Call for Human Rights and Matra (Societal Transformation) project proposals 2026

Apply now with your video message!

The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ankara and the Consulate General in Istanbul warmly welcome proposals for projects starting in 2026 in the area of rule of law and human rights. Eligible organisations include Turkish civil society, non-profit educational institutions, semi-governmental and international organizations and municipalities.
The Netherlands Embassy currently has an OPEN call for proposals. Applications can be submitted throughout the year and will be considered based on a first come, first served principle until all available funds have been allocated. 

MATRA - Priority areas for Türkiye

Priority areas for Türkiye are identified within the overall framework of rule of law. For more details on the MATRA priorities, please see below given subthemes:

•    Law, legislation and the judiciary; 
•    Public administration and good governance;
•    Media (freedom, literacy and pluralism); 
•    The workings of (parliamentary) democracy;
•    Building resilient (civil) societies; 
•    Climate and sustainability.

HR-Priority areas for Türkiye
•    Equal rights for women and girls, with special focus on combating violence against women/girls, preventing early marriage and equal opportunities  at work, especially in business and politics;
•    Equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons (LGBTI), with special focus on (psychosocial and legal) counseling and support for members of the community and their families;
•    Freedom of expression and internet freedom, with specific focus on economic resilience and capacity building for the media landscape.

 

Application procedure

Stage I
Applicants are asked to send a video presentation of their project idea of no more than 3 minutes, in which they address: 
•    what the location is,
•    what the problem/issue is, 
•    how the project will address the challenge at hand, 
•    what makes the project unique, and 
•    what is the expected impact of the project in concrete terms. 

Start the video by stating the organization’s name, project title, duration and a rough budget estimate. The presentation should be in English or provided with English subtitles. 
NB video presentations that do not meet the criteria will be excluded.

Stage II
After the selection of the video’s, shortlisted applicants will be asked to submit a full project proposal in English, using the application forms in the links below. No rights can be derived from such a request and the ensuing comprehensive project proposal will be assessed accordingly. 
Important note: Please do not submit a full application unless your organization has been explicitly requested to do so.

Please find further details on the MATRA programme, as well as application and reporting forms below:

MATRA Fund:
MATRA Fund in Turkiye 2026 - call and application guidelines
MATRA Forms 2026 (Application & Reporting Forms)

Human Rights Fund:
Human Rights Fund in Turkiye 2026 - call and application guidelines
Human Rights Forms 2026 (Application & Reporting Forms)

Applications should be sent to the following e-mail address:
ANK-APPLY@minbuza.nl