Three policy innovations that Turkey is making through the SDG Impact Accelerator
This unique public-private partnership structure enabled the implementation of three innovative approaches for the international development and diplomatic communities:

Technology diplomacy. For centuries, armies were the most crucial power of nations. Then came economic statecraft. In the last two decades, diplomats started to talk about soft power — the ability to shape the preferences of others through appeal and attraction. Only in the last few years, “technology diplomacy” has become a tool for foreign policy. This is why more than 30 countries around the world have a startup visa program now (the most famous being Startup Chile). This is also why Denmark, and in turn, France appointed “technology ambassadors.” These countries acknowledge that technology in itself became a “superpower” and they need to establish “diplomatic” relations with the technology actors to get the most of them.

SDG Impact Accelerator is a technology initiative that epitomizes Turkey’s basic pillars about foreign policy: humanitarian values and entrepreneurial spirit. Startups from around the world, including Kenya, Rwanda, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, the United States, Palestine, Jordan, and India, worked on global technology solutions for the global refugee issue.

Probably, there could not be a better testbed for solutions targeting 60 million refugees around the world than Turkey, given Turkey hosts 4 million Syrian refugees, the largest refugee population around the world. SDG Impact Accelerator brought together United Nations, global philanthropies and businesses with startups to implement real solutions. By walking the walk instead of talking the talk, SDG Impact Accelerator has set a new benchmark for technology diplomacy.
['Ussal Sahbaz']
['Techdiplomacy', 'Sustainable Development', 'Sdgs', 'Gates Foundation', 'Undp']