Our projects

Technical Assistance for Empowering SMEs for Networking and Inter-regional Cooperation

Client: Central Finance and Contracts Unit (CFCU) as Contracting Authority

Beneficiary: Prime Ministry Undersecretariat of Foreign Trade (UFT)

When: February 2011 - August 2013

Details: The overall objective of this first large scale “Networking” project for SMEs in Turkey is to improve the competitiveness of the enterprises in the RCOP Region in international markets. Its specific objective is to improve networking and cooperation between the RCOP and non-RCOP regions through developing and piloting cluster-based inter and intra-regional networking and cooperation strategies. The project covers 5 target provinces including Trabzon, Corum, Samsun, Kahramanmaraş and Gaziantep with a budget of 3.5 million Euros; and it mainly focuses on indicative sectors that will be defined through economical analyses of the target provinces. Key activities of the project are grouped into two components:

 Component 1:

  • Development of inter-regional and intra-regional cooperation and networking strategies,

  • Design and execution of at least 5 intra and inter regional pilot actions,

  • Development of cluster tools to be used by regional actors to develop clusters in practice.

 Component 2:

  • Establishment of an online Knowledge Management System (KMS),

  • Development of a National Benchmarking System (BMS),

  • Establishment of and technical assistance to five Cluster Info Spots (CIS).

 By the end of the project, the following results are expected to be achieved:

  • Productivity and added value of the enterprises and business representative organisations are enhanced through horizontal and vertical cooperation among the firms & organisations, and through establishment of cooperation and networks among public and private institutions, universities, NGOs and Unions serving SMEs.

  • Local clusters and SMEs are provided with state of art support through improved access to specialized systems and services, which will improve their networking capacities.

 

Technical Assistance for Reform of The Turkish Railways

Client: Central Finance and Contracts Unit (CFCU) as Contracting Authority

Beneficiary: Ministry of Transport, Turkish State Railways (TCDD)

When: January 2011 - January 2013

Details: The overall objective of this project is to restructure and reform Turkish railways for opening up the sector for competition in line with the EU acquis. The spesific objective of this project is to establish framework conditions for restructuring and reforming the rail sector for competition, including systems for infrastructure allocation, charging, safety and interoperability of TCDD. The project will cover a period of 24 months with a budget of 3.2 million Euros. Key activities of the project are grouped into three components:

  • Component 1: Setting a strategy for establishing framework conditions in order to realize railway reform in line with the draft law package.

  • Component 2: Strengthening capacity on infrastructure allocation and charging of the prospective infrastructure manager at new TCDD.

  • Component 3: Strengthening capacity on safety and interoperability of the prospective infrastructure manager and railways undertakings at new TCDD.

By the end of the implementation period, the following outputs/ results are expected to be achieved:

  • A strategy and action plan for establishing framework conditions of restructuring and strengthening of Turkish rail sector,

  • A system for infrastructure capacity allocation and charging,

  • A network statement,

  • Safety Management Systems (SMSs) of Business Units (BUs),

  • A “gap analysis” and measures for gap plugging on rail safety and interoperability identifying difference between EU member states and Turkey,

  • Determination of National Safety Rules,

  • Training on safety, interoperability and infrastructure allocation and charging issues.

 

Technical Assistance on Institutional Building for the Implementation of Regional Competitiveness Operational Programme

Client: Central Finance and Contracts Unit (CFCU) as Contracting Authority

Beneficiary: Ministry of Industry and Trade, Regional Competitiveness Operational Programme Coordination and Implementation Centre (RCP-CIC)

When: December 2010 - August 2013

Details: This project is one of the biggest Technical Assistance (TA) projects in Turkey and the biggest TA project in Ecorys History. The project will be implemented for 32 months covering 43 provinces of Turkey with an overall objective to contribute to the achievement and overall success of the Regional Competitiveness Operational Programme (RCOP) and IPA financial assistance to Turkey. The specific objectives of the project are;

  • to improve the capacity of the Operating Structure (namely, the RCP-CIC) in the management, implementation, monitoring and control of the RCOP;  

  • to support the operation development and management capacity for central and local stakeholders, in particular the final recipients of operations;

  • to support the programming activities in order to increase the absorption capacity of the funds available under the RCOP;

  • to support the activation of the Finance and Contracts Department (FCD) within the Operating Structure after the transition period.

