Who We Are
Project Abhaya is a youth-led civil society organisation dedicated to advancing gender-responsive democratic governance in Nepal. Founded in 2022 and formally registered as a non-governmental organisation, we operate at the intersection of civic education, women's political participation, digital rights, and governance technology.
Our work is grounded in Nepal's federal constitutional architecture and aligned with international normative frameworks - including the Sustainable Development Goals, the Beijing Platform for Action, CEDAW, and UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security. We engage across all three tiers of Nepal's governance system: federal, provincial, and local.
MISSION
Our Mission
To strengthen the capacity of youth and women to participate meaningfully in Nepal's democratic governance processes - as policy advocates, elected representatives, institutional actors, and rights-claiming citizens - through evidence-based programming, civic technology, and strategic policy engagement.
VISION
Our Vision
A Nepal in which the participation of youth and women in governance is not an exception mandated by constitutional quota, but a structural norm embedded across all levels of democratic decision-making - from ward-level planning processes to federal legislative chambers.
OUR VALUES
Guiding Principles
Substantive Inclusion
Moving beyond tokenistic representation toward the creation of governance conditions in which women and young people hold meaningful decision-making authority.
Evidence and Accountability
All programming is grounded in empirical research, rigorous monitoring and evaluation, and transparent reporting to partners, funders, and communities.
Digital Responsibility
Technology is deployed as a tool for civic empowerment, with explicit attention to digital safety, data sovereignty, and the mitigation of digital violence - particularly against women in public life.
Rights-Based Approaches
Our work is anchored in international human rights law and Nepal's constitutional commitments to equality, non-discrimination, and participatory governance.
Local Ownership
Programmes are co-designed with community stakeholders, municipal partners, and provincial governance actors to ensure contextual relevance and institutional sustainability.
Leadership
Ishika Panta
Founder
Mamta Shrestha
Executive Director
Kritika Sharma
Program Lead
Hear Our Story
Before Abhaya, I did not know how to speak up in public spaces. Today, I stand confidently at public forums, speaking not just for myself, but representing thousands of women whose voices were once unheard.
Sita K.
Rural Municipality Vice-Chair
Before Abhaya, I didn't know how to speak in a meeting. Now, I am confidently speaking in Parliament, representing thousands of women who were once voiceless.
Sita K.
Rural Municipality Vice-Chair
Our programs bridge the gap between learning and doing. We turn civic education into real-world impact that reaches every corner of Nepal.
Kritika S.
Program Lead
Building strong support networks that uplift individuals and strengthen the collective fabric. Together we are redefining what leadership looks like.
Nishtha S.
General Secretary
Empowering youth and women to lead starts with creating spaces where every voice is heard and every idea can grow.
Mamta S.
Executive Director
Engage With Our Work
Project Abhaya invites civil society organisations, government partners, bilateral agencies, researchers, and individual practitioners to engage with our programmes, tools, and advocacy platforms.