Sultangazi Municipality

Sultangazi Municipality is a strong local government body serving one of Istanbul’s districts characterised by high levels of migration and cultural diversity, which embraces the principles of sustainable urban development, social inclusion, innovation and participatory local governance. In line with its people-centred approach to service delivery, it aims to enhance the quality of life for residents in our district by developing holistic policies in the fields of education, youth, sport, culture, social services, migration and integration, the environment, digital transformation and urban planning. Our municipality operates on the principle that local government is not limited to basic municipal services alone; it implements initiatives that encourage citizens’ active participation in decision-making processes, strengthen social solidarity, and support the full and effective participation of disadvantaged groups—particularly children, young people, women, the elderly, people with disabilities and migrants—in social life. Thanks to the initiatives implemented in the fields of social innovation, youth policies, sport and sustainable urban development, Sultangazi has been awarded the title of European City of Sport. Through youth activities, sporting events, cultural events, vocational training programmes and social responsibility projects, our municipality directly reaches approximately 400,000 citizens each year, thereby contributing to the development of an active, healthy and inclusive urban life. International Cooperation and Project Experience Sultangazi Municipality regards international cooperation not merely as a source of funding, but as a strategic tool for development in terms of enhancing institutional capacity, increasing the exchange of knowledge and experience, transferring best practices, and establishing sustainable local policies. In line with this, our organisation possesses strong institutional experience and implementation capacity across all stages of the Project Cycle Management (PCM) processes. Our municipality currently coordinates the Erasmus+ KA182 Sports Staff Mobility project; in addition, it plays an active role in over 20 international projects and partnerships carried out under the Erasmus+ Youth, Erasmus+ Sport and European Solidarity Corps (ESC) programmes. Furthermore, as an active member of the ACES Europe (European Capitals and Cities of Sport Federation), the European Platform for Sport Innovation (EPSI) and the SHARE 2.0 Community of Practice networks, it contributes to Europe-wide knowledge sharing, capacity-building activities and strategic partnerships in the fields of sport, social inclusion, innovation and sustainable local development. Our organisation; The Erasmus+ Programme (Youth, Sport, Vocational Education, School Education and Adult Education), the European Solidarity Corps (ESC), Horizon Europe, and other direct grant programmes of the European Union continue to develop new international partnerships as a coordinator, partner or host organisation. Institutional Capacity Sultangazi Municipality possesses a strong institutional structure, comprising 24 departments, nearly 6,000 staff members and a culture of interdisciplinary collaboration. Our experienced team, comprising project specialists, external relations staff, youth workers, sports managers, sociologists, psychologists and social work specialists, effectively and in a coordinated manner manages the processes of developing, implementing, financially managing, monitoring, evaluating and reporting on international projects. Thanks to the strong coordination between all relevant departments—notably the Directorate of Youth and Sports Services, the Directorate of Culture and Social Affairs, the Directorate of Social Assistance, and the Directorate of Women’s and Family Services—the local impact of our projects is being enhanced and sustainable results are being achieved. Infrastructure and Operational Capacity Sultangazi Municipality possesses a robust physical infrastructure capable of hosting international educational activities, youth exchanges, workshops, conferences, seminars and capacity-building activities. The 14 service buildings, 2 nursery schools, the Centre for People with Disabilities, Women’s Culture and Life Centres, the Science and Innovation Centre, youth centres, vocational training centres, libraries, cultural centres and modern sports facilities within our municipality provide suitable venues for the implementation of international projects, the conduct of pilot activities and the carrying out of dissemination work. Strategic Areas of Work Sultangazi Municipality aims to develop its international partnerships in the following priority thematic areas: Youth participation and active citizenship Local democracy and good governance Digital transformation and digital youth initiatives Social inclusion and equal opportunities Migration, integration and social cohesion Participation of people with disabilities in social life Education, health and social inclusion through sport Promoting healthy and active living Child protection and safe learning environments Social entrepreneurship and youth employment Volunteering activities under the European Solidarity Programme Environmental sustainability and the green transition Development of digital skills and lifelong learning We regard the sharing of best practice, the development of innovative local government models and the strengthening of long-term partnerships across Europe through international networks and strategic partnerships as among our institutional priorities. With its strong organisational structure, experienced workforce, advanced service infrastructure and a vision open to international cooperation, Sultangazi Municipality is a reliable and professional public body, ready to develop sustainable and innovative projects that generate significant impact, based on shared values.