A project office in Ankara has been established and the project team composed of three key experts, various non-key experts and the backstopping team is currently working towards attaining the objectives the project. By the end of the Project, it is expected that four results will be achieved through the execution of:

Component 1: Capacity building at the programme and project level by the provision of training and support in management and implementation functions of the RCP-CIC and final recipients.

Component 2: Providing support to the establishment of the RCP-CIC Finance and Contacts Department.

Expected Results:

Competence and know-how of staff of the RCP-CIC on the programming, management,  implementation, monitoring, evaluation and control of RCOP, and operation development and management capacity of the central stakeholders are improved;

  1. Operation development and management capacity of the stakeholders including the end-recipients of the operations are improved;

  2. Relevant, mature and sustainable operations are prepared;

  3. The activation of the Finance and Contracts Department within the RCP-CIC is supported.

 

Technical Assistance for Empowerment of Women and Women NGO’s in the Least Developed Regions of Turkey

Client: Central Finance and Contracts Unit (CFCU) as Contracting Authority

Beneficiary: GAP Administration

When: May 2010 - December 2012

Details: The overall objective of the project is to upgrade women’s status in the least developed regions of Turkey (South-eastern Anatolia, Eastern Black Sea and Eastern Anatolia) with a view to reducing regional disparities. In this regard, the specific objectives of the project are:

  • to improve the local capacity and empowerment of women and women non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in order to increase and facilitate women’s access to municipal, social and judicial services;

  • to provide assistance to improve grant scheme implementation capacities of women NGOs and related stakeholders;

  • to improve the capacity and awareness of local authorities and municipalities for sensitive, target base budget allocation especially on gender issue;

  • to promote reciprocal collaboration between local NGOs and local authorities.

The target group of the project include governmental organisations (GOs), local administrations, NGOs, municipalities, GAP Administration staff, local women organizations and unorganized local women, together with grant scheme beneficiaries in the 30 NUTS II provinces. In order to achieve the objectives, the project is designed into two components. While Component 1 focuses on increasing women’s access to public services through strengthening of women NGOs; Component 2 aims to contribute in upgrading women’s status in the regions covered by the project through the implementation of a grant scheme for women NGOs.

 Expected results of Component 1:

  1. Gender sensitive approach is incorporated into service provision policies of GOs, local administrations and NGOs, and their human resources are improved in terms of gender sensitivity.

  2. Organisational and technical capacities of women NGOs are improved and new women’s organisations are established in three regions.

  3. Communication and cooperation among women NGOs are improved.

  4. Structured dialog and partnerships among women NGOs, governmental organisations and local administrations are developed.

  5. Sustainability plan and exit strategy is developed.

 Expected results of Component 2:

  1. Guidelines for application and its annexes published,

  2. Grant Implementation,

  3. Grant Scheme Monitoring,

  4. Grant Scheme Evaluation,

  5. Grant Scheme Dissemination.

 For more information please visit the project website:  www.gapkadinstk.org

 

Consultancy Services for Rationalization and Preparing a Passenger Service Obligation (PSO) Contract for Passenger Services in Turkey

Client: Transport Project Implementation Unit, Ministry of Transport and Communications/ World Bank

Beneficiary: Turkish State Railways (TCDD)

When: March 2010 - September 2010

Details: ECORYS supported Turkish State Railways in the preparation and rationalization of a Passenger Service Obligation (PSO) contract.The objective of this assignment is to establish a PSO contracting process that will allow the government to understand the costs of the services it purchases with its subsidy funds and provide incentives for passenger services to be provided efficiently. Although the conditions for adopting an EU style PSO contract will not be available till the adoption of the new railways law; the rationalization and preparation of a transition contract will aid TCDD and the Government to assure good value for money for rail services in the future. The approach is to start the contracting process under the existing regulations for financing of TCDD; and,  to transform the contract to EU standarts when the restructuring of the rail sector starts. Along with the draft contract, a cost calculation model has been developed; and, a transport plan has been introduced which includes proposed service concepts that will maximize benefits for Turkish population and the necessary investments.   

 

GEF (Global Environment Facility), Country Portfolio Evaluation – 2010: Turkey 

Client: GEF
When: October 2009-April 2010
Details: ECORYS Turkey currently evaluates the contribution of GEF national, regional and global projects and small grant programmes covering the period 1992 – 2009. At the request of the GEF Council, the Evaluation Office conducts Country Portfolio Evaluations (CPE) every year. This year, Turkey and Moldova have been selected. The two CPEs in Turkey and Moldova will be synthesized into an Annual CPE Report to be presented to the GEF Council at its meeting in June 2010. 

