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Supporting Active Measures Advancing Voices, Equality, Solidarity and Harmony (SAMAVESH)

This project aims to increasing meaningful political participation of PwD especially youth, women, and individuals from minority and indigenous disability groups in Nepal’s democratic systems. It focuses on strengthening and enhancing civil society efforts to promote more effective and inclusive political participation thereby increasing representation of PwD in Nepal. It precisely includes strengthened commitment and capacity of the institution; increased knowledge and confidence of the  PwD and their family members to engage in electoral and political processes; and positive narratives promoted by the media and civil society actors around disability and inclusive political leadership and participation. 

Context
Nepal has made important constitutional and legal commitments to democratic inclusion, including the political rights of persons with disabilities. Institutions such as the Election Commission of Nepal, political parties, parliamentary committees, media, and civil society actors all play a critical role in ensuring accessible, inclusive, and representative electoral and political processes across national, provincial, and local levels. However, translating legal commitments into practice remains uneven, particularly for persons with disabilities who experience intersecting forms of exclusion based on gender, age, geography, and social identity. Strengthening both institutional systems and citizen engagement is essential to realizing inclusive democratic governance.
Real Problem
Despite policy frameworks that recognize inclusion, persons with disabilities—especially youth, women, and individuals from underrepresented groups—continue to face significant barriers to meaningful political participation. Electoral systems and political institutions often lack the institutional capacity, technical guidance, and sustained commitment required to implement disability inclusive practices. At the same time, many persons with disabilities and their close family members have limited access to information, confidence, and opportunities to engage in political processes, even through their Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs). Public narratives around disability frequently remain charity based or stigmatizing, reinforced by gaps in media and civil society capacity to promote rights based and inclusive political leadership. These challenges collectively result in underrepresentation, limited voice, and exclusion from decision making processes.
Expectations and Promise
If institutional actors such as the Election Commission of Nepal, political parties, and parliamentary committees strengthen their commitment and capacity to adopt and implement disability inclusive electoral and political practices, democratic processes can become more accessible, accountable, and representative. If persons with disabilities—particularly youth, women, and those from underrepresented groups—gain and apply knowledge, skills, and confidence through their OPDs and community groups, they can actively and meaningfully engage in electoral and political life. If media and civil society increasingly promote positive, rights based narratives around disability and inclusive political leadership, public discourse can shift toward greater recognition of persons with disabilities as political actors and leaders. Together, these changes would contribute to a more inclusive democratic culture and stronger public trust in political institutions. Without such targeted efforts, existing patterns of exclusion and misrepresentation are likely to persist.
Solution
The project addresses these challenges through a comprehensive, multi level approach that strengthens both institutional systems and citizen agency. It aims to enhance the commitment and institutional capacity of the Election Commission of Nepal, political parties, and parliamentary committees to design, adopt, and implement disability inclusive electoral and political practices. Simultaneously, the project empowers persons with disabilities and their close family members—particularly youth, women, and individuals from underrepresented groups—to gain and apply knowledge, confidence, and leadership skills through their OPDs and community platforms to engage in electoral and political processes. In parallel, the project works with media and civil society actors to promote positive, rights based narratives on disability and inclusive political leadership, contributing to more balanced and inclusive public discourse at national, provincial, and local levels. By addressing institutional barriers, community empowerment, and social norms together, the project contributes to more inclusive, participatory, and representative democratic governance in Nepal.