Blind Youth Association Nepal (BYAN) is a non-political, non-religious, not-for-profit Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) established by blind and partially sighted (BPS) youth in Nepal. It was founded in 2011, registered with the District Administration Office in Kathmandu in 2012, and affiliated with the Social Welfare Council of Nepal. It is the only organization established by BPS youth in Nepal. Currently, BYAN has more than 500 members, organized into 10 district chapters located in Jhapa, Morang, Bara, Kathmandu, Chitwan, Kaski, Rupandehi, Banke, Surkhet, and Kailali districts. Memberships and chapter expansion are ongoing. As a rights-based organization, BYAN intends to play a proactive role in formulating, amending, and implementing legal provisions related to youths with disabilities. It also focuses on organizing and capacity-building of youths with disabilities across the country. BYAN has strong networking and cooperation with different government and non-government stakeholders working in various domains of disability. Additionally, BYAN is a member of the National Federation of the Disabled-Nepal (NFDN), which serves as the umbrella organization for organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs) in the country.

Terms of Reference (TOR)

University Research Grant on Disability Inclusion

Blind Youth Association Nepal (BYAN), in partnership with CBM Global Disability Inclusion, is implementing the YATRA (Youth-Led Actions for Transformation Through Rights-Based Advocacy and Disability Movement) Project from Apr. 2026 to Mar. 2029. The project aims to strengthen the disability movement by empowering youth with disabilities, promoting evidence-based advocacy, enhancing the capacity of Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs), and advancing disability-inclusive policies and governance in Nepal.

One of the project's key challenges is the limited availability of high-quality research on disability in Nepal, particularly evidence that informs policy, advocacy, and inclusive development. To address this gap, BYAN is launching the University Research Grant for Disability Inclusion to support Master's students in undertaking research on disability and inclusive development.

Through this initiative, BYAN seeks to promote disability-inclusive research, generate evidence for advocacy, strengthen collaboration between academia and the disability movement, and encourage future researchers to contribute to disability studies in Nepal.

The purpose of this grant is to

Applicants must meet the following criteria

Interdisciplinary research incorporating disability is mandatory.

Research proposals should focus on disability and may include, but are not limited to

The research grant will be awarded through a competitive selection process.

Interested students shall submit

A Grant Selection Committee formed by BYAN will evaluate all proposals based on

Successful applicants will receive a conditional award notification indicating that the research grant has been approved.

However, no grant amount will be released at this stage.

The selected applicant must obtain official approval of the thesis/research proposal from their respective college or university.

Documentary evidence of approval must be submitted to BYAN.

Upon submission of the official university approval letter of final approval of thesis, BYAN will release the full grant amount (NPR 50,000 inclusive of all applicable taxes) as a lump-sum payment to the selected student.

7. Responsibilities of Grant Recipients

Upon completion of the research, the grantee must submit

9. Intellectual Property and Publication

The intellectual property generated through this research shall be jointly recognized by the student researcher and the Blind Youth Association Nepal (BYAN).

BYAN shall retain the right to

Wherever the research is subsequently published, presented, or disseminated including journal articles, conference papers, reports, or other publications the contribution of the Blind Youth Association Nepal (BYAN) and the YATRA Project supported by CBM Global Disability Inclusion shall be appropriately acknowledged.

Any commercial use of the research findings by the researcher shall require prior written consent from BYAN.

The grant shall remain valid until the successful completion of the approved thesis within the timeline prescribed by the respective university along with the contractual agreement with the BYAN.

The grant will be administered by the Blind Youth Association Nepal (BYAN) under the YATRA Project, implemented in partnership with CBM Global Disability Inclusion.

The Grant Selection Committee reserves the right to accept or reject any application without assigning any reason. Its decision shall be final.

Blind Youth Association Nepal (BYAN)

https://www.jobsnepal.com/terms-of-reference-tor-for-university-research-grant-on-disability-inclusion-143488