Turkey

Anatolian Young Leaders Association (AGL)

$49,900
To raise awareness among young people in Turkey of democratic values and the need for greater participation in public life. AGL will select 40 young adults to attend a month-long training session on democratic participation. AGL will work with each participant to conduct democracy-related seminars in their respective universities and write an essay about democracy in Turkey. Best essays will be published and distributed to universities, NGOs, media, and political parties.

Association of Liberal Thinking (ALT)

$63,200
To provide civil society stakeholders in three provinces with a platform to improve their knowledge of and engage in an inclusive dialogue on democratic values that will help foster networks of diverse democratic leaders in Turkey. ALT will organize three interactive seminars that will help build those networks comprising civil society stakeholders that will then work towards facilitating local, demand-driven initiatives.

Association of Monitoring Parliamentarians and Selected Officials (TUMIKOM)

$93,600
To promote accountability and transparency of the parliament’s work and decisions and to strengthen its ability to coordinate its nationwide activities. TUMIKOM will produce and distribute its fifth national report on activities of parliamentarians, produce and distribute its “10 Promises Not Given” report on parties support for “democratization, transparency and political ethics.”

Association for Support and Training of Women Candidates (KADER)

$50,000
To strengthen the capacity of women MPs and to facilitate collation-building between women’s rights NGOs and women MPs. KADER will work with civil society groups to form and develop six legislative support groups women members of the parliament. KADER will organize monthly meetings with the parliamentarians and provide them with policy briefs, research papers, survey results, research and analysis reports, and legislation proposals.

Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE)

$185,751
To encourage Turkish firms to demonstrate their commitment to adopting best governance practices above and beyond those included in the Turkey’s newly amended commercial code. Together with its partner the Corporate Governance Association of Turkey (COGAT), CIPE will convene a Draft Committee for two review sessions prior to the guideline’s publication, dissemination, and promotion of the Corporate Governance Code. COGAT will launch and promote the Code through one workshop in Istanbul and three additional workshops in Anatolia.

Flying Broom

$64,000
To raise awareness of the obstacles facing women NGOs. Flying Broom will raise awareness of these issues and help strengthen networks in seven Turkish provinces. Under the supervision of professor-mentors from women’s studies departments throughout Turkey, women students will survey over 100 women NGOs. The results of the survey will be presented at a conference in Ankara: “Women NGOs in Seven Provinces in Turkey.”

Foundation for Anatolian Folklore and Culture (FAFC)

$61,900
To raise awareness among Turkish citizens of the legal barriers to fundamental rights and freedoms. FAFC will develop working groups on constitutional reforms, collect suggestions for a constitutional draft constitution, and mobilize public support for legal reforms to eliminate barriers to fundamental rights and freedoms. FAFC will strengthen its presence on the local level by assisting its already established 28 working groups in expanding into neighboring provinces.

Freedom of Expression Association (FEA)

$50,000
To facilitate access to information as provided under Turkish law and to raise public awareness of the right to information. FEA will work to expand its established working groups into 30 additional provinces with the aim of having at least one Access to Information Point (AIP) established in each province. FEA conducts training workshops for interested individuals and organizations in each of 20 hub-provinces where AIPs are currently operating.

Human Rights Agenda Association (HRAA)

$52,000
To provide the legal community in Turkey with up-to-date information on Turkish human rights laws. HRAA will create an Internet-based, free-access resource center. The website will be a comprehensive legal resource on rulings, reforms, new legislation, and trends in Turkish law concerning the protection of and respect for human rights. It will cover nine primary subject areas for which HRAA will establish a team of as many lawyers, each responsible for the website subject that reflects his/her legal expertise.

International Republican Institute (IRI)

$700,000
To strengthen the grassroots campaign skills of candidates and political activists in advance of Turkey’s local elections, with an emphasis on encouraging the participation of women and young.
IRI will gather a select group of highly motivated young people to work in parliamentary offices, party headquarters and government ministries in Ankara. Following their internship, participants will apply the lessons they have learned in a Model Parliament on the grounds of Turkey’s Grand National Assembly.

National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI)

$470,000
To promote improved responsiveness of political institutions. NDI will advise members of the Turkish parliament on ongoing parliamentary reform efforts. NDI will also work to enhance citizen engagement in the political process and generate greater opportunities for citizen input into the policy process. NDI will support NGO capacity building and voter education activities and also work to increase women’s political participation as voters, leaders, and political candidates.

Social Development and Gender Equality Center (SOGEP)

$47,000
To raise awareness of legislative decision-making processes among young women students, and to promote women’s political participation in the legislative branch. SOGEP will organize internships with parliament and local government offices for 40 young women students in Ankara and Istanbul. SOGEP will conduct a three-day pre-internship workshop and, upon completion of the internships, SOGEP will invite all participants to Istanbul for a two-day post-internship seminar.