The main focus areas covered at the national level are biodiversity, climate change and international waters. Other focus areas are persistent organic pollutants, land degradation, and ozone depletion. This assignment which was won under a competitive international tendering process will lead to a report on the appropriateness, efficiency and impacts of the GEF funded projects for reaching global environmental effects. Most recently such evaluations have been conducted in Syria and Egypt, see www.thegef.org

Country Portfolio Evaluation Report: Turkey (1992 - 2009)


Assessment of Development Results (ADR): Evaluation of UNDP Contribution in Turkey 

Client: UNDP Evaluation Office
When: July 2009-December 2009
Details: An independent assessment of the progress towards the expected outcomes envisaged in the UNDP programming documents in Turkey was carried out within the project. The team has evaluated the contribution of UNDP to the national development results which address democratic governance; poverty reduction and MDG achievement as well as environment and sustainable development for the period 2004-2009. 

ADR provides an opportunity to review the UNDP experience at country level, and its contribution to the solution of social, economical and political challenges while attempting to establish a credible linkage between UNDP interventions and outcomes at the country level. An analysis of how UNDP has positioned itself both from the perspective of organization and the development priorities in the country has been presented to add value in response to national needs and changes in the national development context. 

Click here to see the report

 

Technical Assistance for the "Civil Society Dialogue: Cultural Bridges" Programme

Client: Central Finance and Contracts Unit (CFCU) as Contracting Authority

Beneficiary: Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA)

When: September 2009 - September 2011

Details: The objective of this project is to assist the MFA, the Cultural Bridges Steering Committee and the Cultural Bridges Working Group in their work to realise the “Civil Society Dialogue – Cultural Bridges” Programme. The technical assistance team organise their meetings, publicly promote the overall programme, assist the grant beneficiaries and provide support to monitor the implementation of the projects under the guidance of the MFA which are undertaken by the EU Cultural Institutes and their Turkish partners.

 The Cultural Bridges Programme is an initiative to support the Civil Society Dialogue between the EU and Turkey. The programme has been launched by the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Delegation of the European Union to Turkey and it is managed by the cultural institutions of EU member states and their Turkish project partners. The purpose of the Cultural Bridges Programme is to encourage cultural sharing and understanding in order to aid in overcoming prejudices and establish a long lasting relationship between Turkey and the EU. During the course of the programme, EU member states and Turkey contribute to the Civil Society Dialogue by recognising one another’s cultural values and sharing their cultural and artistic innovations across borders. All aspects of contemporary arts such as music, performing arts, plastic and visual arts and literature are within the framework of the Cultural Bridges Programme.

 For more information please visit the project website: www.culturalbridges.info

 

ISKUR (Turkish Employment Agency) Active Labor Market Measures Project  II

Client: European Commission
Beneficiary: ISKUR (Turkish Employment Agency)
When: October 2008-April 2010
Details: The overall objective of the project is to improve the existing capacity to design, develop and implement policies and programmes in order to contribute to human resource development aligned with European Employment Strategy in Turkey. The purpose of the project is to assist ISKUR to deliver more effective public employment services in particular at local level, and to assist ISKUR to implement a grant scheme on active labour market measures.The main results of the project are:

  • Increased institutional capacity

  • Improved provincial level employment boards

  • Enhanced career counselling for job seekers, including youth

  • Improved capacity of pilot and model offices to implement e-ISKUR applications

  • Increased visibility of ISKUR as a service provider

  • Improved labour market measures for women and young people

  • Strengthen capacity in ISKUR to implement labour market measures for women and young people.

 

Technical Assistance for Provision of Entrepreneurship and Management Training and Consultancy to Support Women Entrepreneurship through Training Centers and Relays

Client: European Commission
Beneficiary: The Confederation of Turkish Tradesmen and Craftsmen (TESK)
When: July 2007-April 2009
Details: Funded by the EU, the project carried out a wide range of activities: from individual consultancy to women, training and opportunities to exchange experience to credits; from personal guidance to group work and networking. A sustainable Women Entrepreneurship Support (WES) Model was developed and Women Entrepreneurship Support Centres were launched in 25 provinces. 

The overall objective of the project is to support the development of private enterprises (SME’s as well as micro enterprises, tradesman and craftsmen) as well as to support women entrepreneurship and to get them to play a more active role in business. The specific objectives were: Increased number of new SMEs owned/managed by women, increased size and performances in already existing SMEs, increased number of SMEs in the formal sector.

