What is the main problem the project is seeking to address? The project aims to address the existing gap in evidence-based advocacy as well as legal action, addressing gender-discriminatory citizenship laws and statelessness in Nepal, which centers the leadership and lived experiences of affected individuals. Despite the constitutional guarantee for gender equality, Nepal’s deeply patriarchal citizenship framework restricts women’s independent ability to confer citizenship to their children and spouses. This impacts generations, restricting their access to other human rights and fundamental freedoms. As the government does not officially recognize statelessness, UNHCR’s own projections suggest higher numbers than the country’s national report to the agency. This lack of recognition and credible data has created an alarming vacuum, undermining national accountability and weakening advocacy efforts. While limited civil society research has contributed to the advocacy, it has failed to sufficiently raise awareness of the problem and center the expertise and experience of affected individuals, essential for the reforms. Citizenship administration currently lacks effective appeal mechanisms, leaving those denied citizenship without legal recourse or dignified support. The project will address this critical gap by scaling CAPN’s individual legal and social companionship, while simultaneously engaging local governments to boost their awareness and responsiveness to gender-equal citizenship. To address this large disconnect between national laws and Nepal’s commitments under international human rights mechanisms (like CEDAW and UPR), compounded by deeply entrenched patriarchy and low public awareness, this project aims to drive community-led research and litigation. This approach will empower affected individuals to lead advocacy and shape constitutional, legal, and social change toward gender equality in citizenship.

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What is the main change the project seeks to achieve? The project aims to advance gender-equal citizenship rights through evidence-based advocacy and improved access to legal identity, essential services, and livelihood opportunities for stateless and citizenship-affected individuals in Nepal. It seeks to drive both systemic and individual-level change through two interlinked approaches: community-centered research for evidence-based advocacy and strategic litigation. Building on CAPN’s previous small-scale study on the implementation status of Nepal’s citizenship laws, this project will conduct a nationwide mixed-methods (qualitative and quantitative) study to reveal the prevalence, patterns, and lived experiences of statelessness. While not a census, the research will estimate the scope of statelessness and illustrate its social, economic, and psychological consequences for individuals and the state. Using a sample-based methodology, the study will examine barriers within the citizenship acquisition process and highlight the disconnection between policy and practice. The evidence generated will form the foundation for community-led advocacy, empowering affected individuals to lead campaigns and urge the Government of Nepal to uphold international human rights standards, implement CEDAW and UPR recommendations, and align national laws with these commitments. In parallel, the project will pursue strategic litigation to secure citizenship rights, challenge gender-discriminatory provisions, and obtain positive judicial decisions that set legal precedents for reform. Ultimately, the project envisions a Nepal where citizenship is recognized as a fundamental human right rather than a political privilege, with affected individuals at the forefront - leading advocacy and action toward equality, justice, and a dignified life for all.

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Who are the key partners? The Citizenship Affected People’s Network (CAPN) will lead the project in close collaboration with several key partners and stakeholders who bring complementary expertise and experience. For the research and evidence generation component, CAPN will collaborate with Global Alliance members—the Institute on Statelessness and Inclusion (ISI), Nationality for All (NFA), and the Global Campaign for Equal Nationality Rights (GCENR) - drawing on their extensive experience in statelessness research, advocacy, and policy engagement at regional and global levels. The Government of Nepal (not a Global Alliance member) will also be an important stakeholder, particularly for coordination, policy dialogue with parliamentarians, and advocacy to ensure research findings and recommendations are integrated into local, provincial, and federal reform processes. For the litigation and legal support component, CAPN will work with independent lawyers and legal experts in Nepal (not Global Alliance members) experienced in constitutional, human rights, and administrative law. These partners will support case filing, represent affected individuals, and pursue strategic litigation to secure landmark judgments advancing gender-equal citizenship rights. Most importantly, affected community members within CAPN’s network will be central partners throughout the project. Their leadership, voices, and lived experiences will guide the research, inform litigation priorities, and shape advocacy messages to ensure all actions remain grounded in the realities of stateless and citizenship-affected people.

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Who is the target population for this project? PrimaryIndividuals directly affected by Nepal’s discriminatory citizenship laws and policies, including stateless persons and those at risk of statelessness. Government stakeholders and implementing partners at the local, provincial, and federal levels will also be key targets for engagement and collaboration to ensure policy reform and effective implementation.

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OtherCivil society organizations, the general public, national and international actors, and relevant service providers who play a role in shaping public discourse, providing support, and advancing systemic change toward gender-equal citizenship rights in Nepal.

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Funding and costs What is the total cost of this project?70,000 USD

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How much funding is needed?50,000 USD

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