COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL AND THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT Sixth Annual Report on the Facility for Refugees in Turkey
Date: 2022-05-24
Institutions: Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations, European Commission
Subjects: EU Member State, EU financial instrument, EU migration policy, Türkiye, activity report, aid to refugees, coordination of aid, migrant, migration control, refugee

EN 

  EN 

   EUROPEAN COMMISSION  Brussels, 24.5.2022  COM(2022) 243 final  COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL AND THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT Sixth Annual Report on the Facility for Refugees in Turkey  
 
 
Contents 
1. 

Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 1 

1.1.  Turkey and the refugee crisis .......................................................................................... 1 

1.2.  The EU response to the crisis and the establishment of the Facility ............................... 2 

2.  The functioning of the Facility ........................................................................................... 5 

3.  Financial capacity, duration and nature of funding ............................................................ 6 

4. 

Implementation of the Facility ............................................................................................ 8 

5.  Monitoring & evaluation ................................................................................................... 14 

6.  Audit ................................................................................................................................. 15 

7.  Communication and visibility ........................................................................................... 15 

8.  Conclusion and next steps ................................................................................................. 16 

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1.  Introduction 

In accordance with Article 8 (1) of the Commission Decision of 24 November 20151 on the 
coordination  of  the  actions  of  the  Union  and  of  the  Member  States  through  a  coordination 
mechanism  ("the  Decision"),  the  Commission  shall  keep  the  European  Parliament  and  the 
Council regularly informed about the implementation of the Facility for Refugees in Turkey 
(hereinafter  'the  Facility').  Article  8  (2)  of  the  Decision  provides  that  the  Commission  shall 
report annually to the European Parliament and to the Council on the implementation of the 
Facility. The first Annual Report on the Facility was published in March 20172. All Annual 
Reports can be found on the Facility for Refugees website.3 The cut-off date for this report is 
February 2022. 

1.1.Turkey and the refugee crisis 

Due  to  its  geographic  position,  Turkey  is  a  prominent  reception  and  transit  country  for 
refugees  and  migrants.  The  country  has  been  hosting  more  than  four  million  refugees,  the 
highest number in the world. This includes more than 3.7 million registered Syrian refugees4, 
and 330 000 registered refugees and asylum seekers mainly from Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran and 
Somalia5  6.  This  very  large  number  of  people  has  had  a  significant  impact  on  the  host 
communities.  The  protracted  displacement  of  Syrian  refugees  and  the  increasing  number  of 
irregular arrivals from Afghanistan in Turkey, following the crisis in Summer 2021, is posing 
increasing  challenges  on  social  cohesion  between  refugees,  migrants  and  host  communities, 
especially  in  a  context  characterised  by  the  economic  downturn  and  the  impact  of  the 
COVID-19 pandemic on the labour market.  

Turkey continues to make very significant efforts in hosting and addressing the needs of more 
than  four  million  refugees  and  migrants  and  has  reiterated  its  commitment  to  the 
implementation  of  the  EU-Turkey  Statement  of  March  20167.  Contrary  to  expectations, 
Turkey  did  not  face  a  mass  influx  of  migrants  and  refugees  as  a  consequence  of  the 
deteriorating  security  situation  in  Afghanistan.  However,  pressure  continues  along  the 
Turkish-Iranian  border.  The  Statement  continued  to  deliver  concrete  results  in  2021  in 
reducing irregular and dangerous crossings and in saving lives in the Aegean Sea. However, 
in 2021, arrivals of irregular migrants increased on most routes in comparison to 2020; with 
11 865 or by 92% in Cyprus, with 12 916 or more than 200% in  Italy, and by 936 or more 
than 300 % in Bulgaria. However, arrivals to Greece decreased to 7 443, a drop of 47%. The 
increases  in  2021 could  be partially due to  the lifting of measures taken  by countries in  the 

1 Commission Decision C(2015) 9500 of 24.11.2015 on the coordination of the actions of the Union and of the 
Member  States  through  a  coordination  mechanism  –  the  Refugee  Facility  for  Turkey,  as  amended  by 
Commission Decision C(2016)855 of 10.2.2016.  
2 https://ec.europa.eu/neighbourhood-
enlargement/sites/near/files/170302_facility_for_refugees_in_turkey_first_annual_report.pdf  
3 https://ec.europa.eu/neighbourhood-enlargement/enlargement-policy/negotiations-status/turkey/eu-facility-
refugees-turkey_en  
4 https://en.goc.gov.tr/temporary-protection27 
5 https://en.goc.gov.tr/irregular-migration 
6 A specificity of the Turkish asylum system is linked to the fact that the country has signed the 1967 New York 
Protocol  of  the  1951  Geneva  Convention  with  a  reservation.  Accordingly,  the  vast  majority  of  refugees  in 
Turkey cannot apply for fully-fledged refugee status but for "Conditional Refugee" status only, which, if granted, 
limits the stay in the country until the moment a recognised refugee is "resettled to a third country". 
7 http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2016/03/18-eu-turkey-statement/ 

1 

 
 
                                                           
region in 2020 to contain the pandemic. Furthermore, although resettlement of refugees to EU 
Member  States  resumed  after  a  short  break  due  to  the  COVID-19  pandemic,  Turkey  has 
maintained the suspension of returns from the Greek islands imposed in March 2020. 

The  European  Council  of  March  and  June  2021  recalled  the  European  Union’s  strategic 
interest  in  a  stable  and  secure  environment  in  the  Eastern  Mediterranean  and  in  the 
development of a cooperative and mutually beneficial relationship with Turkey.8 EU leaders 
offered  to  nurture  a  more  positive  dynamic  in  EU-Turkey  relations.  To  this  end,  they 
expressed readiness to engage with Turkey in a phased, proportionate and reversible manner 
in  a  number  of  areas  of  common  interest,  including  migration.  An  EU-Turkey  High  Level 
Dialogue on migration and security took place in Ankara in October 2021. 

The  June  2021  European  Council  called  on  the  Commission  to  put  forward  without  delay 
formal proposals for the continuation of financing for Syrian refugees and host communities 
in  Turkey,  Jordan,  Lebanon  and  other  parts  of  the  region,  in  line  with  the  statement  of  the 
Members of the European Council of March 2021 and within the context of the EU’s overall 
migration  policy.  The  Commission  mobilised  EUR  3  billion  from  the  EU  budget  for  2021-
2023. It mobilised EUR 860 million at the end of 2021 to provide support in the areas of basic 
needs,  education  and  migration  management.  As  with  the  second  tranche  of  the  Facility, 
programming  of  the  2021-2023  EUR  3  billion  package  should  continue  to  reflect  the  shift 
from humanitarian support to development assistance. 

