Capacity Building Event 2024

Capacity Building: Strengthening the Future of Civil Society and Innovating in a Developing World

Since 2019, the Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF) Türkiye has been organizing annual capacity development programs in collaboration with its partners, addressing the topics they need the most. These programs aim to enhance participants' knowledge and skills on current developments and strategic issues, thereby increasing their capacity in relevant areas. Aligned with FNF's vision, these events are shaped around different themes each year.

The fifth Capacity Building Event focused on artificial intelligence, this year. Participants had the opportunity to delve deeply into how AI technologies are currently used, how they might evolve in the future, and the opportunities and challenges they present. In addition to the impact of AI across various sectors, the event also thoroughly addressed its ethical and legal dimensions.

The event kicked off with a presentation by Erkan Saka titled “New Trends and Civil Society.” During this session, Saka shared insights on how civil society organizations can adapt to emerging trends, highlighting the importance of data activism. He emphasized the need to focus on data production and adapting it to AI to help promote datasets created by civil society organizations through AI technologies.

The second day began with a presentation by Elena Kalogeropoulos from iRightsLab. Elena discussed the current use of AI in Europe, particularly in Germany, and the relevant legal regulations. The most common application of AI in human resources, the ethical considerations that must be observed when using AI, and how democracy and AI can coexist—along with the threats and the necessary precautions—were key topics of this session.

Following this, Sinem Saka conducted a workshop where she introduced her AI-generated artworks and demonstrated the AI tools she used in a practical way. This session covered various AI-powered content creation methods, from preparing presentations to generating podcasts and avatars, and emphasized how NGOs can leverage these tools.

The final day of the event began with Selin Yıldız’s presentation on her activities within Tech to the Rescue. This organization aims to connect technology-leading companies with NGOs from around the world, providing them with much-needed tech services at a more affordable cost. Discussions focused on potential partnerships between Tech to the Rescue and FNF’s partners.

Ultimately, the capacity development program concluded with group presentations by the participants. Divided into four groups facilitated by the FNF Türkiye team, the participants prepared presentations on the outcomes of their group work, addressing the topics of “AI Risks in Democracies, AI in Policy Making, Human Rights and AI, and Fair Transition in the Economy through AI.” These presentations highlighted not only the advantages AI brings to our lives but also its associated risks. Finally, participants discussed how FNF Türkiye could support its partners in facing these risks and seizing the opportunities. The event successfully marked its fifth year with the conclusion of the group presentations.