CFPs: Building Pathways to Justice for Persons with Disabilities (Sri Lanka)

Deadline: 05-Dec-2025

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Sri Lanka is inviting qualified NGOs and civil society organizations to implement the “Building Pathways to Justice for Persons with Disabilities” initiative under the JURE Project. The project focuses on legal empowerment, disability rights awareness, inclusive governance, and policy reform to improve access to justice for persons with disabilities across all nine provinces. Selected partners will deliver consultations, legal awareness sessions, mobile legal aid clinics, and reform proposals within a four-month timeframe.

Overview of the Initiative

The JURE Project addresses systemic barriers faced by persons with disabilities in Sri Lanka, including limited awareness of disability rights, lack of accessible formats, inadequate infrastructure, and gaps in policy implementation. This initiative aims to:

• Strengthen legal empowerment of persons with disabilities.

• Build community capacity and inclusive governance structures.

• Advance gender equality and social inclusion.

• Improve access to justice through awareness campaigns and mobile legal aid services.

• Facilitate policy reform by developing actionable proposals.
  The project emphasizes participatory, inclusive approaches and ensures accessibility across urban, rural, and estate communities.

Key Focus Areas

1. Legal Empowerment & Awareness

   • Conduct consultations with advocates and community representatives.

   • Deliver legal awareness sessions across nine provinces.

   • Provide mobile legal aid clinics to guide individuals on legal entitlements and redress mechanisms.

2. Community Capacity Building & Governance

   • Strengthen local governance and decision-making structures.

   • Support inclusive program design with intersectional considerations.

   • Promote participation of women, youth, and marginalized groups.

3. Policy Advocacy & Reform

   • Identify systemic gaps through consultation outputs.

   • Develop proposals for legislative and policy reforms.

   • Ensure alignment with UNDP standards and Sri Lankan legal frameworks.

4. Accessibility & Inclusion

   • Ensure all materials are available in accessible formats.

   • Provide sign language interpretation, captioning, and easy-to-read materials.

Who is Eligible?

• NGOs and civil society organizations with:

  • Extensive experience in disability rights and inclusive governance.

  • Proven capability to implement legal awareness and policy advocacy initiatives.

  • Capacity to mobilize a multidisciplinary team including law, gender equality, social inclusion, human rights, and community mobilization expertise.

• Organizations must have the ability to operate across all nine provinces of Sri Lanka.
  Not Eligible: Individuals, for-profit entities, and organizations lacking demonstrated expertise in disability rights and governance.

Why It Matters

• Enhances Legal Access: Provides persons with disabilities the knowledge and tools to engage with justice systems.

• Promotes Inclusivity: Ensures marginalized groups are represented in governance and decision-making.

• Supports Policy Change: Offers evidence-based recommendations to improve legal frameworks.

• Strengthens Communities: Builds local capacities and networks for sustainable impact.

How to Apply / How It Works

1. Initial Consultation: Conduct stakeholder and community consultations to identify legal empowerment priorities.

2. Implementation of Sessions & Clinics: Deliver nine legal awareness sessions and nine mobile legal aid clinics across all nine provinces. Ensure accessibility for participants with diverse disabilities.

3. Documentation & Reporting: Prepare inception reports, analytical outputs, and consolidated session/clinic reports. Submit a final policy reform proposal based on findings.

4. Compliance & Coordination: Adhere to UNDP reporting protocols and payment schedules. Maintain continuous communication with UNDP.

Common Tips & Best Practices

• Engage local disability advocates early in the consultation phase.

• Ensure all content and sessions are fully accessible.

• Maintain clear, timely documentation for all activities.

• Mobilize a diverse multidisciplinary team to cover all project focus areas.

• Align activities with provincial-level priorities and UNDP standards.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. How long is the project implementation period? The initiative runs for four months with clearly defined deliverables.
2. How many sessions and clinics are required? Nine legal awareness sessions and nine mobile legal aid clinics across all provinces.
3. What accessibility measures are required? Sign language interpretation, captioning, and easy-to-read materials must be provided.
4. Who can lead the project? NGOs or civil society organizations with expertise in disability rights, governance, legal advocacy, and community mobilization.
5. What are the expected deliverables? Inception report, analytical outputs, consolidated reports of sessions and clinics, and a final policy reform proposal.
6. Is a multidisciplinary team required? Yes, teams should include experts in law, gender equality, social inclusion, human rights, community mobilization, and reporting.
7. Are there geographical requirements? Activities must be implemented across all nine provinces of Sri Lanka.

Conclusion

The UNDP’s “Building Pathways to Justice for Persons with Disabilities” initiative provides a unique opportunity for NGOs and civil society organizations to promote legal empowerment, inclusivity, and policy reform in Sri Lanka. By delivering accessible legal awareness sessions, mobile legal aid clinics, and actionable reform proposals, selected partners will contribute to stronger justice systems and more equitable outcomes for persons with disabilities across the country. This initiative emphasizes sustainability, accessibility, and community-driven impact, setting a benchmark for inclusive justice programming.

For more information, visit UNDP.