CFPs: Strengthening Gender-Responsive and Inclusive Local Governance (Nepal)

UN Women is inviting proposals under the Hamro Sahas Programme to strengthen inclusive, accountable, and gender-responsive local governance in Karnali, Lumbini, and Madhesh Provinces of Nepal. Supported by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), the programme offers grants ranging from USD 145,000 to USD 150,000 to eligible organizations working to advance gender equality, social inclusion, and citizen participation.

What is the UN Women Hamro Sahas Programme?

The Hamro Sahas Programme is a UN Women initiative designed to strengthen local governance systems by promoting Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) in planning, budgeting, policy implementation, public service delivery, and citizen engagement.

The programme supports partnerships between local governments, Women’s Rights Organizations (WROs), youth groups, civil society organizations, and marginalized communities to create more transparent, participatory, and accountable governance systems.

Background

Nepal has made significant progress in decentralization and local governance through constitutional reforms. However, women, youth, and marginalized communities continue to face barriers to meaningful participation in local decision-making processes.

The Hamro Sahas Programme seeks to address these challenges by strengthening institutional capacity, promoting inclusive leadership, and improving collaboration between citizens and government institutions.

The initiative aligns with Nepal’s constitutional commitments, national gender equality policies, and international development frameworks.

Programme Objectives

The programme aims to:

• Strengthen gender-responsive local governance.
• Mainstream Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) across local government systems.
• Improve citizen participation in local governance.
• Build the leadership capacity of women and marginalized groups.
• Strengthen accountability and transparency mechanisms.
• Promote inclusive policy development and budgeting.
• Foster collaboration between communities and local authorities.

Key Highlights

• Programme Name: Hamro Sahas Programme
• Organiser: UN Women Nepal
• Funding Partner: UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)
• Grant Amount: USD 145,000–150,000
• Country: Nepal
• Target Provinces: Karnali, Lumbini, and Madhesh

Focus Areas

Projects should address one or more of the following priority areas.

Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI)

Projects should strengthen the integration of GESI into:

• Governance systems.
• Public policies.
• Local development planning.
• Budgeting processes.
• Public service delivery.
• Monitoring and evaluation.

Institutional Capacity Building

Activities may include:

• Training local government officials.
• Strengthening governance systems.
• Improving administrative capacity.
• Developing institutional policies and procedures.

Women’s Leadership

The programme supports initiatives that:

• Build leadership skills.
• Strengthen advocacy capacity.
• Promote civic participation.
• Encourage women’s representation in decision-making.

Support for Women’s Rights Organizations

Projects may strengthen:

• Organizational capacity.
• Networking and collaboration.
• Advocacy initiatives.
• Community mobilisation.
• Institutional sustainability.

Youth and Marginalized Communities

The programme encourages:

• Youth leadership development.
• Participation of marginalized communities.
• Inclusive civic engagement.
• Representation in local governance processes.

Citizen Participation

Activities may promote:

• Community consultations.
• Participatory planning.
• Public dialogue.
• Inclusive policy discussions.
• Community monitoring.

Accountability and Transparency

Projects should improve:

• Public accountability.
• Government transparency.
• Citizen oversight.
• Responsive governance mechanisms.

Digital Governance

The programme supports:

• Digital governance tools.
• Technology-enabled citizen engagement.
• Online accountability mechanisms.
• Digital public participation.

Expected Activities

Selected organizations may implement activities such as:

• Capacity-building programmes for local governments.
• GESI mainstreaming initiatives.
• Leadership training for women and youth.
• Policy dialogue and advocacy.
• Participatory budgeting support.
• Governance fellowships.
• Digital governance initiatives.
• Community engagement campaigns.
• Networking among Women’s Rights Organizations.
• Multi-stakeholder dialogue platforms.

Expected Outcomes

The programme aims to achieve:

• Stronger gender-responsive governance systems.
• Increased participation of women and marginalized communities.
• Improved accountability and transparency.
• Better implementation of GESI policies.
• Enhanced local government capacity.
• Stronger Women’s Rights Organizations.
• More inclusive local decision-making processes.

