Deadline: 27-Mar-2026
The International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) is inviting proposals under the Local Common Use Facilities Grant Scheme in Türkiye to strengthen inclusive entrepreneurship, employability, and local business ecosystems for Syrians under Temporary Protection (SuTPs), Persons under International Protection (PuIPs), and Turkish citizens. The call offers EUR 11 million in total funding, with individual grants ranging from EUR 150,000 to EUR 200,000, covering 75% to 90% of eligible project costs.
About the Grant Scheme
The Local Common Use Facilities Grant Scheme aims to strengthen a more inclusive and effective local business ecosystem in Türkiye in line with national, regional, and local economic development priorities.
The programme focuses on establishing or improving inclusive entrepreneurship centres that support SuTPs, PuIPs, and Turkish citizens through business services, employability support, and entrepreneurial development.
Objectives of the Programme
The overall objective is to support a stronger and more inclusive entrepreneurship ecosystem at the local level.
The specific objectives include:
- Creating new or improving existing Local Common Use Facilities
- Strengthening inclusive entrepreneurship centres for SuTPs, PuIPs, and Turkish citizens
- Enhancing employability and skills development
- Supporting skills that may also facilitate voluntary, safe, dignified, and orderly return
- Promoting entrepreneurial activities that help establish new businesses
Priority Areas
The call gives priority to projects that can demonstrate measurable results in local economic participation and entrepreneurship support.
The priority outcomes include:
- Increasing the number of businesses established
- Increasing the number of SuTPs, PuIPs, and Turkish citizens employed
- Increasing the number of beneficiaries accessing new or improved business support services
- Responding to local entrepreneurship ecosystem needs
What Local Common Use Facilities Can Support
Under this grant scheme, Local Common Use Facilities are expected to offer a broad range of services that improve entrepreneurship, business readiness, and local economic integration.
These facilities may support activities such as:
- Skill development centres
- Software development platforms
- Digital transformation support
- Green Deal readiness services
- Regulatory and compliance support
- Mentorship and coaching
- Business development and investor pitching
- Shared working spaces
- Logistics and supply chain management
- AR and VR studios
- Product supply support
- Video streaming and photoshoot studios
- Digital simulation and product performance testing
- Research and development centres
- Design and modelling
- Production and testing centres
- Vocational training linked to startup activities
- Digital marketing strategy support
- Pre-incubation, incubation, and acceleration services
- Quality centres
- Legal and financial consultancy services
Expected Results
The scheme emphasizes that projects should go beyond infrastructure or technical upgrades and create broader economic and social impact.
Expected results may include:
- Product or process innovation
- Job creation
- Improved employability
- New business opportunities
- Stronger livelihoods
- Better access to business services for SuTPs, PuIPs, and Turkish citizens
The facilities may also support participants in ways that can contribute to voluntary return pathways, where relevant.
Geographic Coverage
The programme will be implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of Industry and Technology and several regional development agencies.
Eligible actions must be based in the following provinces of Türkiye:
- Adana
- Adıyaman
- Ankara
- Bursa
- Elazığ
- Gaziantep
- Hatay
- İstanbul
- İzmir
- Kahramanmaraş
- Kayseri
- Kilis
- Kocaeli
- Konya
- Malatya
- Mersin
- Osmaniye
- Şanlıurfa
Funding Information
The total indicative budget for this call is substantial and designed to support multiple local facilities.
Funding details:
- Total indicative funding: EUR 11,000,000
- Minimum grant request: EUR 150,000
- Maximum grant request: EUR 200,000
Co-financing rate:
- Grants may cover 75% to 90% of total eligible project costs
- The remaining 10% to 25% must be financed from sources other than ICMPD and the European Union
This means applicants must ensure they can provide the required co-financing contribution before applying.
Who Can Apply?
Eligible lead applicants must be:
- Legal persons
- Directly responsible for preparing and managing the action
- Legally established in one of the eligible provinces in Türkiye
Eligible Applicant Types
The call is open to a wide range of institutional and business support entities.
