MATRA

MATRA-decentral Assistance Programme

General

Matra is a bilateral assistance programme of the Netherlands with the aim to support social transformation in some countries neighbouring the European Union. It focuses on activities that contribute to the further development of an open, pluralist, democratic society, firmly embedded in the rule of law. The Netherlands also uses Matra to strengthen bilateral relations. The Matra programme is aimed at cooperation with civil society organisations and with central, regional and local authorities.

The Matra programme has been active in Turkey since 2000. Through this programme, the Netherlands helps Turkey to manage its transformation in order to meet the EU accession criteria.

Within the overall framework of the Matra programme, the Dutch embassy in Ankara and the consulate-general in Istanbul are responsible for the so called Matra-decentral budget for Turkey. Matra-decentral is open for applications by NGOs, local and central government agencies, and other civil society organisations. Twinning with Dutch organisations and with partners from other Matra countries or new member states is possible, but not necessary.

Priority areas
Matra-decentral works with country specific priority areas. Priority areas for Turkey are identified under two main pillars, which are strengthening institutional capacity and support to the adoption of EU-acquis. The 2012 areas are:
• Justice and home affairs (including legislation and law public order, governance, police, anti-corruption);
• Human rights (including minorities and public awareness);
• Media and information;
• Education.
Projects in other areas than the areas above will be taken into account as well and evaluated on their merits.

Application procedure
NB before applying, please contact the Netherlands embassy or consulate-general (contact details below).
• Applications must be submitted to the consulate-general in Istanbul for projects in the area of İstanbul, Edirne, Kırklareli, Tekirdağ, Balıkesir, Bursa, Kocaeli, Çanakkale, Yalova, Bilecik and Sakarya or to the Netherlands embassy in Ankara for projects in the rest of Turkey;
• In first instance and after having contacted the Netherlands embassy or consulate-general, please submit a 1-page document describing the basics of the project (aim, results, activities, means, budget);
• After approval of the 1-page document, full applications should be submitted on a standard application forms (to be downloaded here (SHORTCUT NAAR AANVRAAGFORMULIER) and for the budget here (SHORTCUT NAAR BUDGETFORMULIER) and in English;
• The project proposal should be accompanied by a signed introductory letter from the applicant;
• The project proposal should in any event include:

- information on the applicant organisation and its most important achievements;

- a detailed and transparent budget, estimating all costs and speci¬fying each source of income, as well as all contributions from the project organisers and the target group;

- supporting relevant documents (depending on the specific activities proposed), such as CVs of experts, pro-forma invoices for externally provided services, letters of support, etc.

• Applications are being appraised the whole year. There is no time limitation for applications.

Exemptions
Not eligible for funding under the Matra-decentral are:
• projects repeating previous projects or that were already under way before the application was submitted;
• normal running costs of the implementing organisation;
• charitable activities;
• commercial activities;
• projects with a predominantly academic focus, i.e. research;
• projects that largely or exclusively involve the delivery of goods or materials;
• infrastructural or construction projects;
• bursaries or education programmes;
• humanitarian aid;
• feasibility studies and other research.

Financial aspects
The following financial aspects should be taken into account when applying to the Matra-decentral programme:
• Project proposals with budgets ranging from €10.000 to €300.000 may be entered, although in practise most activities have budgets below € 50.000;
• Although there is no minimum, projects in general should not be smaller than € 10.000,-;
• Organisations must prove that they are able to manage the project sum in a satisfactory
manner; the embassy may request reports by auditors.

Co-financing with other donors is possible if:
• Matra’s visibility is guaranteed;
• a clear, transparent description is given of the Matra-decentral activities;
• the other sources of funding are also specified in the proposal and;
• the budget balances.

Guidelines for assessing proposals
Please note that the project proposals will be evaluated according to the following guidelines:
1. The application must relate to one or more of the four Matra priority areas mentioned above;
2. All Aims, Results, Activities and Means are clearly described in detail and realistic;
3. The aims are feasible, sustainable and acceptable to all concerned, there should be enough moral support by the relevant parties for the project;
4. The expected outcomes are measurable and the time path for realising the project is clear and realistic;
5. The target group is clearly defined and actively involved in implementing the project and bears part of the burden of the project (financial or in kind);

Approval, contract, payment and reporting
If the project is approved, the applicant will receive two copies of the contract, outlining the conditions of the grant. One copy must be signed and returned to the Netherlands embassy in Ankara or the consulate-general in Istanbul. Upon its receipt, the first instalment of the grant will be paid.

Within three months of finalisation of the project, the applicant is required to submit a narrative and financial report on the results achieved. The financial report should refer clearly to the budget in the application and the narrative report should describe:
• activities carried out to date;
• activities still planned;
• problems encountered;
• achievements;
• lessons learned;
• etc.

Further information
If you are interested in Matra-decentral programme, please contact:

1. The consulate-general in Istanbul for projects in the area of Istanbul, Edirne, Kırklareli, Tekirdağ, Balıkesir, Bursa, Kocaeli, Çanakkale, Yalova, Bilecik, Sakarya.

Consulate-General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
İstiklal Caddesi 393
34433 Beyoğlu-İstanbul
e-mail address: leyla.barlas-aslan@minbuza.nl

2. The embassy in Ankara for projects in the rest of Turkey.

Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Attention: Political Department
Hollanda Caddesi No:5
06550 Yıldız/Ankara
e-mail address: deniz.bezirgan@minbuza.nl