GAP is a multi-sectoral and integrated regional development project based on the concept of sustainable development. Its basic aim is to eliminate regional development disparities by raising people's income level and living standards; and to contribute to such national development targets as social stability and economic growth by enhancing the productive and employment generating capacity of the rural sector. The project area covers 9 provinces in the Euphrates-Tigris basins and Upper Mesopotamia plains (Adiyaman, Batman, Diyarbakir, Gaziantep, Kilis, Mardin, Siirt, Sanliurfa and Sirnak).

The original initiative consisted of irrigation and hydroelectric energy production projects on the Euphrates and the Tigris. Along the 80s, the project was transformed into a multi-sectoral regional development programme of a socio-economic character. This programme covers such sectors as irrigation, hydraulic energy production, agriculture, urban and rural infrastructure, forestry, education and health. Its water resources programme envisages the construction of 22 dams and 19 power plants and irrigation schemes on an area extending over 1.7 million hectares. The total cost of the project is 32 billion US $. The total installed capacity of its power plants is 7476 MW which means an annual production of 27 billion kWh.

The project is based upon the concept of sustainable development which aims at generating an environment in which future generations can fully develop themselves and reap the benefits of development. Equitable development, participation, protection of the environment, employment generation, spatial planning and infrastructure development are the basic strategies of GAP.

The Region is also named as the "Fertile Crescent" or "Upper Mesopotamia", and known to be the cradle of civilization in human history. Throughout history, the Region has served as a bridge ensuring passage from Anatolia to Mezopotamia.

The Tigris and the Euphrates, two important rivers of Turkey flow trough the Region. Both originating from the Eastern Anatolia, these two rivers reach sea in the Persian Gulf. Southeastern Anatolia receives less precipitation compared to the other regions of the country. Hence the idea was to utilize the rich water potential of these two rivers for irrigation and energy production purposes, and to regulate the otherwise irregular flow of both rivers.

In 1968, the proposed water storage facilities and hydraulic plants and irrigation schemes of the Lower Euphrates Projects were contracted out to a group of domestic-foreign firms, the former feasibility studies and the latter for planning. These contracted works were completed in 1970. Meanwhile, work of similar nature was conducted for the Tigris Basin by the Diyarbakir Regional Directorate DSI. Hence, the overall picture about how the basins of Euphrates and Tigris were to be utilized gained clarity. Finally, in 1977 projects related to these two basins were merged and adopted as a single one under the title the "Southeastern Anatolian Project".

Under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister to be appointed by the former, the GAP Higher Council consists of the State Minister in charge of the GAP, the State Minister in charge of the State Planning Organization, and the Minister of Public Works and Settlement.

The GAP Administration is organized with its Headquarters in Ankara and a Regional Directorate in Sanliurfa.

Other than dams, hydroelectric plants and irrigation schemes over the rivers of Euphrates and Tigris, the very concept of "Southeastern Anatolia Project" is conceived as a regional development drive aiming the multi-faceted and sustainable socio-economic development of the Region on the basis of a multi-sectoral and integrated approach which covers such diverse areas as urban, rural and agricultural infrastructure, transportation, industry, education, health, housing, tourism and investments in many other fields.

Upon the completion of the Project, 28% of the total water potential of Turkey will be brought under control through facilities on the Euphrates and Tigris which jointly flow more than 50 billion cubic meters of water per year. Furthermore, 1.7 million hectares of land will be under irrigation, and it will be possible to generate approximately 27 billion kWh electric energy annually with an installed capacity of 7476 megawatts.

The high potential generated in both agriculture and industry by the GAP will increase the income level of the Region fivefold and generate employment opportunities for 3.8 million people living in a region whose total population is projected to be over 9 million in 2005.

The State of the Republic of Turkey has been attaching ever more importance to the elimination of regional disparities in the socio-economic development of the country. This concern s not solely the reflection of a desire for an equitable development. Rather, it originates from the sound diagnosis that mobilization of the development potential of under developed regions will contribute greatly to the realization of such national goals as economic growth, social stability and a rise in export capacity. In short, GAP is bringing civilization back to the Upper Mesopotamia.

First studies and plans to utilize waters of Euphrates and Tigris for irrigation and energy production and harness the flow of these rivers date back to the 60s. These studies and plans were referred to as the "Southeastern Anatolia Project" starting from 1977.

At present, the GAP is a human centered and integrated regional development project carried out along with the principle of sustainable human development. The development envisaged under the GAP has the goal of creating opportunities for the people of the region fully materialize their preferences and economic potentials.

The basic development scenario,

in the GAP Master Plan is to transform Southeastern Anatolia into an

Sustainable development requires a balance between the nature and mankind; through this balance, it programmers for the life and development of both present and future generations without depleting natural resources. It is a concept which has social, ecological, economic, spatial and cultural dimensions.

As touched upon earlier, the Southeastern Anatolia Project had originally started as a land and water resources development effort and was later transformed into a multi-sectoral and integrated development project by the GAP Administration. The GAP Administration integrated the environmental and social-humanitarian dimensions to economic growth targets in conformity with the concept of sustainable development. This means that GAP accords as much importance to the enhancement of quality of life as it does to economic growth. Infrastructure development, agricultural and industrial development, environmental protection, development of natural resources, social services and all other activities including those which contribute to economic growth are assessed in terms of their sustainable contributions to the quality of life.

