CFPs: Entrepreneurial and Powerful Civil Society Financial Support Program (Turkey)

Deadline: 02-Oct-2026

The Girişimci ve Güçlü Sivil Toplum Mali Destek Programı (GİSEP) provides grants to civil society organizations, cooperatives, and social enterprises in Turkey’s TR33 Region to strengthen social entrepreneurship, improve production, create employment, and empower disadvantaged and vulnerable groups. Grants range from 1,600,000 TL to 2,250,000 TL per project and can cover up to 90% of eligible project costs. The program is implemented by the Zafer Development Agency and co-financed by the Republic of Turkey and the European Union through the IPA III instrument. It focuses on strengthening women’s cooperatives, increasing workforce participation among disadvantaged groups, and improving young people’s digital and technological skills. The Girişimci ve Güçlü Sivil Toplum Mali Destek Programı, also known as GİSEP, is part of the “Supporting Civil Society through Social Entrepreneurship in the TR33 Region” project. The program is designed to use social entrepreneurship as a tool for: The Zafer Development Agency serves as the implementing body for the program.

Selected projects can receive:

Applicants should ensure that their proposed project budget is consistent with the program’s eligible-cost and co-financing requirements. The program focuses on three major priority areas. GİSEP supports women’s cooperatives in improving their ability to produce, market, and operate effectively.

Potential areas of support include:

The program aims to remove barriers that prevent disadvantaged groups from participating in the workforce.

Projects may focus on:

GİSEP also supports technological advancement among young people.

This priority focuses on:

The GİSEP program is open to organizations working in the TR33 Region of Turkey.

Eligible applicants include:

Applicants should be operating in the TR33 Region and propose projects that are aligned with the program’s social entrepreneurship and development objectives. The TR33 Region is a designated development region in Turkey and is the geographic focus of the GİSEP program. Applicants should confirm that their organization and proposed project meet the program’s geographical eligibility requirements before preparing an application. GİSEP connects social entrepreneurship with employment, production, digital transformation, and inclusion. The program can help eligible organizations: By supporting civil society organizations, cooperatives, and social enterprises, the program aims to contribute to stronger and more inclusive local economies in the TR33 Region. Applicants should develop a project that clearly connects its activities with one or more of the program’s priority areas.

A strong proposal should clearly explain:

Applicants should also make sure that their organization meets the eligibility requirements and that proposed costs fall within the program’s eligible-cost rules. Applicants should keep the following points in mind:

Applicants should avoid:

A competitive project concept should:

GİSEP is the Girişimci ve Güçlü Sivil Toplum Mali Destek Programı, which supports social entrepreneurship initiatives in Turkey’s TR33 Region. The program provides between 1,600,000 TL and 2,250,000 TL per project. GİSEP can cover up to 90% of eligible project costs. The total program budget is €737,000. Eligible applicants include civil society organizations, cooperatives, and social enterprises operating in the TR33 Region of Turkey. The program focuses on strengthening women’s cooperatives, increasing employment and workforce participation among disadvantaged groups, and improving young people’s digital and technological skills. Yes. Strengthening women’s cooperatives is one of the program’s priority areas, including improvements in production infrastructure, digitalization, and marketing capacity. Yes. The program supports technological advancement for youth by improving their digital and technological skills and capacities. The Zafer Development Agency is the implementing body. The program is co-financed by the Republic of Turkey and the European Union through the IPA III instrument. The GİSEP Program provides substantial grant support for civil society organizations, cooperatives, and social enterprises working to strengthen social entrepreneurship in Turkey’s TR33 Region. With grants of up to 2,250,000 TL and support covering up to 90% of eligible costs, the program focuses on production, employment, women’s cooperatives, disadvantaged groups, and youth digital and technological development. For more information, visit Zafer Development Agency.