RESLOG 2 (SALAR 2022)

As a result of the capacity building to municipal authorities in Türikye, the municipalities have confirmed that they are now better able to analyse socio-economic data with a gender sensitive lens and witnessed that the focus on collecting gender-disaggregated data was particularly relevant. The concept of inclusive indicators for strategic planning was apprehended and the partners (municipalities) were coached on how to use mapped data in service planning for targeted groups, with the aim to use it in the new strategic plans after the local elections (March 2024) and for more informed decision-making. Certain municipalities put the new skills to use immediately. As an example, Orhangazi conducted gender-segregated data collection among Syrian residents in order to define targeted services. Following this, the citizen assembly in Orhangazi established a refugee working group with direct contact with the municipality for further dialogue. A policy report on Migration data management and data-based decision making in municipalities was developed and launched in May and is available online. The launching event (in the beginning of the cost extension period) enhanced further awareness among municipal experts and managers of the importance of inclusive data and how to turn data into local knowledge, showing trends and needs for more informed decisions and sound planning. The municipalities requested help from their unions to lobby central government institutions on the need to access reliable data from the national level. During Reslog2 the level of interactions between municipalities and CSOs, as representatives of the local communities, have increased considerably. In order to facilitate collaboration between municipalities and Syrian CSOs in cohabitation, mapping studies of potentially willing and capable Syrian CSOs in Marmara and ukurova regions were done. Prior to this initiative neither the Syrian CSOs nor the municipalities had considered working together before. Most municipalities were also unaware of active Syrian CSOs in their cities and likewise Syrian CSOs were unaware of community centres and municipal roles and responsibilities. By sharing the mapping studies with municipalities and organizing study visits for Syrian CSO to community centres in Mersin, Bursa, Istanbul, Seyhan, ili and Osmangazi as well to citizen assemblies in Bursa, Mezitli and Mersin, the CSOs understanding of municipal responsibilities and the roles of citizen assemblies and community centres increased and a basis was created for collaborations between municipalities and Syrian CSOs. This was the first time Syrian CSOs visited Turkish local authorities and learned more about municipal services. The visits provided a good opportunity for both parties to discuss collaborations. Municipal and local stakeholder capacities in LED were strengthened through various trainings. In a gender and conflict-sensitive training on LED and green transition strategies, the three pilot municipalities learned from each other by sharing their LED project ideas, which changed their mindsets and further skills in how to make their LED project concepts more gender and conflict sensitive were developed. The dialogue between the unions and their members has also been strengthened through UMTs municipal exchange programme on migration management, MMUs Mentor programme and the migration policy monitoring meetings hosted by UMT. In addition, the unions have participated in various trainings for the municipalities which have provided extra forum for vertical and horizontal dialogue on migration and relation building. In Lebanon, the recent establishment of the Union of Municipalities (UoM) of Jurd Al Qayteh in 2005 and the UoM of Dreib El Awsat in 2010, which hosted along other localities in Akkar, as of 2011, 99, 500 Syrian refugees, highlighted their need for support and development. Reslog 2's interventions were particularly pertinent in the following areas: The UoMs, being newly established, lacked the necessary capacity to effectively manage their governance responsibilities. Reslog 2's programs provided essential training and support to enhance the skills and knowledge of UoM staff, enabling them to better fulfill their roles, mainly in identifying community needs and addressing socio-economic challenges. Training included the collection, analysis and use of data with a special focus on the integration of gender lenses during these processes. The influx of Syrian refugees placed significant strain on the UoMs' resources and infrastructure. Reslog 2's interventions helped to mitigate the negative impacts of the refugee crisis on local governance by fostering acceptance of Syrian refugees. A pertinent example is the Youth Council efforts in Dreib, which were focused on social cohesion and led to a positive change in the attitude of the municipality towards the acceptance of Syrian refugees as active actors within the host communities. Reslog 2 played a vital role in improving data collection and analysis capabilities within the UoMs. By providing tools and training, Reslog 2 helped to ensure that the UoMs had access to the necessary information to make evidence-based decisions. The Reslog 2 project has