1.2.The EU response to the crisis and the establishment of the Facility 

In  2015,  the  European  Union  and  its  Member  States  decided  to  step  up  their  political  and 
financial engagement to  support Turkey in  its efforts to  host  refugees.  In  answer to  the call 
from EU Member States for significant additional funding to support refugees in Turkey, the 
Commission  established  the  Facility  for  Refugees  in  Turkey  by  means  of  the  Commission 
Decision of 24 November 2015, amended on 10 February 20169, and again on 14 March and 
24 July 2018. The Facility is a mechanism to coordinate the mobilisation of resources made 
available  under  both  the  EU  budget  and  additional  contributions  from  Member  States 
integrated  into  the  EU  budget  as  external  assigned  revenue.  Member  States  committed 
politically to provide national contributions in the framework of the Common Understanding 
between  EU  Member  States  and  the  European  Commission,  which  was  adopted  by  the 
representatives of the governments of the Member States on 3 February 2016, and updated on 
the  occasion  of  the  agreement  on  the  second  tranche  of  the  Facility.10  The  Common 
Understanding  also  established  a  conditionality  framework.  For  the  first  tranche  of  the 
Facility  (2016-2017)  a  total  of  EUR  3  billion  was  allocated.  The  EUR  3  billion  was  made 
available in addition to EUR 345 million11 already allocated by the Commission to Turkey in 
response  to  the  Syrian  refugee  crisis  before  the  start  of  the  Facility  and  was  additional  to 

8 https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/50763/2425-06-21-euco-conclusions-en.pdf  
9  Commission  Decision  C(2016)  60/03  of  10.02.2016  on  the  Facility  for  Refugees  in  Turkey  amending 
Commission Decision C(2015) 9500 of 24 November 2015. 
10 https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-11329-2018-INIT/en/pdf 
11  Funding  mobilised  in  the  years  2013-2015  under  the  different  external  financing  instruments,  namely  the 
Humanitarian Aid Instrument (HUMA), the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) and the Instrument 
contributing to Stability and Peace (IcSP), including a number of actions implemented by the EU Trust Fund in 
Response to the Syrian Crisis (EUTF). 

2 

 
 
                                                           
Member States' bilateral aid. An additional EUR 3 billion was made available for the second 
tranche  of  the  Facility  (2018-2019)  taking  the  Facility  total  to  EUR  6  billion.  The  Facility 
became  operational  on  17  February  2016  with  the  first  meeting  of  the  Facility  Steering 
Committee.  Following  this  meeting,  the  Commission  moved  rapidly  to  contract  the  first 
projects  under  the  Facility.  By  31  December  2020,  the  Commission  had  contracted  the  full 
operational envelope of the Facility. Out of a total of EUR 6 billion, over EUR 4.6 billion has 
been disbursed to date.  

On 18 March 2016, the Heads of State and Government of the European Union and Turkey 
reconfirmed  their  commitment  to  the  implementation  of  their  Joint  Action  Plan  and  agreed 
further measures aimed at deepening Turkey-EU relations and addressing the migration crisis. 
Turkey  and  the  European  Union  recognised  that  further,  swift  and  determined  efforts  were 
needed.  More  specifically,  the  EU-Turkey  Statement  of  18  March  201612  (hereafter  ‘the 
Statement’) called inter alia for putting an end to irregular migration from Turkey to the EU 
by  breaking  the  business  model  of  the  smugglers  and  offering  migrants  an  alternative  to 
putting their lives at risk, and for the speeding up of the implementation of the Facility. The 
total  number  of  arrivals  from  Turkey  into  Greece,  Italy  and  Bulgaria  in  2021  was  21  295 
compared  to  18  402  in  2020  (16%  increase).  7  443  arrivals  were  recorded  to  Greece  in 
comparison  to  13  979  in  2020  (47%  decrease);  12  916  to  Italy  compared  to  4  191  in  2020 
(more than 200% increase) and 936 to  Bulgaria compared to 232 in 2020 (more than 300% 
increase). The migratory route from Turkey to Cyprus remained very active. In 2021, the total 
number of irregular arrivals to the government-controlled areas of Cyprus was 11 685 (10 918 
after  having  crossed  the  Green  Line  from  the  non–government  controlled  areas)  which  is  a 
92% increase compared to 2020. 

Turkey  continued  to  face  considerable  migratory  pressure,  which,  after  a  drop  in  2020  as  a 
consequence  of  the  COVID-19  pandemic,  increased  again  in  2021.  Since  March  2021,  the 
monthly  apprehension  figure  inside  Turkey  has  been  higher  compared  with  the  respective 
reporting  periods  in  2020.  Implementation  of  the  ‘One-for-One’  resettlement  scheme  under 
the  Statement  continued.  Between  April  2016  and  February  2022,  32  562  Syrian  refugees 
were resettled from Turkey to the EU. Since 2016, under the Statement, 2 140 migrants have 
been returned from the Greek islands to Turkey. As the Turkish authorities have not revoked 
their  decision  of  March  2020  to  suspend  return  operations  under  the  Statement  due  to  the 
COVID-19 pandemic, no return operations took place in 2021. Although resettlements from 
Turkey  resumed  as  of  July  2020,  returns  from  Greece  remain  suspended.  Responding  to 
repeated  requests  from  the  Greek  authorities  and  the  European  Commission  regarding  the 
resumption of return operations, Turkey has stated that no return operation would take place 
unless  the  alleged  pushbacks  along  the  Turkish-Greek  border  stop  and  Greece  revokes  its 
decision to consider Turkey a Safe Third Country13. 

12 https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2016/03/18/eu-turkey-statement/ 
13 According to a new Greek Ministerial Decision, Turkey will be considered as a Safe Third Country for asylum 
applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Syria, Afghanistan and Somalia. Applications from the above nationalities 
may therefore be deemed inadmissible on this basis, and applicants will be returned to Turkey, where they are 
deemed to be safe and have the possibility to request refugee status. 

3 

 
 
 
 
                                                           
The  Voluntary  Humanitarian  Admissions  Scheme,  which  is  expected  to  be  activated  once 
irregular  crossings  between  Turkey  and  the  EU  end  or  at  least  have  been  substantially  and 
sustainably reduced, has not yet been activated by Member States. 

