About DLMGA:

Dalit Lives Matter Global Alliance (DLMGA) is driven by the enduring principles of social justice, partnership, and a people-centred ethos to advance Dalit rights and dignity. By fostering strategic local, regional, and global alliances, DLMGA seeks to end caste-based inequality. DLMGA works at the intersection of caste, gender, and identity — advocating for the most marginalised communities in Nepal and globally.

About the VoC Project:

DLMGA, in partnership with FCA Nepal (Finn Church Aid) and Shanta Foundation, is implementing "Voices of Change: Building Futures through Creativity, Identity, and Action in Nepal (VoC)" — funded by the European Union. The project aims to enable marginalised youth — particularly women, Dalits, and sexual and gender minorities — to participate in and lead Nepal's Cultural and Creative Industries (CCI). VoC recognises that culture and creativity are powerful tools for social change, identity expression, and economic empowerment — but access to CCI opportunities is deeply unequal along caste, gender, and identity lines.

About This RFP:

DLMGA seeks proposals for a study to conduct policy review and gap analysis in Nepal's Cultural and Creative Industries (CCI), particularly from the perspectives of marginalised youth. The study will examine the status of policy implementation, representation of marginalised groups in CCI, and the role of CCI in promoting social cohesion.

Key dimensions of the study:

• Policy landscape — what policies exist governing Nepal's cultural and creative industries? Implementation status — how well are existing policies being implemented?
• Representation — are Dalit, women, and sexual/gender minority youth represented in CCI leadership, participation, and benefits?
• Gaps — where are the policy and practice gaps that exclude marginalised youth from CCI?
• Social cohesion — how do CCI policies and practices contribute to or undermine social cohesion across caste, gender, and identity lines?
• Recommendations — what policy reforms and practical interventions are needed?
  

Nepal's Cultural and Creative Industries Context:

Nepal has a rich cultural heritage — music, dance, visual arts, literature, crafts, film, festivals, architecture, and traditional performing arts. However, participation in and benefit from these industries is deeply stratified by caste, gender, and identity. Dalit artists, musicians, and craftspeople have historically been both essential to Nepal's cultural life (many performing arts traditions are Dalit-originated) and systematically excluded from recognition, resources, and leadership. Women face barriers in cultural production and leadership. LGBTQI+ artists navigate both creative expression and identity-based discrimination.

Nepal's CCI policy landscape is evolving — the federal system (since 2017) has created new opportunities for cultural policy at local and provincial levels, but implementation is fragmented and marginalised voices are often absent from policy processes.

Who Should Apply:

Policy researchers with experience in cultural policy, creative economy, or arts governance. Social inclusion specialists with expertise in caste, gender, and LGBTQI+ analysis. Dalit rights researchers and analysts. Cultural studies academics with policy analysis skills. Research firms with mixed-methods capacity (policy review + qualitative fieldwork). Consultants experienced in EU-funded project evaluations and studies. Individuals or teams with deep understanding of Nepal's cultural landscape and marginalisation dynamics.

KEY DETAILS 

• RFP: Policy Review and Gap Analysis — Cultural and Creative Industries (CCI)
  
• Organization: DLMGA (Dalit Lives Matter Global Alliance)
  
• Partners: FCA Nepal + Shanta Foundation
  
• Funder: European Union
  
• Project: Voices of Change (VoC)
  
• DEADLINE: June 19, 2026 at 17:00 
  
• Posted: May 28, 2026 
  

• TWO STEPS:
  REQUEST TOR: Email info@dalitlivesmatter.org
  Subject: "Request for ToR: Policy Review and Gap Analysis-VOC"
  Do this FIRST — you need the ToR to prepare your proposal
  

SUBMIT PROPOSAL: Email info@dalitlivesmatter.org
Deadline: June 19, 2026 at 17:00
No telephone inquiries — EMAIL ONLY

• FOR: CONSULTANTS or FIRMS with:
  — POLICY REVIEW and analysis expertise
  — CULTURAL/CREATIVE INDUSTRIES knowledge
  — MARGINALISED COMMUNITIES understanding (Dalit, women, LGBTQI+)
  — RESEARCH and analytical skills
  — Nepal's POLICY LANDSCAPE familiarity
  — Must comply with PSEAH + SAFEGUARDING policies
  

• STUDY FOCUSES ON:
  — POLICY landscape governing Nepal's CCI
  — IMPLEMENTATION status of existing policies
  — REPRESENTATION of Dalit, women, LGBTQI+ youth in CCI
  — GAPS excluding marginalised youth from CCI
  — SOCIAL COHESION — CCI's role in building or undermining
  — RECOMMENDATIONS for policy reform
  

• WHY THIS IS SIGNIFICANT:
  — DALIT RIGHTS in CCI = rarely studied, hugely important
  — EU-FUNDED = credible, well-resourced
  — CULTURAL/CREATIVE INDUSTRIES = unique sector for development analysis
  — INTERSECTIONAL — caste + gender + LGBTQI+ in ONE study
  — DLMGA is leading DALIT RIGHTS org — prestigious credential
  — "VOICES OF CHANGE" project = empowerment through creativity
  — POLICY ANALYSIS = high-value intellectual work
  — Nepal's FEDERAL SYSTEM creates new cultural policy opportunities
  — Dalit-originated arts traditions UNDERVALUED despite cultural significance
  

• IMPORTANT NOTES:
  — Deadline — June 19
  — REQUEST TOR FIRST — cannot prepare without it
  — EMAIL ONLY — no phone calls
  — PSEAH + SAFEGUARDING compliance mandatory
  — EU reporting STANDARDS will apply
  — DALIT expertise is essential — not general "inclusion" language
  — CASTE ANALYSIS must be central — not peripheral
  — LGBTQI+ dimension explicitly included — don't ignore
  — YOUTH focus — not all marginalised people, specifically YOUTH in CCI
  — POLICY REVIEW = desk research + field validation
  — GAP ANALYSIS = identify what's missing and why
  — This is RESEARCH, not implementation — analytical skills paramount
  — Understanding NEPAL'S CULTURAL TRADITIONS essential
  — Federal + provincial + local POLICY LEVELS all relevant
  — Good for researchers building portfolio in CASTE + CULTURE + POLICY
  
  
• CONTACT:
  info@dalitlivesmatter.org
  https://www.dalitlivesmatter.org/