Evaluation Of Development Agencies in Türkiye From a Governance Perspective: Discussions on Their Structural and Functional Problems

The transformations observed in the field of public administration in the context of globalization have contributed to the emergence of similar and standardized institutional structures across many countries. As a manifestation of this global shift, development agencies have been introduced in Türkiye as one of the policy instruments strongly recommended by the European Union for candidate countries. Despite lacking a clearly defined position within the traditional public administration framework, these agencies have been incorporated into the administrative structure with the aim of advancing development objectives. This study seeks to analyze the development agencies operating in Türkiye since 2006, focusing on their structural and functional dimensions within the context of governance principles. The primary research question addresses the extent to which these agencies function in alignment with key governance principles—namely participation, transparency, accountability, efficiency, and locality—and how their role is situated within the broader public administration paradigm in Türkiye. The methodological approach employed in this study involves content analysis of the agencies' official reports and the activities they have undertaken. This analysis evaluates the nature of the agencies' engagement with local dynamics, the balance maintained between centralized authority and local actor involvement, and the influence of these agencies on policy-making processes. Furthermore, the study examines criticisms related to funding mechanisms, human resource policies, and implementation performance. Based on these evaluations, recommendations are proposed to enhance the effectiveness and structural integrity of the current system.