COVID-19 

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact in Turkey. At the outbreak 
of the crisis in Turkey in March 2020, the Commission contacted the Turkish authorities to 
inquire whether any specific EU support to their response was required. They confirmed their 
intention to continue with the projects under the Facility and the regular bilateral Instrument 
for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA), as originally programmed. In close consultation with the 
Turkish  authorities,  the  Commission  agreed  to  the  mobilisation  of  Facility  savings  for 
COVID-19  related  purposes  in  the  form  of  top-ups  to  existing  projects  rather  than  new 
projects. The Commission also contacted Facility implementing partners for their assessment 
the 
of 
implementation  period  for  projects  under  the  2016  EUR  1.6  billion  Special  Measure  was 
extended  to  June  2025,  which  should  allow  for  all  projects  concerned  to  reach  their  stated 
objectives.   

the  COVID-19  fall-out  for  Facility  projects.  Further 

this  consultation, 

to 

By  end-2021,  some  EUR  83  million  had  been  redirected  to  health  care  interventions  and 
socio-economic  support  measures  to  mitigate  the  COVID-19  impact  under  the  Facility  for 
Refugees  (out  of  a  total  of  EUR  133  million  of  EU  redirected  interventions  under  all  EU 
financial  instruments).  Actions  included  the  activation  of  a  EUR  4.7  million  contingency 
reserve of the SIHHAT I project to equip Migrant Health Centres with protective equipment 
and  disinfectants.  Furthermore,  under  the  humanitarian  leg  of  the  Facility,  over  EUR  63 
million was reallocated to provide a humanitarian response following COVID-19 throughout 
a  range  of  projects.  In  particular,  both  the  Emergency  Social  Safety  Net  (ESSN)  and  the 
Conditional  Cash  Transfer  for  Education  (CCTE)  provided  top-up  cash  support  for  their 
beneficiaries. Under the ESSN, two top-ups of 500 Turkish Lira (TL) each were provided in 
the  month  of  June  and  July  2020  for  more  than  1.75  million  individual  refugees  (308  000 
households), for a total of over EUR 40 million. Under the CCTE project, a top up of 85 TL 
was  provided  to  all  CCTE  eligible  beneficiaries  regardless  of  age  and  grade  as  a  one-off 
payment on 30 November 2020. In total, 518,794 children benefited from this extra top up. In 
addition,  cash  assistance  to  approximately  88,779  households  (414,459  individuals)  non-
ESSN  beneficiary  households  was  also  provided 
through  a  nationwide  operation 
implemented by UNHCR together with  the Directorate General  for Migration Management 
(DGMM),  with  a  EUR  16.7  million  contribution  from  humanitarian  funding  outside  the 
Facility.  Under  the  EU  Trust  Fund  in  Response  to  the  Syria  Crisis,  COVID-19  assistance 
focused on procurement of personal protective equipment, online and distance learning, job-
placements and psychosocial support. 

4 

 
 
 
 
 
2.  The functioning of the Facility  

The  Facility  is  a  coordination  mechanism  that  allows  for  the  swift,  effective  and  efficient 
mobilisation  of  EU  assistance  to  refugees  in  Turkey.  The  Facility  ensures  the  optimal 
mobilisation  of  existing  EU  financing  instruments,  as  humanitarian  and/or  development 
assistance,  to  address  the  needs  of  refugees  and  host  communities  in  a  comprehensive  and 
coordinated manner14. 

The Steering Committee of the Facility provides strategic guidance on the priorities, the type 
of  actions  to  be  supported,  the  amounts  to  be  allocated  and  the  financing  instruments  to  be 
mobilised  and  -  when  appropriate  -  on  the  conditions  relating  to  the  implementation  of 
Turkey’s  commitments  under  the  EU-Turkey  Joint  Action  Plan  of  29  November  2015 
(hereafter the ‘Joint Action Plan’)15. In 2021, the sixth year of implementation of the Facility, 
two Steering Committee meetings took place, on 30 June 2021 and 17 December 2021. Due 
to the COVID-19 pandemic these meetings were held virtually. 

The  key  principles  guiding  the  Facility's  implementation  are  speed,  efficiency  and 
effectiveness,  while  ensuring  sound  financial  management.  Sustainability  of  Facility 
interventions  and  co-ownership  by  the  Turkish  authorities  are  also  important.  The 
identification of priority areas for assistance was based on a comprehensive and independent 
needs  assessment16,  paying  particular  attention  to  vulnerable  groups.  The  needs  assessment 
was updated in 201817. 

The  Facility  coordinates  financing  from  the  following  external  financing  instruments18: 
humanitarian aid19, the European Neighbourhood Instrument20, the Development Cooperation 
Instrument21,  the  Instrument  for  Pre-accession  Assistance22,  and  the  Instrument  contributing 
to  Stability  and  Peace23.  Measures  financed  by  the  Union's  budget  are  implemented  in 
accordance  with  its  financial  rules  and  regulations  applicable  to  both  direct  and  indirect 
management.  

Implementation  of  assistance  is  conditional  upon  strict  compliance  by  Turkey  with  the 
undertakings of the Joint Action Plan and the Statement. 

14 Commission Decision C(2015) 9500 of 24.11.2015, Article 2 – Objectives of the Facility.  
15 See Article 5 (1) of Commission Decision C(2015) 9500, as amended by Commission Decision C(2016)855. 
16 https://ec.europa.eu/neighbourhood-enlargement/sites/near/files/2016_needs_assessment_.pdf  
17 https://ec.europa.eu/neighbourhood-enlargement/sites/near/files/updated_needs_assessment.pdf  
18 The European Neighbourhood Instrument and the Development Cooperation Instrument (DCI) contributions 
were respectively transferred to and implemented under the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance and the EU 
Trust Fund. In principle, all Facility contributions to the EUTF (from IPA and to a minor extent from DCI) were 
implemented as non-humanitarian assistance. 
19 Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/96 concerning humanitarian aid, OJ L163, 2.7.1996, p. 1. 
20  Regulation  (EU)  No  232/2014  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council  establishing  a  European 
Neighbourhood Instrument, OJ L 77, 15.3.2014, p. 27.  
21  Regulation  (EU)  No  233/2014  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council  establishing  a  financing 
instrument for development cooperation, OJ L 77, 15.3.2014, p. 44. 
22 Regulation (EU) No 231/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing an Instrument for 
Pre-accession Assistance, OJ L 77, 15.3.2014, p. 11. 
23  Regulation  (EU)  No  230/2014  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council  establishing  an  instrument 
contributing to stability and peace, OJ L 77, 15.3.2014, p. 1. 

