TERMS OF REFERENCE

Location: Van

Position: Project Coordinator

Reference: Van2026-04

Project name: Fostering Civil Society Participation and Capacity Building In Access to Justice In Türkiye

Applications must be submitted to [email protected] no later than 6 March 2026, 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.

1. Background

Despite ongoing efforts to strengthen the national legal aid system in Türkiye, the current public legal aid budget remains insufficient to respond to increasing and diversified social needs. As a result, structural gaps in access to justice persist, particularly for refugees and temporary protection beneficiaries, women, children, and communities adversely affected by environmental damage. These gaps often result in delayed or ineffective access to legal remedies and increased vulnerability for already at-risk populations.

In response to these challenges, the Union of Turkish Bar Associations (UTBA) has developed a bar-based, institutionally embedded Legal Aid Clinic model aimed at enhancing early legal intervention, legal information, referral (triage), and case follow-up within the framework of existing bar legal aid mechanisms. This model is designed to ensure sustainability, compliance with the Attorneyship Law and bar regulations, and long-term institutional ownership.

Within this framework, three Legal Aid Clinics established in Malatya, Van and Şanlıurfa under previous international cooperation programmes will continue their operations throughout 2026. The clinics function as structured access points to justice, providing legal counselling, vulnerability assessment, referral to bar-appointed lawyers, and coordination with relevant stakeholders. Rather than replacing the national legal aid system, the clinics strengthen and complement it through a capacity-building and structured case management approach.

The Project “Fostering Civil Society Participation and Capacity Building in Access to Justice in Türkiye,” funded under IPA III – Civil Society Facility and implemented by the Union of Turkish Bar Associations in cooperation with the Council of Europe Türkiye Office, provides the institutional and financial framework for the continued operation of these clinics. The project aims to reinforce civil society’s role in access to justice while strengthening bar-based legal aid capacities at local level.

2. Objective

The objective of this project is to ensure the effective, coordinated, and sustainable operation of the Legal Aid Clinics in Malatya, Van, and Şanlıurfa throughout 2026, thereby strengthening access to justice for vulnerable groups.

Within the scope of the project, it is aimed to support the legal protection of refugees and temporary protection beneficiaries, women, children, and communities adversely affected by environmental impacts; and to enhance mechanisms for early legal intervention, legal information, referral, and case follow-up.

The primary function of the Legal Aid Clinics is to operate as structured access points integrated into the bar legal aid system; to ensure that individuals at risk of rights violations are directed to appropriate legal mechanisms; to conduct vulnerability assessments; and to coordinate with lawyers appointed by the relevant bar association.

In this regard, the project aims to:

• Strengthen bar-based legal aid capacity,
• Integrate civil society’s field access capacity with the legal mandate of bar associations,
• Sustain an institutional, secure, and professional service model in the field of access to justice.

This position is of critical importance for the effective implementation of these objectives and the proper functioning of the Legal Aid Clinics.

3. Responsibilities and Obligations of the Project Coordinator

The Project Coordinator shall work at the legal aid clinics to be established in Van 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.

4. 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 and will be based in Van 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.

8. Salary Information

The employee’s monthly gross salary has been determined as TRY 83,800.00.