What is the project about?

The project is about achieving the ambitious targets of the net-zero and nature positive climate action through increasing the capacities of civil society organizations. It designs and operates a technical assistance and grant programme, including capacity assessments, strategy and priority setting, trainings and launching of a call for proposals and to guide, monitor and evaluate the grants with a view to improve the capacities of the civil society actors. 

What has been the situation? 

While Türkiye has a unique importance in terms of biodiversity and ecosystems, it is also facing various challenges related to biodiversity loss and climate change. According to the latest projections, it is estimated that climate change will increase the variability and intensity of precipitation which will result in water scarcity, and an increase in disasters such as droughts and floods. 

Türkiye has introduced several policies to increase civil society organizations’ (CSOs) participation in decision-making processes.  According to the 12^th National Development Plan 2024-2028, it is aimed that CSOs play an active role in the planning, making, monitoring and supervision of public policies to ensure the creation of a democratic, participatory, inclusive, accountable civil society that has a high sense of cooperation, adaptability and active citizenship awareness. However, the necessity of the legal, financial and administrative environment to be more conducive for developing civil society is noted by the European Union (EU). Civil society in Türkiye has been supported by the EU through several programming and policy documents, including the IPA I, IPA II, and IPA III programming frameworks. In this regard, the Civil Society Facility and Media Programme, covering the period between 2021 and 2027, aims to strengthen participatory democracies and the EU approximation and integration process in the enlargement region through an enhanced contribution of civil society. 

Complementary, the Civil Society Facility Action Document 2021-2023 for Türkiye aims to foster a functioning pluralistic, participatory and representative democracy and the consolidation of a resilient civil society by promoting a culture of fundamental rights and dialogue. It will also contribute to implementing the EU Green Deal by supporting CSOs initiatives against climate change and enhancing their capacities.

What is our mission? 

The project adopts the mission of relying on the necessity of a strong civil society for the success of net-zero, nature-positive, biodiverse environment and climate action. 

Accordingly, the project presents an enhanced technical assistance mechanism combined with a well-designed and tailored grant mechanism for capacity building of CSOs and expects to result in inclusive, innovative, and integrated environmental protection, biodiversity conservation, and climate change policies and measures at civil society level. 

How are we doing this? 

The project has been designed with two main components:      

Component A consists of a Technical Assistance (TA) for increasing the capacities of civil society organizations on net-zero and nature positive climate actions through fostering partnerships of CSOs with local, national and European actors as well as business community, and empowering citizens/CSOs by improving the advocacy capacities of CSOs in areas of concern under climate change and biodiversity action. 

Component B consists of a Climate Change and Biodiversity Grant Programme for strengthening the organizational and implementation capacities of CSOs towards developing and piloting integrated and innovative solutions and actions on environmental protection, biodiversity conservation and nature-based solutions for climate change mitigation, adaptation and/or co-benefits. 

How will Türkiye benefit? 

The project provides support to CSOs with its TA, and Grant components to increase the capacities of civil society organizations to support the achievement of the ambitious targets of the net-zero, prevention of biodiversity loss, nature-positive environment and climate action in Türkiye. 

The final beneficiaries of the project are civil society organizations and (national or international) non-governmental organizations, including non-governmental academic or educational institutions. The local population in Türkiye is the natural beneficiary from the grants to be implemented by the CSOs. 

Dates

The project started on March 1^st, 2024 and is planned to be completed by February 29^th, 2028.