5 

 
 
                                                           
3.  Financial capacity, duration and nature of funding 

The  total  budget  coordinated  by  the  Facility  is  EUR  6  billion,  mobilised  in  two  tranches. 
Projects under the ﬁrst tranche and under the second tranche run until mid-2025 at the latest 
(with many projects of the first tranche already completed and most projects ﬁnishing earlier).  

Exceptionally, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the implementation period for projects under 
the 2016 EUR 1.6 billion Special Measure was further extended until June 2025, allowing for 
all projects concerned to reach their stated objectives.   

The first tranche amounted to EUR 3 billion, of which EUR 1 billion was mobilised from the 
EU budget and EUR 2 billion in bilateral contributions from the Member States24. Likewise, 
the  second  tranche  amounted  to  EUR  3  billion,  of  which  the  EU  budget  provided  EUR  2 
billion and the Member States EUR 1 billion25.  

As concerns EU budget resources, of the EUR 1 billion from the EU budget for 2016-2017, 
EUR 250 million was mobilised in 2016 and EUR 750 million in 2017. Of the EUR 2 billion 
from the EU budget for 2018-2019, EUR 550 million was mobilised in 2018, with the balance 
mobilised in 2019. 

As  for  Member  States’  contributions,  for  the  first  tranche,  Member  States  contributed  EUR 
677 million to the Facility in 2016, EUR 847 million in 2017, EUR 396 million in 2018 and 
EUR 80 million in 2019. For the second tranche, Member States contributed EUR 68 million 
in 2018, EUR 202 million in 2019, EUR 265 million in 2020, and EUR 166 million in 2021, 
with  the  remaining  payments  planned  until  2023.  Member  States'  contributions  are  made 
directly  to  the  EU  Budget  in  the  form  of  external  assigned  revenue  pursuant  to  Article 
21(2)(a)(ii) of the Financial Regulation and assigned to the budget lines of the Instrument for 
Pre-accession Assistance and of the Humanitarian Aid. 

A satisfactory match between the rate of Member States' payments of their contributions into 
the  Facility  and  the  rate  of  disbursements  financed  by  those  contributions  from  the  Facility 
continues. 

Under  the  humanitarian  strand  of  the  Facility,  EUR  19.50  million  was  earmarked  as  buffer 
capacity for possible funding of responses to the influx of new refugees from Syria in 2019. 
Since the buffer was not used in 2019, this amount was contracted in 2020 to cover health and 
protection actions, completing the programming exercise for the second tranche.  

By  31  December  2021,  the  Commission  had  contracted  the  full  operational  envelope  of  the 
Facility. Out of a total of EUR 6 billion, more than EUR 4.6 billion had been disbursed.  

24 The total distribution of Member States' contribution is available at 
http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2016/02/03/refugee-facility-for-turkey/. 
25  https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2018/06/29/facility-for-refugees-in-turkey-member-
states-agree-details-of-additional-funding/  

6 

 
 
 
 
                                                           
Additional EU assistance to refugees in Turkey, outside the framework of the Facility  

In 2020, the Commission allocated EUR 535 million to support humanitarian actions in Turkey 
outside  the  framework  of  the  Facility.  This  amount  included  EUR  50  million  to  continue 
assistance  in  the  areas  of  protection,  health  and  education,  and  EUR  485  million  under  an 
Amending  Budget  to  continue  the  Emergency  Social  Safety  Net  and  the  Conditional  Cash 
Transfer for Education programmes. Furthermore, in 2020, under the Instrument contributing to 
Stability and Peace (IcSP), a programme worth EUR 11 million was adopted in partnership with 
the  International  Organization  for  Migration  (IOM)  to  contribute  to  the  harmonisation  of 
migrants  with  different  legal  status  in  line  with  Turkey’s  National  Action  Plan  on 
Harmonisation and EU approaches.  

Further  to  the  European  Council  conclusions  of  June  2021,  the  Commission  proposed  to 
mobilise  a  further  EUR  3  billion  for  refugees  and  host  communities  in  Turkey  for  the  period 
2021-2023. The first EUR 860 million of this funding was committed in late 2021 to continue 
support  in  the  priority  areas  of  basic  needs  and  education,  and  migration  management  and 
border control. EUR 90 million under the 2021 allocation under IPA, and EUR 50 million under 
the 2021 HOME instruments allocation, have been carried-over to 2022. Furthermore, EUR 125 
million  in  humanitarian  support  has  been  allocated  for  2022.  The  balance  of  some  EUR  2 
billion are to be programmed in 2022 and 2023. 

Total  EU  assistance  allocated  to  refugees  in  Turkey  since  2011  amounts  to  close  to  EUR  10 
billion. This includes EUR 6 billion under the Facility for Refugees in Turkey, which consists 
of EUR 3 billion from the EU budget, and EUR 3 billion in contributions from Member States, 
integrated into the EU budget as external assigned revenue. 

7 

 
 
 
 
4.  Implementation of the Facility 

The  Facility  is  implemented  as  humanitarian  and  development  assistance.  Under  the  first 
tranche roughly EUR 1.4 billion and EUR 1.6 billion were allocated to the respective strands. 
Given  the  protracted  nature  of  the  Syria  crisis,  interventions  under  the  second  tranche 
increasingly  focus  on  socio-economic  support  activities  and  the  creation  of  livelihood 
opportunities.  Under  the  second  tranche,  EUR  1.04  billion  was  allocated  to  humanitarian 
assistance, and EUR 1.9 billion to development assistance26. 

For  the  Facility  overall,  the  breakdown  of  humanitarian  and  development  assistance  is  as 
follows:  

Amount committed

41%

Development Assistance

59%

Humanitarian
Assistance

Full details can be obtained from the online projects table27. 

Programming of the Facility was completed in  December 2019, and as of end-2020 the full 
operational envelope of EUR 6 billion had been contracted, out of which EUR 4.6 billion had 
been disbursed by end-2021.    

It is important to note that assistance provided within the framework of the Facility is project-
based. Disbursements depend on progress in the implementation of Facility interventions.  

Particular attention is paid to non-Syrian refugees and asylum seekers. Facility interventions 
always aim to involve the local communities hosting refugees.  

Humanitarian  assistance  supports  the  most  vulnerable  refugees  through  the  provision  of  
dignified  support  addressing  basic  needs  and  protection.  It  also  addresses  gaps  in  service 
provision  through specialised agencies and partners in  health and education in  emergencies. 
EU humanitarian aid  is guided by the European  Consensus  on Humanitarian Aid of 200728, 
which stipulates that the EU as a humanitarian actor adheres to the humanitarian principles of 
humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence, as set out in Article 214 of the Treaty on 

26  The  balance  of  EUR  60  million  is  allocated  to  administrative  and  operational  support  to  Facility 
implementation. 
27 https://ec.europa.eu/neighbourhood-enlargement/system/files/2022-02/Facility%20table_January%202022.pdf 
28 Joint Statement by the Council and the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States.  

