TERMS OF REFERENCE
Location: Mersin
Position: Project Coordinator
Reference: Ankara2026-12
Project name: Fostering the Capacity of Legal Aid
Applications must be submitted to [email protected] no later than 6 March 2026, 18.00 together with the required supporting documents and clearly indicating the relevant reference number.
All applications must be submitted entirely in English; applications submitted in any other language will not be considered.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
- Background
Humanitarian crises in the neighboring regions have led to significant migration flows, resulting in our country hosting a substantial number of individuals under temporary protection.
The increased demand placed on the legal aid system by these predominantly vulnerable groups, together with limited budgetary resources, has created structural challenges that cannot be adequately addressed within the current framework.
“The national legal framework, established primarily under Law No. 6458 on Foreigners and International Protection, guarantees access to legal representation and legal aid for applicants and beneficiaries of international and temporary protection who are unable to cover attorney fees. Article 81(2) of Law No. 6458 provides that such individuals are entitled to legal assistance in judicial proceedings in accordance with the legal aid provisions of Law No. 1136. In addition, under Article 53 of the Temporary Protection Regulation, enacted based on Law No. 6458, foreigners under temporary protection have the right to legal representation in administrative proceedings, provided that they cover the related legal fees. The legal aid provisions of the Attorneyship Law No. 1136 (19 March 1969) continue to apply.”
Since the legislator did not allocate a dedicated budget for the implementation of the cited mandatory provisions, it appears unfeasible for our country to fulfil these obligations solely within the constraints of the limited resources of the legal aid system.
Recognizing that this challenge cannot be addressed by our country alone, the Union of Turkish Bar Associations (UTBA) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) have signed the ‘Program for Fostering the Capacity of Legal Aid,’ with the objective of facilitating the fulfillment of international responsibilities.
Activities within the Project will be conducted under two components to enhance the target group’s access to justice, which are summarized as follows:
First Component: Legal Aid
Under this component, the legal aid activities carried out by the Bars that align with the project priorities are financially supported. Eligible costs cover the attorney fees, litigation expenses, notary expenses, including issuance of power of attorney, translation and interpretation, as well as the lawyers’ transportation costs to visit their clients.
Second Component: Legal Counseling
Legal Aid Clinics will be established in Adana, İstanbul and Mersin to ensure the information, awareness-raising, and advocacy activities related to the legal issues faced by the beneficiaries of temporary protection residing in Türkiye, as well as by individuals undergoing administrative procedures to apply for this status.
Legal Aid clinics provide information for the target group and raise awareness about national legislation, support their access to public institutions and courts through language assistance, and carry out other related services.
- Objective
The objective of this position is to support the implementation of the project and to contribute to the communication and cooperation among partners; in order to reach the project outcomes. The incumbent facilitates access to accurate and comprehensive legal assistance for beneficiaries of temporary protection, ensuring effective support towards the achievement of the project’s objectives.
- Responsibilities and Obligations of the Project Coordinator
The Project Coordinator shall work at the legal aid clinic to be established in Mersin under the Union of Turkish Bar Associations and be tasked with the following:
- Collecting, recording and preserving information on the Project activities and carrying our reporting timely,
- Drafting status and progress reports, and conducting routine communications regarding the project,
- Assisting the preparation of required material to be used in discussions, meetings, and presentations,
- Monitoring the main standards and indicators related to the measurement and evaluation of the project performance,
- Following the implementation and performance of project outcomes through work plans, progress reports, budgets, financial reports and expenditures,
- Having contact with and cooperating with the UTBA regarding the implementation of the project,
- Reporting on the operations and performance of the clinic,
- Keeping clinic archives and sharing the necessary documentation with the UTBA as necessary,
- Maintaining the necessary administrative and organisational arrangements,
- Following and monitoring procurement processes,
- Carrying out other relevant tasks.
- Institutional Framework
The Project Coordinator shall be responsible for ensuring the achievement of the overall objective of promoting access to justice within the scope of the project.
The selected candidate will sign a fixed-term employment contract with the Union of Turkish Bar Associations, valid until December 31, 2026 and will be based in Mersin under the International Relations and EU Centre.
The Project Coordinator will work under the supervision and management of the Legal Coordinator within the Clinic structure. The Clinic consists of one Legal Coordinator, one Project Coordinator, one Interpreter, and ten rotating duty lawyers appointed by the Bar Association. Within this structure, the Project Coordinator shall be responsible for the administrative and operational implementation of the clinic’s activities.
5. Required Qualifications
- Undergraduate degree of 4 years in related fields such as International Relations, Political Science, etc.,
- At least 2 years of experience in the relevant fields,
- Adequate computer skills,
- Fluency in Turkish and English,
- Experience in projects funded by the Council of Europe Türkiye Office, United Nations, donors and/or NGOs is an asset,
- Having completed military service for male applicants.
Notes:
- Internships are not considered work experience.
- Compulsory military service is not considered work experience.
- Experience gained prior to undergraduate education are not considered work experience.
6. Additional Documents Required
- One-page letter of intent explaining the relevance to the position
- CV including related work experience and at least two references
- All application documents must be prepared in full and in English. Applications submitted with incomplete documentation or in any language other than English will not be considered.
7. Evaluation
Candidates who meet the minimum requirements specified in the job description will be shortlisted. Only shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview.
- Salary Information
The employee’s monthly gross salary has been determined as TRY 83,800.00.