The project achieved the following results and outputs:

  • Institutional capacity of TESK and ESOBs regarding the sustainability of training centres and the replication of supporting women entrepreneurs’ model in other regions is improved

  • Establishment of nine (9) Training Centres in Ankara, Antalya, Istanbul, Konya, Adana, Malatya, Manisa, Nevşehir, Samsun and sixteen (16) Training Relays in Düzce, Eskişehir, Kastamonu, Muğla, Tekirdag, Kırklareli, Hatay, Tunceli, Sivas, Erzurum, Balıkesir, Uşak, Yozgat, Amasya, Ordu, Tokat. 

  • 11,000 women trained and 3,700 women received consulting on entrepreneurship related issues through training centres and relays resulting in increase in the number of unemployed women in particular the most disadvantages benefiting from in company training with of view to promote their employability. 

  • Awareness among women on starting a new business increased

  • 235 Women started up their own business during the course of the project. 

Technical Assistance for Strengthening the Management Capacity of the IPA Coordination and Implementation Centre within the Ministry of Environment and Forestry

Client: European Commission
Beneficiary: Ministry of Environment and Forestry
When: March 2008-December 2009
Details: The overall objective of the project is to utilise EU funds effectively and to improve the absorption capacity of Turkey by strengthening the capacity building in governmental institutions. The project purpose is to strengthen instiutitonal, technical and administrative capacity of IPA Coordination and Implementation Centre in the MoEF for effective management of Environmental Operational Programmes.

The project supports the IPA unit within the Ministry of Environment in all aspects of IPA management. Within the project several manual and procedures for the effective and efficient management of the funds are developed as well as a HR strategy training courses in all aspects IPA management are delivered. Next to this support is provided to the preperation of the Environmental Operational Programme 2007-2011. 

Develop an Action Plan for the Turkish Investment Support and Promotion Agency (ISPAT) and Stimulate Investments by Dutch Companies in Turkey

Client: EVD (Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency)
Beneficiary: Turkish Investment Support and Promotion Agency (ISPAT)
When: January 2008 - December 2009
Details: ISPAT, as Turkey’s representative to the global business community, aims to provide top-quality investor service and after-care to (potential) foreign investors into Turkey.This project contributes ISPAT to establish itself as the leading organisation on FDI promotion in Turkey through the following five pillars of activities:

  • A comprehensive assessment of Turkey’s attractiveness for FDI to help Turkey and ISPAT gain an understanding of the controllable factors impacting foreign investment and thus develop policies and programmes to both enhance Turkey’s image and maximise its benefits from foreign investment;

  • An initial cluster map and assessment of main clusters to understand the factors determining competitiveness within clusters and to focus its resources on clusters where it has most to gain;

  • A medium term action plan to provide ISPAT with a clear list of priorities and specific actions that it can implement to achieve its strategic goals, optimise its organisational and ICT structure. 

  • A medium term communications strategy to enable ISPAT to efficiently and effectively market Turkey to investors worldwide while monitoring and evaluating its progress through a set of key indicators; and finally

  • A set of communication materials and case studies to provide both ISPAT and EVD with valuable examples to use in stimulating Dutch and other foreign investments into Turkey, as well as serve as a valuable training tool to help ISPAT representatives understand the investment decision and process.
     


Access To Primary Education And Quality Education- Catch-Up Education

Client: UNICEF Turkey Office
When: April 2009-June 2009
Details: Within the framework of the Country Programme of Action Plan for Turkey (2006-2010) concluded between the Government of Turkey and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Turkey Country Office is supporting the Ministry of Education (MoNE) for implementing the Catch-up Education project as a second chance for children who are deprived of their right to education in Turkey.

For an effective implementation of the programme, UNICEF has been supporting the Primary Education General Directorate on capacity building of its personnel and project staff. Within this framework, ECORYS has provided consulting for conducting a training programme to be based on a needs assessment on M&E, in order to equip the project staff with necessary knowledge and skills on the subject matter, and to help the project staff re-articulate the Monitoring & Evaluation system designed for the Catch-up Education Programme. 

Monitoring and Evaluation Training for Project Staff of EU Project “Children First-Modelling Child Protection Mechanism at the Provincial Level”

Client: UNICEF Turkey Office
When: June 2009-July 2009
Details: Within the framework of the EU funded Project “Children First – Modelling Child Protection Mechanisms at the Provincial Level”, UNICEF Turkey Office is providing technical support to the Project Coordinator, the Ministry of National Education, Non-Formal Education and Apprenticeship General Directorate and all the project partners by ensuring the provision of training on the basic concepts and theory of Monitoring and Evaluation. At this point, ECORYS has been awarded to provide Monitoring and Evaluation Training to the project stakeholders in order to build and reinforce the knowledge of the members of the Project Implementation Committee on Monitoring and Evaluation and apply the key concepts in the management of the project.

