Three Years of Work Turns into Tangible Progress for Girne Bandabulya
A major milestone has been reached in the Girne Bandabulya project, where KMC Consulting has contributed to strategic planning, stakeholder coordination and institutional development.
Nearly three years of work to bring Bandabulya, an important part of Girne’s historical and social heritage, back into active community life have resulted in significant progress with the signing of its operating agreement on the 17th of September 2026 at the Municipality.
The agreement between Girne Municipality, the Entrepreneurial Women’s Development Cooperative and the Girne Working Women’s Cooperative establishes the foundation for Bandabulya’s future management and operation. This achievement represents one of the most important outcomes of a long process built on consultation, preparation and collaboration.
The signing ceremony was attended by Girne Mayor Murat Şenkul, President of the Entrepreneurial Women’s Development Cooperative İçim Çağıner Kavuklu, President of the Girne Working Women’s Cooperative Emel Kişi, board members of both cooperatives and Project Coordinator Niyal Öztürk.
Transforming a Shared Idea into a Workable Model
The Bandabulya project was designed as a multi-stakeholder local development model that brings together social, economic and cultural objectives while returning a historic building to active use.
At the heart of the project is a clear ambition to increase the visibility of women’s work, strengthen women’s participation in the economy, create new market opportunities for local producers and bring renewed vitality to Girne’s town centre.
Projects of this scale require a strong operating model, clear responsibilities, effective stakeholder relationships and a sustainable management structure.
Throughout the process, KMC Consulting contributed to developing a shared vision for the project, aligning different expectations around common objectives and strengthening communication and coordination among the parties. We also played an active role in shaping the operating model, identifying institutional needs and helping transform the original concept into a practical and sustainable structure.
A Transformation Aligned with Girne’s Development Vision
Girne Mayor Murat Şenkul encouraged the project in line with his vision for the city’s development and the Municipality’s objective of revitalising the town centre. This support helped bring the local authority and the two women’s cooperatives together around a shared vision for the future.
The reopening of Bandabulya is expected to increase economic and social activity in the surrounding area, support local businesses and strengthen Girne’s urban identity.
Bandabulya is envisioned as a vibrant gastronomy and cultural centre where local products, traditional flavours, women’s work and entrepreneurship can gain greater visibility. Through events, workshops, cultural gatherings and gastronomic activities, it aims to become an active meeting place for residents and visitors throughout the day.
A New Economic Space for Women’s Cooperatives
The joint involvement of the Entrepreneurial Women’s Development Cooperative and the Girne Working Women’s Cooperative creates an important model of collaboration in women-led cooperative development.
The new structure aims to provide women producers and entrepreneurs with a sustainable platform where they can present their products, reach consumers and develop new business relationships.
The project will also create opportunities to strengthen the cooperatives’ capacity in joint management, institutional development, service design and long-term operations.
A New Phase after Three Years of Dedicated Work
Progress in large, multi-stakeholder projects is rarely linear. Defining institutional responsibilities, establishing shared decision-making mechanisms and developing workable solutions require time, patience and determination.
The signing of the operating agreement after nearly three years of work demonstrates the commitment of all parties to a common goal. It also marks the beginning of a new phase focused on preparing Bandabulya for opening and establishing the systems required for its sustainable operation.
At KMC Consulting, we are proud to contribute to projects that support local development, strengthen women’s economic participation and bring valuable urban assets back into community life through sustainable operating models.
We congratulate the institutions, cooperative presidents, board members and project teams whose commitment and hard work made this milestone possible.
We believe that Girne Bandabulya, shaped through three years of collective effort, will become a vibrant centre that brings people together, supports local production and creates lasting value for Girne.
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