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Self Report 2018

The self-report on WHS Commitments below is organized according to the 24 transformations of the Agenda for Humanity. It is based on commitments pledged at the time of report submission. Click on the 'Expand' symbol to expand each section and read the reporting inputs by transformation.

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  • 1B
    Act early

    Core Commitments (2)

    • Commitment
    • Core Responsibility
    • Commit to act early upon potential conflict situations based on early warning findings and shared conflict analysis, in accordance with international law.
    • Political Leadership to Prevent and End Conflicts
    • Commit to make successful conflict prevention visible by capturing, consolidating and sharing good practices and lessons learnt.
    • Political Leadership to Prevent and End Conflicts
    1. Highlight the concrete actions taken between 1 January – 31 December 2017 to implement the commitments which contribute to achieving this transformation. Be as specific as possible and include any relevant data/figures.

    Situated in a rather unstable geography, Turkey attaches special importance to preventative diplomacy and finding peaceful solutions to conflicts. Turkey’s approach on this issue draws on the fact that preventive diplomacy is the most effective economically feasible method in terms of dispute settlement. It is with this understanding that Turkey fully supports the UN Secretary-General’s (UNSG) commitment to a “surge in diplomacy for peace”. Turkey also actively contributes to multilateral efforts on different themes with a common objective to enhance stability, like UN Peace Keeping and Peace Building, Friends of Mediation and Alliance of Civilizations and promote multilateral consultation mechanisms among countries.

    2. A. How are you measuring progress toward achieving your commitments? Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Through existing, internal systems or frameworks for monitoring, reporting and/or evaluation.
    B. How are you assessing whether progress on commitments is leading toward change in the direction of the transformation?

    Periodic meetings are being held at various levels among the related stakeholders to coordinate and update the progress as well as sharing good practices and lessons learnt.

    3. A. Please select no more than 3 key challenges faced in implementing the commitments related to this transformation. Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Data and analysis
    • Field conditions, including insecurity and access
    • Institutional/Internal constraints
    B. How are these challenges impacting achievement of this transformation?

    The most effective way to prevent crises and provide stability is to reduce the impact of risk factors which requires a holistic approach. Identifying those factors which may turn out to be root causes and eliminating them require, among other things, cooperation and support of host countries and coordinated action among regional and international actors.

    4. Highlight actions planned for 2018 to advance implementation of your commitments in order to achieve this transformation.

    Turkey will continue to assist the UNSG in his efforts to bring fore his vision of surge in diplomacy. Turkey will take benefit of all related platforms to strengthen the normative basis of mediation and enhance the UN mediation support capacities. Turkey is leading the efforts for the adoption of a resolution entitled “Strengthening the Mediation Capacity of the OIC” (Organization of Islamic Cooperation). Turkey will seek to increase the number of trilateral/multilateral consultation mechanisms with other states.

    5. What steps or actions are needed to make collective progress to achieve this transformation?

    Actions at the country level to reduce specific risk factors and to enhance the relevant national infrastructures are crucial. Yet the ultimate success depends on all relevant players to act in concert and to cooperate to support the United Nations to better fulfill its mandate in the area of conflict prevention.

    6. List any good practice or examples of innovation undertaken individually or in cooperation with others to advance this transformation.

    Turkey convened the Fourth İstanbul Mediation Conference on 30 June 2017 under the theme “Surge in Diplomacy, Action in Mediation”.

  • 1C
    Remain engaged and invest in stability

    Joint Commitments (2)

    • Commitment
    • Commitment Type
    • Core Responsibility

    • Turkey (and Finland) commit(s) to enhance the visibility of mediation efforts and to bring mediation to the core of UN peace work. Through the work of the Group, Turkey (and Finland) will strive to strengthen the normative basis of mediation and enhance the UN mediation support capacities. Turkey (and Finland) will also capture, consolidate and disseminate good practices and lessons learnt on conflict prevention.


    • Capacity
    • Political Leadership to Prevent and End Conflicts

    Partners: Finland

    • Turkey commits to continue providing strong political and financial support to the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations initiative. The Alliance, which Turkey co-sponsors with Spain, remains as one the major international initiatives for promoting harmony, dialogue and peaceful co-existence based on mutual respect for the development of peaceful and inclusive societies.


    • Financial
    • Political Leadership to Prevent and End Conflicts

    Partners: Spain

    Individual Commitments (9)

    • Commitment
    • Commitment Type
    • Core Responsibility

    • Turkey commits to allocating additional, predictable resources to the Peacebuilding Fund in the manner of US $1 million by 2020 ($200,000 annually for a period of 5 years) to allow the Fund to continue operations at the current level of $100 million by year.


    • Financial Contribution ()
    • Political Leadership to Prevent and End Conflicts Invest in Humanity

    • In addressing the root causes of crises and in ending human suffering, Turkey will work together with the United Nations to take due consideration of the humanitarian aspects in all mediation and conflict resolution efforts, in line with the findings of the World Humanitarian Summit.


    • Operational
    • Political Leadership to Prevent and End Conflicts

    • In order to increase the effectiveness of mediation efforts, Turkey commits to continue encouraging effective cooperation between the United Nations and regional and sub-regional organizations, in line with General Assembly Resolution 68/303.


    • Advocacy
    • Political Leadership to Prevent and End Conflicts

    • Turkey commits to assist the Secretary General and the Member States who are willing to draw a well-prepared and comprehensive framework for their mediation efforts that would take psychological, intellectual, ethical and methodological dimensions into account.


    • Policy
    • Political Leadership to Prevent and End Conflicts

    • Turkey commits to continue its active engagement in the resolution of regional problems in its near abroad and beyond, through the Trilateral / Multilateral Cooperation Mechanisms like the ones launched with the participation of Serbia and Croatia to achieve lasting peace and stability in Bosnia-Herzegovina and the mechanism implemented with Afghanistan and Pakistan.


    • Operational
    • Political Leadership to Prevent and End Conflicts

    • Turkey commits to continue its work for raising awareness of mediation as an effective tool for peaceful settlement of disputes, conflict prevention and resolution, in particular through the Group of Friends of Mediation within the UN, which was established in 2010 within the framework of the Turkey-Finland joint initiative of Mediation for Peace.


    • Advocacy
    • Political Leadership to Prevent and End Conflicts

    • Turkey commits to maintain and further develop effective coordination and cooperation among its public actors to ensure maximum impact of its assistance in fragile and conflict affected states and to encourage and support similar efforts among different actors of the global humanitarian system.


    • Operational
    • Political Leadership to Prevent and End Conflicts

    • Turkey reiterates its determination to continue working in conflict affected countries to create a conducive environment for ensuring stability and resilience.


    • Operational
    • Political Leadership to Prevent and End Conflicts

    • Turkey will assist the Secretary General in raising awareness regarding the complementary aspects between Alliance of Civilizations and Mediation for Peace, in order to create synergies and fully realize each initiative's aims and purposes. To this end, Turkey invites all Member States and relevant stakeholders to contribute to the replenishment of sustainable and predictable financial and human resources for these two initiatives.


    • Advocacy
    • Political Leadership to Prevent and End Conflicts

    Core Commitments (3)

    • Commitment
    • Core Responsibility
    • Commit to improve prevention and peaceful resolution capacities at the national, regional and international level improving the ability to work on multiple crises simultaneously.
    • Political Leadership to Prevent and End Conflicts
    • Commit to sustain political leadership and engagement through all stages of a crisis to prevent the emergence or relapse into conflict.
    • Political Leadership to Prevent and End Conflicts
    • Commit to address root causes of conflict and work to reduce fragility by investing in the development of inclusive, peaceful societies.
    • Political Leadership to Prevent and End Conflicts
    1. Highlight the concrete actions taken between 1 January – 31 December 2017 to implement the commitments which contribute to achieving this transformation. Be as specific as possible and include any relevant data/figures.