 

Study Visits for Turkish Vocational and Technical Education Experts

Study visits were organized for over 100 Turkish professionals from social partners, SMEs, higher and further education institutions and government ministries in Austria, Greece, Norway, Poland, the Netherlands and the UK on behalf of the Turkish State Planning Organisation and the European Commission. The objective of these visits was to facilitate and organise study visits for Turkish delegates to a number of participating countries to enable them to study the implementation and operation of the European Vocational Training and Education Programmes in these countries. The delegates could then use this information to help them implement these programmes successfully in Turkey.

Review, Strengthening and Harmonizing of Policy, Institutional and Legal Frameworks for Second Generation of Public Private Partnership (PPP) Projects in Turkey 

In 2007, ECORYS was commissioned by the World Bank on a Public-Private Infrastructure Advisory Facility (PPIAF) to provide support to the Government of Turkey represented by the Treasury. The aim of the assignment was to advise on ways to strengthen the policy, institutional and legal framework for a ‘second generation’ of Public Private Partnership projects in Turkey. The objective developed a strategic implementation framework and PPP program, which has introduced an environment that facilitates PPP projects, provides comfort to potential investors, and provides guidance and direction to implementing agencies.

 

Analysis of the Real Estate Market in Turkey

This study contains a country overview of Turkey’s real estate market within four real estate sectors in the 10 largest cities of Turkey. The comprehensiveness of the report formed a strong foundation for the entry strategy of our client ING Real Estate Development. This international real estate research was underpinned by a powerful collaboration between ECORYS Turkey and the ECORYS’ internationally-oriented real estate department located at head office in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Working together, ECORYS delivered an international perspective grounded in a solid appreciation of the national and local Turkish context.

 

Environmental Master Plan and Investment Strategy for the Marmara Sea Basin in Turkey

Client: European Investment Bank
When: February 2005-December 2007
Details: Development of an environmental management plan in which the strategic options for managing the water quality of the Marmara Sea is drawn up. The main objective of this project is; to prepare an environmental management plan and investment strategy for the purpose of the improvement and the protection of the water quality of the Marmara Sea. The most important components of this plan are:

  • Strategic options to achieve and maintain the required water quality objectives;

  • Long-term master plan with the definition and the analysis of the environmental projects that contribute to improvement of the environmental system;

  • Assessment of the expected investment costs, implementation schedule and setting of priorities of the individual projects.

The major outputs of the project can be listed as:

  • Development of a proposal for the establishment of an effective organisational/institutional structure for water, wastewater and waste management in the Sea of Marmara Sea Basin;

  • Provision of the well-justified bankable projects and related tender documents to be financed by international/national credit institutions;

  • Provision of the methodology and training of the MoEF for the financial analysis of projects and preparation of tendering documents to assist the implementing agencies;

  • Provision of training on use of the water system model and transfer of knowledge on all aspects of the project;

  • Report on the scope of further studies required including preparation of Terms of Reference for the required measures.

 

EC Information and Communication Programme in Turkey (2004-2009)

Client: European Commission
When: October 2005-September 2007
Details: The aim of the European Commission’s Information and Communications Support Programme in Turkey is to facilitate Turkey's accession process by providing a coherent and multi faced information product to the Turkish society. The specific objectives of the programme are to:

  • improve public knowledge and understanding of the European Union including EU political and legal order and EU policies. 

  • explain the benefits and challenges of accession to the general public in Turkey and build support for EU membership; and

  • explain the link between the pace of preparations for membership and the progress of the negotiations.

As part of the contract, a project management office in Ankara was established, the EU Information Centre (EUIC) in Istanbul was taken over and a second EU information Centre was set up in Ankara. The EUICs represent the public face of the European Commission in Turkey. They are the first point of information for local citizens to obtain EU-related publications, information, advice, assistance and answers to questions about the EU institutions, legislation, policies, programmes and funding opportunities. 

The EUICs undertake a wide range of activities including events, meetings, info tours, seminars, press conferences and exhibitions. In addition, the project management office has provided the strategic oversight of all project activities and overall co-ordination as well as technical and financial management of the programme activities.