Turkey: Capacity Building Update - May 2017

UNHCR Capacity-Building Strategy

• Capacity building is a key element in UNHCR Turkey’s strategy to better protect refugees and asylum-seekers, and the Organization considers it an integral part of delivering its international protection mandate. More specifically, capacity development activities are geared at: strengthening the technical abilities of national authorities; providing legislative support to ensure that laws and policies incorporate principles and standards that are compliant with international refugee law; promoting coherence of actions on the ground with the legal framework; and ensuring that refugees enjoy their rights and access to services which promote self-reliance. Though these initiatives, UNHCR supports Turkish authorities, civil society, partners and other humanitarian actors operating in the country as well as refugee and asylum-seeker communities.

• Capacity building takes place at the policy, organizational and workforce levels. Different methodologies have been adopted to deliver capacity-building activities depending on the level of awareness of the target audience to enhance expertise as well as improve provision of services and programmes targeting persons seeking international protection. In several contexts interactive face-to-face training, coaching and workshops are used. Also, through Training of Trainers (ToT) activities UNHCR invests in the sustainability of capacity building efforts through supporting know-how among state authorities.

Building Capacity of Turkish Authorities

• UNHCR trained nearly 1,100 state officials between January and April 2017 to strengthen technical capacity to implement national legislation in line with national standards. A wide range of government actors, including the Directorate General of Migration Management, the Ministry of Family and Social Policies, law enforcement officials and civil society actors such as Bar Associations and NGOs have participated in UNHCR-organized activities, which present a holistic approach to refugee protection. UNHCR conducted two ToT workshops for administrative, civil and criminal court judges under the framework of the cooperation agreement with the Justice Academy. As one of the last activities in a series of workshops on international protection, a five-day ToT was organized for the Counter-Trafficking Department of the Gendarmerie General Command to create a pool of expert facilitators.

• So far this year, UNHCR’s capacity building activities have focussed on international protection as well as the following areas:

  • Mixed migration and international protection
  • Protection-sensitive border management
  • Protection of children and national referral mechanisms
  • Access to justice and legal remedies for refugees
  • Best Interest Determination
  • Refugee Status Determination

• UNHCR also supports the transfer of skills and know-how to improve the implementation of protection and assistance functions and to strengthen technical capacity by showcasing international good practices through study visits abroad. Within this scope, UNHCR has arranged a variety of study visits for key state officials to gain a deeper understanding of reception conditions, mixed migration and international protection, asylum procedures and regional court functions.

Building Capacity of Partners, Civil Society and Other Humanitarian Actors

• Increasing the capacity of civil society organizations to provide better services to refugees in Turkey is a prime focus for UNHCR. Within this scope, over 200 partner staff were trained on an array of topics including the national legal framework on international protection and temporary protection, and access to rights and services.

Building Capacity of Refugees and Asylum-Seekers

• To enhance refugees and asylum-seekers’ access to rights and services, UNHCR organizes information and awareness-raising sessions on the international protection system in Turkey and on rights and services available.

• Education programmes, vocational training and language courses as well as livelihood programmes and initiatives also incorporate capacity-building components focusing on refugees and asylum-seekers to become self-sufficient and better integrate their host communities.