Sosyal Gelişim ve Dayanışma Derneği

What Sosyal Gelişim ve Dayanışma Derneği does

Sosyal Gelişim ve Dayanışma Derneği (SGDD-ASAM) is a Turkish nonprofit civil society organization (dernek) founded in Ankara in 1995 and legally domiciled as 'Sosyal Gelişim ve Dayanışma Derneği İktisadi İşletmesi.' It operates as Turkey's largest civil society organization in migration and humanitarian aid, delivering services to refugees, asylum seekers, migrants, women, children, and earthquake-affected populations without discrimination on language, religion, gender, race, or political views. Its core service portfolio includes Migrant TV (a multilingual multimedia platform broadcasting in Turkish, English, Arabic, Farsi, French, Somali, and Ukrainian), ASAM Academy on Migration (an academic research arm collaborating with Princeton University), the Disaster and Emergency Response Unit (with one of Turkey's few canine search and rescue teams), Women and Girls Safe Spaces, Child, Adolescent and Family Support Hubs (with UNICEF), Al Farah Child and Family Support Centers, Support for School Enrolment (with EU), and the ReBUILD livelihoods program for MSMEs (with GIZ).

SGDD-ASAM distributes services through a nationwide representative-office network spanning up to 29 offices across 21 provinces in Turkey, supplemented by foreign representative offices in Athens (opened 2016), Brussels (opened 2019), Lviv (opened/planned following the Ukraine-Russia war), and planned offices in Aleppo and Damascus for 2025. The organization employs 2,000+ full-time staff according to the most recent English and Farsi pages (with older figures showing 650-800 employees in 16-18 provinces), maintaining permanent operating compounds in Hatay following the February 6, 2023 earthquakes. Its technology footprint is centered on multilingual content production and field operations rather than software platforms; there is no API, SDK, or proprietary model layer in the public record.

The organization's revenue model is non-commercial: services are delivered free of charge to beneficiaries and funded through grants and partnerships with international donor organizations, including UNHCR, UNICEF, UNFPA, the European Union, GIZ, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, the British Embassy, the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, Inditex, and the Olympic Refuge Foundation. The organization reports no publicly disclosed revenue, no equity funding, and no parent company. It is governed as an independent nonprofit, with its leadership headed by General Coordinator İbrahim Vurgun Kavlak, and was honored with the State Medal and Order of Supreme Sacrifice of the Republic of Türkiye from President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for its rescue operations following the February 2023 earthquakes.

Name

Sosyal Gelişim ve Dayanışma Derneği

Legal name

SOSYAL GELİŞİM VE DAYANIŞMA DERNEĞİ İKTİSADİ İŞLETMESİ

Website

https://sgdd.org.tr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

SGDD-ASAM is Turkey's largest nonprofit civil society organization in migration and humanitarian aid, delivering protection, education, health, and emergency response services to refugees, migrants, and disaster-affected populations across 21 provinces and five countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian Aid Services

NAICS

Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Individual and Family Services (6241), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Assistance (624)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Refugee, IDP & Migration Humanitarian Assistance (BPAGAAAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Emergency Shelter, Camp Management & Non-Food Items (NFI) (BPAGAAAC), Protection Services (GBV, Child Protection, Safeguarding) (BPADAHAF), Asylum & Refugee Status Determination (RSD) Support (BPADAHAB), Refugee & Humanitarian Newcomer Orientation (Resettlement Support) (EDAAADAI), Cash Assistance & Social Safety Net Delivery for Displaced Populations (BPADAHAH)

Keywords

• Humanitarian aid services
• Refugee support programs
• Migration assistance
• Disaster response services
• Community protection programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Çankaya

Offices36 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. International Donor Funding: SGDD-ASAM operates as a non-profit civil society organization funded primarily through international donor organizations, government agencies, and foundations. Major funders include UNHCR, UNICEF, UNFPA, EU, GIZ, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, British Embassy, Center for Disaster Philanthropy, and various other humanitarian organizations.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

SGDD-ASAM is a non-profit civil society organization providing humanitarian aid and migration support services to refugees, asylum seekers, migrants, and vulnerable populations in Turkey. Core offerings include protection services, education support, health programs, psychosocial support, livelihood assistance, social cohesion activities, and emergency disaster response. The organization also operates Migrant TV, a multilingual media platform in 7 languages, and ASAM Academy on Migration for academic research.

Product overview

Sosyal Gelişim ve Dayanışma Derneği (SGDD-ASAM) is Turkey's largest civil society organization providing humanitarian aid services. The organization operates a portfolio of service programs including Migrant TV (a multilingual media platform in 7 languages), SGDD Göç Akademisi (an academic migration research platform), and various humanitarian programs focused on protection, education, health, livelihood support, and social cohesion. Key programs include earthquake response operations, women and girls safe spaces, child protection centers, and school enrollment support. The organization has over 800 employees across 22 offices in 16 provinces and operates international representative offices in Athens, Brussels, and Lviv.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Migrant TV: Multi-language media platform providing content in Turkish, English, Arabic, Farsi, French, Somali, and Ukrainian for displaced persons in Turkey
• SGDD Göç Akademisi (ASAM Academy on Migration)

