Summary

This praxis project, initially completed at the beginning of the semester, appears to have not been successfully posted on my blog’s list. Therefore, I am reposting it.
First of all full disclosure - one of the cofounders, Dr. Ozgur, is my good friend therefore I have had the privilege to follow this project that’s accomplishing amazing things closely since pretty much it started. That being said, he has always been working on socioeconomic mapping and data- driven maps throughout his professional life.
In 2015, when he and group of likeminded friends got together, they wanted to create a map based system using web-based application that would address urban and neighborhood level needs for social development.

That’s when Mert Fırat, a well-known Turkish actor and a United Nation’s Development Program - UNDP for short - Turkey Goodwill’s Ambassador on Sustainable Development Goals also joined their discussions and they all agreed on establishing a social cooperative that would match a common list of needs through a web-based platform. In October 2015, they launched the beta version of NeedsMap (www.ihtiyacharitasi.org ) at the UNDP Social Good Summit, which generated a great deal of interest from social development actors in Turkey.

So what is Needs Map then? It is a map-based data matching platform based on in-kind transfers that brings those in need and those who want to help together. It matches basic needs of individuals as well as a range of needs for NGOs, public schools, cooperatives, voluntary groups, etc. Basically, it is a voluntary web platform that tackles poverty related social problems through a system of non-monetary contributions. Since it’s an online platform, it’s accessible by everyone all over the world who has an Internet access. In that regard, “Needs map” creates a direct and adaptable atmosphere for both people in need and supporters, regardless of time and place, enabling them to globally expand this journey that began in Turkey. They have already expanded to many countries around Europe.
But They are also ready to adapt their model for use in different countries in partnership with relevant cooperative and other social and solidarity economy organizations. They plan to organize NeedsMap hackathons with key stakeholders in countries that invite them in order to share their methodology and localize their system with them for their use.

Citations

Needsmap. (n.d.). https://www.needsmap.coop/

Undp Turkey Celebrates Its First Goodwill Ambassador Mert Fırat | United Nations Development Programme. (n.d.). UNDP. Retrieved September 11, 2023, from https://www.undp.org/eurasia/press-releases/undp-turkey-celebrates-its-first-goodwill-ambassador-mert-firat