The ultimate aim of GAP is to ensure sustainable human development in the region. Therefore it is a human centred development process. Physical structures which are now being built will be the basis of human development. The aim of sustainable development will be achieved by eliminating disparities, spreading welfare, ensuring community participation and developing human resources. The combination of economic growth targets with a human development perspective envisages the transformation of the projected social change into participatory solutions specific to the eco-system and cultural make-up of the region.

1. Participation
2. Equity
3. Development of Human Resources

Participation is conceived as the active presence of all stakeholders in the processes of project development, decision making, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. This principle is valid for all projects. When translated into actual processes, the principle yields ample benefits by raising awareness, enhancing the social feasibility of projects, reducing costs and by actually solving problems. One of its side effects is the democratisation of communities involved.

The second principle, equity or fairness in development means the integration of those who are in socially, culturally or economically disadvantaged positions to the process of development. As far as GAP is concerned, such disadvantaged groups are identified as women, children, landless peasants, small farmers and farmers living in areas not under irrigation. Special programmes are being developed with the participation of such groups.

In sum, GAP's aims include sustainable economic growth; fair income for all; better access to such services as education, health and cultural activities; sustainable utilisation of natural resources; a clean and safe environment; decent sheltering for all; and participation to decision making. All these mean the creation of sustainable society which progresses through its internal dynamics.

UNDP and GAP co-sponsored the Symposium "Sustainable Development and GAP" which took place in March 1995. The event was participated by the representatives of universities and local and private organizations. The seminar was a platform on which the principles of sustainable human development were discussed in the context of GAP.

The programme supports the implementation of 29 sub-projects presented below under five headings:

• Encouragement of social sustainability and improvement of social services,
• Encouragement of agricultural sustainability and improvement of rural productivity,
• Encouragement of local entrepreneurship and industrial development for economic viability
• Encouragement of sustainable human settlements,
• Sustainable utilization of natural resources at an optimal level.

The projects listed below are actually interrelated within the framework of sustainable human development. The list includes a grouping for analytical purposes.

• Transfer of irrigation systems to farmers,
• Institutional capacity building,
• Farmers' training and extension,
• Agricultural research and development projects,
• Consolidation of farm lands.

In the period 1990-1997, the rate of population growth was 2.5 % for the region whereas the country average was 1.5 %.

When we look at the issue in terms of urban and rural rates of population growth, the rate of urban population growth in the region is 4.6 %. This is quite high compared to the overall urban population growth rate which 2.9 %. Growth rate of rural population, on the other hand, is falling down both in the region and in the country. The corresponding values are -0.5 % and - 7 %, respectively, for the region and the country, showing that the slowing down in the rate of growth of rural population is faster in the country than it is in the region.

In the region, the share of urban population was 56 % in 1990, later to rise to 64 % in 1997. The share of rural population dropped from 44 % to 36 % in the same period.

This high rate of urban population growth in the GAP region put a further stress on already insufficient urban infrastructure services at the first hand. Furthermore, unless relevant measures are taken, the problems of employment will further aggravate.

When the project is completed, 28.5 % of the total water potential of the country will be brought under control through facilities on the Euphrates and the Tigris which together flow more than 52.94 billion cubit metres of water annually. It will be possible to irrigate 1.7 million hectares of land, 4.5 times larger than Cukurova, and produce 27 billion kWh energy at an installed capacity of 7460 MW annually. The planned irrigation area corresponds to 20 % of total irrigable land in Turkey, while annual energy production will have a share of 22 % of total energy production capacity of Turkey. Energy to be produced upon the completion of the energy production programme of GAP will be equal to Country's total hydraulic energy production in 1988.

The dams of Karakaya and Atatürk provide a substantial part of energy circulated in the interconnected system. Energy supply of these two dams reached 116 billion kWh as of the end of 1997. This corresponds to a value of 7.8 billion dollars and makes up about a half of the total hydraulic energy production of Turkey. GAP's share in total energy production (thermal and hydraulic) of the country is 20 %. The region's contribution to the economy of the country can be conceived better if it is considered that the total energy production of the region is equivalent to 28 million tons of fuel oil or 23 million cubic metres of natural gas.

When the irrigation projects of GAP are complete, the area brought under irrigation will be equal to the total area so far brought under irrigation by the State. High agricultural and industrial potential to be generated by GAP will increase the total economic output of the region 4.5 times and generate employment for 3.5 million people in a region whose population will then reach 9-10 million. Along with the expansion of area under irrigation, expected increases in crop yield is 104 % in wheat, 69 % in barley, 388 % in cotton, 556 % in tomato, 24 % in lentil, and 80 % in vegetables. At present, 203,080 hectares of land is irrigated in the region by networks constructed by the State Hydraulic Works and the region has a share of about 36 % in the total cotton output of Turkey.

Taking 1985, the year GAP Master Plan was phased in as a base, per capita Gross Regional Product (GRP) was 47 % of Turkey's per capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The Master Plan projects an annual increase of 7.7 % in GRP. Projected annual increases in individual sectors are given below (at 1987 fixed producer prices).

Along with the change in the economic structure of the region, the share of agriculture will drop from 40 % to 23 % while that of industry will rise from 15 % to 24 %, and services from 44 % to 53 %. Per capita GRP will, at 1997 prices, approximately double and reach 235 million TL.

Taking 2005 as the target year, the Master Plan projected GRP with its components of

• Agriculture
• Industry
• Services

and the change with respect to 1985 was envisaged as follows: