LEB Access and Quality Education for refugee and vulnerable host community children
The education sector in Lebanon is facing multiple crises, leading to the discontinuity of learning for many children. Switzerland’s contribution to Plan International and Save the Children will provide children in the Bekaa and Baalbek-Hermel governorates with improved access to and retention in quality, safe and inclusive education. The project follows a triple nexus approach by considering immediate humanitarian needs and aiming at the reintegration of out-of-school children while fostering social cohesion in a context of mounting tensions.
| Country/region | Topic | Period | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lebanon |
Agriculture & food security Education
Household food security
Primary education Food safety and quality Education policy |
01.10.2021
- 31.12.2025 |
CHF 4’600’000
|
- Other Swiss Non-profit Organisation
- Foreign private sector North
- Foreign private sector South/East
- Save the Children Federation
-
Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation EDUCATION
OTHER MULTISECTOR
OTHER MULTISECTOR
EDUCATION
Sub-Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation Primary education
Household food security programmes
Food safety and quality
Education policy and administrative management
Cross-cutting topics Conflict reduction
The project supports partner organisation improvements as a priority
Aid Type Mandate without fiduciary fund
Project and programme contribution
Project number 7F10338
| Background |
Due to the impact of COVID-19 and the ongoing economic, financial and political crisis, a growing number of school-aged Lebanese and refugee children are at risk of dropping out of school while others are still out of any form of learning. The Bekaa and the Baalbek/Hermel governorates (“Bekaa Valley”) are two of the most deprived areas in Lebanon, where access to formal, public or private education is becoming increasingly difficult to both Lebanese and refugee children. The difficulty to access services and income in general in both governorates is further resulting in mounting intra and intercommunial tensions, distrust and competition. The Swiss added value lies in the triple-nexus approach, addressing short term humanitarian needs in combination with interventions towards fostering social cohesion and, in the medium term, enhance the resilience and capacities of the educaiton system. |
| Objectives | Vulnerable Lebanese and refugee children in the Bekaa valley access, follow and benefit from a quality and inclusive education in a safe and supporting environment. |
| Target groups |
- Total number of beneficiaries: 30’000 - 16’000 children - 13’000 parents - 500 educators - Local communities (through community-based groups) |
| Medium-term outcomes |
Outcome 1: Vulnerable children’s access to quality education, learning outcomes, life / social skills and wellbeing have improved Outcome 2: Vulnerable children’s parents, caregivers and teachers have developed their capacities and ability to support children’s continuity of learning Outcome 3: Key stakeholders shift their behaviours, advocate for and adapt informal rules and formal policies towards inclusive quality education and social stability is strengthened. |
| Results |
Expected results: - OOSC access quality and inclusive Non Formal Education (NFE) services and reach learning objectives - Teachers and educators are equipped to provide quality education and a supportive learning environment - Vulnerable parents and caregivers are provided with or referred to needed services - A conflict analysis is carried out and the opportunities to work on social cohesion within the project are harnessed. - Systemic barriers to discontinuity of learning are identified and participatory solutions to facilitate learning continuity are elaborated and fostered at local and national level. Results from previous phases: Available data is outdated, but already indicates a high proportion of out-of-school children (OOSC) in both governorates. A UNICEF OOSC Mapping is foreseen on a national level for 20-21 and will inform the baseline of the project. |
| Directorate/federal office responsible |
SDC |
| Project partners |
Contract partner International or foreign NGO Private sector Swiss Non-profit Organisation Other partners - Plan International - Save the Children |
| Coordination with other projects and actors | Synergies with SDC’s child protection portfolio in Lebanon (support to UNICEF and NGOs to address key drivers of withdrawal from education e.g. extreme poverty, child labor) and Swiss Embassy’s policy dialogue with education authorities. Coordination with the Peace and Human Rights Division’s work on conflict sensitivity in the Bekaa Valley (water issues) . |
| Budget | Current phase Swiss budget CHF 4’600’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF 2’941’918 Total project since first phase Swiss budget CHF 21’000’000 |
| Project phases | Phase 2 01.07.2023 - 31.12.2025 (Current phase) Phase 1 01.10.2021 - 31.12.2025 (Current phase) |