    Investing in stability in its region and beyond has long constituted an important agenda item for Turkey, particularly in the last decades. Turkey’s engagement included humanitarian operations by the Turkish stakeholders (AFAD, TIKA, Turkish Red Crescent and Turkish NGOs) in conflict-affected countries. Turkey also actively contributes to multilateral efforts on different themes with a common objective to enhance stability, like UN Peacekeeping and Peace Building, Friends of Mediation and Alliance of Civilizations and promote multilateral consultation mechanisms among countries. Turkey has fulfilled its commitment to allocate US$ 200,000 for the year 2017 to the Peacebuilding Fund. In terms of conflict prevention and mediation efforts, Turkey continued its efforts to enhance the visibility of Group of Friends of Mediation within the UN. Similarly, Turkey convened the Fourth İstanbul Mediation Conference on 30 June 2017 under the theme “Surge in Diplomacy, Action in Mediation”. In order to enhance the capacity of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in mediation, Turkey organized in cooperation with the OIC General Secretariat the first-ever Conference of the OIC Member States on Mediation in İstanbul on 21 November 2017 with the theme “Surge in Mediation: The role of the OIC”. As one of the major international initiatives for promoting peaceful co-existence, Turkey continued to provide strong political and financial support to the UN Alliance of Civilizations. On the other hand, trilateral and multilateral consultation mechanisms to increase coordination and cooperation to enhance sustainable stability in bilateral relations and to formulate joint policies towards regional and global issues are regularly pursued.

    2. A. How are you measuring progress toward achieving your commitments? Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Through existing, internal systems or frameworks for monitoring, reporting and/or evaluation.
    B. How are you assessing whether progress on commitments is leading toward change in the direction of the transformation?

    Periodic meetings are being held at various levels among the related stakeholders to coordinate and update the progress as well as reports produced at the end of certain periods by the stakeholders.

    3. A. Please select no more than 3 key challenges faced in implementing the commitments related to this transformation. Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Data and analysis
    • Human resources/capacity
    • Information management/tools
    B. How are these challenges impacting achievement of this transformation?

    The most effective way to prevent crises and provide stability is to reduce the impact of risk factors which requires a holistic approach. Identifying those factors which may turn out to be root causes and eliminating them require, among other things, cooperation and support of host countries and coordinated action among regional and international actors.

    4. Highlight actions planned for 2018 to advance implementation of your commitments in order to achieve this transformation.

    Turkey will continue to assist the Secretary-General of the United Nations (UNSG) in his efforts to bring fore his vision of surge in diplomacy. Turkey will take benefit of all related platforms to strengthen the normative basis of mediation and enhance the UN mediation support capacities. In this framework, Turkey is preparing to hold Fifth Istanbul Mediation Conference in June 2018. Turkey will continue to work on creating synergies between Alliance of Civilizations and Mediation for Peace and fully realizing each initiative's aims and purposes.

    5. What steps or actions are needed to make collective progress to achieve this transformation?

    Actions at the country level to reduce specific risk factors and to enhance the relevant national infrastructures are crucial. Yet the ultimate success depends on all relevant players to act in concert and to cooperate to support the United Nations to better fulfill its mandate in the area of conflict prevention.

    6. List any good practice or examples of innovation undertaken individually or in cooperation with others to advance this transformation.

    Turkey has fulfilled its commitment to allocate US$ 200,000 for the year 2017 to the Peacebuilding Fund. In terms of conflict prevention and mediation efforts, Turkey continued its efforts to enhance the visibility of Group of Friends of Mediation within the UN.

  • 1D
    Develop solutions with and for people

    Individual Commitments (1)

    • Commitment
    • Commitment Type
    • Core Responsibility

    • Turkey will continue to strive to increase and strengthen women'™s participation in mediation.


    • Advocacy
    • Political Leadership to Prevent and End Conflicts
    1. Highlight the concrete actions taken between 1 January – 31 December 2017 to implement the commitments which contribute to achieving this transformation. Be as specific as possible and include any relevant data/figures.

    In continuation of its efforts within the Group of Friends of Mediation, Turkey convened the Fourth İstanbul Mediation Conference on 30 June 2017 under the theme “Surge in Diplomacy, Action in Mediation”.  In these efforts Turkey emphasizes fulfilling the potential of relevant actors including the women. Gender responsiveness, as in other social projects, are also considered in those mediation efforts. Awareness raising activities for vulnerable groups addresses the role of women in all aspects of the crisis, including mediation. The Research and Implementation Institute for Humanitarian Crisis Response in Gaziantep has been conducting studies on relieving the effects of humanitarian crisis, including the role of women in mediation.

    3. A. Please select no more than 3 key challenges faced in implementing the commitments related to this transformation. Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Data and analysis
    • Field conditions, including insecurity and access
    • Information management/tools
    Keywords

    Gender

  • 2A
    Respect and protect civilians and civilian objects in the conduct of hostilities

    Core Commitments (1)

    • Commitment
    • Core Responsibility
    • Commit to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.
    • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity
    1. Highlight the concrete actions taken between 1 January – 31 December 2017 to implement the commitments which contribute to achieving this transformation. Be as specific as possible and include any relevant data/figures.

    Turkey recognizes all international agreements that protect the rights of civilians during conflicts and adheres to their full implementation within its borders.  Turkey, in this context has been an avid supporter of strengthening international frameworks governing the rules of war and promoting the protection of civilians. To this end, Turkey advocates the restriction of the use and transfer of certain arms and ammunitions and setting up of human rights monitoring mechanisms.

    B. How are you assessing whether progress on commitments is leading toward change in the direction of the transformation?

    For the protection of civilians and civilian objects Turkey is engaged in training programs. In the military context, studies were conducted regarding the compatibility of the means and instruments of war with international humanitarian law; arrangements for the use of distinctive emblems. Civil–Military cooperation was further enhanced in 2017.

    3. A. Please select no more than 3 key challenges faced in implementing the commitments related to this transformation. Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Data and analysis
    • Field conditions, including insecurity and access
    • Information management/tools
    B. How are these challenges impacting achievement of this transformation?

    At the domestic level, regular meetings among security forces, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other parties such as the UN and Red Crescent Society are being held.

    4. Highlight actions planned for 2018 to advance implementation of your commitments in order to achieve this transformation.

    Dissemination of information on humanitarian law should be enhanced.

    5. What steps or actions are needed to make collective progress to achieve this transformation?

    Increase the level of training activities domestically and enhance cooperation with the relevant international partners in this field.

    6. List any good practice or examples of innovation undertaken individually or in cooperation with others to advance this transformation.

    Civil–Military cooperation was further enhanced in 2017. Regarding the crisis in Syria, deconfliction information of humanitarian convoys, hospitals, clinics, etc. are taken into account sensitively by the Turkish military authorities and necessary precautions are being observed in the field.

    Keywords

    Protection

  • 2B
    Ensure full access to and protection of the humanitarian and medical missions

    Individual Commitments (3)

    • Commitment
    • Commitment Type
    • Core Responsibility

    • Turkey holds the view that responsibility to protect is implemented not only through military means but also by humanitarian assistance. In this regard, Turkey will continue to contribute to efforts of the UN on developing the appropriate framework for the implementation of the "Responsibility to Protect" (RtP), also duly taking into account this aspect of the issue.


    • Policy
    • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity

    • Turkey commits to continue its ongoing efforts to ensure that all populations in need receive rapid and unimpeded humanitarian assistance. Turkey will continue to participate in the discussions at various fora with a constructive approach.


    • Operational
    • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity

    • Turkey will continue to draw the attention of all the stakeholders to the need for evading steps that will result in legitimization of terrorist organizations while extending humanitarian assistance and also the need for preventing these organizations to abuse humanitarian action.


    • Operational
    • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity

    Core Commitments (1)

    • Commitment
    • Core Responsibility
    • Commit to ensure all populations in need receive rapid and unimpeded humanitarian assistance.
    • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity
    1. Highlight the concrete actions taken between 1 January – 31 December 2017 to implement the commitments which contribute to achieving this transformation. Be as specific as possible and include any relevant data/figures.

