Yaşama Dair Vakıf (YADA Foundation) was established by a group of social scientists and project management and implementation specialists in 2005 with the mission of designing and implementing projects in order to minimize the gap between “theory” and “actual life”. It aims to produce knowledge regarding the different aspects of social life and convert this knowledge into sustainable and applicable projects.

Throughout the research and implementation projects, YADA has developed cooperations and partnerships with international organizations (the European Union, UNDP, UNICEF, UN Women, etc.) scientific institutions (The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey, METU, Ankara U., Şehir U., Akdeniz U., etc.), prominent NGOs of Turkey (STGM, TÜSEV, TEMA, WWF, Greenpeace, etc.) and private companies (Unilever, Coca-Cola, Danone, Pirelli, Koç Holding, etc.), as well as by prestigious academic organizations such as TÜBİTAK, Ankara University, Middle East Technical University etc.

Most current works of YADA focus on increasing dialogue between CSOs and increasing impact capacity of CSOs and different decision-makers and stakeholders. Through this approach, a series of events under the name “Meydan” (Square)[1] are being conducted.

Another important platform for civil society dialogue in Turkey established by YADA Foundation is Sivil Sayfalar (Civil Pages[2]). Civil Pages has been put into practice with the aim of bringing the disconnected civil society world together in an online course, making the produced knowledge and experience visible and traceable, creating opportunities for collaborations, and popularizing the notion of “civil society journalism”.  

AREA / SUBJECT OF THE FELLOWSHIP

Research and project implementation

DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED FELLOWSHİP ACTIVITY

For the proposed fellowship, the expectation of YADA Foundation is the contribution of the expert to the current researches, social impact assessments, and project implementations through desk researches and other tools. In this sense, YADA is expecting the expert to reflect his/her civil society and research-related background to the current works of YADA Foundation.

YADA is now conducting,

  • Social impact assessments or consultancy of different organizations such as KEDV, Sabancı Vakfı, or in a macro perspective, the EU civil society sector programmes,
  • Researches on different issues such as mapping the NEETs’ problems and needs, mapping the formal/ informal civil society sector in Turkey… etc.
  • And implementation activities of “Meydan” events.

Through these activities, there is a need for gaining knowledge from foreign countries and reflecting the international perspective to the researches and assessments. YADA is expecting the fellowship to contribute to the current works by fulfilling this need. All other contributions can also be discussed with the expert according to his/her field of work.

EXPECTED PROFILE

  • Having 2-4 years of civil society experience,
  • Having research experience

CONDITIONS OF THE FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITY

In YADA’s office, there is flexible working with five working days. Other than official holidays to be implemented, there is no other extra condition for the fellowship activity.

PROPOSED TIME FOR THE FELLOWSHIP

One month duration within the period of April - May 2020 or September 2020 - July 2021.