8 

 
 
 
                                                           
the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) and in the Humanitarian Aid Regulation (No. 
1257/96) (No. 1257/96)29,30.  

Under the humanitarian strand of the Facility, a total of 65 projects have been implemented 
through 21 partners under both the first and the second tranche. These projects aim to cover 
the response to basic needs, protection, education, and health for the most vulnerable refugees 
in  Turkey.  Under  the  first  tranche  around  EUR  1.4  billion  was  allocated  and  contracted  in 
humanitarian  assistance  and  EUR  1.3  billion  was  disbursed,  while  for  the  second  tranche, 
EUR  1.04  billion  has  been  contracted  and  by  31  January  2021,  EUR  964  million  was 
disbursed. 

Development assistance supports the longer-term needs in the fields of health, education and 
socio-economic  development  of  refugees,  notably  in  terms  of  access  to  public  services  and 
livelihood  opportunities,  and  municipal  infrastructure.  It  also  focuses  on  vulnerable  groups 
and  includes  a  gender  dimension  in  its  interventions,  e.g.  protection  of  women  and  girls 
against  sexual  and  gender  based  violence  and  improving  access  to  sexual  and  reproductive 
health care.  

Under  the  development  strand  of  the  Facility,  the  implementation  of  26  projects  contracted 
under  the  first  tranche  continued  to  show  good  progress.  Of  these  projects,  15  were 
implemented under the EU Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian Crisis (EUTF) for 
a  total  of  EUR  293  million,  in  addition  to  the  allocation  managed  directly  through  the 
Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance31. 

Disbursements to implementing partners reached EUR 2.22 billion out of a total of EUR 3.5 
billion  allocated  to  development  assistance  under  both  tranches  of  the  Facility32.  Under  the 
second tranche, the allocated EUR 1.9 billion was fully contracted in December 2020, out of 
which EUR 730 million had been disbursed by end-December 2021. Under the development 
strand of the Facility there are 17 contracts. 

Facility interventions per priority area 

29 Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/96 of 20 June 1996 concerning humanitarian aid. 
30  The  European  Commission's  humanitarian  aid  is  based  on  annual  country-specific  Humanitarian 
Implementation Plans  (HIPs). The framework for cooperation between the  Commission  and its partners in the 
area  of  humanitarian  aid  is  established  by  the  Commission's  Financial  and  Administrative  Framework 
Agreements  with  international  organisations  and  Framework  Partnership  Agreements  with  non-governmental 
organisations. 
31 Funds from the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance under the Facility are managed in accordance with the 
rules  for  external  action  contained  in  Title  IV  of  part  two  of  the  Financial  Regulation  and  its  Rules  of 
Application. 
32  This  figure  also  includes  disbursements  under  projects  implemented  by  the  EU  Regional  Trust  Fund  in 
Response to the Syrian Crisis, but not yet charged to the EU budget. 

9 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                           
Progress per priority area in the implementation of assistance financed under both tranches of 
the Facility is reported on in the biannual Facility Monitoring Reports33: 

Education 

The  Facility  has  allocated  more  than  EUR  1.5  billion  to  the  priority  area  of  education, 
including EUR 545 million34 for educational infrastructure.  

Under the humanitarian  strand of the Facility, more than EUR 181 million  was allocated to 
education. The Conditional Cash Transfer for Education (CCTE) programme continues to be 
successfully implemented, and supports school enrolment and attendance of refugee children 
through the provision of bi-monthly payments to refugee families, on the condition that pupils 
attend  school  regularly.  The  CCTE  programme  is  currently  financed  until  August  2022, 
following the EUR 85 million top-up provided under the Amending Budget agreed by the EU 
budgetary authority in July 2020. As of December 2021, 760,858 children had benefitted from 
at least one CCTE payment. Additionally, children benefited from child protection services to 
ensure  continued  school  enrolment  and  attendance,  11,567  children  participated  in  socio-
emotional  skills  and  social  cohesion  activities,  while  351  school  staff  and  849  parents 
engaged in anti-bullying training from UNICEF. 

As concerns Facility development assistance, the implementation of a follow-up direct grant 
(known  as  PIKTES35)  to  the  Ministry  of  National  Education  (MoNE)  of  EUR  400  million 
continued. PIKTES supports efforts by the Ministry to increase the integration and access to 
high-quality education for Syrian children. By the end of June 2021, just over 701,000 Syrian 
children were enrolled in formal education. Of these, over 30,000 were in pre-primary, over 
322,000  were  in  the  primary,  251,323  in  lower  secondary,  and  96,361  in  upper  secondary 
level.  By  mid-2021,  46,766  refugee  children  had  received  catch-up  training  and  60,472 
refugee  children  received  back-up  training  with  Facility  support.  In  terms  of  support  to  the 
education system’s teaching capacity, almost 7,000 teaching staff and support staff members 
were employed or remunerated through PIKTES between January and June 2021. During the 
first  half  of  2021  PIKTES  trained  3,500  teachers  in  on-line  teaching  and  the  preparation  of 
digital education materials.  

The  number  of  refugee  and  host  community  students  who  received  Facility-supported 
scholarships  to  attend  Technical  and  Vocational  Education  and  Training  (TVET)  or  higher 
education  institutions  increased  by  3,700  to  almost  13,300.  The  majority  of  these  students 
were  refugees.  Gender  balance  was  maintained.  Most  scholarships  (some  12,000)  allowed 
secondary  school  students  to  attend  technical  and  vocational  courses  at  Technical  and 
Vocational High Schools and Vocational Education Centres (VECs). 

The  Facility  has  continued  to  support  educational  infrastructure  development  and  reduce 
school  overcrowding.  There  was  significant  progress  in  the  number  of  educational  facilities 
upgraded  and  completed.  A  major  achievement  in  upgrading  was  the  installation  of  8,700 
smartboards  to  primary  and  secondary  schools.  To  date,  over  12,000  facilities  have  been 
upgraded with  Facility support.  In addition,  a total  of  117 schools were constructed and the 

33 https://ec.europa.eu/neighbourhood-enlargement/enlargement-policy/negotiations-status/turkey/eu-facility-
refugees-turkey_en  
34 This includes a EUR 40 million clean energy project under the EUTF (FRIT 1). 
35 Promoting Integration of Syrian Kids into the Education System (PIKTES) 

10 

 
 
                                                           
delivery  of  education  services  was  started  in  108  schools.  A  EUR  40  million  clean  energy 
project  contracted  under  the  first  tranche  aims  to  provide  energy  via  two  solar  farms  and 
rooftop panels to 120 schools. Roof top installation for three schools has been completed and 
an  average  of  90%  progress  was  achieved  on  another  48  schools.  In  addition,  rehabilitation 
works  to  increase  the  energy  efficiency  of  another  41  schools  started  and  by  year  end  70% 
progress was recorded.   

