Zerin Türk, Deputy Chief Executive of Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality, represented the municipality at the Local Social Policy Workshop held in Ankara on 8–9 October 2026 and organised by the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye (UMT). The workshop examined the changing roles and responsibilities of local authorities in social policy, as well as their institutional capacity.

Panels held on the first day addressed the theoretical framework of social policy, the distinction between social assistance and social policy-making, and the division of responsibilities between central and local government. Discussions also focused on local authorities having to deliver services that should be provided by central government despite limited resources, alongside growing public expectations of municipalities.

Experiences shared at the ‘Learning from Municipalities’ panel

Türk spoke at a panel entitled ‘Learning from Municipalities’ on the second day of the workshop. The panel was moderated by Dr Şengül Altan Arslan, Deputy Secretary-General of the UMT, and also featured Nergis Abacı, Deputy Secretary-General of Eskişehir Metropolitan Municipality.

The panel explored how social policies are developed within municipalities, the extent to which they are embedded in institutional structures, and how they are reflected across different service areas. Discussions examined the links between social policy and areas such as parks and gardens, transport, public works and urban planning, with a focus on the social impact of municipal services and ways of working jointly across departments.

Field data and public meetings guide policy-making

Zerin Türk explained that data and information gathered on the ground by Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality’s Departments of Women’s Policies, Social Services, and Disability and Older People’s Services played an important role in shaping its social policies. Alongside the work of these departments, which directly observe residents’ needs, requests and suggestions raised at regular public meetings also informed decision-making, she said.

Emphasising the municipality’s participatory approach, Türk explained that these departments provided services across different parts of the city, following a horizontal organisational model and focusing their work on neighbourhoods.

Coordination between departments to resolve problems

Türk noted that problems raised by residents often could not be resolved through the intervention of a single department, making joint work between different municipal departments essential. She said that a certain level of coordination had been achieved and shared the municipality’s experience of addressing social policy in conjunction with its various service areas.

Aiming for lasting and consistent social policies

Türk said that the frequent changes during the eight-year period of trustee administration had hindered the development of consistent social policies. She explained that, since taking office, they had planned their work with a long-term perspective. Despite constraints in resources, facilities and staffing, she said, more consistent work had been carried out across a range of areas.

Türk also outlined efforts to develop social policies in response to rising poverty, unemployment and interconnected social problems in Diyarbakır. She shared with workshop participants the experience gained in developing solutions to meet emerging needs and making decisions with residents’ participation.