Background

Türkiye remains one of the countries hosting the largest refugee populations in the world. According to UNHCR, the country hosts around 2.4 million registered Syrian refugees, alongside thousands of refugees and asylum seekers from other countries.

Local and refugee-led organisations play a vital role in supporting refugees and host communities. They provide services such as legal aid, education, and psychosocial services. At the same time, many of these organisations are working under pressure because of shrinking funding, complex regulations, and the long-term impact of the 2023 earthquakes in Southern Türkiye.

In this context, strengthening the way organisations work has become increasingly important. Digital tools and artificial intelligence are becoming more important in how organisations work, manage information and reach the communities they support. However, many organisations still need more capacity, systems, training and resources to use these tools in a safe, practical and sustainable way. This project responds to that need.

Who are the partners?

Step Up AI: Türkiye is developed together with local partners in Türkiye, including Shafak and Digi-Steps.

Shafak is a humanitarian non-profit organisation that emerged in response to the Syrian crisis in 2011 and was officially registered in Türkiye in 2013. It was formed from several local Syrian civil society organisations and focuses on supporting communities with dignity, equality and sustainability.

Digi-Steps is a digital innovation and capacity-building organisation that supports NGOs and institutions in strengthening their digital capacities through technology and practical skills development. It also works with professionals and individuals through training and collaborates with companies in wider digital transformation initiatives. In this way, Digi-Steps contributes to sustainable growth, innovation and participation in an increasingly digital world.

Within this project, Shafak brings local knowledge, strong connections with refugee communities and practical experience working with civil society actors in Türkiye. Digi-Steps contributes its expertise in digital innovation and capacity building, supporting partners and organisations in developing practical digital and AI-related skills. 

As the Dutch Council for Refugees (DCR), we provide funding for the project, offer guidance where needed, and share our knowledge and experience. The project also creates space for refugee-led organisations to share their experiences and strengthen their own ways of working. 

We see a strong need among organisations for practical support on digital tools and AI. This project helps turn that need into shared learning and stronger ways of working.

Abdulkader Rashwani, Shafak project manager

How do we work together?

The Dutch Council for Refugees works together with Shafak, Digi-Steps and 13 participating refugee-led organisations, through a practical, capacity-focused approach. The project combines training, exchange, guidance and knowledge sharing, and direct application in daily work.

The cooperation starts by identifying the needs and priorities of participating organisations. It offers practical training on digital tools, responsible AI use, data management and organisational systems. It also creates space for peer learning and exchange. Participating organisations are supported to test and use new tools in their own work. Follow-up support helps turn learning into lasting organisational change. 

Where are we working towards?

In the coming period, Step Up AI Türkiye aims to support more organisations in strengthening their digital capacity. It also helps them explore how AI can support their work in a responsible way. 

The project works towards stronger digital systems within participating organisations. It also aims to improve knowledge and skills on responsible AI use. Another goal is to develop practical tools and learning resources. The project also supports stronger cooperation between local, refugee-led and European actors. In the long term, it aims to strengthen organisational resilience and independence. 

Lasting support starts with strong local actors. Through Step Up AI Türkiye, we want to help organisations strengthen their own capacity and independence.

Jehad Tabasha, DCR project manager 

Kick-off meeting in Gaziantep and next steps 

The project started with a kick-off meeting in Gaziantep, where local partners and refugee-led organisations came together to exchange experiences and identify shared needs.

These first discussions showed strong interest in digital transformation, especially around communication, organisational systems, data protection and the responsible use of AI. The kick-off also helped create a shared starting point for further learning, cooperation and follow-up support.

The kick-off in Gaziantep was the first step in a longer process. In the coming period, Step Up AI: Türkiye will continue working with partners and participating organisations to strengthen digital capacity, support practical learning and build stronger foundations for long-term impact. 

Role in advocacy

Step Up AI: Türkiye is mainly a capacity-strengthening project, but it also reflects a wider message: local and refugee-led organisations need more than short-term funding. They also need investment in their own skills, systems and long-term resilience.

By supporting organisational development, the project contributes to stronger and more independent local actors and to more sustainable, locally led responses for refugees and host communities. In this way, it builds on the broader Step-Up Fund project, through which the Dutch Council for Refugees supports local and national organisations to strengthen refugee protection and inclusion through capacity development and partnership.