Tika expands development footprint in Libya with 137 projects and initiatives

The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (Tika) said it had sought to create a direct development impact on the lives of Libyan citizens through projects targeting the health, education and social development sectors. It said it had implemented 137 projects and activities in Libya since 2011, benefiting hundreds of thousands of people both directly and indirectly.

The acting Tika coordinator in Tripoli, Ali Kashoroglu, told Anadolu Agency that the organisation’s work went beyond building facilities or providing equipment, focusing instead on supporting development and improving essential services. He added that its activities in Libya had become more institutionalised and sustainable following the official opening of its office in Tripoli in 2024.

Tika’s official explained that the agency had given particular attention to the health sector. Among its key projects was the “Room of Hope” centre in Sabratha, which he described as Libya’s first specialised chemotherapy centre for children. 

The centre was inaugurated last August to provide a therapeutic and humane environment for children with cancer, seeking to eas the psychological burden associated with treatment.

The project included educational and recreational facilities such as a library, play areas and entertainment equipment, in addition to a dedicated waiting area for patients’ families.

In the education sector, Kashoroglu said Tika had opened 11 classrooms based on the Montessori method in 11 Libyan cities for children with special needs, as part of efforts to support education and enhance social integration.

He added that the agency’s work in Libya also covered agriculture, livestock, environmental protection and cultural heritage preservation, alongside social development programmes and vocational training. 

Kashoroglu noted that the focus remained on initiatives with a direct impact on citizens, particularly vulnerable groups, supporting local development and cooperation between Libya and Turkey.