successfully enhanced local government capacity and response to crises through a multifaceted approach. The development of a preventive response plan for the COVID-19 and the Cholera outbreak demonstrated a proactive stance towards addressing community challenges. Using technology such as the SALAMATI application developed in response to COVID-19, to support case detection, tracking, testing, risk assessment, and data collection to help prevent the spread of the virus in underprivileged communities. SALAMATI was also used in response to the Cholera outbreak in Akkar. The First Responder Team has demonstrated its effectiveness as a crisis response asset, providing valuable support to municipalities and reducing their burden during emergencies. By offering essential services at a minimal cost, the FRT concept paved the way for municipalities to establish linkages with the DRR regional and central units. Thus, the FRT has contributed to strengthening local government capacity and improving disaster resilience. This evaluation finding highlights the FRT's crucial role in enhancing the ability of municipalities to respond effectively to crises and protect their communities. Capacity-building initiatives, including training in data analysis, hospitality, and gender-lens data analysis, have significantly improved the skills of UoM and municipalities. These enhanced capacities have enabled more informed decision-making and targeted responses to crisis situations. Notably, the increased capacity of UoM has had a positive ripple effect on selected municipalities, indirectly improving their understanding and implementation of local governance practices. Reslog 2 activities have provided a platform for Syrian refugees to actively interact with host communities, and to become aware of existing development and social opportunities, empowering them to participate more fully in Lebanese society. The equipment of sewing workshops and sewing and handicraft production training have empowered women with valuable skills, enabling them to generate income through the sale of their handmade products locally and on a national level through participating in exposition events in Beirut. The youth group in Bireh, the FRT, and the green businesses in Jurd Al Qaytah, in particular, have demonstrated their capacity to drive local development initiatives and foster community engagement. These groups possess the potential to continue their work and ensure that the positive outcomes achieved through Reslog 2 are sustained long after the project's conclusion. The active citizen component, including the consolidation of the FRT and the engagement of youth groups, has been instrumental in creating local governance capacity and sustaining capacity building efforts. Municipalities have recognized the importance of these initiatives and have provided support, such as minimum sustainable infrastructure, to ensure their continuity. Youth groups supported by the project are now actively seeking partnerships with various stakeholders and aiming at ensuring a minimum of financial sustainability for their center through promoting it as a multi-purpose use facility for local and international entities. Furthermore, youths are seeking to institutionalize and legalize their entities i.e., youth councils, as per the domestic law so they can acquire a legal status. Municipalities have demonstrated a heightened understanding of the value of such practical knowledge. This is evidenced by the extended support from both municipal and UoM representatives, who have expressed a strong desire to maintain the data collection system and utilize the collected data for informed decision-making, strategic planning, resource acquisition, and targeted interventions. The project significantly contributed to strategy goal 3.3 in the Syria strategy, by strengthening the capacities of local authorities in neighboring countries Lebanon and Turkiye, to ensure a sustainable situation for refugees and host communities. Support was provided to municipalities, who are at the forefront of the Syria crisis, to manage their resources and appropriately respond to the needs of refugees and local communities, while ensuring social cohesion among communities

The impact goal of RESLOG2 is defined as: Selected municipalities in Akkar, Lebanon and in Türkiye have become more resilient through strengthened municipal governance, including improved abilities to provide more equal access to services, livelihood opportunities and means for peaceful co-habitation to women and men from Syrian refugee and local communities The three overall outcomes contributing to the impact goal are: 1) Strengthen provision of municipal services and peaceful cohabitation through fostering of active citizenship, 2) More decent and greener local livelihood opportunities for women and men in refugee and local communities 3)Turkish local government actors have become more systematic and effective in contributing to migration policy matters of concern (Only Türkiye) The three outcomes are further operationalised through intermediate outcomes. SALAR presents in the proposal a detailed description of the strategies applied under each expected intermediate outcome and submitted as annex a detailed work plan.