Research - SPARK

Impact Assessment: Evaluation of Jobs-Based Programming for Stability

The International Security and Development Center's (ISDC) Peacebuilding Research Program conducted an Impact Assessment of one of SPARK's programmes (LEAD 2) in Tunisia and Somalia/Somaliland. The report presents significant positive outcomes, indicating that the LEAD 2 intervention resulted in notable increases in employment opportunities and business registrations.

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The GreenWorks Effect

The GreenWorks Effect report showcases the findings from a comprehensive survey of 100 entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Türkiye, Lebanon and Jordan that are actively participating in the green economy. The report also incorporates qualitative input from interviews with economic and financial experts in the field of green entrepreneurship and provides recommendations for unlocking job opportunities through green transformation in the Middle East.

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Solutions for better financial inclusion for Syrian SMEs in Turkey

The business landscape in Turkey has room for more Syrian-owned small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and in order for more operating Syrian entrepreneurs, better access to bank loans, is a must. In 2021, SPARK published a report identifying barriers and opportunities for Syrian refugees’ access to financial services. Download the report: ‘Access or Non-Access to Finance: Challenges Faced by Syrian SMEs in Turkish Border Cities’.

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Blended Learning Implementation in Nine Examples

Fast transition into online learning during the pandemic has kept many wondering if online tools work to sustain academic achievement. Research shows that students use the tools frequently, and high achievement in exams tends to correlate with high interaction with online learning tools. This report is published in partnership with the University of Gaziantep, with the financial support of the European Union.

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Social cohesion of Syrians in Turkey starts with higher education

SPARK, along with its partners, recently released a report looking at the role higher education plays in improving the social cohesion of Syrian refugees living in Turkey. The findings illuminated both the achievements, and areas that need more development, in integrating young people within higher education.

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Relentless: Syrian Refugee Entrepreneurship in Host Countries

This report interviews 271 Syrian founders, business experts, and NGO representatives to understand the impact of COVID-19 measures and identify the biggest challenges faced by Syrians in four countries: Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, and Iraq. This report was published by Jusoor, SPARK and Qatar Fund for Development.

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New COVID-19 Survival Guide for Refugee Businesses

The Survival Guide, in English and Arabic, is available open-source for all startups and SMEs struggling in the wake of the global pandemic. The guide was prepared by Ahmad Sufian Bayram, a Syrian social entrepreneur and author with over nine years of experience in business development and made possible with the support of our partners, Islamic Development Bank and the Sheikh Abdullah Al Nouri Charity Society.

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Gender Equality And Social Cohesion In Iraq

This report is issued as a joint collaboration between SPARK, Yasar University UNESCO Chair on International Migration, and Yasar University Women and Family Research Center. The report is based on the outputs from an online workshop titled “Gender Equality and Social Cohesion: Pathways for Future”, organized on 20th October, 2021. The workshop was attended by 130 public officials, researchers, and NGO workers in Iraq. This report aims to provide a comprehensive situation analysis to identify opportunities and challenges in advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment in Iraq.

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Roadmap To Gender Equality Plans At Higher Education Institutions

Higher education institutions (HEIs) encounter several new challenges in the last decade. Some of these global challenges include the COVID-19 pandemic, climate crisis, political polarization, conflicted environment (wars, regional conflicts, radicalization, terrorism etc.) and increasing gendered based inequalities. The responses to these challenges require collective action and a cooperative approach. This roadmap provides some key suggestions on how to establish an effective Gender Equality Center (GEC) at the HEIs and how to make it useful for the staff and the students of the HEIs.

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