Terms of Reference (ToR)- Research on Access to Justice of Women and Girls with Disabilities

Federation of Women with Disability Nepal (FWDN)

Terms of Reference (ToR)

Research on Access to Justice of Women and Girls with Disabilities

Project Overview

The project title on “Impower Her: Access to Justice Initiative”. This project aims to strengthen the institutional and organizational capacity of disability rights organizations through policy development, capacity-building training, improved management systems, and effective documentation practices. It also seeks to enhance the understanding and responsiveness of justice-sector stakeholders on access to justice, gender-based violence prevention, disability rights, and inclusive policy reform and implementation through training, advocacy, media mobilization, and policy engagement.

Furthermore, the project focuses on empowering marginalized and underrepresented women and girls with disabilities by building their leadership, networking, and participation capacities to ensure their meaningful involvement in decision-making processes at different levels.

Women and girls with disabilities in Nepal continue to face multiple barriers in accessing justice systems and legal services. These barriers include physical inaccessibility, lack of accessible information and communication, stigma and discrimination, weak implementation of disability-inclusive laws and policies, limited legal awareness, and inadequate institutional responsiveness. Women and girls with intellectual, psychosocial, hearing, visual, and physical disabilities are particularly vulnerable to violence, abuse, exclusion, and denial of justice.

In this context, this research aims to document the lived experiences, challenges, and barriers faced by women and girls with disabilities in accessing justice and legal protection mechanisms under the project. The study findings will support advocacy, policy dialogue, evidence-based interventions, and submission of documented cases and recommendations to relevant legal and justice offices.

Purpose of the Assignment

To conduct a qualitative research study on access to justice of women and girls with disabilities, document cases and experiences, and prepare a research report with recommendations for submission to relevant legal and justice sector offices.

Objectives of the Study

The consultant/researcher will:

1. Assess the barriers faced by women and girls with disabilities in accessing justice services and legal remedies. 
2. Identify forms of discrimination, violence, exclusion, and institutional challenges experienced by women and girls with disabilities. 
3. Document real cases and experiences related to access to justice. 
4. Explore the responsiveness of justice-sector stakeholders and service providers. 
5. Develop practical recommendations to improve disability-inclusive access to justice mechanisms.

Scope of Work

The consultant/researcher will be responsible for:

• Developing research tools and methodology. 
• Conducting literature review and consultation with stakeholders. 
• Conducting:
  • 10 Key Informant Interviews (KII) with justice-sector stakeholders, service providers, local representatives, police, lawyers, disability rights activists, and related stakeholders. 
  • 5 Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) including more than 38 Women and girls with disabilities and caregivers/parents of persons with intellectual disabilities/deaf-blind/Autism (approximately 6-8 participants in each FGD). 
  • Consultation and interaction for feedback and recommendation collection along with validation of the research. 
• Documenting selected justice-related cases and experiences. 
• Ensuring disability-inclusive and gender-sensitive research approaches. 
• Preparing and submitting draft and final research reports. 
• Presenting key findings in a consultation, interaction and validation meeting.
• Incorporated feedback and recommendation in final research report. 
• Documented findings/recommendations to submit in relevant legal justice offices.

Methodology

The consultant is expected to use participatory and qualitative research methods, including:

• Literature and policy review 
• Key Informant Interviews (KII) 
• Focus Group Discussions (FGD) 
• Case documentation 
• Observation and consultation 

The methodology must ensure:

• Confidentiality and informed consent 
• Accessibility and inclusion 
• Gender-sensitive and disability-inclusive approaches 
• Ethical considerations and safeguarding measures 

Deliverables

The consultant/researcher shall submit the following:

• Inception report includes methodology, work plan, and tools. 
• Data collection tools (KII checklist, FGD guideline, Consent forms). 
• Field findings and documented case summaries. 
• Draft research report. 
• Final research report incorporating feedback. 
• Brief recommendations for legal and justice offices. 

Duration of Assignment

The assignment will be conducted within 45–60 days from the date of contract signing.

Required Qualifications and Experience

The consultant/researcher should have:

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in law, Social Sciences, Human Rights, Gender Studies, Disability Studies, Development Studies, or related fields. 
• At least 3 years of experience in qualitative research, gender, disability rights, human rights, or access to justice issues. 
• Strong understanding of disability inclusion and gender equality. 
• Experience in conducting FGDs and KIIs. 
• Excellent report writing and analytical skills in Nepali and/or English. 
• Experience working with organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs) will be an advantage. 

Reporting and Supervision

The consultant will work under the direct supervision of the project coordinator/management team of the implementing organization and coordinate closely during planning, fieldwork, and reporting processes.

Ethical Considerations

The consultant must:

• Maintain confidentiality and privacy of participants. 
• Obtain informed consent before interviews/discussions. 
• Ensure protection and dignity of women and girls with disabilities. 
• Use accessible communication methods during research. 

Application Procedure

Interested consultants/researchers are requested to submit:

• Updated CV/Research company registered documents (Certificate, PAN, Tax clearance)
• Brief technical proposal/methodology and financial proposal 
• Sample of previous research work (if available)

Payment plan:

• Payment will be made in installments based on agreed deliverables by two installments (Advance 60% during the starting task and Final installment 40% after completion of the task)

Confidentiality and Ownership:

All the documents that will be provided to the consultant by the organization and the deliverable produced out of the consultancy will remain the property of the organization. 

Zero Tolerance against violence and fraud 

Each party should respect and promote equality and against any forms of discrimination, abuse, misuse, violence based on gender, disability, poverty, race, color, religion, caste, ethnicity, geography or any ground.

Expressions of Interest (EOIs) are sought. 

Eligible company/Firm/individual Interested are invited to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to the following address. 

To,

Federation of Women with Disability Nepal (FWDN)

Email: recruitmentprocessfwdn@gmail.com

All the eligible consultants, companies/firms are requested to submit EOI in an envelope or subject of email and mark it EOI to Human Resource unit of FWDN central office located in Dillibazar, Kathmandu through email. The proposal is May 20th, 2026, before 5:00 PM, Nepali Time.