Strengthening Civil Society for Inclusive Democracy and Human Rights (SAMA-SAMA) in Nepal and the Philippinesis a 3-year development project managed by the Centre for International Studies and Cooperation (CECI), with the funding support from Global Affairs Canada (GAC). Forum for Protection of Public Interest (Pro Public) is the project thematic partner for the implementation of this project in Nepal. This Project aims to strengthen civil society in Nepal to reinforce civic engagement and democratic participation among women and marginalized groups (WMGs).

Pro Public is proud to serve as the Thematic Lead for the SAMA-SAMA Project, a three-year initiative (April 2025 – December 2027). The project is being implemented across selected 12 municipalities and rural municipalities in Madhesh (Mahottari, Dhanusha, Sarlahi) and Lumbini (Kapilvastu, Rupendehi, Nawalparasi) provinces, aiming to strengthen democratic participation, women’s leadership, and inclusive governance.

As the thematic partner, Pro Public provides manages several activities itself and provide strategic technical support to provincial partners, coordinating with local implementers and building their capacity in governance, human rights, and gender equality. Pro Public responsibilities include:

Roles and Responsibilities:

Pro Public serves as the Thematic Partner and provides thematic technical support to Provincial Partners for the project, leading strategic activities assigned, coordinating with local implementors and building their thematic capacity, research, assessments, and advocacy while supporting them in effective activity implementation and coordination with LGs and CSOs and results documentation.

Activities:

Ø  Develop IEC material with close coordination with CECI thematic advisors, specialists and resource persons and project staff at provincial partners.

Ø  Develop training design and manual for Future Leaders and Executives Empowerment Training (FLEET) and implement it in close coordination with the parties.

Ø  Support the design of advocacy strategies by women and youths from marginalized groups for greater representation and participation in democratic spaces

Ø  Lead capacity-strengthening of SAMA-SAMA partners by conducting participatory organizational self-assessments of women-led CSOs and rights advocacy groups, training and coaching women-led CSOs and rights advocacy groups, and supporting dialogues

Ø  Support cross-learning events and exchange visits with project partners, feminist groups and other development partners

Ø  Lead desk review of current government policies, strategies and guidelines on selection processes of electoral candidates and appointments with a GESI and human rights lens

Ø  Support mobilization of local leaders and women’s rights groups and help formulate and share recommendations to multi-level government representatives on policies, strategies and guidelines for inclusive governance.

Ø  Lead capacity strengthening activities for women officials, potential candidates and local women office-bearers from marginalized groups

Ø  Lead the community participatory action research to identify key issues, barriers, and best practices to accessing information, planning processes, incentives, and services provided to WMGs

Ø  Lead the research of democratic participation of WMGs, including the fight against GBV on LEWR, women activists, and women CSO leaders, including:

Ø  Support local academic institutions to conduct action-research studies on the current state of political participation of WMGs in local governance

Ø  Organize workshops and other public events with multi-level government, WMGs and CSOs to disseminate the findings, promote an inclusive political narrative, and raise awareness on violence against LEWR

Ø  Engage media to develop and disseminate tailored content on inclusive political governance and raise awareness on violence against LEWR

Ø  Support women-led and rights-based CSOs and their network to develop sharp advocacy strategies on transformational feminist leadership, equitable representation, and participation of WMGs and prevention of GBV toward LEWR.

Through these initiatives, Pro Public aims to empower women and marginalized communities to actively participate in local governance, influence policy decisions, and strengthen sustainable, rights-based advocacy networks. To maximize the project’s reach and impact, Pro Public collaborates closely with the Centre for International Studies and Cooperation (CECI) as the Project Lead, and with Campaign Nepal in Madhesh Province and Siddhartha Social Development Centre (SSDC) in Lumbini Province as implementing partners.