    Turkey is an ardent advocate of international solidarity and partnership especially during the humanitarian crises with a view to building a safer world, saving human lives and protecting the environment, through a sustainable and collective strategy. As one of the leading countries, Turkey faces all the direct consequences of the Syria crises. Turkey from the outset till today, has strived to ensure unfettered humanitarian access to all in need. In line with this understanding Turkey provides uninterrupted humanitarian access to neighbouring Syria, through its two border gates Öncüpınar and Cilvegözü. Drawing from its own experiences, Turkey strongly supports the universal principles of humanitarian law and continues to work in all platforms to enhance the security of humanitarian and medical missions.

    B. How are you assessing whether progress on commitments is leading toward change in the direction of the transformation?

    Turkey played a central role in the extension of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Decision 2165 that allows for and facilitates the cross-border humanitarian assistance to Syria.In the military context, better civil-military coordination was further strengthened between UN/INGOs and the Turkish armed forces including the sharing of deconfliction and GPS locations of convoys. 

    3. A. Please select no more than 3 key challenges faced in implementing the commitments related to this transformation. Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Data and analysis
    • Information management/tools
    • Multi-stakeholder coordination
    B. How are these challenges impacting achievement of this transformation?

    Affective coordination among humanitarian/medical missions is needed.

    4. Highlight actions planned for 2018 to advance implementation of your commitments in order to achieve this transformation.

    At the domestic level, regular meetings among security forces, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other parties such as the UN and the Red Crescent Society are being held.

    5. What steps or actions are needed to make collective progress to achieve this transformation?

    Increase the level of training activities domestically and enhance cooperation with the relevant international partners in this field. 

    Actions at the country level to reduce specific risk factors and to enhance the relevant national infrastructures are crucial. Yet the ultimate success depends on all relevant players to act in concert and to cooperate to support the United Nations to better fulfill its mandate in the area of conflict prevention.

     

    6. List any good practice or examples of innovation undertaken individually or in cooperation with others to advance this transformation.

    Turkey played a central role in the extension of the UNSC Decision 2165 that allows for and facilitates the cross-border humanitarian assistance to Syria.

    For the protection of humanitarian and medical missions, Turkey has engaged in training programs for its own relevant institutions.

    Keywords

    IHL compliance and accountability, Protection

  • 2D
    Take concrete steps to improve compliance and accountability

    Individual Commitments (2)

    • Commitment
    • Commitment Type
    • Core Responsibility

    • Turkey commits to continue its efforts to strengthen its institutional, intellectual and training capacities on international humanitarian law.


    • Capacity
    • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity

    • Turkey will continue to support all efforts for the reform of the UN Security Council, to eliminate the major obstacles which prevent its effective functioning or from taking decisive action to protect civilians against massive human rights violations, in particular the use of veto power. In this regard, Turkey reiterates its support for the "Code of Conduct regarding Security Council action against genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes" proposed by the ACT Group (Accountability, Coherence, Transparency Group), as well as the initiative by France and Mexico for the suspension of the veto in case of mass atrocities.


    • Policy
    • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity
    B. How are you assessing whether progress on commitments is leading toward change in the direction of the transformation?

    At the domestic level, regular meetings among security forces, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other parties such as the Red Crescent are being held.

    3. A. Please select no more than 3 key challenges faced in implementing the commitments related to this transformation. Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Data and analysis
    • Information management/tools
    • Multi-stakeholder coordination
    B. How are these challenges impacting achievement of this transformation?

    Affective coordination among relevant actors is needed.

    4. Highlight actions planned for 2018 to advance implementation of your commitments in order to achieve this transformation.

    Increase the level of training activities domestically and enhance cooperation with the relevant international partners in this field.

    5. What steps or actions are needed to make collective progress to achieve this transformation?

    Holding international humanitarian law at the highest standards while improving harmonization of national laws with universal standards.

    6. List any good practice or examples of innovation undertaken individually or in cooperation with others to advance this transformation.

    For the strengthening of international humanitarian law at the national level Turkey, in its civilian and military institutions has initiated training programs for its own staff.

  • 3A
    Reduce and address displacement

    Individual Commitments (13)

    • Commitment
    • Commitment Type
    • Core Responsibility

    • Currently hosting the largest number of refugees in the world, Turkey will continue to emphasize the primary importance of fair burden sharing by the international community in dealing with large flows of refugees and migrants. The neighboring countries which currently bear the brunt of this burden have to be supported on a sustainable basis.


    • Advocacy
    • Leave No One Behind

    • Turkey calls on the international community to further support UNHCR in its efforts to achieve a genuine and functioning resettlement programme. In light of the fact that only limited number of states offer resettlement on a regular basis and allocate annual resettlement quotas, Turkey proposes the establishment of an international quota system, for fair burden-sharing.


    • Advocacy
    • Leave No One Behind

    • Turkey commits to continue sharing its experience and "know-how" regarding the national mechanisms and services for those under temporary protection in Turkey with other partners and stakeholders at the regional and international level.


    • Operational
    • Leave No One Behind

    • Turkey commits to continue to work on ensuring full access of Syrians under temporary protection to education and vocational training. In this context, Turkey will strive to provide such services in Turkish and Arabic, in line with national standards.


    • Operational
    • Leave No One Behind

    • Turkey commits to cooperate with other countries that are hosting large refugee groups and to encourage them to develop similar approaches where appropriate.


    • Policy
    • Leave No One Behind

    • Turkey commits to include assistance projects for refugees in its development planning and to encourage similar medium and long-term approaches at the regional and global level.


    • Operational
    • Leave No One Behind

    • Turkey commits to share the results of the implementation of employment policies for Syrians under temporary protection based on the legislation on labour market access adopted in January 2016, with a view to encouraging similar approaches across the globe.


    • Operational
    • Leave No One Behind

    • Turkey commits to work on increasing the recognition and visibility of the contributions of refugee hosting countries and communities in the global humanitarian system.


    • Operational
    • Leave No One Behind

    • Turkey will continue its efforts in providing social protection, security and access to justice as well as health and education services for Syrians under temporary protection in order to strengthen their resilience and self-reliance.


    • Operational
    • Leave No One Behind

    • Turkey will continue to encourage joint analysis and engagement by development and humanitarian actors, as the needs of refugee groups cannot be met only on the basis of short term strategies.


    • Operational
    • Leave No One Behind

    • Turkey will continue to seek and encourage strong regional and international cooperation for overcoming the challenges posed by the large movement of refugees and migrants, based on the principle of shared responsibilities at the global level.


    • Advocacy
    • Leave No One Behind

    • Turkey will continue to take a leading role in the fight against xenophobia and hate speech specifically targeting the victims of forced displacement and to support national and international initiatives to this end.


    • Operational
    • Leave No One Behind

    • Turkey, as currently hosting the largest group of refugees in the world, commits actively to work on, to encourage and to support new approaches for addressing the issues related to forced displacement in light of the principles of "shared responsibility" and "burden sharing".


    • Advocacy
    • Leave No One Behind

    Core Commitments (3)

    • Commitment
    • Core Responsibility
    • Commit to a new approach to addressing forced displacement that not only meets immediate humanitarian needs but reduces vulnerability and improves the resilience, self-reliance and protection of refugees and IDPs. Commit to implementing this new approach through coherent international, regional and national efforts that recognize both the humanitarian and development challenges of displacement. Commit to take the necessary political, policy, legal and financial steps required to address these challenges for the specific context.
    • Leave No One Behind
    • Acknowledge the global public good provided by countries and communities which are hosting large numbers of refugees. Commit to providing communities with large numbers of displaced population or receiving large numbers of returnees with the necessary political, policy and financial, support to address the humanitarian and socio-economic impact. To this end, commit to strengthen multilateral financing instruments. Commit to foster host communities' self-reliance and resilience, as part of the comprehensive and integrated approach outlined in core commitment 1.
    • Leave No One Behind
    • Commit to collectively work towards a Global Compact on responsibility-sharing for refugees to safeguard the rights of refugees, while also effectively and predictably supporting States affected by such movements.
    • Leave No One Behind
    1. Highlight the concrete actions taken between 1 January – 31 December 2017 to implement the commitments which contribute to achieving this transformation. Be as specific as possible and include any relevant data/figures.

