Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizens
Grant No.0864: Strengthening to Protect and Uplift Women Project (SSPUWP)
INTRODUCTION & BASIC DATA
Women and girls in Nepal have made significant strides in human development over the past two decades; however, gender disparities and gender-based violence (GBV) remain prevalent. GBV remains a persistent problem in Nepal due to patriarchal attitudes and deeply rooted gender-based stereotypes. Despite laws that criminalize various forms of GBV, reporting of cases is low. Key contributing factors include social tolerance of GBV, limited agency of women and girls, low awareness of existing legal provisions and services, and limited availability of survivor-centric services contribute to low reporting. Recognizing the need for providing comprehensive services to address GBV, the Fifteenth Plan 2019/2020-2023/2024 calls for providing integrated services to GBV survivors through rehabilitation centers and shelters. The project aims to strengthen the government"s response to GBV in Nepal. Further, it intends to fill gaps in the availability of survivor-centric and GESI sensitive infrastructure within the Nepal Police to ensure safe, confidential, and respectful environment for reporting cases and provide long-term rehabilitation for GBV victims and survivors. The project is aligned with the government"s vision of a “Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali,” which envisions a society without discrimination, violence, or crime. Based on consultations with the government, assessment of GBV prevalence, and need for rehabilitation services and readiness, the project covers Madhesh Province, Lumbini Province, and Sudurpaschim Province. In addition, the project supports the construction of a National-level Long- term Rehabilitation Center (National LTRC) in Bhaktapur, Kathmandu to respond to the high number of GBV cases.
The ADB approved the Grant 0864: Strengthening Systems to Protect and Uplift Women Project (the Project) on 24 November 2022 for a grant of $12 million from the Gender Thematic pool of the Asian Development Fund-13 grant. The total project amount is $18 million, with the additional $6 million financed by the government of Nepal (government). The government and ADB signed the Grant Agreement on 27 December 2022 with a closing date of 30 June 2027. The grant was made effective on 8 February 2023.
The overall project impact to be achieved is - GBV incidence reduced and GBV survivors reintegrated in society while the outcome is improved access to and quality GBV services in project areas. The project has four outputs; (i) Women, Children, and Senior Citizens Service Center (WCSCSC) services strengthened; (ii) rehabilitation services for GBV survivors strengthened; (iii) community awareness of GBV prevention and services improved and (iv) institutional capacity for providing effective GBV services developed.
The Federal Ministry of Women, Children, and Senior Citizens(MOWCSC) is the executing agency and the implementing agencies are Department of Urban Development and Building Construction (DUDBC), Ministry of Sports and Social Welfare, Madhesh Province; Ministry of Social Development, Lumbini Province; and the Ministry of Social Development, Sudurpaschim Province. DUDBC is responsible for the construction of all police WCSCSC buildings under Output 1 and the NationalLTRC under Output 2. A central Project Management Unit (PMU) within MOWCSC is responsible for overall project implementation, monitoring, and reporting. The Province-level Project Implementation Units (PIUs) formed in each of the three provinces are responsible for implementing the construction of LTRCs and select community awareness activities in their respective provinces with support from MOWCSC.
Further, in the case of DUDBC, the Project Coordination Office established for ADB"s Regional Urban Development Project functions as a PIU for this project. The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) provides supervision and procurement support, as well as technical backstopping for all civil works. A Project Steering Committee chaired by the Secretary, MOWCSC, provides strategic guidance for overall project implementation. To facilitate timely and smooth implementation of all activities linked to the police, the PMU includes Senior Superintendent of Nepal Police from the Women, Children and Senior Citizen Service Directorate (WCSCSD).
UTILIZATION OF FUNDS
As of March 31, 2026, the project has shown significant improvement in contract awards during the first quarter (Q1) of 2026. Cumulative contract awards increased from USD 4.121 million (as of December 31, 2025) to USD 4.410 million, reflecting an additional USD 0.89 million awarded in Q1 alone. This increase indicates that previously delayed contracts particularly major infrastructure and service delivery packages have now been finalized and awarded. In contrast, disbursement performance during Q1 2026 has remained unchanged. Cumulative disbursement stands at USD 1.641 million with no additional disbursement recorded during Q1. While no disbursement target was set for.
The cumulative contract awards of USD 4.410 million represent 36.75% of the total grant allocation, indicating progress in procurement commitments. However, cumulative disbursement remains low at 13.67%, leaving a substantial undisbursed balance. This highlights a persistent gap between contract commitments and actual fund utilization, reflecting delays in financial execution and the need to accelerate disbursement in the next quarters.The total project expenditure amount as of march 2026 is NRS 11,566,202,17 (GON NRS 2,541,154,9 & ADB NRS 9,208,668 )
PROJECT PURPOSE
The project is aligned with its intended impact of reducing GBV and supporting survivor reintegration. The outcome focuses on improving access to and quality of GBV services. Achievement of outcome will be measured by the following targets in the design and monitoring framework (DMF).
- Number of GBV cases reported to WCSCSCs in project areas increased by 50%.
- At least 70% of GBV survivors enrolled in the rehabilitation centers reported receiving satisfactory services.
- At least 50% of survey respondents in project areas reported confidence in WCSCSCs.
Project Outputs
The project outputs, associated targets in the DMF, and key activities are as follows.
Output 1: WCSCSC services strengthened;
Output 2: Rehabilitation services for GBV survivors strengthened;
Output 3: Community awareness of GBV prevention and services increased, &
Output 4: Institutional capacity for providing effective services to address GBV developed.
