Pathways to Justice: Learning from the past, charting the future in Asia, Nepal (1991–2024)

The third publication in the Pathways to Justice series traces more than three decades of The Asia Foundation’s engagement in Nepal’s law and justice sector, set against a backdrop of political transition, social change, and evolving governance arrangements. As Nepal transitioned, its justice system expanded beyond courts alone, incorporating local institutions, community-based mechanisms, and new forms of citizen engagement. These shifts opened space for greater access and participation, while also surfacing enduring challenges around capacity, coordination, and inclusion.

Throughout this period, TAF has worked alongside state institutions, civil society, and professional bodies to support justice reforms that are both system-oriented and people-centered. Its engagement has bridged formal and informal justice pathways, strengthening institutions while improving everyday access to justice for women and historically marginalized groups. TAF’s work has focused on bridging national and local systems, aligning laws with lived realities, and translating policy reforms into practice. The Nepal profile highlights how long-term partnerships, iterative learning, and responsiveness to political context have shaped justice outcomes over time. It also reflects the limits of reform in the face of shifting incentives, uneven implementation, and unresolved legacies of conflict. Looking ahead, the paper points to the need for renewed attention to coordination across levels of government, sustained support for local justice institutions, and approaches that link justice reform more explicitly to social cohesion and democratic accountability. In doing so, it offers insights into how justice systems can adapt, endure, and remain grounded in the realities of people’s lives amid ongoing change.