    Cross-border, disaster and climate related displacement

    With more than 3.5 million refugees within its borders, Turkey hosts the largest refugee population in the world. In line with the Law on Foreigners and International Protection and Temporary Protection Regulation, Turkey provides basic rights and services such as access to health and education services, social assistance, attorney services and counselling. Emergency Social Safety Net has been launched. Vocational training and employment opportunities are also offered to refugees. National response plans are prepared to lead and bring together national and international resources. However host local communities still need additional infrastructure investment (i.e. education and health). 

    - Collaboration has been enhanced between AFAD, the coordinating body of the Turkish government institutions, and international stakeholders.

    - Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) assistance program was launched in 2017 for children of refugees, asylum seekers who reside in Turkey under temporary protection or international protection. Girl students in the CCT program are positively discriminated.

    IDPs (due to conflict, violence, and disaster)

    • A “Social Cohesion Program” has been launched for social integration of Syrian Children living outside the camps with the cooperation of UNICEF.
    • The Framework of Policy through the Law no: 6735 on internal labour force was put in force for displaced including access to work and integration into labor market.
    • Awareness raising activities and information meetings were held between public institutions, private sector, NGOs and foreigners under protection.
    • In cooperation with the European Union (EU), MADAD project which provides courses and training on language, business and employment  of women has been strengthened.
    • In cooperation with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), relevant Turkish institutions pursued a project on supporting management on labour migration policy in Turkey.
    • In cooperation with World Bank the program under FRiT framework employment support for Syrians under temporary protection was developed.
    • A total of 21,000 Syrians under temporary protection have been issued with work permits in 2016 and 2017.

    2. A. How are you measuring progress toward achieving your commitments? Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • By applying processes/indicators developed to measure WHS commitments specifically.
    B. How are you assessing whether progress on commitments is leading toward change in the direction of the transformation?

    A multilateral working group in AFAD has been established to examine the challenges of coordination in humanitarian response. The progress is also being followed at the Regional Refugee and Resilience Plan (3RP) meetings. Statistics of those benefiting services (health, education, workforce) are evaluated periodically. Field surveys were conducted among refugees.

    3. A. Please select no more than 3 key challenges faced in implementing the commitments related to this transformation. Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    B. How are these challenges impacting achievement of this transformation?

    Insufficient, unstable and volatile assistance lacking predictability and sustainability from international community and insufficient advocacy for host countries at the global levels and lack of strategic collaboration between hosting countries are the main challenges. Staff turnover in the humanitarian area is high and adversely affecting institutional memory. Limits in sharing organizational learning constitute a problem.

    4. Highlight actions planned for 2018 to advance implementation of your commitments in order to achieve this transformation.

    Projects will be fostered to enhance infrastructure capacity in the refugee hosting provinces. Integration activities among relevant institutions and cooperation with relevant international stakeholders will be prioritized. A larger education and health network will be established for refugees. A knowledge management framework that integrates collection, analysis and management of information will be installed. Visual media materials for experience sharing will be dispersed. More employment projects and Turkish language courses will be launched.

    5. What steps or actions are needed to make collective progress to achieve this transformation?

    Projects will be fostered to enhance infrastructure capacity in the refugee hosting provinces. Integration activities among relevant institutions and cooperation with relevant international stakeholders will be prioritized. A larger education and health network will be established for refugees. A knowledge management framework that integrates collection, analysis and management of information will be installed. Visual media materials for experience sharing will be dispersed. More employment projects and Turkish language courses will be launched.

    6. List any good practice or examples of innovation undertaken individually or in cooperation with others to advance this transformation.

    International financial contribution on a sustainable and predictable basis should be ensured.

    Keywords

    Cash, Displacement

  • 3D
    Empower and protect women and girls

    Individual Commitments (3)

    • Commitment
    • Commitment Type
    • Core Responsibility

    • Turkey will continue to support displaced women and girls by providing them with effective access to education at all levels and will continue its efforts, to the greatest extent possible, with a view to awareness raising to prevent early and forced marriages.


    • Operational
    • Leave No One Behind

    • Turkey will continue to take appropriate steps to strengthen the leadership role of women in temporary protection centers for Syrians in Turkey and among the displaced communities. Turkey will also continue to make the necessary legal arrangements which will allow women and girls to benefit from education services, financial aid and legal working permits on an equal footing with men.


    • Operational
    • Leave No One Behind

    • Turkey will strive to ensure that humanitarian assistance and disaster response manuals are prepared in a gender sensitive way by duly taking into account the needs of women and girls. For this purpose, the contribution of the civil society organizations and academicians will also be sought.


    • Policy
    • Leave No One Behind

    Core Commitments (2)

    • Commitment
    • Core Responsibility
    • Empower Women and Girls as change agents and leaders, including by increasing support for local women's groups to participate meaningfully in humanitarian action.
    • Leave No One Behind
    • Ensure that humanitarian programming is gender responsive.
    • Leave No One Behind
    1. Highlight the concrete actions taken between 1 January – 31 December 2017 to implement the commitments which contribute to achieving this transformation. Be as specific as possible and include any relevant data/figures.

    Projects supported in the context of “Facility for Refugees in Turkey” are considered from the aspect of gender responsiveness as well. Education projects for women and girls are also prioritized. Women shelters in Turkey are all accessible for all displaced people regardless of their status and nationality. Social Assistance and Solidarity Foundations provided assistance to refugee families. Emergency Social Safety Net (ESSN) with the financial support of the EU has been launched. “Humanitarian Assistance Program on Combating and Response to Gender-based Violence” implemented to promote awareness on gender violence, to build solidarity among women and develop their skills.

    - With current changes in the legislation all foreign women victimized by domestic violence and violence against women are provided with access to Violence Prevention and Monitoring Centers (ŞÖNİM) and women’s shelters of the Ministry of Social Policies along with the children in their company, regardless of their status or nationality.

    - Group of Action against Gender Violence comprised of representatives from the relevant Turkish institutions and UN Women, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) convenes monthly in order to share information on the activities and services for the Syrian women taking refuge in Turkey.

     - Outreach activities to displaced women and girls in Turkey were prioritized.

    - Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) assistance program was launched in 2017 for children of refugees, asylum seekers who reside in Turkey under temporary protection or international protection. Girl students in the CCT program are positively discriminated.

    - A “Social Cohesion Program” has been launched for social integration of Syrian Children living outside the camps  with the cooperation of UNICEF.

    2. A. How are you measuring progress toward achieving your commitments? Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • By reporting to, or using reports prepared for, UN principal organs, UN governing boards, or other international bodies
    B. How are you assessing whether progress on commitments is leading toward change in the direction of the transformation?

    Field visits are conducted by teams of experts from Ministry of Family and Social Policies. It will be further assessed on the basis of the number intended to be reached and quality in the actions which are planned to be carried out within the ESSN in the period ahead.

    3. A. Please select no more than 3 key challenges faced in implementing the commitments related to this transformation. Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Data and analysis
    • Gender and/or vulnerable group inclusion
    B. How are these challenges impacting achievement of this transformation?

    More gender responsive projects by relevant stakeholders are needed, and also funding for these projects must be guaranteed. Integration between information systems of the relevant institutions is needed in order to implement the ESSN efficiently.

    4. Highlight actions planned for 2018 to advance implementation of your commitments in order to achieve this transformation.

    More gender responsive projects by relevant stakeholders will be put in place.

    5. What steps or actions are needed to make collective progress to achieve this transformation?

    More involvement from international stakeholders in the ESSN program is needed particularly to reach out to the most vulnerable people. Proactive participation of the refugees in the implementation of the ESSN will further advance the transformation.

    Keywords

    Cash, Education, Gender

  • 4A
    Reinforce, do not replace, national and local systems

    Individual Commitments (1)

    • Commitment
    • Commitment Type
    • Core Responsibility

    • Turkey will continue to support the capacity building projects in countries affected by ongoing crises through bilateral assistance programs with a view to increasing resilience at the local and national level.


