THE:PLACE Program and shared experiences regarding the Equal Public Spaces project, which was completed in 2023 and carried out by TESEV.Moderated by Hüseyincan Eryılmaz from the Center for Spatial Justice, the forum featured speakers Emre Güzel from Roof Coliving, Esra Karadaş Ekinci from the Mesopotamia Foundation, Kemal Vural Tarlan from Kırkayak Kültür, and Begüm İntepeler from the Pi Youth Association, who presented their experiences and best practice examples.

We thank all our speakers and attendees for their valuable contributions.