Who Can Apply?

The call is intended for eligible organizations capable of implementing governance and gender equality programmes in Nepal.

Applicants should demonstrate experience in areas such as:

• Gender equality.
• Women’s empowerment.
• Local governance.
• Civic participation.
• Social inclusion.
• Institutional capacity building.
• Community development.
• Policy advocacy.

Funding Information

• Minimum Grant: USD 145,000
• Maximum Grant: USD 150,000

Funding supports activities that strengthen local governance systems, institutional capacity, community participation, and gender-responsive policy implementation.

How to Apply

Interested organizations should:

1. Review the official UN Women call for proposals and eligibility requirements.
2. Confirm organisational eligibility.
3. Develop a project aligned with the programme objectives.
4. Design activities that promote gender-responsive and inclusive governance.
5. Include measurable outcomes and monitoring indicators.
6. Prepare a detailed work plan and budget.
7. Submit the proposal through the official UN Women application process before the application deadline.

Why This Programme Matters

Inclusive governance is essential for achieving sustainable development and equal participation in public decision-making.

The programme helps to:

• Strengthen democratic governance.
• Advance gender equality.
• Increase women’s leadership.
• Improve public accountability.
• Support marginalized communities.
• Enhance citizen participation.
• Strengthen local institutions.
• Promote transparent governance systems.

By supporting local governments and civil society, the initiative contributes to more responsive and inclusive governance across Nepal.

Tips for a Strong Proposal

To improve your application:

• Demonstrate experience in gender equality and local governance.
• Build partnerships with provincial and local government institutions.
• Include meaningful participation of Women’s Rights Organizations.
• Present innovative approaches for citizen engagement.
• Incorporate digital governance and accountability mechanisms where appropriate.
• Develop measurable indicators for governance improvements.
• Include sustainability strategies beyond the grant period.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid these common issues:

• Failing to integrate Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) throughout the project.
• Providing limited community participation strategies.
• Overlooking coordination with local government agencies.
• Presenting weak monitoring and evaluation frameworks.
• Ignoring sustainability planning.
• Submitting unclear budgets or implementation plans.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the Hamro Sahas Programme?

The Hamro Sahas Programme is a UN Women initiative that strengthens gender-responsive, inclusive, and accountable local governance by improving institutional capacity, citizen participation, and women’s leadership in Nepal.

2. How much funding is available?

The programme offers grants ranging from USD 145,000 to USD 150,000.

3. Which areas will the programme support?

Activities will be implemented in Karnali, Lumbini, and Madhesh Provinces of Nepal.

4. What types of activities are supported?

The programme supports GESI mainstreaming, local governance reforms, leadership development, Women’s Rights Organization capacity building, participatory budgeting, digital governance, policy dialogue, governance fellowships, and citizen engagement initiatives.

5. Who can apply?

Eligible organizations with experience in gender equality, local governance, social inclusion, community development, and institutional strengthening are encouraged to apply in accordance with the official UN Women eligibility requirements.

6. What are the expected outcomes?

Projects should strengthen local government systems, improve accountability and transparency, increase women’s participation in governance, enhance citizen engagement, and promote effective implementation of gender equality and social inclusion policies.

7. Why is this programme important?

The programme supports more inclusive and responsive local governance by empowering women, youth, and marginalized communities to participate in public decision-making while strengthening institutional systems that promote equality, accountability, and sustainable development.

Conclusion

The UN Women Hamro Sahas Programme 2026 offers a valuable opportunity for organizations working in governance, gender equality, and social inclusion to strengthen democratic institutions in Karnali, Lumbini, and Madhesh Provinces of Nepal. With grants of USD 145,000 to USD 150,000, the programme supports innovative, collaborative, and sustainable approaches that enhance women’s leadership, improve citizen participation, and build more transparent, accountable, and gender-responsive local governance systems.