    • Capacity
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need

    Core Commitments (4)

    • Commitment
    • Core Responsibility
    • Commit to a new way of working that meets people's immediate humanitarian needs, while at the same time reducing risk and vulnerability over multiple years through the achievement of collective outcomes. To achieve this, commit to the following: a) Anticipate, Do Not Wait: to invest in risk analysis and to incentivize early action in order to minimize the impact and frequency of known risks and hazards on people. b) Reinforce, Do Not Replace: to support and invest in local, national and regional leadership, capacity strengthening and response systems, avoiding duplicative international mechanisms wherever possible. c) Preserve and retain emergency capacity: to deliver predictable and flexible urgent and life-saving assistance and protection in accordance with humanitarian principles. d) Transcend Humanitarian-Development Divides: work together, toward collective outcomes that ensure humanitarian needs are met, while at the same time reducing risk and vulnerability over multiple years and based on the comparative advantage of a diverse range of actors. The primacy of humanitarian principles will continue to underpin humanitarian action.
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need
    • Commit to reinforce national and local leadership and capacities in managing disaster and climate-related risks through strengthened preparedness and predictable response and recovery arrangements.
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need
    • Commit to ensure regional and global humanitarian assistance for natural disasters complements national and local efforts.
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need
    • Commit to empower national and local humanitarian action by increasing the share of financing accessible to local and national humanitarian actors and supporting the enhancement of their national delivery systems, capacities and preparedness planning.
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need Invest in Humanity
    1. Highlight the concrete actions taken between 1 January – 31 December 2017 to implement the commitments which contribute to achieving this transformation. Be as specific as possible and include any relevant data/figures.

    Other-4A

    Turkey supports two thousand development projects abroad annually and to date Turkish development actors operated in 150 countries. In these projects, support to local and national systems has been prioritized for long term resilience and sustainability, as in Somalia and Palestine. Turkey has started the preparation of the Disaster Risk Reduction Plan of Turkey (TARAP). The plan will be instrumental in preventing duplication and investments at different levels of disaster response. Turkey’s development oriented humanitarian operations in countries such as Afghanistan and Somalia support local and national systems for long term resilience.

    In light of the role of Turkish local administrations in the overall response to Syrian refugee influx, Turkey has been emphasizing the enhancement of the local capacity in its aid operations particularly in countries affected from displacement. For the preparation of TARAP existing national and international plans have been reviewed, targets have been set, stakeholders have been identified and analysis work are in progress.

    B. How are you assessing whether progress on commitments is leading toward change in the direction of the transformation?

    Preliminary workshops are held to get the views of the participants in the ongoing preparation process of TARAP where stakeholders laid out strategies, objectives and activities for the next 10 years. The workshops will be instrumental to ensure better implementation of the project. The outcomes of analysis will set the basis for further evaluations.

    3. A. Please select no more than 3 key challenges faced in implementing the commitments related to this transformation. Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Multi-stakeholder coordination
    B. How are these challenges impacting achievement of this transformation?

    High number of stakeholders from public, private sector adds complexity to coordination efforts.

    4. Highlight actions planned for 2018 to advance implementation of your commitments in order to achieve this transformation.

    Following the completion of TARAP at the national level, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Plans will be prepared at the local level. Subsequently, a risk reduction system will be set up at national and local levels.

    5. What steps or actions are needed to make collective progress to achieve this transformation?

    Determination of risk reduction activities in line with priorities, better coordination between stakeholders and avoiding duplication of investments are most needed.

    Keywords

    Community resilience, Disaster Risk Reduction, Humanitarian-development nexus, Local action

  • 4B
    Anticipate, do not wait, for crises

    Individual Commitments (8)

    • Commitment
    • Commitment Type
    • Core Responsibility

    • Turkey commits to effectively support seismic retrofit strategies.


    • Operational
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need

    • Turkey commits to implement the requirements of the "The Ankara Initiative", which commits Turkey to support those countries working on developing against land degradation and drought and promoting Sustainable Land Management, and on enhancing rights to property and resources, especially for women and most vulnerable groups. Turkey commits to support the work which aims to understand the linkages between land degradation, drought and desertification and social instability and migration. Turkey commits to support the work, through technical training, for the establishment and development of drought early warning systems in the most vulnerable countries.


    • Operational
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need

    • Turkey commits to implement the requirements of the United Nations Convention on Combatting Desertification (UNCCD) and to strengthen the Convention'™s implementation.


    • Operational
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need

    • Turkey commits to join the efforts in achieving Land Degradation Neutrality by 2030.


    • Partnership
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need

    • Turkey commits to work on the implementation of "public-private partnership" in the humanitarian assistance field. Turkey strongly believes that this approach will help to ensure the effective use of limited resources, strengthen the accountability and transparency of the system and prevent the recurrence of humanitarian crises.


    • Partnership
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need

    • Turkey supports the commitments under the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.


    • Operational
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need

    • Turkey will continue to develop effective models and programmes at the national level in order to reduce possible future risks and losses, with the aim of creating a disaster resilient society.


    • Operational
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need

    • Turkey will share its "Disaster-Prepared Turkey" project with the international community in order to create further awareness for better disaster-preparedness at the national, regional and global levels.


    • Operational
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need

    Core Commitments (3)

    • Commitment
    • Core Responsibility
    • Commit to a new way of working that meets people's immediate humanitarian needs, while at the same time reducing risk and vulnerability over multiple years through the achievement of collective outcomes. To achieve this, commit to the following: a) Anticipate, Do Not Wait: to invest in risk analysis and to incentivize early action in order to minimize the impact and frequency of known risks and hazards on people. b) Reinforce, Do Not Replace: to support and invest in local, national and regional leadership, capacity strengthening and response systems, avoiding duplicative international mechanisms wherever possible. c) Preserve and retain emergency capacity: to deliver predictable and flexible urgent and life-saving assistance and protection in accordance with humanitarian principles. d) Transcend Humanitarian-Development Divides: work together, toward collective outcomes that ensure humanitarian needs are met, while at the same time reducing risk and vulnerability over multiple years and based on the comparative advantage of a diverse range of actors. The primacy of humanitarian principles will continue to underpin humanitarian action.
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need
    • Commit to accelerate the reduction of disaster and climate-related risks through the coherent implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, as well as other relevant strategies and programs of action, including the SIDS Accelerated Modalities of Action (SAMOA) Pathway.
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need Invest in Humanity
    • Commit to improve the understanding, anticipation and preparedness for disaster and climate-related risks by investing in data, analysis and early warning, and developing evidence-based decision-making processes that result in early action.
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need
    1. Highlight the concrete actions taken between 1 January – 31 December 2017 to implement the commitments which contribute to achieving this transformation. Be as specific as possible and include any relevant data/figures.

    Current efforts to strengthen disaster risk management at the national, regional and global levels are coordinated by Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD). AFAD is a member of European Forum for Disaster Risk Reduction (EFDRR). National Earthquake Strategy and Action Plan 2023 (UDSEP-2023) is in effect since 2012.  Regulation Preparation Commission updates the Regulation on Buildings to be constructed in Earthquake Regions. 

    - The EFDRR Open Forum was held on 26-28 March 2017 in Istanbul, to strengthen disaster risk management and raise awareness for disaster risks in the region.

    - Two projects namely “Update of Turkey Seismic Hazard Map” and “Improvement of Earthquake Hazard Analysis and Hazard Maps” have been completed. Based on the outcomes of these projects, earthquake hazard maps were produced.

    - Construction of most of the 27 logistical support depots are completed or close to completion.

    - As of end of 2017, transformation studies in 216 risky areas with a total population of 1.7 million have started.

    - An Urbanism Forum was held in January 2017 and the Urban Transformation Commission have released its legislation studies regarding the scope of risky areas and buildings.

    - The goal of renewing 7.5 million risky buildings were set. The aim is to transform 500 thousand houses per year for the next 15 years.

    B. How are you assessing whether progress on commitments is leading toward change in the direction of the transformation?

    Good progress was made through the activities of AFAD.

    3. A. Please select no more than 3 key challenges faced in implementing the commitments related to this transformation. Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    B. How are these challenges impacting achievement of this transformation?

    No particular challenges were faced.

    4. Highlight actions planned for 2018 to advance implementation of your commitments in order to achieve this transformation.

    Turkey will continue to support the commitments set forth by the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030.

