MAG-DER (Mahalle Afet Gönüllüleri Derneği) is a legally established association (established 2017) that aims to expand and sustain a neighbourhood-based disaster volunteer model (MAG) across Türkiye. It focuses on developing local capacity so residents—framed as “first responders”—can reduce disaster impacts through training, organisation, equipment, and procedures designed to work in harmony with Türkiye’s disaster management legislation.
Map
MAG-DER
General Information
MAG-DER coordinates a standardised neighbourhood disaster volunteer model built on a 36-hour training programme (theory and fieldwork), volunteer team organisation, and “Neighbourhood Disaster Support Centers” (equipment containers) linked via radio to provincial crisis structures, with volunteer-led maintenance and periodic checks.
The main aim is to create a local sustainable network with neighborhood-based structures that will enable civil society to cope with disasters against all possible disasters that may occur in Turkey, carrying out activities that ensure that residents of the neighborhood become prepared first responders in disasters.
MAG-DER frames the MAG model as emerging in the aftermath of the 1999 Marmara earthquakes, with the model introduced by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and developed with participation of multiple institutions and individuals. Implementation happened since 2004 under a protocol with the Istanbul Governorate, and later organisational shifts (SDC withdrawal; volunteer groups formalising into associations; and consolidation under MAG-DER in 2017).
Hazard Type
Geographical Scope - Nuts
Population Size
Population Density
Needs Addressed
MAG-DER’s posits that state institutions cannot manage disasters alone, and that plans excluding public participation are not functional; therefore the solution is to build local, sustainable, neighbourhood-based volunteer capacity so residents (first responders) can reduce disaster damages through preparedness, organisation, and trained response.
No explicit mention of vulnerable groups
Neighborhood voluneer teams cooperate with government systems such as the Provincial Crisis Center, the Istanbul Governorate and AFAD, the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency.
The model is built to operate within existing disaster management legislation and crisis structures, and includes training, exercises, evaluation, and radio links to crisis centres.
The model includes designated Neighbourhood Disaster Support Centers (equipment containers), team equipment (generators, cutting tools, radios, etc.), and communications links to crisis centres, plus periodic maintenance systems.
The purpose of engagement is to build first response capacity among neighborhood residents and reduce vulnerability; sustain a local network of volunteers and strengthen public participation in disaster management.
Methods include a standardised 36-hour training, including both theory and field activities, exercises, exams and a certificate ceremony. Additionally, the level of knowledge and awareness at the local level is measured before and after MAG training and its contribution to society is determined. In addition, surveys are carried out to all segments of society for promotion, dissemination and awareness purposes.
The standardised model is not aimed at decision-making: volunteers hold operational responsibility for local centre/equipment maintenance and participate as organised neighbourhood responders
Experts and academic instructors train neighborhood residents as first responders in a way which increases local resilience and facilitates community responses in the long term. The network of volunteers is able to strengthen social capital, collective preparedness and operational competences.
Vulnerable Groups
Governance
Emergency Preparedness
Infrastructure Readiness
Engagement Level
Empowerment Level
Implementation
The key innovations are represented by both infrastructural and social elements:
- a standardised and tested training program
- infrastructures of "Neighborhood Disaster Support Centers"
- volunteer-run periodic maintenance system for the infrastructure
- explicit mention to collaboration with staff, infrastructure and protocols of emergency responses at the institutional level
Turkish
MAG-DER (Mahalle Afet Gönüllüleri Derneği)
The activity has been ongoing since the post-1999 earthquake development; implementation since 2004 under protocol with Istanbul Governorate; training delivered by expert/academic instructors.
Local volunteers, residents, Provincial Crisis Center, Istanbul Governorate Protocol, AFAD (Turkish Emergency Management).
The implementation of the framework is structured along these phases:
- Volunteer recruitment;
- Delivery of the 36-hour training programme;
- Equipping of volunteers and teams;
- Establishing a Neighborhood Disaster Support Center
- Setting up VHF radio communication
- Periodic maintenance and upkeep by volunteers
No consolidated budget costs are declared, but human resources are involved for the training and resources are needed to equip local communities, volunteers and the Neighborhood Disaster Support Center.
Recruitment, delivery of structured modules, exercises, evaluation and exams, readiness maintenance routines.
Experience of the Implementing Organisation in DRM
Target Audience
Resources Required
Timeframe & Phases
Participation Results
Disaster management requires public participation, which needs however to be integrated through training and embeddedness in neighborhood infrastructures.
Among the challenges, continuity among once-trained communities and of the volunteer network emerges as the most relevant. Maintaining operational readiness is another challenge, followed by ensuring a scientific approach in the training delivered through a volunteer-run association.
The creation of an association was conceived to contrast withdrawal.
Periodic upkeep and maintenance from the part of volunteers prevents obsolescence of the infrastructure of Neighborhood Centers.
The involvement of academic and experts in the training ensures the scientific robustness of the approach.
Risk & Mitigation Plan
Scalability and Sustainability
The establishment of a formal organization ensures continuity and the possibility of spreading the model across diverse areas, cities and regions in Turkey; alongside the association, the standardised training package ensures sustainability in knowledge transfer among volunteers. The periodic volunteer-run maintenance ensures the upkeep of infrastructures and equipment.
MAG-DER’s stated vision is to organise MAGs nationwide and create a broader federation/confederation-type structure; it also lists ongoing organisational activity in multiple provinces (e.g., Istanbul, Muğla, Gelibolu, Ankara, Trabzon, Eskişehir). It has, in fact, been scaled across 4 provinces, more than a hundred neighborhoods and 32.000 volunteers.
VHF radio connectivity between neighborhood support centers and provincial crisis centers, as well as radios, lighting, cutting tools and other equipment provided for training and exercises.
Though not explicitly declared, the direct costs will concern human resources involved in the training, venue hiring and the setup of the Neighborhood centers.
Though not explicitly declared, the operational costs will concern the training materials and equipment maintenance.