Name of the Project: “Logo-East” Project
Period: 2006-2000
Beneficiary & Stakeholders: Union of Municipalities of Turkey (UMT) (together with VNG-I)
Project Summary: The Project had a significant impact on UMT’s involvement in town twinning activities and capacity improvement to lead the process. The Project, aimed at preparing and implementing projects in order to increase the functionality of sister-city relations between Turkey and the Netherlands. Within the scope of the Project, 11 projects were implemented in total between 8 municipalities from the Netherlands and 9 municipalities from Turkey.
Name of the Project: “Turkish-Swedish Municipal Partnerships Network” Project (TUSENET)
Period: 2006-2011
Beneficiary & Stakeholders: Union of Municipalities of Turkey (together with SALAR)
Project Summary: The Project, jointly conducted by UMT and the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SALAR), aimed at strengthening the continued process of democratisation and respect for human rights, and promoting closer links with European cooperation structures and common values, and inspiring reform of the municipal sector and development of UMT. Municipal partnership was one of the main components of the project. Pilot municipalities were selected from Turkey and Sweden, and thematic partnerships were formed among these municipalities.
Name of the Project: “Cooperation Between Municipalities in Turkey and Spain” Project
Period: 2008-2010
Beneficiary & Stakeholders: Union of Municipalities of Turkey (together with FEMP)
Project Summary: Supported under the “Civil Society Dialogue”, the Project was implemented jointly by UMT and Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FEMP). The Project aimed at increasing the dialogue between the local authorities in Turkey and Spain, and establishing stronger relations, as well as supporting efficient, transparent and participatory local administrations and provision of high quality municipal services. One of the main components of the Project was to create sustainable relations and “sister city” relations between the local authorities in the two countries. At least 10 municipalities were twinned within the scope of the Project.
Name of the Project: “Support to Further Implementation of Local Administration Reform in Turkey” Project – Phase II (LAR II)
Period: 2009-2011
Beneficiary&Stakeholders: MoI-DG for Local Authorities, Union of Municipalities of Turkey & pilot local authorities
Project Summary: Building on LAR Phase I, this continuation project (funded by EU under IPA 2007) aimed at developing institutional capacity of MoI and UMT, as well as ensuring effective, transparent, inclusive and participatory local government in Turkey. A programme aimed at creating best practices for the cooperation between municipalities and civil society organisations was piloted in eleven local authorities. Assistance was also provided to establish links between local authorities in Turkey and in EU countries. A Municipality Partnership Strategy was developed within the scope of the Project, which was integrated into the Strategic Plan of UMT in 2010. LAR II was also implemented by the MoI and UMT.
Name of the Project: “Improving Participatory Strategic Governance at Local Level” Project (PSG)
Period: 2011-2013
Beneficiary & Stakeholders: MoI-DG for Local Authorities, Union of Municipalities of Turkey & pilot local authorities
Project Summary: The Project aimed at improving the capacity of local governments for enhancing participatory strategic governance at the local level. The EU-funded project was implemented by the MoI. Activities included the development of handbooks on Citizen Scorecards, Socioeconomic Mapping, Budget Tracking and Governance & Participation; improving the strategic planning capacity of local governments; supporting the implementation of the legislation related to local governments to ensure participation, transparency and accountability at the local level; improving municipal performance through benchmarking and contributing to establishment of town twinning between selected local authorities for international best practice sharing.
Name of the Project: “Special Provincial Administrations Preparing for EU” Project
Period: 2011-2013
Beneficiary & Stakeholders: MEUA, MoI & UP
Project Summary: The Project, implemented by MEUA in collaboration with MoI and UP, aimed at building the capacities of Special Provincial Administrations (SPAs) and increasing the level of their awareness on EU related issues. The Project activities included the delivery of training on relevant topics to the staff of SPAs, as well as to the EU Units established within the governorates. The study visits and other activities contributed to raising awareness and capacities of SPAs in EU-related issues, as well as promoting the role of UP as their national union.
Name of the Project: “İstanbul on the Path to EU” Project
Period: 2012-2016
Beneficiary & Stakeholders: MEUA, Union of Municipalities of Turkey, İstanbul Governorate & Metropolitan Municipality (as well as districts)
Project Summary: Besides the EU-funded projects, MEUA, by its own resources, implemented and finalised this Project, which aimed at enabling the local authorities in İstanbul to establish partnerships with EU counterparts and manage proper implementation of the EU acquis at the local level. Likewise, the Project encouraged local authorities and local organisations to actively engage in EU accession process of Turkey and use the opportunities provided by the EU in their field of interest and requirements. Town twinning was one of the main activities of the project through which 10 local authorities in İstanbul were twinned with European local authorities.
Name of the Project: “Ankara on the Path to EU” Project
Period: 2012
Beneficiary & Stakeholders: MEUA, Ankara Governorate & Metropolitan Municipality (as well as districts)
Project Summary: The Project focused on building the capacities of the local authorities in Ankara with a view towards more effectively utilising and benefitting from EU funds. In this context, 5 training programs on project development were organised, and over 600 participants were trained on related topics. In addition, a “Project Fair” was organised, whereby the completed or continuing EU-funded projects implemented in Ankara were displayed.
Name of the Project: “Building Capacity for EU Affairs in Governorates” Project (VABpro)
Period: 2012-2014
Beneficiary & Stakeholders: MEUA
Project Summary: This MEUA Project (funded by EU under IPA 2009) aimed at increasing the level of information on EU available at the provincial level for all stakeholders and strengthening the capacity of administrations at the local level to support the management of the EU funds and engagement in the accession process. The Project included a Town Twinning component, aiming to contribute to the establishment of sustainable partnerships between the local administrations of the EU Member States and 20 pilot provinces in Turkey for exchanging experiences and best practices regarding implementation of the EU acquis at the local level. A methodology for effective town twinning was developed, including standard selection criteria for twinning, establishment of an EU-Turkey Town Twinning Selection Committee and the road map towards EU-Turkey Town Twinning Conference. Throughout this project, it was perceived that there was a need to develop a systematic approach for town twinning activities of local authorities in Turkey. Thus, as indicated in the ToR, the “Town Twinning Between Turkey and the EU” Project was launched as a continuation of and supplementary to the VABpro.
Name of the Project: “Support to Local Administration Reform in Turkey” Project – Phase III (LAR III)
Period: 2018 (planned)
Beneficiary & Stakeholders: MoI-DG for Local Authorities & Union of Municipalities of Turkey (to be funded by EU)
Project Summary: Building on the experience of LAR I and LAR II, this continuation project (Phase III) to support the local administration reform in Turkey is at the stage of finalisation and anticipated to be launched by the MoI-Directorate General for Local Authorities in the second half of 2018. As LAR I and LAR II Projects, LAR III Project will also be supported by EU funds, and be implemented by the MoI and UMT, with the technical assistance of the UNDP.