On May 21, 2024, the Government of Nepal and the World Bank jointly launched the Institutionalizing Gender-Based Violence Response in Federal Nepal Project. The Honorable Minister of Women, Children, and Senior Citizens, Ms. Bhagbati Chaudhary, and World Bank Country Director for Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, Mr. Faris Hadad-Zervos were present at the launch.
This three-year project aims to enhance women’s and girls’ access to multisectoral gender-based violence (GBV) response services such as legal aid, psychosocial counseling, and medical support in six municipalities in Koshi and Lumbini provinces. The initiative is expected to benefit approximately 49,000 women and girls who have experienced violence by providing better access to quality services.
“Addressing gender-based violence is a priority for the government of Nepal. This project will help establish a functioning coordination system to link GBV response mechanisms at the municipal, provincial, and federal levels,” said Bhagbati Chaudhary.
The project is financed by a $4.6 million grant from the State and Peacebuilding Trust Fund and will be overseen by the Ministry of Women, Children, and Senior Citizens.
In addition to improving access to services for victims of GBV, the project also aims to strengthen institutional frameworks and capacity. It plans to pilot innovative GBV service models with a focus on enhancing service coverage and quality while promoting behavior change among first responders and local stakeholders for improved GBV response.
“This project will help empower women and girls to readily access GBV services, report violence, and seek help, especially in the most remote and hard-to-reach areas. This is key to supporting Nepal’s development that is green, resilient, and inclusive,” said Faris Hadad-Zervos.
The financing agreements for this project were signed by the Government of Nepal and the World Bank on April 24, 2024.