Progress toward outcome indicators is encouraging but uneven. Increased reporting of GBV cases suggests improved awareness and trust in service delivery systems. However, achievement of service quality and satisfaction targets will depend on timely completion of infrastructure, the strengthening of rehabilitation services, and improved institutional capacity
IMPLEMENTATION PROGRESS INCLUDING GESI ACTION PLAN
A total of 23,310 GBV cases were recorded between January 2023 and March 2026, with Madhesh Province reporting the highest number of cases (17,021), followed by Sudurpaschim Province (4,833) and Lumbini Province (1,456). This trend indicates both higher prevalence and improved reporting mechanisms in project areas, particularly in Madesh Province.
WCSCSC Construction Progress - In this quarter, 6 WCSCSC buildings (3 Sudurpaschim Province, 2 Madesh Province and 1 Lumbini Province) are nearing completion. Construction work of 8 buildings is ongoing, whereas construction work of 2 WCSCSC buildings in Madesh Province is on hold (from 20 February 2026) as per the advice of ADB. Construction under CW-10 in Bajura has not yet commenced due to delays in land handover by the DPO (District Police Officer), which remains a key implementation bottleneck. A joint visit by RUDP, UNOPS, Nepal Police, and the contractor to Bajura is planned for the first week of April 2026 to resolve this issue.
LTRC Construction Progress - Out of four construction planned LTRCs, one contract (NCW-01, National Rehabilitation Center) has been awarded, while the remaining contracts are at various stages of procurement and land clearance.The contractor has been mobilized on the National Rehabilitation Center at Bhaktapur site since January 2026. Initial site setup, preparation, and earthworks excavation for leveling work was completed between February and March 2026. In the case of CW-04, the remaining necessary documents have been submitted, and the PMU is awaiting the No Objection Letter on the Financial Bid Evaluation Report (FBER). LTRC CW-02 has been referred for re-tendering due to technical errors identified in the FBER. The land ownership clearance process in Lumbini Province is still ongoing in line with documents requirements to complete the ownership process.
The GESI Action Plan (GESI AP), comprising 10 activities and 13 targets aligned with the Design and Monitoring Framework, is being implemented across project provinces. Progress during the reporting period demonstrates continued integration of GESI principles into project activities, service delivery systems, and institutional processes.
Community awareness activities were implemented using a GESI-sensitive approach, targeting women and girls while also actively engaging men, boys, and socially excluded groups. A total of 140 GBV awareness programmes were conducted across the three provinces, reaching 60,183 participants (31,736 male and 28,447 female), significantly exceeding the cumulative outreach target of 27,000. Sudurpaschim Province recorded the highest number of activities (68 events reaching 10,913 participants), followed by Madhesh Province (50 events reaching 46,583 participants) and Lumbini Province (22 events reaching 2,687 participants). Participation of men and boys exceeded the 40% target across all provinces, reflecting the project"s emphasis on engaging men as partners in GBV prevention. Awareness content covered legal provisions, available survivor services, gender-equitable norms, and technology-facilitated GBV, while targeted interventions included school-based activities and self-defence training for adolescent girls. Participation of LGBTIQ+ groups was also facilitated in selected events, contributing to inclusive outreach.
Capacity development interventions continued to strengthen gender-responsive, survivor-centric service delivery within the Nepal Police and related institutions. The GRICS) training reached 660 personnel (452 male and 210 female) across 22 events, with three additional training events ongoing for 90 personnel as of March 2026. Follow-up interactions indicate positive behavioural changes, including improved communication with survivors, enhanced legal counselling capacity, and stronger evidence collection practices. Two Master MTOT events trained 50 senior police personnel, strengthening institutional capacity for sustained training delivery. In addition, 60 personnel completed the 16-day psychosocial counselling training, establishing a cadre of trained counsellors to provide trauma-informed support. At the federal level, 58 gender focal officials were trained on GBV and the Sexual Harassment at Workplace Act, strengthening gender-responsive oversight. Training manuals and participant handbooks have been developed and published, supporting institutionalization of GESI-responsive practices.
Institutional strengthening measures also progressed during the reporting period. GBV Control Network orientation sessions were conducted across districts and municipalities, reaching 472 participants and supporting multi-stakeholder coordination for GBV prevention and response.
The SOP for long-term rehabilitation centres was developed through a consultative and inclusive process, with inputs from government agencies, civil society, development partners, and UN agencies. A national consultation chaired by the Secretary of MoWCSC was held on 17 February 2026, and feedback is being incorporated into the revised draft. The SOP is designed to ensure rehabilitation services are safe, confidential, gender-responsive, and inclusive of persons with disabilities.
Safeguard-related GESI measures were also implemented. PSEAH materials have been displayed across all active construction sites, and Grievance Redress Committees have been established at WCSCSC construction sites in accordance with approved guidelines, with orientation completed in most locations. These measures contribute to strengthening accountability and ensuring safe and inclusive project implementation environments.
In accordance with the Grant Agreement between the GoN and ADB for the SSPUW Project, the Government is required to comply with the covenants set out in Section 4.02 and Schedules 2 and 3 of the Grant Agreement. As of March 2026, there are 31 grant covenants, of which 10 are complied with, 16 are being complied with, 4 are partially complied with, and 1 is not yet due. Overall, compliance with the grant covenants is satisfactory, and no material covenant compliance issues have been identified. Details on the status of compliance with the grant covenants are provided in Appendix 10: Status of Compliance with Grant Covenants.