    Continue to plan for sustainable urban transportation, innovative production, improving social adaptation and health.

    5. What steps or actions are needed to make collective progress to achieve this transformation?

    More emphasis should be given at international level to crisis preparedness rather than solely on response.

    Keywords

    Disaster Risk Reduction

  • 4C
    Deliver collective outcomes: transcend humanitarian-development divides

    Individual Commitments (9)

    • Commitment
    • Commitment Type
    • Core Responsibility

    • Turkey commits to continue its humanitarian assistance efforts, focusing not only on the vital and urgent needs of the affected people, but also on their medium and long term needs, in order to strengthen their resilience where needed. In this regard, Turkey will continue to make sure that its urgent humanitarian assistance teams also include experts in the development field, for the transition from humanitarian assistance to development assistance where needed.


    • Operational
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need

    • Turkey commits to encourage and support the active participation of its non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in humanitarian interventions with a view to aligning actions for sustainable development goals.


    • Operational
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need

    • Turkey commits to further develop academic and expert studies concerning contemporary challenges of the humanitarian work in light of its recent experiences. With this aim, a special academic research center on humanitarian issues has recently been established in the Gaziantep University.


    • Policy
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need

    • Turkey commits to support new approaches and efforts to explore, develop and adopt innovative means in cooperation with the private sector at national, regional and global levels to facilitate investments in the recipient countries to enhance employment and income generation opportunities.


    • Operational
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need

    • Turkey reiterates its readiness to share its experience and expertise in its policies helping to overcome humanitarian-development divide for the benefit of those in need in relevant crises such as ones of recurrent and protracted nature.


    • Operational
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need

    • Turkey will continue to share its "know-how" relating to innovative practices like the e-food cards for financially assisting Syrians living in temporary protection centers. It will strive to enhance its response and prioritizes respect for human dignity.


    • Operational
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need

    • Turkey will continue to share national models, programmes and good practices and expand cooperation at the regional and international levels.


    • Operational
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need

    • Turkey will continue to strengthen the ongoing coordination among its national institutions in charge of development and humanitarian assistance in order to ensure the planning and distribution of financial resources in an efficient and effective manner.


    • Operational
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need

    • Turkey will strive to enhance its planning and coordination efforts at the national level with the aim of increasing the contributions of individuals, civil society organizations and the private sector in the humanitarian field and carry out due consultation processes with these stakeholders to this end.


    • Partnership
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need

    Core Commitments (1)

    • Commitment
    • Core Responsibility
    • Commit to a new way of working that meets people's immediate humanitarian needs, while at the same time reducing risk and vulnerability over multiple years through the achievement of collective outcomes. To achieve this, commit to the following: a) Anticipate, Do Not Wait: to invest in risk analysis and to incentivize early action in order to minimize the impact and frequency of known risks and hazards on people. b) Reinforce, Do Not Replace: to support and invest in local, national and regional leadership, capacity strengthening and response systems, avoiding duplicative international mechanisms wherever possible. c) Preserve and retain emergency capacity: to deliver predictable and flexible urgent and life-saving assistance and protection in accordance with humanitarian principles. d) Transcend Humanitarian-Development Divides: work together, toward collective outcomes that ensure humanitarian needs are met, while at the same time reducing risk and vulnerability over multiple years and based on the comparative advantage of a diverse range of actors. The primacy of humanitarian principles will continue to underpin humanitarian action.
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need
    1. Highlight the concrete actions taken between 1 January – 31 December 2017 to implement the commitments which contribute to achieving this transformation. Be as specific as possible and include any relevant data/figures.

    Joined-up humanitarian-development analysis and planning towards collective outcomes

    A Research and Implementation Institute for Humanitarian Crisis Response was established in Gaziantep. The Institute organized events to elaborate on effects of humanitarian crisis in Syria and figure out how to improve the services provided for Syrians in Turkey. Projects within the Facility for Refugees in Turkey are ready to be implemented. Cooperation between Turkish stakeholders and international partners, particularly UN agencies has been enhanced. AFAD and TIKA has been cooperating in field operations i.e. Somalia and Myanmar. Innovative solutions in the field are in progress. E-food card program allowed savings. Employment opportunities are provided for women in Africa through projects for self-employment. Turkish private sector supported transfer of entrepreneurial know-how to partner countries particularly in infrastructure capacity building. UNDP technical cooperation projects were revised to include social infrastructure projects for Syrians. The WHS has provided a new conceptual approach that has led to the New Way of Working (NWOW).

    B. How are you assessing whether progress on commitments is leading toward change in the direction of the transformation?

    Turkish development and humanitarian stakeholders are carrying out quantitative and qualitative analyses of their respective projects on a regular basis. These analyses are reported annually and shared with public. International platforms like the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development - Development Assistance Committee (OECD DAC) and UN’s Development Cooperation Forums also enable assessment and evaluation of the progress.

    3. A. Please select no more than 3 key challenges faced in implementing the commitments related to this transformation. Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Multi-stakeholder coordination
    B. How are these challenges impacting achievement of this transformation?

    Better coordination among bilateral and multilateral actors providing humanitarian and development assistance are most needed. Stakeholders need to align their activities with the needs assessment document. Different institutional cultures hampered efficient coordination. National legal framework needs to be reviewed for effective implementation of the projects.

    4. Highlight actions planned for 2018 to advance implementation of your commitments in order to achieve this transformation.

    Various development projects in the areas of health, education and infrastructure will continue to reinforce current humanitarian operations in countries like Afghanistan, Somalia and Myanmar. Turkey will encourage international stakeholders for the allocation of more funds for the needs of the refugees.

    5. What steps or actions are needed to make collective progress to achieve this transformation?

    Various forms of mechanisms which combine humanitarian and development aid systems on the basis of local conditions must be comparably presented to the donor community. Developing a culture of working together and preventing duplications is essential. Private sector should be encouraged to contribute also in social, environmental and ethical terms.

    6. List any good practice or examples of innovation undertaken individually or in cooperation with others to advance this transformation.

    A NWOW workshop was held in İstanbul in May 2017, which brought together relevant stakeholders to work on ideas that will help bridge the humanitarian-development divide.

    Keywords

    Humanitarian-development nexus

  • 5A
    Invest in local capacities

    Individual Commitments (1)

    • Commitment
    • Commitment Type
    • Core Responsibility

    • Turkey calls for more support and funding tools to frontline responders, by reconfiguring the international financing system to allow critical front-line responding actors, particularly national governments, to access adequate, timely and quality funding on a fair basis by: providing support to capacity investment for frontline responders on a multi-year basis and bringing development approaches and expertise to bear on these efforts, and funding these activities both out of humanitarian and development budget lines; significantly increasing long-term investment in the functional and operational capacity of frontline responders; creating incentives for international actors to channel a greater proportion of their funds, on reasonable terms, to local and national front-line responders; reducing barriers to accessing funding by simplifying and harmonizing partner capacity assessments and application and reporting requirements; ensuring front-line responders are included in collective coordination platforms and response processes have a seat at the table in collective response processes.


    • Financial
    • Invest in Humanity

    Core Commitments (1)

    • Commitment
    • Core Responsibility
    • Commit to empower national and local humanitarian action by increasing the share of financing accessible to local and national humanitarian actors and supporting the enhancement of their national delivery systems, capacities and preparedness planning.
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need Invest in Humanity
    1. Highlight the concrete actions taken between 1 January – 31 December 2017 to implement the commitments which contribute to achieving this transformation. Be as specific as possible and include any relevant data/figures.

    Addressing blockages/challenges to direct investments at the national/local level

    - In order to increase the efficiency of preparation and response to natural disasters and humanitarian crisis, the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) signed the second Plan of Action (2017-2019) on 30 January 2017.

    - Turkey’s development oriented humanitarian operations mainly in Afghanistan, Palestine and Somalia support local and national systems for long-term resilience.

    - In light of the role of Turkish local administrations in the overall response to Syrian refugee influx, Turkey has been emphasizing the enhancement of the local capacity in its aid operations particularly in countries affected from displacement.

