The Impact of GCR on Local Governments and Syrian Refugees in Turkey

In the last couple of years, more than 3.6 million Syrian refugees have been hosted under the "temporary protection" scheme in Turkey. Despite these high numbers Turkey did not have a centralized refugee settlement and integration policy. As a result, various stakeholders including local governments have played critical roles in providing refugee assistance services. This research looks at the role of local governments in delivering services evolving from emergency response to local integration. This article argues that this role with respect to the United Nations' Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) has to be further strengthened. The data for this research were collected through a comprehensive study based on interviews and surveys carried out in Istanbul with local authorities, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, and its 39 district municipalities in 2016-2017. Although this research has its focus on Istanbul as the selected case study, the findings can reveal conclusions relevant to global implications and perspectives