Hayriye Atas

“Enhancing the Effectiveness of Civil Society in Mobilizing Public Engagement in Turkey” (March 2024–July 2024)

Ms. Hayriye Atas is general coordinator of the Istanbul-based Checks and Balances Network (CBN), a nonpartisan civic movement and umbrella organization comprising nearly 300 CSOs dedicated to strengthening checks and balances in Turkish institutions and fostering a democratic culture in Turkey. Prior to joining CBN, she served as a consultant and expert for numerous EU-financed development projects concerning democratization, local governance, civic engagement, sustainable development, and administrative reform. These projects include, most recently, the establishment of a Türkiye Civil Society Dialogue Network, supported by the Directorate for EU Affairs, and an initiative to improve active citizenship norms for resilient cities. She is an alumna of the CIFE Institute, Bilgia University, and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation. During her fellowship, Ms. Atas will develop a training module for Turkish civil society organizations to educate them on best practices in developing strategic approaches to civic participation and legal advocacy.