The Contracting Authority is the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, Directorate General for European Union and External Relations, Department for European Union Investments.
The main tasks and responsibilities of the Contracting Authority are to supervise and coordinate the overall progress and implementation of the operation components, verify the achievement of outputs and mandatory results and discuss actions to be taken, and regularly monitor the progress of the operation. Furthermore, participating in the Project Steering Committee and monitoring compliance with visibility requirements through monthly progress meetings are other key tasks of the contracting authority.
The European Union (EU) provides grant funds to countries in the process of preparing for EU membership through the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) to support their political, institutional, social and economic reforms towards membership and to help them achieve Union standards. The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, Directorate General for EU and Foreign Relations, Department of EU Investments is responsible for the management of the part of IPA funds allocated to the transport sector and carries out its activities within the framework of a programme whose content and financing is approved by the European Commission.
This programme, called “Sectoral Operational Programme on Transport for Turkey” (SOPT), which explains how harmonisation with the EU will be ensured, which issues will be prioritised, how the budget will be allocated to these prioritised areas, which projects or what type of projects will be financed, what are the measurable results required to be considered successful and what will be done to ensure the promotion and visibility of the programme.
USOP has been working in partnership with the EU for almost twenty years, contributing to the establishment of a competitive, accessible and sustainable transport system in Turkey in line with EU standards. The projects realised under SOPT in various cities in Turkey aim to achieve the following objectives:
To increase the sustainability and safety of the national transport system,
Improving the efficiency of the transport system,
Promote a shift from individual transport to sustainable, accessible and inclusive forms of public transport at both national and urban levels,
To strengthen Turkey’s integration into the EU in the field of transport through the progressive alignment of the Turkish transport sector acquis with the EU transport acquis,
Supporting the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure in the management of the Transport Sectoral Operational Programme to ensure the most efficient use of EU, national and international funding in Turkey’s transport sector.
The Kocaeli SUMP project is also a project implemented under the SOPT umbrella programme.
USOP supports sustainable urban transport plans covering various regions of Turkey to create more liveable and better quality cities. In this way, it supports reducing air and noise pollution, greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption, improving public health and increasing road safety. For more information about USOP and other SOPT projects, please visit https://ipa.uab.gov.tr/ and follow their social media accounts.
Kocaeli SUMP project is being developed within the scope of the call for project proposals for all municipalities within the scope of Action Area 3 “Accessible and Inclusive Transport” under the Transport Sectoral Operational Programme (SOPT), Action Area 3 “Accessible and Inclusive Transport” in the second period of the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) provided by the European Union to candidate countries under the “Framework Agreement” on the implementation of financial assistance to be provided within the framework of the financial cooperation between the Republic of Turkey and the European Union covering the years 2014-2020.
The Delegation of the European Union will carry out preliminary supervision of programming, procurement, monitoring and acting as an observer in various meetings held during the implementation period.
The Beneficiary of the Project is Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality (KMM). Within KMM, a Project Coordination and Implementation Unit and an Interdepartmental Working Group supporting this Unit have been established.
Project Coordination and Implementation Unit
– Duties of the Project Coordination and Implementation Unit responsible for the implementation of the project
– Monitoring the technical progress of the project,
– Review short-term expert mobilisation requests and forward them to the Contracting Authority for final approval (identification and management of experts),
– Review timelines/plans and all deliverables,
– Participate in progress and ad hoc meetings,
– Manage, monitor, analyse and approve contract deliverables,
– To formally clarify such requests/plans for further processing and formal approval in line with relevant agreements,
– Report regularly to the Senior Representative of the Final Aid Recipient on its activities and findings, including recommendations for improvement, in accordance with a reporting format to be developed by the contracting authority,
Working procedures of the Interdepartmental Working Group established to strengthen administrative capacity at central and local level and foresee meetings with the committee, stakeholders, project manager and the public for the implementation of the SUMP,
– Provide general guidance and ensure the adoption and implementation of actions,
– To advise the municipality on the implementation of the project,
– To ensure effective and timely co-operation between relevant units,
– Make recommendations and report on the reports submitted.
Interdepartmental Working Group (IDWG)
An Interdepartmental Working Group was established by KMM at the start of the project to ensure ownership of the SUMP and to monitor project implementation. The group consisted of experts from KMM and other experts selected from different project stakeholders.
Interdepartmental Working Group (IDWG) | |
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Transport Planning |
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Public Transport |
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Digital Data |
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Urban Planning and Property and Land Acquisition Works |
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Traffic, Parking and Intelligent Transport System |
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Public Engagement |
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Active Transport Modes (Bicycle and Pedestrian) |
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E-mobility |
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Environment |
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Kocaeli SUMP project is being implemented by Egis Villes et Transports & Boğaziçi Proje Mühendislik A.Ş. Consortium. The Project Team Leader, responsible for the coordination and management of the project team and project deliverables, will be actively involved in the implementation of stakeholder engagement strategies throughout the project.