Eligible lead applicants include:
- Chambers of commerce and industry
- Chambers of commodity exchange
- Unions of tradesmen and craftsmen chambers
- Chambers of agriculture
- Municipalities
- Common use facilities established under relevant support programmes
- Business incubation centres
- Technology development centres
- Vocational training centres affiliated with business support organisations, municipalities, or universities
- Organized industrial zones
- Industrial zones
- Management cooperatives of small industrial estates
- Exporters’ associations
- Technology development zones
- Technology transfer offices (TTOs)
- Universities without directly affiliated teknoparks or TTOs
Why This Grant Matters
This is a strong opportunity for local institutions in Türkiye to create or improve shared entrepreneurship infrastructure that benefits both refugee and host communities.
The grant is especially valuable because it supports:
- Inclusive local economic development
- Business ecosystem strengthening
- Employment creation
- Startup and SME support
- Innovation and digital transformation
- Practical entrepreneurship services
- Skills development linked to local livelihoods
For organisations already working in enterprise development, vocational support, incubation, or municipal economic services, this is a highly relevant funding opportunity.
How to Apply
Applicants should prepare a strong, locally grounded proposal that clearly demonstrates how the facility will respond to entrepreneurship ecosystem needs.
Suggested application steps:
- Confirm eligibility
Make sure your organisation is legally established in one of the eligible provinces and falls under an eligible applicant category. - Assess local ecosystem gaps
Identify what local entrepreneurs, startups, SuTPs, PuIPs, and Turkish citizens need most. - Design a strong Local Common Use Facility model
Propose either a new facility or an enhancement of an existing one with practical, high-demand services. - Show inclusive impact
Explain how the facility will serve SuTPs, PuIPs, and Turkish citizens in a balanced and inclusive way. - Build a realistic budget
Ensure the grant request falls between EUR 150,000 and EUR 200,000 and that your co-financing is secured. - Focus on measurable outcomes
Include targets related to businesses created, people employed, and beneficiaries served. - Submit a compliant proposal
Make sure all documents are complete and aligned with ICMPD’s technical and financial requirements.
Tips for Applicants
To improve your chances:
- Focus on practical services, not just facility setup
- Show clear demand from the local entrepreneurship ecosystem
- Include strong employability and enterprise outcomes
- Demonstrate how the project benefits both refugees and host communities
- Use realistic, measurable indicators
- Highlight sustainability after the grant period
- Clearly explain your co-financing plan
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Avoid these common issues:
- Proposing infrastructure with no clear service delivery model
- Failing to show how the facility will create jobs or businesses
- Ignoring the co-financing requirement
- Submitting a budget outside the EUR 150,000–200,000 range
- Providing generic entrepreneurship plans without local relevance
- Not clearly defining the target groups: SuTPs, PuIPs, and Turkish citizens
- Overlooking long-term sustainability of the facility
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the total funding available under this call?
The total indicative funding available is EUR 11,000,000.
2. How much can each applicant request?
Applicants can request between EUR 150,000 and EUR 200,000.
3. What percentage of project costs can the grant cover?
The grant can cover 75% to 90% of total eligible costs.
4. Do applicants need to provide co-financing?
Yes. Applicants must finance the remaining 10% to 25% from sources other than ICMPD and the European Union.
5. Who are the main target beneficiaries?
The programme targets Syrians under Temporary Protection (SuTPs), Persons under International Protection (PuIPs), and Turkish citizens.
6. What kinds of organisations can apply?
Eligible applicants include municipalities, chambers, incubation centres, industrial zones, exporters’ associations, universities, TTOs, technology development zones, and other business support entities established in eligible provinces.
7. What kinds of activities can be supported?
Projects can support entrepreneurship centres, digital and green transition services, incubation, vocational training, product testing, business development, legal and financial consultancy, AR/VR studios, shared workspaces, and many other local business support services.
Final Takeaway
The ICMPD Local Common Use Facilities Grant Scheme is a major opportunity for eligible organisations in Türkiye to strengthen inclusive entrepreneurship, local business support systems, and employability for SuTPs, PuIPs, and Turkish citizens.
With EUR 11 million available overall and individual grants of EUR 150,000 to EUR 200,000, this call is well suited for organisations that can build or improve shared business support facilities with strong local impact, measurable employment outcomes, and sustainable entrepreneurship services.
For more information, visit ICMPD.