Products and services

• Migrant TV A multilingual multimedia platform that produces content in 7 languages (Turkish, English, Arabic, Farsi, French, Somali, Ukrainian) to provide displaced persons in Turkey with reliable information on registration processes, rights and obligations, irregular migration, access to education and health services, work permits, and social life in Turkey.
• SGDD Göç Akademisi (ASAM Academy on Migration) An academic institution that conducts migration research, seminars, journal publications, library resources, research scholarships, and conferences, collaborating with Princeton University on social harmonization guides. Targets master's and doctoral students and the broader academic community.
• Earthquake Response Operations Comprehensive humanitarian aid programs including search and rescue operations, needs assessment, psychosocial support, health counseling, child protection, and relief distribution in earthquake-affected regions of Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, Adıyaman, and Malatya. Implemented under 20+ distinct projects.
• Disaster and Emergency Response Unit Specialized emergency response unit with canine search and rescue team capability, one of the very few teams with canine search and rescue capability in Turkey. Awarded the State Medal and Order of Supreme Sacrifice of the Republic of Türkiye by President Erdoğan. Rescued 30 persons from rubble during the February 2023 earthquakes.
• Child, Adolescent and Family Support Hubs Support centers providing developmental support and protection services for children, adolescents, and families, implemented in cooperation with UNICEF for child protection and development support.
• Al Farah Child and Family Support Centers Child and family support centers providing comprehensive care and protection services for refugee children, operating since 2016.
• Support for School Enrolment Programme Education program providing support for school enrollment with financial support from the European Union to help refugees access education.
• Women and Girls Safe Spaces Safe spaces providing protection and support services for women and girls including psychosocial support and counseling, implemented in cooperation with UNFPA increasing access of women and girls to reproductive health services in earthquake-affected provinces.

Quantifiable outcome

• Rescued 30 people from rubble during February 2023 earthquakes
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Muzaffer Akpınar Vakfı (MAV)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025Collaboration with Muzaffer Akpınar Foundation (MAV) on the 'Growing Up with Play' project implemented at Hatay İSO Container City. The project supports children's holistic development through play-based activities for earthquake-affected children aged 4-12.
• Konrad Adenauer VakfımajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Joint field research with Konrad Adenauer Foundation on Syria, producing a comprehensive report analyzing the situation after the regime's fall. The report covers Syrian provinces, economic sectors, and provides detailed data on housing, health, education, law, and security.
• Pros&Cons Güvenlik ve Risk AnalizimajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Joint field research with Pros&Cons Security and Risk Analysis on Syria, producing a comprehensive report analyzing the situation after the regime's fall.
• Princeton UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Collaboration with Princeton University on the guide 'Sharing the Future: Opportunities for Social Harmonization in Türkiye'. ASAM Academy on Migration continues to share experience with academia, local authorities, international organizations, and private sector representatives.
• United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for refugee protection and humanitarian assistance programs in Turkey
• United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerChild, Adolescent and Family Support Hubs Project launched in cooperation with UNICEF for child protection and development support
• United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerProject increasing access of women and girls to reproductive health services in earthquake-affected provinces
• Republic of Türkiye Ministry of HealthcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerFacilitating the Provision of Health Services for the Earthquake Survivors and Supporting Their Wellbeing Project, in collaboration with Taipei Economic and Cultural Mission
• Taipei Economic and Cultural MissionmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerHumanitarian assistance projects for earthquake victims and health services support
• Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Family and Social ServicescoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCoordination on child protection, family support, and social services in earthquake regions
• AFAD (Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCoordination on disaster response, search and rescue operations, and humanitarian aid distribution in earthquake regions

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves19 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Concern Worldwide: International humanitarian NGO operating in emergencies and protracted refugee crises with comparable programs in livelihoods, education, and protection. Active in the Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean with similar donor base.
• International Rescue Committee (IRC): Major international humanitarian NGO operating refugee and emergency response programs, including in Türkiye and Syria. Comparable operational footprint in protection, education, and economic recovery for displaced populations.
• Turkish Red Crescent (Kızılay): Türkiye's largest humanitarian organization, also focused on disaster relief, refugee assistance, and social services domestically. Operates as the primary national counterpart to SGDD-ASAM in emergency shelter, food aid, and migration support.
• CARE International: Major international humanitarian organization with refugee programming focused on women, girls, and vulnerable populations. Operates comparable protection, food security, and economic empowerment programs for displaced persons in the same geographies.
• Danish Refugee Council (DRC): Leading international refugee NGO with significant presence in Türkiye and the Middle East providing protection, livelihoods, and humanitarian assistance. Directly comparable in target population, programming areas, and donor ecosystem.
• Mercy Corps: Global humanitarian organization working on conflict response, migration, and disaster recovery with active programs in the Middle East and Türkiye region. Comparable programmatic mix in livelihoods, protection, and emergency response for displaced persons.
• AFAD (Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency): Turkish state agency coordinating disaster response and humanitarian aid. AFAD is both a coordination partner of SGDD-ASAM in earthquake response and a peer organization operating overlapping mandates in search & rescue, relief distribution, and emergency management.

Broad incumbents

• International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC): Global humanitarian network coordinating Red Cross/Red Crescent national societies. Operates overlapping mandates in disaster response, refugee assistance, and emergency shelter that directly parallel SGDD-ASAM's program portfolio in Türkiye.
• International Organization for Migration (IOM): Leading intergovernmental organization working on migration management, including in Türkiye. IOM operates overlapping programs on refugee protection, resettlement, and migration information that directly parallel SGDD-ASAM's Migrant TV and integration mandates.
• UNHCR (UN Refugee Agency): The leading global refugee agency and one of SGDD-ASAM's largest funders. UNHCR implements its own refugee programs in Türkiye at scale, making it both a partner and a competing implementation actor in the same beneficiary populations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sgdd_asam
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCJlUcPdqFN_i6qu8NzFGloQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/asamsgdd
• Instagraminstagram.com/sgdd_asam
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sgddasam

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sosyal Gelişim ve Dayanışma Derneği