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;
- Ensuring that refugees enjoy their rights and access to services which promote self-reliance.
Through 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.