Abstract:

Low rates in labour market participation of female in Turkey can be clearly seen with the data’s of Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), World Bank, United Nations and various institutions. Increasing female employment and entrepreneurship are among the priority targets in some regulations that cover poverty and hunger eradication, universal education, gender equality, global cooperation for development in the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, European Employment Strategy and Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. In recent years the number of projects for improving female employment and entrepreneurship increased and they were supported by the government, civil society and private sector organizations. Recently established regional development agencies in Turkey have an important role to overcome, eliminate or alleviate the socio-cultural and economic barriers in front of the female labour force participation. The aim of this study is to examine projects supported by the Regional Development Agencies for increasing women's employment and entrepreneurship.