Funded by the European Union and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the “Responsible Businesses, Resilient Civil Society Project” is launching a training programme aimed at supporting civil society organizations (CSOs) in understanding, monitoring, and engaging with business practices and public policies related to human rights. The trainings will be in line with international frameworks such as the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and emerging due diligence legislation.

Bringing together diverse civil society actors, the programme promotes peer learning, collaboration across sectors and knowledge exchange. The first training session will take place on 20–22 May 2026 in Ankara.

The training programme is open not only to organizations already working explicitly on Business and Human Rights (BHR), but also to those whose work intersects with business-related human rights and environmental impacts, including labour rights, women empowerment and equal opportunities for men and women, environmental protection, migration, child rights, access to justice, and community impacts of business activities.

This open call will contribute to the selection of participating organizations, as well as to the mapping of regional and thematic needs and the finalization of training locations.

Please fill in the application form to participate in the training programme. BHR Training Programme Application Form

Who Can Participate?

• Trade unions
• Rights-based civil society organizations
• Women’s organizations
• Environmental organizations
• Migrant and refugee rights organizations
• Child rights organisations
• Professional associations (such as bar associations and chambers of professionals)
• Business associations and sectoral organizations
• Civil society networks working in social, environmental, labour, human rights, or governance issues
• Foundations
• Cooperatives
• Organizations working on labour rights, social justice, governance, community rights, sustainable development, or related fields

What are the Participant Selection Criteria?

• Relevance of the organization’s work to Business and Human Rights (BHR)
• Diversity of sectors and organizations
• Regional representation, including organizations outside major metropolitan cities
• Potential to apply the knowledge gained within their organization or networks
• Potential to disseminate knowledge to wider networks or stakeholder groups
• Demonstrated motivation to engage with the BHR agenda
• Balance across different levels of knowledge and experience
• Balanced representation of women and men and inclusive participation among participants

Prior expertise in BHR is not required; however, interest in the topic and motivation to work in this field are important.

Scope of the Training Programme

Within the scope of the programme, six BHR training sessions will be organized in different cities across Türkiye. Each training is planned to last approximately three days and bring together 35–40 participants from diverse civil society organizations.

The first training will be held on 20–22 May 2026 in Ankara. Subsequent trainings are planned for November 2026, February 2027, May 2027, October 2027, and May 2028.

The cities where the trainings will be held and the participant groups will be determined following the application process, based on the geographical distribution and needs of CSOs.

Participation in the training programme is free of charge. Travel and accommodation costs of selected participants will be covered.

Full attendance is required for the entire duration of the training. Participants who successfully complete the programme will receive a certificate of participation.

What are the Training Topics?

The following topics provide a general framework. The content of the trainings may vary and will not be limited to these areas:

• Business and Human Rights frameworks and legal developments
• Stakeholder engagement and dialogue
• Supply chain risks and monitoring
• Grievance mechanisms and accountability
• Strategic litigation and advocacy
• Engagement with businesses
• National policy frameworks and National Action Plans
• Equal opportunities for women and men in BHR
• Monitoring tools and human rights due diligence
• Civil society collaboration and coalition building