The Provision of Jobs and Socio-Economic Inclusion to Support Transition to Formal Employment inTürkiye project aims to support Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Türkiye by providingfinancial grants to enhance their capacity, formalize workers, and create sustainable jobs. Through thisproject, IOM seeks to empower businesses to adopt formal employment practices, improvecompliance with labor standards, and integrate vulnerable groups—such as refugees, women, andyouth—into the workforce. By fostering sustainable development, strengthening private sectorcapacity, and promoting inclusive economic opportunities, the project contributes to local economicgrowth, community resilience, and long-term employment stability.

The maximum grant amount available per business under the Project is 10,000 USD. This funding is designed to help businesses enhance their operations, create jobs, and contribute to local economic development. The specific amount awarded will depend on the business's needs and the impact of the project proposal. Businesses should clearly outline how they plan to use the grant to achieve meaningful and measurable results.

3- How can I determine if my business is eligible for support under the project?

To be eligible for support under the project, your business must meet the following criteria:

• Your Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) must have between 10 and 50 employees.
• Your enterprise must be officially registered and actively operating in Adana, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kilis, Malatya, Mardin, Mersin and Şanlıurfa..
• You must commit to commit to officially registering minimum two (2) new employees. At least one of these employees must be a Syrian under temporary protection, while the other can be a Turkish national or under international protection.

If your business meets these criteria, we encourage you to apply for this grant opportunity to support and grow your business.

Important: Applications that do not meet these criteria will be automatically rejected by the system.
 

To submit an application for financial support under the Project, you need to apply online through the official EDF website. Simply visit http://turkiye.edf.iom.int and follow the instructions provided on the site to complete and submit your application. Make sure you have all the necessary documents ready before you start the application process. The website is designed to guide you step-by-step, ensuring you provide the required information to be considered for funding.

No, your business will not be considered for the Project if it has fewer than 10 employees or more than fifty. The Project is specifically designed to support Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) that have between 10 and 50 employees. This employee range is one of the core eligibility criteria, as the program aims to support businesses that are large enough to contribute to economic development and job creation, but small enough to benefit significantly from the program's resources. If your business falls outside this range, it unfortunately won’t qualify for the Project

Yes, there is a minimum period of operation for a business to qualify for Project support. Your business must have been actively operating for at least one year before applying for the project. This requirement ensures that only established businesses with a proven track record of activity and stability are eligible for support. If your business has been operational for less than a year, it will not meet this criterion and won't qualify for Project funding.

No, if your business operates in more than one province, you can only apply for Project funding once, not for each individual location. The Project considers the business as a single entity, regardless of how many provinces it operates in. Therefore, you are limited to submitting one application for your business, even if it has multiple branches or operations in different provinces.

Yes, while the project is open to businesses across all industries, priority is given to sectors that demonstrate strong potential for production and formal job creation. The project aims to support enterprises that can significantly contribute to local economic growth by generating employment opportunities, enhancing productivity, and adopting formal employment practices. Creating new formal employement is a key focus of the project, as it ensures compliance with labor standards, provides workers with access to social protections, and strengthens overall business resilience.

If your application is approved, you must commit to officially registering at least two (2) new employees as a condition of receiving support under the Project.. At least one of these employees must be a Syrian under temporary protection, while the other can be a Turkish national or under international protection. Businesses that commit to creating more than two new jobs will receive extra points in the evaluation process. This requirement supports the Project's objectives of fostering economic growth, promoting inclusivity, and ensuring compliance with the program's eligibility criteria.

No, newly established businesses that have been operating for less than one year are not eligible to apply for the Project. To qualify for support, your business must have been actively operating for at least one year. This ensures that the program supports businesses with an established presence and a proven track record of stability and activity. If your business is less than one year old, you will need to wait until it meets this criterion before applying

To apply to the Project, you will need to provide the following documents, which must be official and up-to-date. Please ensure that all documents are current and valid, as outdated documents may not be accepted.

