Expression of Interest (EOI) Call for Media and Research Fellowship

Terms of Reference (ToR)

Expression of Interest (EOI) Call for Media and Research Fellowship

Background

Nepal Disabled Women Association (NDWA) was established in 2054 (1998) adopting the values of the fundamental rights and responsibilities provided by the constitution of Nepal in order to support Women with Disabilities to pursue their rights, and provide them protection and livelihood support. Unless women with disabilities from all sections of the Nepalese community get understanding of their human rights, particularly as ensured by the UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD), and exercise them, their lives will not be bright and prosperous. 

NDWA under its project activities on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) prevention, response, and access to justice for women and girls with disabilities, is launching a Media and Research Fellowship Program. The fellowship aims to generate evidence-based literature, public reports, and media products that contribute to increased awareness, policy dialogue, and advocacy on issues affecting women and girls with disabilities.

Despite growing attention to disability and gender inclusion, there remains limited research and media coverage on the intersection of disability, gender equality, GBV, safeguarding, and access to justice. Similarly, most of the articles related to disability are published through a charitable perspective rather than human rights perspective. The articles on gender-based violence aren’t survivor centric and lack the ethical measures through the development and publishment of the news article. This fellowship seeks to support emerging researchers and media professionals in producing high-quality, evidence-based outputs that amplify the voices and experiences of women and girls with disabilities.

Purpose of the Fellowship

The fellowship aims to support students and media personnel to conduct research and/or develop evidence-based publications that contribute to a better understanding of:

• Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and disability
• Media monitoring of ethical reporting of GBV against women and girls with disabilities 
• Meta analysis of GBV & women and girls with disabilities
• Barriers to access to justice for women and girls with disabilities
• Disability rights and gender equality
• Barriers to services and support systems
• Social norms, discrimination, and inclusion
• Good practices and innovative approaches to disability and gender inclusion

Fellowship Opportunities

• A total of four (4) fellowships will be awarded.
• Applicants may propose one of the following:

Research Fellowship

• Research paper
• Thesis support
• Policy brief
• Case study compilation
• Evidence-based literature review

Media Fellowship

• Investigative article or series
• Feature story
• Documentary article/report
• Multimedia storytelling piece
• Public awareness report

Fellowship Duration

The fellowship will be implemented over a period of approximately 3–4 months from the date of award.

Fellowship Support

Selected fellows will receive:

• Financial support to conduct the proposed research or media work
• Technical guidance and mentoring from NDWA
• Opportunities to present findings and recommendations
• Access to relevant project resources and references where available

The maximum fellowship amount available per fellow is NPR 30,000, inclusive of all associated costs.

Eligibility Criteria

Research Fellowship Applicants

• Final-year undergraduate, graduate, or postgraduate students
• Independent researchers with demonstrated research experience
• Interest in disability inclusion, gender equality, GBV, or social justice

Media Fellowship Applicants

• Journalists, media professionals, or freelance writers
• Affiliation with media outlets is desirable but not mandatory
• Demonstrated experience in reporting, writing, or content production

Selection Criteria

Applications will be evaluated based on:

Expected Deliverables

Selected fellows will be required to submit:

• Inception note/work plan
• Periodic progress updates
• Draft research report, article, or media product
• Final publication-ready output
• Published article/ report 
• Brief presentation of key findings

Safeguarding and Ethical Requirements

All fellows must:

• Adhere to NDWA / CBM Global safeguarding and protection policies
• Ensure informed consent during interviews and data collection
• Adhere to data protection policy of CBM Global 
• Maintain confidentiality and data protection standards
• Conduct risk assessments before fieldwork
• Prioritize the safety and dignity of research participants

Any form of exploitation, harassment, discrimination, or breach of safeguarding principles will result in immediate termination of the fellowship.

Application Process

Interested applicants are requested to submit:

1. Completed application form or cover letter

2. Curriculum Vitae (CV)

3. Concept note/proposal (maximum 3 pages) including:

• Title
• Background and rationale
• Objectives
• Methodology
• Expected outputs
• Work plan and timeline
• Proposed budget

4. Sample of previous work (research paper, article, publication, or media content)

Submission Deadline

Applications must be submitted no later than August 31, 2026.

Submission Address

Applications should be submitted electronically to:

Nepal Disabled Women Association (NDWA)

Email: vacancy@ndwa.org.np

Subject Line: Application for Media and Research Fellowship 2026

Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

Person with disabilities, GBV survivors and people from marginalized communities are highly encouraged to apply. The organization will ensure the reasonable accommodation requirement for person with disability as required.