Deadline: 12-Sep-2025
The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund has announced a major initiative to strengthen inclusive and specialized education support for children with disabilities across Lebanon’s eight governorates.
The program will be implemented in partnership with selected organizations and aims to ensure that children with disabilities have equitable access to education, health, protection, and community support.
A central part of the initiative focuses on outreach, identification, and referral. Partner organizations will play a critical role in identifying out-of-school or displaced children with disabilities, regardless of nationality, and connecting them to essential services. These services will include inclusive formal and non-formal education, specialized therapy, assistive devices, healthcare, child protection, and gender-based violence support. At least 1,000 children are expected to benefit from this referral process, with progress carefully tracked in line with UNICEF’s guidance.
For children with disabilities already enrolled in public schools, the program will provide tailored, individualized support in coordination with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MEHE). This will include comprehensive assessments, therapy services such as physiotherapy, speech and occupational therapy, transportation support, and the provision of assistive technologies. Approximately 1,200 children enrolled in public education are set to benefit from these services during the 2025–2026 school year.
In addition, UNICEF will support specialized education for 250 children aged 3 to 18 with moderate to severe disabilities. The initiative will prioritize severe cases and ensure equal participation of Lebanese and non-Lebanese children, with a strong emphasis on gender balance. These children will receive integrated packages of education, rehabilitation, assistive devices, and parental engagement activities. At least 20% of participants will receive assistive devices to improve learning outcomes, while 300 parents will be trained through UNICEF’s Parental Engagement Curriculum to strengthen advocacy for their children’s inclusion.
Beyond direct services, the program places a strong focus on social and behavioral change. UNICEF will engage communities, schools, and caregivers through targeted initiatives designed to shift attitudes and practices around disability inclusion. Activities will include capacity-building for local partners, the rollout of 17 edutainment tools that use creative methods to influence positive behavior, and the development of new school-based edutainment resources. These efforts are expected to reach at least 8,000 children, caregivers, and community influencers across the country.
Through this initiative, UNICEF and its partners aim to build a more inclusive educational system in Lebanon, one that recognizes the potential of every child and works to dismantle barriers to learning and participation. By combining specialized services with community-driven change, the program will contribute to a lasting culture of inclusion and opportunity for children with disabilities nationwide.
For more information, visit UN Partner Portal.
