A new roadmap for developing green and digital skills in the Turkish energy sector

In partnership with the United Nations Development Programme Istanbul International Center for Private Sector in Development (UNDP ICPSD) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Enerjisa Enerji, the leading company in electricity distribution and retail in Türkiye, has initiated an inclusive and collaborative effort to support the fostering of a skilled workforce to get the energy industry be ready for a green and digital twin transformation.

Developed as part of the Skills for an Inclusive Future (S4IF), of which Enerjisa Enerji is the first private sector stakeholder and beneficiary, “the Joint Initiative on Promoting Green and Digital Skills in Türkiye’s Energy Sector” and the accompanying report were announced in a meeting held in Ankara.

Hosted by Enerjisa Enerji, the meeting was attended by Ebru Taşcıoğlu, Head of Sustainability and Corporate Competencies of Enerjisa Enerji, Mustafa Ali Yurdupak, Assistant Resident Representative of UNDP Türkiye and Şule Kılıç, Head of Energy Eurasia of the EBRD.

Whilst the findings of the report "Green and Digital Skills in Türkiye's Energy Workforce: A Twin Transformation Guide," the first concrete output of the collaboration jointly announced for the first time at the COP29 in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, in 2024, were disclosed at the meeting, the future of the energy sector and its strategic significance in Türkiye's SDGs were also underlined.

The report offers an in-depth analysis of Türkiye's existing workforce capabilities, skill gaps, and opportunities for growth within the energy sector, while also outlining a thorough roadmap for the sector's compliance to green and digital transformation.

The roadmap, developed in accordance with Türkiye's net-zero target by 2053, demonstrates the feasibility of a fair and inclusive transformation within the energy sector. Emphasizing equal opportunities for women, youth, and individuals residing in rural regions, the approach also has the purpose of supporting the competitiveness, innovation, and sustainable growth in the sector.

Underlining the significance of the initiative in terms of the energy transformation in Türkiye, Ebru Taşcıoğlu, Head of Sustainability and Corporate Competencies of Enerjisa Enerji, remarked: “At Enerjisa Enerji, we sustain our efforts to lead the transformation of our sector and equip our workforce with green and digital skills. We acknowledge that genuine transformation is unattainable unless we commit to investing in people, ensuring equal opportunities, and supporting qualified employment; thus, we align our collaborations accordingly. Therefore, we develop projects with our stakeholders, establish meaningful partnerships, and further strengthen our vision of "A Better Future" through our sustainability-oriented approach. At Enerjisa Enerji, we will maintain our efforts to work alongside all our stakeholders in order to establish a greener, more digital, and more inclusive energy future.”

Expressing that the initiative plays a critical role in Türkiye's SDGs, Mustafa Ali Yurdupak, Assistant Resident Representative of UNDP Türkiye, stated: “The joint initiative by the EBRD, UNDP and Enerjisa Enerji, which we are launching today, aims to establish a more robust, inclusive, and competitive framework within the Turkish energy sector by pinpointing the existing skill gaps. At UNDP Türkiye, we are delighted to launch S4IF Türkiye, the first country initiative of the Collaboration Network for the Skills for an Inclusive Future. S4IF Türkiye will support the fostering of the inclusive skills that Türkiye requires in its green and digital transformation process. Accordingly, our goal is to produce more effective and sustainable solutions in skills development by integrating the know-how and experience of the private sector with public policies. Moreover, we aim to improve the active participation of the private sector in skills enhancement processes through new collaborations to be established as part of S4IF Türkiye. This initiative will serve as a model not only for Türkiye but also for other country initiatives of the S4IF Collaboration Network. At UNDP Türkiye, we are committed to steering the process in line with national priorities and supporting inclusive employment.”

Emphasizing the significance of strengthening the workforce capacity in the energy transformation, Şule Kılıç, Head of Energy Eurasia of the EBRD, stated: “Currently, professional, and technical skill gaps are recognized as major challenges to transformation in numerous countries where our Bank functions, including Türkiye. Whilst our energy investments in Türkiye advance steadily, we are more than happy to collaborate with UNDP and Enerjisa Enerji to support youth, who will be the workforce of the energy sector in the future, in acquiring skills aligned with the requirements of the green and digital transformation. We will maintain our efforts alongside all our stakeholders, especially the public, private sectors, and educational institutions, to build the energy sector of the future together.”

As the first private sector stakeholder and beneficiary of the S4IF Collaboration Network in Türkiye, Enerjisa Enerji will persistently adhere to its unwavering inclusive transformation approach that promotes the cultivation of a skilled workforce.