The Republic of Türkiye, the European Union, UNICEF and partners mark the transition of the Conditional Cash Transfer for Education (CCTE) for Refugees programme

ANKARA, 7 December 2022 – Today, the Ministry of Family and Social Services, the Ministry of National Education, the European Union, European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), UNICEF and the Turkish Red Crescent Society organized a high- level event in Ankara where they shared results, lessons learnt and best practices marking the official transfer of the Conditional Cash Transfer for Education (CCTE) for Refugees programme from UNICEF technical and coordination leadership to the Government of Türkiye.

The CCTE programme for Refugees was implemented through a close partnership between the Ministry of Family and Social services, the Ministry of National Education, the Turkish Red Crescent, and UNICEF with financial support from the European Union, Governments of the United States of America and Norway. More than 811, 000 children benefited from access to education across 81 provinces and more than 170,000 from access to child protection services in 15 provinces in Türkiye.

The event was attended by senior Governmental officials including Mr. Ismail Ergüneş, the Deputy Minister of Family and Social Services and Ambassador Nikolaus Meyer-Landrut, Head of European Union Delegation to Türkiye ,Ms. Afshan Khan, the UNICEF Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia, and Special Coordinator for the Refuge and Migrant Response in Europe as well as Mr. Ibrahim Altan, the Chief Executive Officer of the Turkish Red Crescent, and other representatives of civil society and the international community.

“The EU first started supporting the Conditional Cash Transfer for Education in 2017, through its humanitarian aid department. So far, over 800,000 children have benefitted from the programme. Now, six years later, we are happy to embark on a new phase of this successful initiative in direct partnership with the Ministry of Family and Social Services. Our aim is to ensure quality education for all - education that builds on equal access.” said Ambassador Nikolaus Meyer-Landrut, Head of European Union Delegation to Türkiye.

The Conditional Cash Transfer for Education (CCTE) for Refugees programme will continue to be implemented in Türkiye under a programme inaugurated last month and with financial support from the European Union, building on the achievements and lessons learned during the last 6 years of implementation to ensure its sustainability.

Speaking during the Conditional Cash Transfer for Education (CCTE) for Refugees programme event, Ms. Afshan Khan, the UNICEF Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia, and the Special Coordinator for the Refuge and Migrant Response in Europe said: “The CCTE for Refugees programme is an excellent example of how barriers to education for children can be removed through national leadership and strategic partnerships. It provides us with a model of how to respond to a humanitarian crisis through a national system-strengthening approach. Lessons learnt and best practices from this flagship programme are now instrumental in the design and implementation of UNICEF’s emergency response in the Ukraine and in other countries in the region.”

The Ministry of Family and Social Services has been supporting the successful implementation of the programme and will continue in the next phase.

“The aim of the Conditional Cash Transfer for Education programme, which we have successfully carried out in close cooperation with UNICEF, the Ministry of National Education and the Turkish Red Crescent, has been to make the world more livable for children. This is a relay race, and we are taking over the flag from UNICEF today, having this awareness. I would like to reiterate our pleasure to be at UNICEF's Best Practices Sharing Event, who have been coordinating the Conditional Cash Transfer for Education programme for refugees for a long time. In 2017, with the technical support of UNICEF and the financial contributions of the European Union Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations, Syrian and other refugee children were included in this meaningful programme. With the CCTE for refugee children education programme, more than 810,000 refugee children were enabled to continue their education with cash support.

“The aim of the Conditional Cash Transfer for Education programme, which we have successfully carried out in close cooperation with UNICEF, the Ministry of National Education and the Turkish Red Crescent, has been to make the world more liveable for children. This is a relay race, and we are taking over the flag from UNICEF today, having this awareness. I would like to reiterate our pleasure to be at UNICEF's Best Practices Sharing Event, who have been coordinating the Conditional Cash Transfer for Education programme for refugees for a long time. In 2017, with the technical support of UNICEF and the financial contributions of the European Union Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations, Syrian and other refugee children were included in this meaningful programme. With the CCTE for refugee children education programme, more than 810,000 refugee children were enabled to continue their education with cash support. Within the scope of the programme, child protection support services were provided to 170,000 beneficiary children with special vulnerabilities. From the very beginning, the programme touched every moment and future of every child, local and refugee. We know that this world belongs to all of us, and we are responsible for every child’s education, health and happiness.” said Mr. Ismail Ergüneş, the Deputy Minister of Family and Social Services in his remarks during the event.

UNICEF will continue to support the full transition of the programme until the end of December 2022.

***