ARCHIVED

Individual Commitment

• Achievements at a glance

  In continuation of its efforts within the Group of Friends of Mediation, Turkey will convene the Fourth Istanbul Mediation Conference in June 2017. In this respect, Turkey emphasizes fulfilling the potential of relevant actors including 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.

• Cross cutting issues

  ☑Gender

Individual Commitment

Core Commitment

• What led your organization to make the commitment?

  Turkey is an ardent advocate of international solidarity in particular during humanitarian crises with a view to building a safer world and saving human lives through a sustainable and collective strategy. As one of the leading countries, Turkey faces direct consequences of the Syria conflict. Turkey from the outset to date, strives to ensure unfettered humanitarian access to all in need. With this understanding Turkey provides uninterrupted humanitarian access to Syria, through its two designated border gates. Drawing from its own experiences, Turkey strongly supports the universal principles of humanitarian law and work to enhance security of humanitarian missions.

• Achievements at a glance

  For the protection of humanitarian and medical missions, Turkey has engaged in training programs for its own staff. 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 (such as Red Cross/Red Crescent) as well as identification cards of prisoners of war were promoted.

• How is your organization assessing progress

  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.

• Challenges faced in implementation

  Effective coordination among humanitarian/medical missions.

• Next step to advance implementation in 2017

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

• If you had one message for the annual report on what is most needed to advance the transformation 'Ensure full access to and protection of the humanitarian and medical missions', what would it be

  Unfettered humanitarian access is the fundamental requirement to overcome the immediate effects of humanitarian crises.

Individual Commitment

Core Commitment

• What led your organization to make the commitment?

  With 3 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. An Emergency Social Safety Net (ESSN) 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).

• Achievements at a glance

  Collaboration has been enhanced between AFAD, the coordinating body of the Turkish government institutions, and international stakeholders. A wide range of documentation has been prepared to share Turkey’s experience. An increase to 60% of refugee students enrolled in schools. 500 Migrant Health Units were established. In annual public investment programs, investment projects including schools, hospitals and urban infrastructure are prioritized in cities with a significant Syrian population. A comprehensive needs assessment document has been prepared to attract additional financial resources from the international community. A program has been launched to enable displaced people to attend Public Training Centers in Turkey for language and vocational courses and more than 11,000 foreigners attended courses in 2016. The number of refugees benefiting from the monthly cash transfer within the Emergency Social Safety Net reached 250,000. A protocol was signed with TRT World for publicity of humanitarian efforts in Turkey. Preparations for a more active social media strategy were initialized.

• How is your organization assessing progress

  A multilateral working group in AFAD has been established to examine the challenges of coordination in humanitarian response. Progress is also being followed at the 3RP meetings. Statistics of those benefiting from services (health, education, workforce) are evaluated periodically. Field surveys were conducted among refugees. Social media statistics, TV ratings and media coverage are also assessed to measure the impact of services. The efficiency of ESSN is assessed with field visits.

• Challenges faced in implementation

  Insufficient, unstable and volatile assistance lacking predictability and sustainability from international community; insufficient advocacy for host countries at the global level; and a lack of strategic collaboration between hosting countries, are the main challenges. Staff turnover in the humanitarian area is high and adversely affects institutional memory. Limits in sharing organizational learning constitute a problem. Difficulties are faced in the involvement of affected communities due to the language barrier, culture etc.

• Next step to advance implementation in 2017

  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. A new measure that has recently been set in 2017 is an Annual Program to upgrade evaluation and monitoring mechanism for all development cooperation activities in Turkey will be implemented.

• If you had one message for the annual report on what is most needed to advance the transformation 'Reduce and address displacement', what would it be

  International financial contribution on a sustainable and predictable basis should be ensured. Relevant agencies/organizations should lead and support efforts (i.e. for employment of refugees ILO). A comprehensive, consistent and reliable knowledge base and strategic partnership with emerging donors are also needed. More support from the international media is needed.

• Cross cutting issues

  ☑Cash ☑ Refugees ☑ Social protection

Individual Commitment

Core Commitment

• What led your organization to make the commitment?

  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.

• Achievements at a glance

  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 emphasized the enhancement of local capacity in its aid operations, particularly in countries affected from displacement. For the preparation of the Disaster Risk Reduction Plan of Turkey (TARAP) existing national and international plans have been reviewed, targets have been set, stakeholders have been identified and analysis work are in progress.

• How is your organization assessing progress

  Preliminary workshops are held to get the views of the participants in the ongoing preparation process of TARAP. In these workshops, 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 conducted within the context of TARAP will set the basis for further evaluations.

