Deadline: 17-Aug-2025
UNICEF has launched a new call for expressions of interest to identify Community Engagement Partners for the implementation of the Dirasa Programme, a strategic initiative aimed at enhancing access to inclusive and quality education for marginalized children in Lebanon.
Focus: Disability and inclusion, emergency response and management, gender equality and women empowerment, monitoring and evaluation, research and data analysis, resource mobilization, education – general, education in emergencies, learning outcomes, out-of-school education, child protection, gender based violence, protection – general.
The Dirasa Programme is a comprehensive educational intervention launched in 2022 to address the growing number of out-of-school children in Lebanon amid an escalating economic crisis. It offers a whole-system strategy that includes flexible pathways leading to formal education or alternative learning opportunities. The programme’s primary goals include transitioning children aged 8 to 14 into formal education, preventing dropouts, and providing access to technical and vocational training for older adolescents.
The role of Community Engagement Partners (CEPs) is critical in bridging the gap between schools, communities, and caregivers. Partners will be responsible for conducting outreach and awareness campaigns to ensure families are informed and children, including those with disabilities, can access the programme. CEPs will facilitate the enrollment of 13,300 out-of-school children and support the retention of 26,700 children already enrolled, aiming to serve a total of 40,000 children across eight Lebanese governorates.
Partners will also provide school-level support, including coordinating complementary services, distributing in-kind items, supporting extracurricular and life skills activities, and assisting with teacher hiring and inclusion services. Training school staff on child safeguarding, PSEA, and data management is also a key component of the partnership responsibilities.
Another essential function of the CEPs will be establishing referral mechanisms for health services, case management, specialized disability services, gender-based violence support, and other community-based services. The partners will also collaborate with UNICEF to ensure that children completing the Dirasa Programme transition into suitable educational or vocational pathways.
Applications must be submitted by August 17, 2025, with selected partners expected to begin implementation by October 1, 2025. The programme will run through September 30, 2026.
For more information, visit UN Partner Portal.
