Norwegian Development Aid to Civil Society : The Norwegian Bar Association's Legal Aid Project in Nepal

Abstract

This thesis tells the story about the Norwegian Bar Association’s Legal Aid Project in Nepal, which was established in 1988 and has provided legal aid and legal education to the population of Nepal until today. The project has received continuous support from Norad, and has been a small part of Norwegian civil society development effort during this time. The thesis provides an historical analysis of the Legal Aid Project in light of civil society theory the strategies of Norad. Focus elements include; the degree of volunteerism among those involved, partnership between the donor and the recipient organization, the project’s ability to reach target groups like women and the impoverished, and the Legal Aid Project’s contribution to the overall democratic development in Nepal. The primary finding of this thesis is that the Legal Aid Project in Nepal’s greatest victory is a successful combination of grass root work with political lobbying. Through this combination of direct aid and political measures towards authorities, LAP contributes both directly and on a political level to improving the legal and civil rights of the population. The project therefore indirectly promotes a democratic development in Nepal.