Ongoing project

Strengthening civil society in Nepal and the Philippines to reinforce civic engagement and democratic participation among women and marginalized groups (SAMA SAMA Project)

NepalPhilippines

Women's and girls' rightsInclusive Governance and Peacebuilding

Date

April 2025 - March 2028

Impact for

60,000

people in Nepal and the Philippines, nearly 70% of them women and young women

Implementation partners

CONCERN, PRO PUBLIC

The SAMA SAMA projetct aims to improve the equitable participation and representation of women and marginalized groups (discriminated ethnic and religious groups, displaced populations, people with disabilities, LGBTQI+ people, etc.) in the democratic space in Nepal and the Philippines. It strengthens women-led and rights-based civil society organizations and supports their engagement with governments to advance inclusive governance, environmental justice, and gender equality.
The project name is derived from the root word “Sama”, which means “join” in the Philippines, and means “equal” in Nepal. Together, the name “Sama-Sama” reflects the project’s goal of promoting meaningful and equitable participation of civil society in democratic spaces.

Objectives

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Increased ability of women and marginalized groups to negotiate equitable and inclusive participation

in political leadership and policy decisions at the local level

Enhanced capacity of civil society organizations , women's rights groups, and feminist organizations

to amplify women and marginalized groups voice on civic and electoral agenda, environmental justice, and inclusive political processes

Increased responsiveness and ability of local government units and civil society

to use transparency and accountability mechanisms to responsibly promote and provide equitable and inclusive information, incentives and services to women and marginalized groups

Improved capacity of civil society organizations and local government to collaborate

around evidence-based data and advocacy for human rights, democratic participation of women and marginalized groups, while addressing violence against locally elected women representatives

Creating conditions for inclusive leadership and systemic change

Building power and voice with women and marginalized groups

To achieve its objectives, the SAMA SAMA project is grounded in cross-cutting principles and transformative strategies designed to shift power and foster lasting change.

At its core, the SAMA SAMA project integrates gender equality and human rights as essential values. It promotes gender-responsive and gender-transformative actions that challenge discriminatory norms, enable women and marginalized groups to engage meaningfully in political life, and ensure equitable access to the project’s outcomes.

Recognizing that structural inequalities often limit participation, the SAMA SAMA project applies an inclusive lens to identify and remove both visible and invisible barriers. It also creates opportunities for awareness-raising and collective reflection among key actors—including local governments, civil society organizations, and community members.

By fostering transformational leadership and promoting positive masculinities, the SAMA SAMA project supports locally led solutions and strengthens the legitimacy of women and marginalized groups as leaders and rights-holders in democratic governance processes.