Background: Project Overview
Under the project “Impower Her: Access to Justice Initiative,” this review aims to strengthen evidence-based advocacy and promote disability-inclusive justice systems for women and girls with disabilities in Nepal. Despite existing legal and policy provisions, women and girls with disabilities continue to face significant barriers in accessing justice, including inaccessible services, limited access to information, discrimination, inadequate institutional responsiveness, and weak implementation of disability-inclusive laws and policies.
Purpose of the Review
This review will examine existing legal and policy frameworks, institutional mechanisms, and their implementation from the perspective of access to justice for women and girls with disabilities. It will document key policy gaps, barriers, challenges and solution along with recommendation to access legal protection and justice services.
Expected Outcome
The policy review will generate comprehensive evidence on the strengths, gaps, and implementation challenges of existing legal and policy frameworks related to access to justice for women and girls with disabilities in Nepal. The findings will contribute to a better understanding of the barriers faced by women and girls with disabilities in seeking legal remedies, protection, and justice services.
Specifically, the review is expected to achieve the following outcomes:
1. Provide evidence on the effectiveness, inclusiveness, and implementation status of legal and policy frameworks related to access to justice for women and girls with disabilities in Nepal.
2. Identify key legal, policy, institutional, communication, and accessibility barriers that limit access to justice and legal protection mechanisms.
3. Highlight gaps between existing laws and policies and their implementation in practice.
4. Document the major challenges and experiences of women and girls with disabilities in seeking justice and protection services.
5. Generate evidence based recommendations for strengthening disability inclusive laws, policies, and justice sector services.
6. Support advocacy, policy dialogue, and legal reform initiatives with government agencies and justice sector stakeholders.
7. Contribute to the protection, promotion, and realization of the rights of women and girls with disabilities.
8. Inform future advocacy, lobbying, and awareness raising efforts by Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) and other stakeholders.
Purpose of the Assignment
The purpose of this assignment is to review and analyze the legal and policy frameworks related to access to justice for women and girls with disabilities in Nepal. The review will identify existing gaps, barriers, and challenges in the implementation of laws and policies and assess how effectively they protect and promote the rights of women with disabilities. Based on the findings, the study will provide practical recommendations and actions for improving access to justice and will support advocacy efforts with relevant legal and justice-sector institutions.
The consultant will:
a. Review existing laws, policies, and institutional mechanisms related to access to justice for women and girls with disabilities.
b. Identify gaps, barriers, and challenges that women and girls with disabilities face in accessing justice and legal protection mechanisms.
c. Assess the extent to which women and girls with disabilities are able to exercise and enjoy their human rights and access justice services.
d. Examine the effectiveness of the implementation of disability-related laws, policies, and programs.
e. Develop recommendations for the Government of Nepal and relevant stakeholders to strengthen the implementation of disability-inclusive laws and policies.
f. Recommend necessary legal and policy reforms to ensure equitable and accessible justice for women and girls with disabilities.
g. Prepare a policy brief highlighting key findings, gaps, and recommendations to support advocacy, policy dialogue, and lobbying efforts by Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) and other stakeholders.
Scope of Work
The consultant shall analyze the following policies: Constitution of Nepal (2015), National Civil Code (2017), National Criminal Code (2017), Criminal Offences (Sentencing and Execution) Act, Legal Aid Act and Policy, Domestic Violence (Crime and Punishment) Act , Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Policy, National Women Policy, National Judicial Policy, Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (2017), Rights of Persons with Disabilities Regulation (2020), Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) & Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)
Methodology
The consultant/company will follow the following methodology:
i. Desk review/ Literature review and observation of the mentioned polices and reports.
ii. Conduct consultation meeting with OPDs leaders and legal advisers/parliamentarians/policy makers.
iii. Key informant interview with related stakeholders and OPDs leaders.
iv. Conduct validation Workshop from the disability’s leaders’ representative of the OPDs.
The methodology must ensure
a. Confidentiality and informed consent
b. Accessibility and inclusion
c. Gender-sensitive and disability-inclusive approaches
d. Ethical considerations and safeguarding measures
Deliverables
The consultant/researcher shall submit the following:
1. Inception report includes methodology, work plan, and tools.
2. Draft review report.
3. Presentation of preliminary findings to the project team and stakeholders.
4. Final review report incorporating feedback and recommendations.
5. Prepare policy Brief with key findings and recommendations for legal, justice and policy makers.
Duration of Assignment
The assignment is expected to be completed within 30 working days from the date of contract signing.
Required Qualifications and Experience
The consultant/researcher should have
I. Advanced degrees in Law, Human Rights, Social Sciences, Development Studies, Gender Studies, Disability Studies, or a related field.
II. At least 5 years of experience in legal, policy, human rights, gender, or disability-related research and analysis.
III. Strong understanding of disability rights, gender equality, and access to justice issues in Nepal.
IV. Proven experience in conducting policy reviews, legal analysis, or research studies.
V. Excellent report-writing and analytical skills.
VI. Experience working with women and girls with disabilities and OPDs will be an advantage.
Reporting and Supervision
The consultant/company will work under the direct supervision of the project coordinator/management team of the implementing organization and coordinate closely during planning and reporting processes.
Ethical Considerations
The consultant/company must:
1. Maintain confidentiality and privacy of participants.
2. Obtain informed consent before interviews/discussions.
3. Ensure protection and dignity of women and girls with disabilities.
4. Use accessible communication methods during research.
Application Procedure
Interested consultants/company are requested to submit:
a. Cover Letter expressing interest.
b. Technical Proposal outlining understanding of the assignment, methodology, and work plan.
c. Updated CV of the consultants.
d. Samples of similar work completed in the past.
e. Financial Proposal with a detailed budget.
Payment plan
- Payment will be made in installments based on agreed deliverables by two installments (Advance 60% during the starting task and Final installment 40% after completion of the task)
Confidentiality and Ownership:
All the documents that will be provided to the consultant by the organization and the deliverable produced out of the consultancy will remain the property of the organization.
Zero Tolerance against violence and fraud
Each party should respect and promote equality and against any forms of discrimination, abuse, misuse, violence based on gender, disability, poverty, race, color, religion, caste, ethnicity, geography or any ground.
Expressions of Interest (EOIs) are sought.
Eligible company/individual Interested are invited to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to the following address.
To,
Federation of Women with Disability Nepal (FWDN)
Email: recruitmentprocessfwdn@gmail.com
All the eligible consultants, companies/firms are requested to submit EOI in an envelope or subject of email and mark it EOI to Human Resource unit of FWDN central office located in Dillibazar, Kathmandu through email. The proposal is 11th June 2026, before 5:00 PM, Nepali Time.