Strategic Fund for Turkey

The inspiration for the Strategic Fund for Turkey (SFT) springs from the belief that supporting local, rights-based groups is the best way to encourage a culture of respect for human rights and of helping to cement the foundation of a Turkish civil society.

As such, the SFT aims to support local groups in Turkey working to protect and promote human rights in Turkey, particularly those set up by vulnerable groups. It seeks to grow the capacities of these grassroots groups to help them play a better role in the ongoing democratisation process in Turkey.

Since its inception in 2005, the SFT has worked with a number of locally led groups working around across a broad spectre of human rights issues including:  Women’s rights, minority rights, prisoner rights, LGBT and sex worker rights and environmental rights justice.

Between 2006 and 2009, the SFT has granted about one million pounds And will grant £312,000 in 2010. As well as financial support, the fund seeks to support these groups to understand international standards of grant-making including setting realistic aims, writing proposals, accounting for grants and evaluating results.

What makes SFT unique from other funding programmes in Turkey is its target groups. SFT proudly supports NGOs which are set up by disadvantaged groups, which work in taboo areas that may not be funded by other donors for political and priority reasons; and NGOs with low organisational capacity or young NGOs.