Grants Proposal Invited for 2026 Empowering Nepali Civil Society to Defend and Expand Civic Space Online & Offline, The International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL) invites proposals aimed at protecting and expanding civic space in Nepal. Organizations with projects that meet the specified criteria may apply for grants of up to USD 30,000.

Applications will be assessed on a rolling basis, and all submissions must be completed by April 15, 2026.

Applicants are encouraged to carefully review the full details and submit their applications before the specified deadline to seize this grant opportunity.

Last Date of Submission: 15^th April 2026

Background  for Grants Proposal Invited for 2026 Empowering Nepali Civil Society to Defend and Expand Civic Space Online & Offline

As Nepal enters a new political phase, civil society is expected to play a crucial role in addressing the reforms and changes demanded by its citizens.

In September 2025, large-scale protests led primarily by Gen Z erupted in Kathmandu after the government decided to block 26 social media platforms, including Facebook, X, YouTube, LinkedIn, Reddit, Signal, and Snapchat. What began as a reaction to digital restrictions quickly expanded into a broader movement addressing corruption, governance, transparency, and political accountability. Within just 48 hours, the government was dissolved.

Following five months of interim governance, elections were held in March 2026. Early results indicate a strong public demand for reform, with the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), led by Kathmandu’s reformist mayor Balen Shah, projected to secure enough seats to form a government independently.

Nepal’s civil society organizations (CSOs)—including activists, community leaders, and human rights defenders—have long played a vital role in safeguarding freedoms of association, peaceful assembly, expression, and privacy. They continue to contribute significantly to development and governance by promoting accountability, offering expertise, representing community voices, and delivering essential services.

As Nepal transitions into this new political era, it is essential to strengthen civil society’s ability to continue these contributions. This is particularly important as several laws impacting civic space are under discussion, including those related to organizational registration, social media regulation, cybersecurity, data protection, and artificial intelligence. At the same time, efforts to digitize governance through digital public infrastructure and AI are gaining momentum.

Concerns also remain that civil society could be unfairly blamed for the violence during the September protests, potentially leading to restrictive regulations that limit CSOs’ operations, access to international funding, and the public’s right to peaceful assembly. In this context, ICNL recognizes the urgent need to support initiatives that promote legal frameworks enabling all Nepalis to exercise their fundamental freedoms.

Project Activities for Grants Proposal Invited for 2026 Empowering Nepali Civil Society to Defend and Expand Civic Space Online & Offline

ICNL invites proposals focused on protecting and expanding civic space in Nepal through legal reform advocacy, strengthening civil society resilience, and fostering engagement in multi-stakeholder processes.

Supported activities may include:

• Advocating for laws, policies, and measures that remove restrictions and promote civic freedoms, both online and offline.
• Enhancing civil society resilience by developing tools, conducting trainings, and building networks to help organizations navigate legal and operational challenges.
• Increasing awareness and capacity among civil society groups to defend their rights and actively participate in policy-making processes.

Priority will be given to proposals that:

• Involve diverse coalitions of stakeholders;
• Support women and marginalized communities, including Dalits;
• Demonstrate innovation and potential for meaningful impact.

All project activities must be completed by December 31, 2026.

Eligibility Requirements for Grants Proposal Invited for 2026 Empowering Nepali Civil Society to Defend and Expand Civic Space Online & Offline

• Open to non-profit organizations based in Nepal.
• Proposed activities must focus on Nepal.
• Applicants may submit only one proposal as the Lead Organization but can participate in multiple proposals as consortium members.

Application Instructions & Proposal Content

Applicants must complete the Online Application Form in English and include:

• Project Concept, including:

• • Problem statement highlighting key civic space challenges and opportunities in Nepal;
  • Project goal, objectives, and expected impact;
  • Detailed description of activities and how they contribute to outcomes;
  • Target stakeholders (e.g., government bodies, regulators, civil society, public);
  • Expected outputs (e.g., trainings, reports, campaigns, policy proposals);
  • Project duration (must conclude by December 31, 2026).

• Budget:

• • A detailed line-item budget (maximum USD 30,000), including mandatory audit costs.

• Supporting Documents:

• • CVs of key project staff;
  • Organizational experience relevant to civic space work;
  • Background information (e.g., website links or supporting materials).

Selection Criteria for Grants Proposal Invited for 2026 Empowering Nepali Civil Society to Defend and Expand Civic Space Online & Offline

Applications will be assessed based on:

• Compliance with eligibility and submission requirements;
• Potential impact in addressing civic space challenges and opportunities;
• Clarity, feasibility, and quality of the proposed activities;
• Budget justification and cost-effectiveness;
• Relevant experience and expertise of the applicant;
• Demonstrated capacity to manage and utilize grant funds responsibly.

Terms of Reference  

Selected grantees will be required to:

• Submit periodic progress reports during the project period;
• Provide a final report detailing activities and outcomes before receiving the final disbursement.

All funded activities must be completed by December 31, 2026.

How to apply?

Interested applicants can apply by completing the Online Application Form.

If you have any questions or run into issues, please send an email to asia@icnl.org with

“Empowering Nepali Civil Society to Defend and Expand Civic Space Online & Offline” in the subject line. Please provide the following information in your email so that ICNL can followup, as appropriate:

• Name of organization applying for grant support
• Project point of contact (name, position, email address, telephone number)

Deadline

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until April 15, 2026, or until all funding has been allocated. Due to the number of expected applications, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Note: For more comprehensive details click the link below

Get full access to the grant information, visit the Official Website Link

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