Results of our rural civil society project

Our Civil Society Development in Rural Areas project brought civil society organisations together through training, city council activities and joint evaluation meetings. Funded by the European Union under the Civil Society Support Programme III and carried out in 2021–2022, the project aimed to strengthen the capacity of organisations working in agriculture and rural development and their participation in local decision-making.

The project provided training for a total of 200 civil society organisation members in Tarsus, Mersin and Erdemli. Sessions covered advocacy, lobbying and incorrect practices in herbicide application. Participants who completed the programme received certificates at ceremonies attended by representatives of agriculture and forestry directorates, chambers of agriculture and producer organisations.

Our work on local participation also took a further step. Following the acceptance of our application under the project, an Agriculture and Rural Development Working Group was established within the Akdeniz City Council (Kent Konseyi). This brought the number of such working groups within city councils across Mersin to four.

The project’s final meeting brought together public institutions and civil society organisations. Representatives of the Mersin Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry, district directorates and Adana TAYEM joined producer organisations, associations and cooperatives. Civil society representatives shared how the project had contributed to their organisations and their work in agriculture.

We thank the institutions, civil society organisations and participants who worked with us throughout the project. The research report, training booklets and other outputs are available on our Civil Society Development in Rural Areas project page.

The original post graphic with a group photograph of public institution and civil society representatives at the project's final meeting — Project final meeting — A gathering of public institutions and civil society representatives, from our post of 16 March 2022.

The original post graphic announcing the Agriculture and Rural Development Working Group within Akdeniz City Council, with a photograph of four people holding a document — Akdeniz City Council — From our post of 1 April 2022 announcing the establishment of the Agriculture and Rural Development Working Group.

A participant sharing his views with others in the training room — Civil society training — Sharing views during the project's training sessions.

Participants holding up their certificates alongside guests at the certificate ceremony — Completion of the training — A certificate ceremony for participants.