Background: 

Access to legal aid is essential for protecting and promoting women’s rights, particularly in contexts where socioeconomic and legal challenges disproportionately impact women. In many countries, women face barriers in accessing legal aid due to financial constraints, lack of awareness, cultural norms, and limited resources. In collaboration with the World Bank, this study aimed to explore the availability, quality, and accessibility of legal aid services for women across 30 diverse countries. Insights gathered from this study will inform policy recommendations and service improvements to enhance women’s access to justice. 

Triangle’s Assignment: 

Triangle was tasked with designing and conducting a series of focus group discussions (FGDs) in partnership with the World Bank. This assignment involved developing tailored discussion guides, facilitating both in-person and online focus groups, and producing detailed summaries for each session. The study catered to a variety of geographic and cultural contexts, ensuring comprehensive and inclusive data collection. 

Objectives: 

The study had several key objectives: 

• Assess Access to Legal Aid: Gather insights into women’s experiences and challenges in accessing legal aid services, focusing on affordability, cultural barriers, and service quality. 
• Identify Key Barriers: Examine specific obstacles women face in seeking legal assistance, including structural, social, and economic factors. 
• Provide Policy Recommendations: Develop actionable recommendations based on focus group findings to inform legal aid service improvements and policy adjustments at the national and international levels. 

Research Approach & Methodology: 

Triangle employed a multi-phased approach for the study, incorporating: 

• Inception Phase: Developed discussion guides in collaboration with the World Bank’s country teams, finalized the sampling framework, and prepared an inception report detailing methodology and tools. This phase spanned four weeks. 
• Pilot Phase: Conducted a sample of FGDs across selected countries, refining tools as needed based on initial findings and contextual feedback. 
• Fieldwork and Reporting: Facilitated focus groups in both in-person and online formats to maximize accessibility and participation. Sessions were conducted in local languages, ensuring cultural and contextual relevance. Findings were organized into comprehensive summary reports, following OECD-DAC criteria for inclusivity, relevance, and impact.