MUPA Shared Its Two-Year Work With the Public

Muğla Metropolitan Municipality's strategic thinking and research center, Muğla Planning Agency, evaluated its two-year efforts at a meeting held on June 10, 2026. The meeting was attended by Ahmet Aras, President of the Coastal Aegean Municipalities Union and Muğla Metropolitan Municipality, and Tansu Özcan, President of Muğla Planning Agency. The research, collaborations, youth and employment projects carried out by MUPA to date, along with new period goals, were shared with the public. The data collected for the city's future provided clues on how decision-making processes in local governance will be shaped.

Muğla Planning Agency collaborated with 11 institutions in two years

Since its establishment, MUPA has analyzed Muğla’s economic, environmental, social, and demographic structure with scientific data, collaborating with 11 strategic institutions in two years. While revealing the city’s current state through various projects, the agency continues to contribute to local development and strategic planning processes.

These efforts go beyond identifying today’s needs. They aim for decisions about population, employment, agriculture, environment, and youth policies that Muğla may face in the coming years to be made with stronger data. Thus, Muğla Planning Agency creates a data-driven framework for the municipality's service and investment priorities.

Data collected from 14,795 people and over 590 thousand data points in Muğla

In 13 studies conducted by MUPA, they reached 14,795 Muğla residents. In total, 590,311 responses were obtained and Muğla’s 13 districts were thoroughly examined. The data obtained enabled a more accurate analysis of the city’s needs and expectations.

The agency’s reports and public information efforts also resonated broadly on social media. MUPA posts reached 13,894,641 people and earned 18,578,957 total impressions. This shows that data produced at the local level finds response not only in internal planning but also in public communication.

Data-driven research prepared for farmers and youth

MUPA prepared a regional farming report, conducting a comprehensive quantitative study revealing the current status and needs of producers in Muğla. Through this work, data-driven recommendations aimed at strengthening agricultural production were developed.

With the "City and Future Through the Eyes of Youth" study prepared by the agency, the experiences, needs, and future expectations of young people regarding urban life were analyzed. The study results contributed to the development of policies and projects targeted at youth. Thus, Muğla Planning Agency evaluated the relationship between both producers and youth with the city based on measurable data.

MUPA Skills Program bridges education and employment

The MUPA Skills - MUSKİ Classroom Program, launched by MUPA, aims to train human resources needed by local administrations based on merit and skills. The program, which aims to bridge education and employment, engages students in both theoretical training and practical fieldwork.

While the program develops the vocational skills of young people, it also contributes to training qualified workforce needed by local administrations. In this way, MUPA's efforts do not only produce research but also open a practical space where youth can engage with city governance.

MUPA shares its budget transparently with the public

Information about MUPA's budget structure was also shared at the meeting. Accordingly, MUPA's estimated expenditure budget for 2026 was projected as 71 million TRY, with a significant portion allocated to research and development activities.

The majority of the agency's total expenditures between 2024-2026 consist of research and development activities and personnel expenses, and MUPA continues to conduct data production, research, and institutional capacity building studies with a transparent budgeting approach. This disclosure highlighted Muğla Planning Agency's commitment to transparency in both data production and financial processes.

Özcan and Aras emphasized data-driven governance

MUPA President Tansu Özcan said, "Our main goal is to create a collective mindset in Muğla. To ensure communication among public institutions, local administrations, NGOs, and the private sector. At the same time, we aim to contribute with scientific data to decision-making processes for the city’s future."

Ahmet Aras, President of the Coastal Aegean Municipalities Union and Muğla Metropolitan Municipality, stated that the studies put forward by MUPA play an important role in city governance and said:

"When planning Muğla’s future, we make use of scientific data and research. The studies prepared by MUPA not only reveal the current state but also contribute to the formation of future-oriented policies. Correct decision-making in local administrations depends on accessing accurate data."

President Aras indicated that MUPA carries out studies that strengthen institutional capacity, saying, "We are reinforcing a data-driven governance approach to use our resources more effectively and to shape our investments and services according to needs. The research and analyses produced by MUPA serve as an important guide for Muğla to achieve sustainable development goals."

Emphasizing the growing importance of data-driven governance in local administrations, President Aras expressed that the research and analyses prepared by MUPA will continue to guide strategic decisions contributing to Muğla’s economic, social, and environmental development.

Reporter: Aziz Şahin