Summary

UNDP’s Enhancing Access to Justice through Institutional Reform (A2J) Project-II (2021-2026) is being implemented under the overall leadership of Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs (MoLJPA), in collaboration with Office of Chief Minister and Council of Ministers (OCMCM) of four Provinces (Koshi, Madhesh, Karnali and Sudurpaschim). The project with support from The Royal Norwegian Embassy, Nepal has achieved the expected results and supported legal aid providers and authorities to effectively manage and provide legal aid services to people, particularly women, and other marginalized groups in a sustainable manner increasing Access to Justice. The project is primarily focused on enhancing access to justice for women and marginalized communities by strengthening the legal aid system, legal empowerment of women and marginalized groups, and providing institutional and technical support to the justice sector actors. 

Background

The project aims to support legal aid providers and authorities in effectively managing and delivering legal aid services, particularly to women and other marginalized groups (including Dalits, persons with disabilities [PWD], and LGBTQI+ individuals). The objective is to increase access to justice, strengthen justice sector institutions to provide effective legal and judicial remedies, and protect human rights in line with national and international standards. Additionally, the project seeks to empower individuals—especially women, Dalits, PWD, LGBTQI+ individuals, the poor, and other marginalized groups—to claim their rights and actively participate in judicial governance and civic life.

This project builds on the achievements and lessons learned from previous UNDP engagements, particularly the Access to Justice Project (2018-2021) and the Rule of Law and Human Rights Program (RoLHR: 2013-2017). It focuses on working in the Koshi, Madhesh, Karnali, and Sudurpaschim regions, benefiting selected local governments through the services provided by implementing partners.

The project also establishes strategic partnerships with government stakeholders at the federal, provincial, and local levels. Key partners include the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), the Supreme Court of Nepal, the Nepal Bar Association, provincial and local governments (including Judicial Committees), the National Judicial Academy, the Nepal Law Commission, law faculties at universities, the Central Law Library, and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs). Together, these partners work in a coordinated manner to achieve the overall goals of the project and contribute to the development of normative frameworks, as well as the technical and institutional capacity building of justice sector actors, to address the barriers to accessing justice in Nepal.