Advocacy Leads to Improved Accessibility at UNDP Office in Sudurpaschim

For many years, non-governmental organizations in Nepal have played a vital role in promoting inclusivity and accessibility. Among them is UNDP Nepal, which has been actively contributing to the development of the Sudurpaschim Province by establishing an office in the region.

Despite UNDP’s commitment to social inclusion and accessibility, its own office in Sudurpaschim lacked proper accessibility features. This issue was identified when a team from the National Federation of the Disabled Nepal (NFDN) Sudurpaschim Province Office visited the site.

As part of the “Include Us” project, the NFDN team conducted a field visit in October 2023 to the UNDP office in Dhangadhi, Kailali. They observed that the office was not fully accessible to persons with disabilities and provided recommendations for necessary improvements.

“The office was in a rented building, which posed limitations in making structural modifications,” explained Baijayanti Giri, the head of the UNDP office. “We had plans to renovate and improve accessibility, but budget constraints were a major hurdle.”

Recognizing the urgency, Giri assured the team that she would request additional funding from UNDP’s central office. Keeping her commitment, she submitted the budget request, and by the second week of January 2024, accessibility improvements were successfully completed.

Thanks to the joint efforts and advocacy of the NFDN Sudurpaschim Province Office and the “Include Us” project, the UNDP Sudurpaschim office now meets international accessibility standards. The office now features a well-constructed ramp, accessible restrooms, dedicated parking spaces for individuals with disabilities, and an emergency assembly area.

**Caption:** “This change means a lot for people like me.” The newly accessible office ensures that individuals with disabilities can fully participate in UNDP initiatives.

The progress at UNDP’s Sudurpaschim office is just one step in a larger movement. The advocacy efforts are not only focused on office spaces but also on ensuring that accessibility is embedded in all public and private infrastructures. The NFDN and its partners continue to work towards making government and non-government buildings fully accessible, pushing for systematic changes in policies and regulations.

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