SAHAS

Despite legal frameworks promoting inclusivity, persons with disabilities in Nepal continue to face widespread exclusion from education, employment, and basic services—especially women with disabilities, who encounter intersecting layers of discrimination. In Madhesh Province, which has the lowest Human Development Index (HDI) score (0.519) among the seven provinces of Nepal, people with disabilities are particularly vulnerable to poverty, unemployment, and social marginalization.

The SAHAS Project, funded by the City of Vienna and ADRA Austria, is being implemented in Aurahi, Bardibas, and Bhangaha municipalities of Mahottari district. The project seeks to empower 70 persons with disabilities (PWDs) and strengthen the capacity of local institutions, including Organizations of People with Disabilities (OPDs) and municipal governments, to foster inclusive economic development and gender equality.

The project aims to promote sustained and dignified livelihoods for people with disabilities through skills development, enterprise support, gender-transformative approaches, and inclusive advocacy mechanisms. It aligns with the principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities by taking a rights-based approach to disability inclusion and economic resilience.