Protection 

A total of some EUR 212 million has been allocated to protection under the Facility, mainly 
via projects under the humanitarian strand.   

The  humanitarian  strand  of  the  Facility  has  supported  the  registration  and  verification  of 
refugees to regularise their status in Turkey and facilitate their access to services. In addition 
to  stand-alone  protection  interventions  aimed  to  fill  gaps  and  respond  to  specific  needs  and 
individuals  at  risk,  protection  has  also  been  mainstreamed  into  the  other  pillars  of  the 
humanitarian  response  strategy  (basic  needs,  health  and  education).  The  overall  aim  is  to 
better  address  refugees’  vulnerabilities,  regularise  their  status  and  link  them  to  a  wider 
network of public and UN/NGO services. In addition, projects financed through the EU Trust 
Fund  in  response  to  the  Syrian  Crisis  included  assistance  to  the  reception  of  refugees  in 
community centres and further referrals for vulnerable refugees to adequate services. 

Under the development strand Special Measure of July 2019, a direct grant to the Ministry of 
Family, Labour and Social Services for an amount of EUR 20 million was contracted at the 
end  of  2020.  The  project  aims  to  improve  the  provision  of  preventive  and  protective  social 
services to the most vulnerable refugees and host community members.  

Health 

Under the Facility EUR 800 million has been allocated to the priority area of health.   

The  main  pillar  of  Facility  support  is  the  SIHHAT  project,  a  direct  grant  with  the  Turkish 
Ministry  of  Health  (MoH),  in  two  instalments  of  EUR  300  million  and  EUR  210  million 
respectively. SIHHAT supports the Ministry in its efforts to provide free and equitable access 
to healthcare to 4 million refugees. The number of functional Migrant Health Centres (MHCs) 
has  reached  180  and  4,091  healthcare  personnel  are  currently  on  the  payroll  of  the  project, 
with  79%  of  them  of  Syrian  origin.  The  pace  of  project  implementation  continues  to  be 
satisfactory with tangible results in the field. The contingency reserve of SIHHAT 1 of EUR 
4.75  million  to  address  COVID-19-related  needs  was  released  in  April  2020,  and  another 
EUR 1.6 million was allocated to remedy COVID-19 under SIHHAT 2.  

The  follow-up  project  SIHHAT  2  (EUR  210  million)  is  ongoing  with  the  MoH  since  early 
2021  to  ensure  synchronisation  with  the  end  of  SIHHAT  1  and  the  continuation  of  refugee 
health care services until end-2023.  

Hospital  construction  projects  in  Dortyol/Hatay  and  Kilis  are  close  to  completion,  with 
progress above 95%. Moreover, a EUR 90 million contract to procure complementary small-
scale  health  infrastructure  and  equipment  under  a  project  with  the  Council  of  Europe’s 
Development Bank (CEB) kicked off in March 2021.  

Concerns persist with regard to access to health services of refugees outside of their original 

11 

 
 
 
province of registration or those on the move, which is limited to vaccinations and emergency 
services.  This  negatively  affects  refugees  on  the  move,  seasonal  workers  and  refugees  who 
settled  in  other  provinces.  The  Commission  closely  follows  the  policy  changes  and  aims  to 
reach  the  refugee  population  affected  via  mobile  healthcare  activities  under  the  SIHHAT 
project. 

Municipal infrastructure 

EUR 380 million was allocated to this priority area under the second tranche of the Facility.   

Projects with Agence Française de Développement (AFD), the World Bank, and the European 
Investment Bank (EIB) and Illbank under the EUTF aim to improve access to and the quality 
of municipal services in the areas of water supply, wastewater and solid waste management in 
areas  most  affected  by  the  refugee  influx.  In  addition,  a  EUR  25  million  project  with 
Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW) provides recreational infrastructure in support of social 
cohesion. The construction of one mechanical biological waste treatment facility in Gaziantep 
under a EUTF project implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) 
finished  in  October  2021.  Under  the  delegation  agreement  signed  with  the  EIB,  15  works 
contracts  have  been  signed  and  launched  during  2021  for  a  total  of  EUR  42.4  million.  All 
other projects are still at preparation level (design review, preparation of tender dossiers, etc.) 

Basic needs and socio-economic support  

More  than  EUR  2.83  billion  has  been  allocated  to  basic  needs  and  socio-economic  support 
under the Facility.  

Interventions  in  this  priority  area  aim  to  ensure  that  the  basic  needs  of  the  most  vulnerable 
refugees  are  met,  and  that  refugee  resilience  and  self-reliance  are  strengthened.  This  should 
allow for a gradual transition from dependence on social assistance to increased self-reliance 
and livelihood opportunities.     

Under  the  Facility’s  basic  needs  assistance  more  than  2.6  million  refugees  have  received 
support  allowing  them  to  live  in  dignity.  Most  support  is  provided  through  the  Emergency 
Social  Safety  Net  (ESSN)  since  late  2016,  a  humanitarian  social  assistance  programme  that 
delivers  monthly  cash  via  a  debit  card  system,  now  for  more  than  1.5  million  vulnerable 
refugee  beneficiaries36.  EUR  500  million  in  Facility  funding  was  allocated  to  this  flagship 
programme  under  the  second  tranche  of  the  Facility  and  is  currently  being  implemented  by 
the International Federation of the Red Cross/Red Crescent (since April 2020). With a top-up 
of EUR 400 million outside the Facility approved by the budgetary authority in July 2020 as 
part of the Amending Budget referred to earlier and with additional EUR 325 million funding 
committed  in  late  2021  under  the  additional  EUR  3  billion  package  for  2021-23,  the 
continuation of ESSN support is ensured until the first quarter of 2023.37   

Under  the  second  tranche,  the  Commission  signed  a  EUR  245  million  direct  grant  with  the 
Ministry of Family and Social Services to allow for the provision of monthly financial support 
comparable with social assistance provided to vulnerable individuals under the Turkish social 

36 As of July 2021 the ESSN  has tranferred the most vulnerable beneficiaries (namely Single parents, 
Households with one or more people with disabilities, Elderly headed households) to DG NEAR funded 
Complementary ESSN (C-ESSN) programme.  In April 2022, the  C-ESSN assisted 363.419 beneficiaries  
37 https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20200706IPR82727/meps-approve-EU585-million-to-
support-syrian-refugees-in-neighbouring-countries  

12 

 
 
                                                           
security  system,  i.e.  the  Complementary  ESSN  (C-ESSN).  Following  a  preparatory  phase, 
payments to beneficiaries started in July 2021 and will continue at least until mid-2022. The 
project runs in parallel with the ESSN and provides support to households with single parents, 
the elderly and disabled, and severely disabled individuals. The EU Delegation and ECHO’s 
field office staff are holding regular meetings to coordinate the parallel implementation of the 
ESSN and the C-ESSN. 