• Challenges faced in implementation

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

• Next step to advance implementation in 2017

  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.

• If you had one message for the annual report on what is most needed to advance the transformation 'Reinforce, do not replace, national and local systems', what would it be

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

• Cross cutting issues

  ☑Disaster Risk Reduction

• Other related Agenda for Humanity transformations

  ☑4B - Anticipate, do not wait, for crises

Individual Commitment

Core Commitment

• What led your organization to make the commitment?

  Turkey places emphasis on the humanitarian-development nexus with a view to bridging the gaps between humanitarian aid and longer term development needs. It supported 2000 development projects annually and reached out to 150 countries. Over the past decade, Turkey has introduced new methodologies and practices. Longer term resilience is also prioritized. Turkey is providing development services including education, health, vocational training for Syrians. In line with its 10th Development Plan, projects supporting NGOs in terms of capacity and financial resources have been carried out. Active participation of NGOs is also encouraged in programs such as “Institutional Capacity Improvement Program at Local Level”.

• Achievements at a glance

  Research and Implementation Institute for Humanitarian Crisis Response was established in Gaziantep. The Institute organized events to elaborate on the effects of the humanitarian crisis in Syria and to 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 70% saving. 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).

• How is your organization assessing progress

  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 OECD DAC and UN’s Development Cooperation Forums also enable assessment and evaluation of the progress. To assess their contributions NGOs and INGOs are also consulted at design and implementation phases of projects.

• Challenges faced in implementation

  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. Authorities of the affected countries should cooperate with the incoming aid teams. Language barrier may hinder introduction of new services (e-food card etc.) to the affected people. More support and engagement of private sector should be ensured.

• Next step to advance implementation in 2017

  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. In light of current operations in the field, consultation meetings will be held in 2017 between Turkish development and humanitarian stakeholders. Turkey will push for the implementation of the new humanitarian-development nexus also during the New Way Of Working workshop in Istanbul in May 2017.

• If you had one message for the annual report on what is most needed to advance the transformation 'Deliver collective outcomes: transcend humanitarian-development divides', what would it be

  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 duplication is essential. The private sector should be encouraged to contribute also in social, environmental and ethical terms.

• Cross cutting issues

  ☑Gender ☑ Private sector ☑ Refugees

Core Commitment

• What led your organization to make the commitment?

  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 Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD). AFAD is a member of European Forum for Disaster Risk Reduction (EFDRR). The National Earthquake Strategy and Action Plan 2023 (UDSEP-2023) has been in effect since 2012. Regulation Preparation Commission updates the Regulation on Buildings to be constructed in Earthquake Regions.

• Achievements at a glance

  Training programs have been conducted in the fields of risk management, preparedness, prevention and risk reduction. An Amendment was made on the relevant Law Enforcement Regulation to minimize disaster risks. In line with this amendment, additional work has been started on the sites where at least 65% of buildings do not comply with the Zoning Law. Since May 2016, 29,000 buildings were determined as risky structures and 18,900 of them were demolished. The Turkey Building-Earthquake Regulation has been drafted. Two projects namely “Update of Turkey Seismic Hazard Map” and “Improvement of Earthquake Hazard Analysis and Hazard Maps” are completed. On the outcomes of these projects earthquake hazard maps were produced. Construction of 27 logistical support depots were started.

• How is your organization assessing progress

  End reports of projects, annual reports from beneficiaries or international partners and number of attendees to the training programs are essential in assessments.

• Challenges faced in implementation

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

• Next step to advance implementation in 2017

  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”. Awareness raising activities will be launched both at local and international levels.

• If you had one message for the annual report on what is most needed to advance the transformation 'Invest according to risk', what would it be

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

• Cross cutting issues

  ☑Disaster Risk Reduction

• Other related Agenda for Humanity transformations

  ☑4B - Anticipate, do not wait, for crises

Core Commitment

• What led your organization to make the commitment?

  Turkey conducts 2,000 development projects annually and reaches 150 countries. Turkey increased its assistance 50-fold since 2003 and became the 2nd largest donor country in 2015 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 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 has been launched.

• Achievements at a glance

  The list of projects to be supported in context of “Facility for Refugees in Turkey” is finalized and the projects are ready to be launched. 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 Emergency Social Safety Net reached 250,000.

• How is your organization assessing progress

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

• Challenges faced in implementation

  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 with more inclusive platforms to improve efficiency and transparency.

• Next step to advance implementation in 2017

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

• If you had one message for the annual report on what is most needed to advance the transformation 'Finance outcomes, not fragmentation: shift from funding to financing', what would it be

  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.