We are seeking CSOs which: 

• adopt human rights or development based approach (İnsan hakları veya kalkınma temelli yaklaşım) 
• are non-for-profit NGOs and Foundations (Türkiye için dernek, vakıf ve kar-amacı-gütmeyen kooperatifler); 
• are based in Türkiye or the European Union 
• are interested in engaging in an international exchange process coupled with an enhanced engagement with a local authority at the city level (either municipalities or metropolitan municipalities/district municipalities and metropolitan municipalities in Türkiye) 
• have an experience in project management and sufficient stability as an organisation (for example, a minimum of 3 permanent staff members for both EU and TR CSOs and preferably a maximum of 10 permanent staff members for TR, 20 for EU);

Cooperatives must be non-profit and meet the following criteria:

• the cooperative doesn’t distribute the difference between incomes and expenditures to its members, board members or board of advisors,
• the cooperative doesn’t distribute any additional income coming from reserve funds or asset sales to its members,
• in the purpose and activity section of the main cooperative contract, it should be stated that the objectives of the cooperative are to be in the public interest. 

Please note that participants from the 1st round are not eligible to apply to the 2nd round of the programme, since they will already be actively involved in several activities throughout the 1nd round.

Applying CSOs should indicate their intended collaboration with a specific Local Authority and provide a plan or vision outlining the existing or envisioned partnership in the application form. The plan should detail how the collaboration will occur and include expectations and capacity-building needs. CSOs should also elaborate on the relevancy of their relationship with the Local Authority or the wish to collaborate in the application form (for example, the CSO is located in the same municipality, has its secondary offices there, has an already ongoing long-term collaboration through a project or a Memorandum of Understanding…). 

Previous collaborations with local authorities and possibly following up on a previous project are not strictly required to apply. Local Authorities will be later, in the proceeding phases of the program, invited to join the partnership through the “associate partner” formula by signing a letter of intent.

CSOs don’t need to have a partner organisation in order to apply for the programme. Once the selection process is complete, you will be matched with a suitable partner. However, if you already have a specific partnership in mind that you would like to bring to THE:PLACE, both organisations must submit separate applications. If both organisations are selected, they may decide for the partnership later, along the process.