    - Turkey through its infrastructure development activities in the Euprates Shield Region in Syria has contributed significantly to the health, education and other necessary infrastructure in the region, hence enhancing the local capacity for the population. 

    B. How are you assessing whether progress on commitments is leading toward change in the direction of the transformation?

    End reports of projects, feedbacks and annual reports from beneficiaries or international partners are essential in the assessment.

    3. A. Please select no more than 3 key challenges faced in implementing the commitments related to this transformation. Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Funding amounts
    • Multi-stakeholder coordination
    B. How are these challenges impacting achievement of this transformation?

    Authorities of the affected countries should cooperate with the incoming aid teams. Insufficient funds for capacity building projects, low quality of projects submitted by stakeholders and limited human resources at the local level are main challenges.

    4. Highlight actions planned for 2018 to advance implementation of your commitments in order to achieve this transformation.

    With the AFAD-OCHA second Plan of Action (2017-2019) both agencies will cooperate to strengthen coordination of efforts and a more effective response to humanitarian needs, and continue to enhance Turkey’s role as a humanitarian leader by building its membership of international humanitarian mechanisms.

    5. What steps or actions are needed to make collective progress to achieve this transformation?

    Effective working relations between local actors and international stakeholders based on mutual trust are vital. Activities for awareness raising on the role of local capacity should be conducted for donors and funders.

    6. List any good practice or examples of innovation undertaken individually or in cooperation with others to advance this transformation.

    In order to increase the efficiency of preparation and response to natural disasters and humanitarian crisis, AFAD and OCHA signed the second Plan of Action (2017-2019) on 30 January 2017.

    Keywords

    Community resilience, Humanitarian-development nexus, Local action

  • 5B
    Invest according to risk

    Core Commitments (2)

    • Commitment
    • Core Responsibility
    • Commit to accelerate the reduction of disaster and climate-related risks through the coherent implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, as well as other relevant strategies and programs of action, including the SIDS Accelerated Modalities of Action (SAMOA) Pathway.
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need Invest in Humanity
    • Commit to invest in risk management, preparedness and crisis prevention capacity to build the resilience of vulnerable and affected people.
    • Invest in Humanity
    1. Highlight the concrete actions taken between 1 January – 31 December 2017 to implement the commitments which contribute to achieving this transformation. Be as specific as possible and include any relevant data/figures.

    Pursuant to the Law on the Regeneration of the Areas under Risk of Disaster, there is need to improve environmental conditions. Urban transformation projects have been carried out in order to create safe urban areas. Current efforts to strengthen disaster risk management at the national, regional and global levels are coordinated by the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD). AFAD is a member of European Forum for Disaster Risk Reduction (EFDRR). National Earthquake Strategy and Action Plan 2023 (UDSEP-2023) is in effect since 2012.  Regulation Preparation Commission updates the Regulation on Buildings to be constructed in Earthquake Regions.

    - Training programs have been conducted in the fields of risk management, preparedness, prevention and risk reduction.

    - Two projects namely “Update of Turkey Seismic Hazard Map” and “Improvement of Earthquake Hazard Analysis and Hazard Maps” have been completed. Based on the outcomes of these projects, earthquake hazard maps were produced.

    - Construction of most of the 27 logistical support depots are completed or close to completion.

    - As of end of 2017, transformation studies in 216 risky areas with a total population of 1.7 million have started.

    - An Urbanism Forum was held in January 2017 and the Urban Transformation Commission have released its legislation studies regarding the scope of risky areas and buildings.

    - The goal of renewing 7.5 million risky buildings were set. The aim is to transform 500 thousand houses per year for the next 15 years.

    B. How are you assessing whether progress on commitments is leading toward change in the direction of the transformation?

    Good progress was made through the activities of AFAD. End reports of projects, annual reports from beneficiaries or international partners and number of attendees to the training programs are essential in assessments.

    3. A. Please select no more than 3 key challenges faced in implementing the commitments related to this transformation. Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Funding amounts
    • Funding modalities (earmarking, priorities, yearly agreements, risk aversion measures)
    B. How are these challenges impacting achievement of this transformation?

    The programs on risk management, preparedness, prevention and risk reduction are not at the focus of funders, stakeholders and beneficiaries.

    4. Highlight actions planned for 2018 to advance implementation of your commitments in order to achieve this transformation.

    AFAD and EFDRR organized the EFDRR Open Forum on 26-28 March 2017 in Istanbul, to strengthen and raise awareness for disaster risk management. “Turkey Earthquake Regulations” will set the basis for the implementation of the “Earthquake Hazard Map of Turkey”.

    Turkey will continue to support the commitments set forth by the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030.

    Continue to plan for sustainable urban transportation, innovative production, improving social adaptation and health.

    5. What steps or actions are needed to make collective progress to achieve this transformation?

    Enhancing coordination and preventing duplications in assistance are most needed. Human resource development in risk management, reduction and preparedness will further advance the transformation.

    6. List any good practice or examples of innovation undertaken individually or in cooperation with others to advance this transformation.

    Two projects namely “Update of Turkey Seismic Hazard Map” and “Improvement of Earthquake Hazard Analysis and Hazard Maps” have been completed. Based on the outcomes of these projects, earthquake hazard maps were produced.

    Keywords

    Disaster Risk Reduction, Urban

  • 5C
    Invest in stability

    Individual Commitments (3)

    • Commitment
    • Commitment Type
    • Core Responsibility

    • Turkey commits to allocating additional, predictable resources to the Peacebuilding Fund in the manner of US $1 million by 2020 ($200,000 annually for a period of 5 years) to allow the Fund to continue operations at the current level of $100 million by year.


    • Financial Contribution ()
    • Political Leadership to Prevent and End Conflicts Invest in Humanity

    • Turkey commits to continue its financial contribution to the mediation efforts of the UN.


    • Financial
    • Invest in Humanity

    • Turkey will continue to support the efforts of the Secretary General for the review of the UN peacebuilding and peacekeeping activities with an understanding "to bring conflict prevention and mediation back to the fore". In this regard, Turkey will be supportive of efforts for providing the UN with the necessary financial means for realizing this objective.


    • Financial
    • Invest in Humanity
    1. Highlight the concrete actions taken between 1 January – 31 December 2017 to implement the commitments which contribute to achieving this transformation. Be as specific as possible and include any relevant data/figures.

    Investing in stability in its region and beyond has long constituted an important agenda item for Turkey, particularly in the last decades. Turkey’s engagement included humanitarian operations by the Turkish stakeholders (AFAD, TIKA, Turkish Red Crescent and Turkish NGOs) in conflict-affected countries. Turkey also actively contributes to multilateral efforts on different themes with a common objective to enhance stability, like UN Peacekeeping and Peace Building, Friends of Mediation and Alliance of Civilizations and promote multilateral consultation mechanisms among countries.

    Turkey has fulfilled its commitment to allocate $200,000 for the year 2017 to the Peacebuilding Fund. In terms of conflict prevention and mediation efforts, Turkey continued its efforts to enhance the visibility of Group of Friends of Mediation within the UN. Similarly, Turkey convened the Fourth İstanbul Mediation Conference on 30 June 2017 under the theme “Surge in Diplomacy, Action in Mediation”. In order to enhance the capacity of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in mediation, Turkey organized in cooperation with the OIC General Secretariat the first-ever Conference of the OIC Member States on Mediation in İstanbul on 21 November 2017 with the theme “Surge in Mediation: The role of the OIC”. As one of the major international initiatives for promoting peaceful co-existence, Turkey continued to provide strong political and financial support to the UN Alliance of Civilizations. On the other hand, trilateral and multilateral consultation mechanisms to increase coordination and cooperation to enhance sustainable stability in bilateral relations and to formulate joint policies towards regional and global issues are regularly pursued.

    B. How are you assessing whether progress on commitments is leading toward change in the direction of the transformation?

    Periodic meetings are being held at various levels among the related stakeholders to coordinate and update the progress as well as reports produced at the end of certain periods by the stakeholders.

    3. A. Please select no more than 3 key challenges faced in implementing the commitments related to this transformation. Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    B. How are these challenges impacting achievement of this transformation?