Additional  socio-economic  support  continues  to  be  provided  to  refugees  with  a  profile  that 
would  enable  them  to  access  the  labour  market.  This  support  aims  to  increase  refugee 
employability  and  provides  for  vocational  and  skills  training,  language  training,  job 
counselling,  on-the-job  training  programmes  and  the  simplification  of  the  work  permits 
process to support both Syrian refugees and host communities. Small grants to entrepreneurs 
and entrepreneurship training are provided to both Syrian refugee and host  community start-
ups  and  existing  entrepreneurs  in  cooperation  with  the  Small  and  Medium-sized  Industry 
Development  Organisation  of  Turkey  (KOSGEB)  and  the  Turkish  Development  and 
Investment  Bank  (TKYB).  A  further  project  currently  implemented  by  the  World  Bank 
supports the development and implementation of a female-led social entrepreneurship model 
to  provide  a  sustainable  income  generating  activity  for  both  vulnerable  Syrian  refugees  and 
Turkish  women.  Two  further  projects  aim  to  support  employment  in  agriculture.  Projects 
should run until mid-2025 at the latest.  

Migration management  

The Facility has funded two projects in this priority area under the first tranche for a total of 
EUR 80 million.  

A first project provided EU support to strengthen the capacity of the Turkish Coast Guard to 
carry out search and rescue operations. The second project  aimed to support the Directorate 
General  for  Migration  Management  (DGMM)  in  its  management  of  returns  from  the  EU. 
Both projects have been completed.  

Gender aspects within projects under the Facility 

The  Commission  is  committed  to  implement  the  EU  Gender  Action  Plan  III  “Together 
towards  a  gender  equal  world  2021-2025”38  on  strengthening  gender  equality  and  women’s 
empowerment in EU external action. In this context, the promotion, protection and fulfilment 
of human rights for women and girls, gender equality and women’s and girls’ empowerment 
are overarching EU priorities and objectives, which guide Facility interventions. 

More specifically, the humanitarian strand of the Facility is  governed by DG ECHO’s 2013 
gender policy ‘Gender in Humanitarian Aid: different needs, adapted response’. This implies 
calls on partners to conduct gender analysis at the onset of a programme, to adapt programme 
design and implementation according to the differential risks and opportunities facing gender 
groups, and report on results with gender-disaggregated data. 

As  a  result,  gender-related  issues  are  taken  into  account  for  all  Facility  projects  and  are 
mainstreamed.    For  the  humanitarian  strand,  a  Gender  and  Age  Marker  (GAM)  has  been 
implemented.  Facility  interventions  are  designed  to  promote  the  provision  of  equal 

38 https://ec.europa.eu/international-partnerships/system/files/join-2020-17-final_en.pdf  

13 

 
 
                                                           
opportunities for men and women, boys and girls. Gender disaggregated data are collected for 
monitoring  purposes.  The  Revised  Results  Framework,  launched  in  2020,  continues  to 
disaggregate  data  from  all  relevant  indicators  (76  indicators)  by  gender  as  reported  bi-
annually  in  the  Facility  Monitoring  Report.  Gender  mainstreaming  is  combined  with 
dedicated actions that have been developed to ensure progress in this area. The Facility works 
with  implementing  partners  that  have  solid  experience  with  this  approach  and  have  the 
capacity to engage in dialogue with the Turkish authorities. These include the United Nations 
Children's Fund (UNICEF), UN Women, UNFPA, and the International Labour Organisation 
(ILO). 

As  a  specific  contribution  to  Sexual  and  Reproductive  Health  Rights,  the  Facility 
overachieved  its  target  regarding  Antenatal  Care  (ANC)  consultation.  A  total  of  97%  of 
refugee women received one or more ANC consultations, with the majority receiving three or 
more ANC consultations. Also, the percentage of post-partum  women who received at  least 
one Postnatal Care (PNC) consultation has been increasing by 50% since 2018 thanks to the 
Facility  support,  while  the  proportion  of  reproductive  age  refugee  women  expressing  an 
unmet  need  for  reproductive  health  services  decreased  by  18%.  The  health  services  to 
refugees are provided through the SIHHAT project, which operates some 180 Migrant Health 
Centres across Turkey. 

5.  Monitoring & evaluation 

The monitoring and evaluation system of the Facility was designed to be gradually rolled out 
and continuously improved. 

Monitoring  

The Facility Results Framework reflects the strategic framework of the Facility itself as well 
as the actions  implemented under the umbrella of the Facility and their logical  frameworks. 
The  latest  Results  Framework  and  the  Facility  Theory  of  Change  were  shared  with  the 
Facility  Steering  Committee  in  December  2021.  Reporting  on  Facility  achievements  
continued on a bi-annual basis via the comprehensive Facility Monitoring Report. The latest 
report covering the period until June 2021 can be accessed on the DG NEAR website39. 

In  implementing  Facility  monitoring  and  reporting  tasks  the  Commission  continues  to  be 
supported by a technical assistance team (SUMAF40).  

By  end-December  2021,  193  monitoring  missions  had  been  completed:  six  results  oriented 
monitoring  missions  (ROM),  72  technical  assistance  missions,  and  115  on-the-spot 
checks/monitoring missions had been carried out; 65% of these missions focused on contracts 
under direct management.41 

Monitoring  of  actions  financed  under  the  Humanitarian  Implementation  Plans  (HIPs)  was 
undertaken by DG ECHO field staff in Turkey and the regional DG ECHO office in Amman 

39 https://ec.europa.eu/neighbourhood-enlargement/enlargement-policy/negotiations-status/turkey/eu-facility-
refugees-turkey_en  
40 Technical Assistance to Support the monitoring of Actions financed under the Facility for Refugees in Turkey 
– IPA/2018/393-877 
41 Cumulative figures, from 2017. 

