The LIFE Project supports and encourages entrepreneurship, job creation and cross-cultural engagement in the food sector.

To address the global refugee crisis, CIPE and a Consortium of international partners developed the Livelihoods Innovation through Food Entrepreneurship (LIFE) Project. The LIFE Project launched the first food incubators in Turkey, where members from the refugee and host communities start and scale businesses, contributing directly to their livelihoods and economic development in their communities.

Food provides pathways for cultural preservation among displaced populations and introduces host communities to new cuisines. Entrepreneurs who introduce new products or cuisine to a market also have a competitive advantage.

PrOJECT features

The LIFE Project prides itself on its holistic and sustainable approach to building businesses and communities.

Food enterprise CEnter

All LIFE Project activities take place at our Food Enterprise Centers (FECs) in Istanbul and Mersin. The FECs serve as hubs for training and business development support. Modern facilities offer commercial grade kitchens, coworking and meeting space, and are venues for networking, community events, and workforce development.

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Entrepreneur INCUBATION

Anchored in the FECs, the LIFE Project incubates fledgling businesses, equipping entrepreneur members with the knowledge, skills and networks necessary to build successful food businesses. Activities include training, business coaching, support services and pitch competitions.

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Workforce Development

We offer skills-matching workshops focused on hygiene, food and workplace safety, customer service and other topics to food sector workers to increase employability.

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Social Cohesion

Gastrodiplomacy - the practice of using food as a medium for cross-cultural engagement - is interwoven through all aspects of the LIFE Project by bringing refugees and host communities together through the shared language of food. In addition to gastrodiplomacy programming in Istanbul and Mersin, the LIFE Project also connects refugee and host community entrepreneurs with home cooks around the world through the cookbook The Cuisine of LIFE: Recipes and Stories of the New Food Entrepreneurs of Turkey.

Our Partners

BEHIND THE LIFE PROJECT IS A CONSORTIUM OF GLOBAL PARTNERS AS WELL AS LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL RESOURCE PARTNERS PROVIDING THEIR EXPERTISE FROM EVERY ANGLE.

consortium partners

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CIPE

The Center for International Private Enterprise, CIPE, is a business-oriented NGO working at the intersection of democracy, governance and economic development to implement homegrown, private sector-led solutions to the challenges facing emerging and frontier markets. As the Consortium lead, CIPE oversees implementation of the LIFE Project and manages strategic partnerships across the globe. CIPE has a track record of success working with local partners to support entrepreneurial activity in Syria, Turkey, and across the MENA region, working with local partners to support entrepreneurial activity.

IDEMA

The International Development Consultancy, IDEMA, is the field implementer of the LIFE Project in Turkey, from managing the FECs, to delivering entrepreneurship support, workshops, and events. IDEMA is committed to providing meaningful impact through developing and implementing projects, realizing innovative solutions towards development obstacles, and serving as a hub for development practitioners to form global partnerships.

Union Kitchen

Union Kitchen is among the leading food and beverage business accelerators in the U.S., and provides the LIFE Project with tried and true expertise on facility design and operations, member management, and sustainability. Based in Washington, D.C. Union Kitchen's program guides entrepreneurs through establishing their businesses, from concept to launch, launch to local saturation, and multi-regional expansion with a tailored curriculum, networks, and strong local ecosystem.

William Davidson Institute

The William Davidson Institute, WDI, at the University of Michigan is an independent non-profit research and educational organization with expertise in entrepreneurship development in low- and middle-income countries. In designing and continuously optimizing the curriculum for the LIFE Project, WDI ensures the LIFE Project members have access to best practices and international standards in entrepreneurship.

FOUNDING MEMBERS

resource partners

We've teamed up with the resource partners below for their expert knowledge and support:

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The LIFE Project supports and encourages entrepreneurship, job creation and cross-cultural engagement in the food sector.