    The most effective way to prevent crises and provide stability is to reduce the impact of risk factors which requires a holistic approach. Identifying those factors which may turn out to be root causes and eliminating them require, among other things, cooperation and support of host countries and coordinated action among regional and international actors.

    4. Highlight actions planned for 2018 to advance implementation of your commitments in order to achieve this transformation.

    Turkey will continue to assist the Secretary-General of the United Nations (UNSG) in his efforts to bring fore his vision of surge in diplomacy. Turkey will take benefit of all related platforms to strengthen the normative basis of mediation and enhance the UN mediation support capacities. In this framework, Turkey is preparing to hold Fifth Istanbul Mediation Conference in June 2018. Turkey will continue to work on creating synergies between Alliance of Civilizations and Mediation for Peace and fully realizing each initiative's aims and purposes.

    5. What steps or actions are needed to make collective progress to achieve this transformation?

    Actions at the country level to reduce specific risk factors and to enhance the relevant national infrastructures are crucial. Yet the ultimate success depends on all relevant players to act in concert and to cooperate to support the United Nations to better fulfill its mandate in the area of conflict prevention.

     

    6. List any good practice or examples of innovation undertaken individually or in cooperation with others to advance this transformation.

    Turkey has fulfilled its commitment to allocate $200,000 for the year 2017 to the Peacebuilding Fund. Turkey organized in cooperation with the OIC General Secretariat the first-ever Conference of the OIC Member States on Mediation in İstanbul on 21 November 2017 with the theme “Surge in Mediation: The role of the OIC”.

  • 5D
    Finance outcomes, not fragmentation: shift from funding to financing

    Core Commitments (3)

    • Commitment
    • Core Responsibility
    • Commit to enable coherent financing that avoids fragmentation by supporting collective outcomes over multiple years, supporting those with demonstrated comparative advantage to deliver in context.
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need Invest in Humanity
    • Commit to promote and increase predictable, multi-year, unearmarked, collaborative and flexible humanitarian funding toward greater efficiency, effectiveness, transparency and accountability of humanitarian action for affected people.
    • Invest in Humanity
    • Commit to broaden and adapt the global instruments and approaches to meet urgent needs, reduce risk and vulnerability and increase resilience, without adverse impact on humanitarian principles and overall action (as also proposed in Round Table on "Changing Lives").
    • Invest in Humanity
    1. Highlight the concrete actions taken between 1 January – 31 December 2017 to implement the commitments which contribute to achieving this transformation. Be as specific as possible and include any relevant data/figures.

    Turkey conducts two thousand development projects annually and has reached 150 countries. Turkey has increased its assistance more than 50-fold since 2003 and became the second largest donor country in 2015, 2016 and 2017 and the “most generous” donor according to the ratio of its assistance to its GNP. In the last decade, resilience enhancement has become a core part of Turkey’s assistance program. Personnel skills and competences engaging in international assistance activities have been developed through training programs. In response to the Syrian crisis, Turkish institutions under the coordination of AFAD develop a professional approach and a sound humanitarian aid system. Emergency Social Safety Net (ESSN) with the financial support of the EU has been launched. 

    - The list of projects to be supported in context of “Facility for Refugees in Turkey” is finalized and the projects are under progress.

    - The Working Group on Action against Gender Violence has been established with the participation of the public institutions and relevant UN agencies to further improve the services provided to Syrian women in Turkey.

    - The number of refugees benefited from the monthly cash transfer within the ESSN has increased significantly.

    -  Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) assistance program was launched in 2017 for children of refugees, asylum seekers who reside in Turkey under temporary protection or international protection. Girl students in the CCT program are positively discriminated.

    2. A. How are you measuring progress toward achieving your commitments? Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • By reporting to, or using reports prepared for, UN principal organs, UN governing boards, or other international bodies
    B. How are you assessing whether progress on commitments is leading toward change in the direction of the transformation?

    The number of beneficiaries, end reports of projects, annual reports from international partners are essential in assessment.

    3. A. Please select no more than 3 key challenges faced in implementing the commitments related to this transformation. Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Funding amounts
    • Multi-stakeholder coordination
    • Other: Transparancy
    B. How are these challenges impacting achievement of this transformation?

    The main challenges include insufficient funding for capacity building projects, poor quality in projects submitted by stakeholders, limited number of staff to carry out awareness raising activities and layers in fund transfer. Donors should be provided more inclusive platforms to improve efficiency and transparency.

    4. Highlight actions planned for 2018 to advance implementation of your commitments in order to achieve this transformation.

    Need for mechanisms which assess the socioeconomic effects of future assistance plans.

    In 2019 1.3 million Syrians and and other foreigners are targeted to be reached in the framework of ESSN.

    5. What steps or actions are needed to make collective progress to achieve this transformation?

    Predictable and sustainable funding needs to be ensured for the uninterrupted flow of assistance. Existing mechanisms and institutions in the affected countries should be utilized to the extent possible. Quality of human resources in the field should be strengthened.

    6. List any good practice or examples of innovation undertaken individually or in cooperation with others to advance this transformation.

    Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) assistance program was launched in 2017 for children of refugees, asylum seekers who reside in Turkey under temporary protection or international protection. Girl students in the CCT program are positively discriminated.

    Keywords

    Cash, Community resilience, Displacement, Gender

  • 5E
    Diversify the resource base and increase cost-efficiency

    Core Commitments (1)

    • Commitment
    • Core Responsibility
    • Commit to promote and increase predictable, multi-year, unearmarked, collaborative and flexible humanitarian funding toward greater efficiency, effectiveness, transparency and accountability of humanitarian action for affected people.
    • Invest in Humanity
    1. Highlight the concrete actions taken between 1 January – 31 December 2017 to implement the commitments which contribute to achieving this transformation. Be as specific as possible and include any relevant data/figures.

    Turkey increased its assistance more than 50-fold since 2003 and maintained its second biggest donor country status in 2016 and the “most generous” donor status according to ratio of its assistance to its GNP. In the 7th year of the Syrian crisis, Turkey’s support for the Syrians in Turkey have exceeded US$ 20 billion. Syrians living in various cities in Turkey are provided services funded by public institutions, local administrations, NGOs. In these efforts, Turkey introduced cost efficient solutions like the e-card program. On the other hand, Turkey actively engages in international efforts especially after the World Humanitarian Summit (WHS) on diversification of resources.

    - Turkey offers free health and education services to almost 3.5 million Syrians within its borders. Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) coordinates services provided to the Syrians in the temporary accommodation centers through the Disaster Temporary Urban Management System (AFKEN), a software program developed by Turkish engineers.

    - Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) assistance program was launched in 2017 for children of refugees, asylum seekers who reside in Turkey under temporary protection or international protection.

    -In order to ensure cost efficiency, relevant Turkish humanitarian and development institutions strengthened their cooperation.

    2. A. How are you measuring progress toward achieving your commitments? Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • By reporting to, or using reports prepared for, UN principal organs, UN governing boards, or other international bodies
    B. How are you assessing whether progress on commitments is leading toward change in the direction of the transformation?

    End reports of projects, feedbacks from beneficiaries and annual reports are essential in the assessment.

    3. A. Please select no more than 3 key challenges faced in implementing the commitments related to this transformation. Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    B. How are these challenges impacting achievement of this transformation?

    Need coordinate humanitarian and development assistance in a more effective manner. Duplications are caused by lack of communication and systematic planning should be reduced by better interagency communication.

    4. Highlight actions planned for 2018 to advance implementation of your commitments in order to achieve this transformation.

    Turkey will continue to strengthen the cooperation and coordination among the humanitarian and development actors both at national and international levels.

    5. What steps or actions are needed to make collective progress to achieve this transformation?

    Effective management of scarce resources and diversification of resources should be the primary objective of international community

    6. List any good practice or examples of innovation undertaken individually or in cooperation with others to advance this transformation.

    Turkey increased its assistance more than 50-fold since 2003 and maintained its second biggest donor country status in 2016 and the “most generous” donor status according to ratio of its assistance to its GNP. In the 7th year of the Syrian crisis, Turkey’s support for the Syrians in Turkey have exceeded US$ 20 billion .

    Keywords

    Cash, Displacement