14 

 
 
                                                           
as well as by monitoring visits from HQ staff. By end-February 2021, 90 monitoring missions 
had been completed.  

Evaluation 

Strategic Mid-term Evaluation 

The  strategic  mid-term  evaluation  of  the  Facility  covered  the  conception,  design  and 
implementation  period  of  the  first  tranche,  from  its  inception  in  late  2015  up  to  early 
2021 when the evaluation was finalised. The overall assessment of the evaluation stated 
that  the  Facility  was  unprecedented  in  scale  and  reach,  and  was  mobilised  quickly, 
largely meeting the needs of refugees. It made a major contribution to the basic needs of 
refugees, and enabled a faster government scale-up of health and education services than 
would  have  otherwise  been  the  case.  The  evaluation  found  that  the  Facility  partnered 
well with its government partners, despite sometimes challenging modalities, and that it 
can  be  considered  a  model  for  refugee  operations  demonstrating  practical  support  and 
solidarity with refugees in Turkey. The evaluation found that whilst the transition from 
emergency to development was largely smooth, the uncertainty about future funding has 
compromised the ability to plan effectively. The report concludes that more needs to be 
done to  reach some refugees that are least  likely to  access assistance and recommends 
increased  access  to  services  for  underserved  refugees  and  measures  to  mitigate  social 
tensions  for  refugees.  The  report  also  includes  a  concise  executive  summary  and  a 
section on the Facility’s COVID-19 response. The report was presented to the June 2021 
Steering  Committee  and  to  the  wider  public  at  an  event  in  early  July.  Details  of  the 
evaluation can be accessed under the below link: 

https://ec.europa.eu/neighbourhood-enlargement/strategic-mid-term-evaluation-facility-
refugees-turkey-2016-201920_en 

6.  Audit 

Following the issuing of the Special Report on the Facility of the European Court of Auditors 
(ECA)42  in  November  2018,  the  Commission  has  continued  the  implementation  of  its 
recommendations.  Good  progress  has  been  made  on  all  recommendations,  in  particular  as 
concerns  the  development  of  a  transition  strategy,  the  complementarity  of  instruments 
mobilised under the Facility and the reduction of indirect support costs. 

7.  Communication and visibility 

The  2017  communication  strategy  remains  the  overall  framework  for  communication 
activities, aimed to enhance the visibility of Facility-funded actions.  

Several  TV  episodes  titled  “New  Beginning”  were  broadcast  on  CNNTurk  featuring  ten 
different human interest  stories together with projects under the Facility. The episodes were 
put on the EU Delegation’s YouTube channel with English subtitles and are also available as 
a playlist. A quantitative survey was carried out to assess public perception (including that of 
refugees)  of  EU  support  to  refugees  in  Turkey.  EU  humanitarian  aid  under  the  Facility, 

42 https://www.eca.europa.eu/Lists/ECADocuments/SR18_27/SR_TRF_EN.pdf 

15 

 
 
                                                           
together  with 
its  partner  organisations,  produced  and  disseminated  a  variety  of 
communication  products  targeting  EU  and  Turkish  audiences,  including  eight  videos,  three 
local press releases that generated media coverage in Turkey, and one blog story. 

Events and ceremonies 

At the occasion of World Refugee Day, the Facility secretariat hosted a one-week online film 
festival, featuring films highlighting the lives of refugees. These speak of various aspects of 
refugees’ lives; for example, their journeys of establishing themselves in new and previously 
foreign  places,  their  obstacles  and  hurdles  in  building  a  new  life  while  maintaining  their 
identity in a new country, as well as their experiences building new relationships and taking 
on  new  challenges.  The  films  were  available  for  streaming  throughout  Belgium  from  20-26 
June 2021 and included documentaries, live action productions, including short, medium and 
full-length  entries.43    In  parallel,  the  EU  Delegation  in  Ankara  organised  a  video  mapping 
event at the Galata Tower in  Istanbul. The videos  of this event, as well as promotion of the 
film festival, were featured on the EU Delegation’s and NEAR’s social media channels. 

Events  and  missions  were  organised  in  several  cities  with  the  Head  of  Delegation,  Deputy 
Head of Delegation and Head of Operations present. Furthermore, events, stories, videos and 
publications  were  produced  by  implementing  partners.  These  included  a  tree  planting 
ceremony in a school constructed with EU funds, a handover ceremony of ambulances to the 
Ministry  of  Health,  videos  procuded  by  the  SIHHAT  project,  as  well  as  stories  on  Facility 
projects by the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB), the International Federation of 
the  Red  Cross and  Red  Crescent  Societies  (IFRC),  the  United  Nations  Development 
Programme  (UNDP),  the  World  Bank,  and  other  partners.  Stories  were  published  by 
implementing partners on their social media channels and were shared by the EU Delegation.  

Media presence 

A  social  media  campaign  was  organised  for  the  2021  Syria  Conference,  featuring  videos 
focusing on the sectors covered under the Facility, as well as a livestreaming on Facebook and 
Twitter  in  English  and  Turkish.  Five  videos  featuring  five  sectors  under  the  Facility  were 
produced  and  shared  on  social  media  accounts.  Furthermore,  two  stories  on  health  services 
and hospital construction have been published on the EU Delegation’s website.  

In January 2022, a large-scale digital campaign #PowerToBe was implemented in Turkey and 
Germany,  Italy,  Sweden,  Turkey,  Portugal,  and  Poland  to  introduce  the  Emergency  Social 
Safety  Net  (ESSN).  The  campaign  ran  on  social  media,  but  also  included  the  use  of 
influencers, micro-influencers and PR/media partners. 

8.  Conclusion and next steps 

Important  progress  in  the  implementation  of  the  Facility  was  made  in  2021.  The  full 
operational  envelope  of  the  Facility  has  been  contracted  and  more  than  EUR  4.6  billion 
disbursed.  The  Facility  continued  to  provide  much  needed  assistance  to  refugees  and  host 
communities in Turkey.  

The next steps include: 

43 https://unheardstories.eu/  

16 

 
 
                                                           
  Continuing  effective  implementation  of  all  projects  to  benefit  refugees  and  host 

communities, in line with the principles of sound financial management 
  Follow up and implementation of the mid-term evaluation recommendations 
  Continuing the roll-out of Facility-related communication activities 
  Organising Facility Steering Committees in the spring and autumn of 2022 
  Programming and implementing additional support to refugees and host communities 

in Turkey to ensure the sustainability of Facility achievements  

17