• Tax Certificate (Vergi Levhası): A valid tax certificate issued by the relevant tax authority, confirming your business's tax registration and compliance with tax laws.
• Turkish Trade Registry Gazette (Türkiye Ticaret Sicili Gazetesi kaydı) : A copy of the Trade Registry Gazette publication that announces your company's establishment, merger, or any other significant changes.
• Chamber Registration Document (Oda Kayıt Belgesi veya Faaliyet Belgesi): A document issued by the relevant Chamber of Commerce or Industry, confirming your business's registration and membership.
• List of Insured Employment Service (Sigortalı Hizmet Listesi): A document that lists all your employees who are registered with the Social Security Institution (SGK) and confirms their employment status.
• Corporate Tax Return or Annual Income Tax Return (Kurumlar Vergisi Beyannamesi veya Yıllık Gelir Vergisi Beyannamesi): Your business's most recent corporate tax return or annual income tax return, which provides an overview of your company's financial performance.

All documents must be official documents. Documents from E-Devlet with the QR Code will be accepted. Please ensure that all documents are properly signed, stamped, certified or have QR Code and that they meet the requirements of the project. Applications that fail to include the required documents will be automatically deemed invalid by the system.

The evaluation of applications for the project takes into account several key factors, including:

• Relevance of the grant amount and business plan to your proposed business expansion activities. The requested funding should align with realistic and impactful business goals.
• Accurate reporting of current employee numbers is essential. Priority is given to businesses committed to employing individuals, such as Syrian migrants under temporary or international protection, or Turkish nationals.
• Potential for formal job creation as a result of the proposed business expansion. The more jobs your business can create, the stronger your application.
• Average monthly profit and sustainability of the business, demonstrating that your enterprise is financially stable and has a viable future.
• Commitment to innovation, sustainable solutions, and social impact within your industry or community, which reflects your business's potential to contribute positively to broader social and environmental goals.
• Compliance with employment regulations, ensuring no history of unregistered employment (e.g., without SSI registration or work permit).
• Priority for enterprises that have not previously benefited from similar incentives, ensuring fair access to funding opportunities.

These factors help assess the business's readiness for growth and its ability to achieve the project's objectives.
 

All documents submitted during the application process must be up to date. Submitting outdated documents may result in the rejection of your application, requiring you to provide updated versions.. Ensuring that your documents are current and valid is important to avoid any delays or rejections during the application review process. Please double-check the dates on all documents before submitting them to make sure they comply with this requirement.

If you receive project funding, you have the flexibility to hire a diverse range of employees to support the growth and development of your business. Eligible employees can include:

• Non-skilled workers: Employees who may not have prior experience or formal training in a specific trade or profession, but are eager to learn and develop their skills.
• Skilled workers: Employees who possess specialized skills, training, or certifications in a particular field or industry.
• Blue-collar workers: Employees who work in manual labor jobs, such as manufacturing, construction, or maintenance.
• White-collar workers: Employees who work in administrative, managerial, or professional roles, such as office workers, managers, or professionals.

The key requirement is that the employees you hire must be stable and open to development in their sector. This means that they should be committed to learning and growing with your business, and willing to adapt to new challenges and opportunities. By hiring employees who are eager to learn and develop, you can create a strong and dynamic team that drives the success of your business.
 

No, your application will not be affected if your business operates seasonally. The IOM does not consider the seasonal or annual activities of your business when evaluating your application. As long as your business meets the eligibility criteria, including employing ore registering at least 2 personnel registered with the SGK for at least 1 year and maintaining its business registration and activity certificate, your application will be considered. Additionally, if your business operates under a single name but has multiple locations, IOM will not consider separate applications for each location.

No, you cannot use the grant to pay for employee salaries, SGK (Social Security) payments, or taxes. The project grant is designed to support business development activities, such as purchasing equipment, expanding operations, or enhancing production capacity. These funds are meant to be used for investments that promote the growth and sustainability of your business, not for covering operational costs like wages, social security contributions, or tax obligations. These expenses must be covered by your business’s own financial resources.