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Contribution to UNICEF Transition and Resilience Education Fund (TREF)


Switzerland’s contribution to UNICEF’s Transition and Resilience Education Fund (TREF) in Lebanon ensures access to relevant quality public education for the most vulnerable children of all nationalities to avoid the scenario of a lost generation after 4 years of disrupted education. Amidst Lebanon’s economic crisis, TREF further contributes to improving the governance, efficiency, inclusiveness, and overall resilience of Lebanon public education system.

Country/region Topic Period Budget
Lebanon
Education
Governance
Education policy
Primary education
Public sector policy
01.07.2023 - 31.12.2024
 CHF  4’300’000
The project in brief
Background The Lebanese public education system is serving the most vulnerable children, both Lebanese and refugees. Already weak before the Syrian crisis, it has been brought on the verge of collapse by the Lebanese economic crisis and the incapacity of Lebanon to afford its civil service in a context of high inflation. As demand for public education is bound to continue increasing in the coming years, urgent governance and efficiency reforms are its only lifeline.
While a third of school-aged children in Lebanon are already out-of-school, children in public education have faced massive education disruptions due to the crises of the past 4 years (economic, COVID 19, port explosion). With accumulated learning losses, they are at an increasing risk of dropping out without having acquired foundational literacy and numeracy skills, and to lose life and job opportunities. 
Objectives The most marginalized boys and girls aged 3–18 years have access to quality and inclusive learning, including foundational literacy, numeracy, and transferable skills to prepare them for work and for life.
Target groups

Direct target group:

  • All 405’000 children in compulsory public education who incurred learning losses (205’000 Lebanese and 200’000 non-Lebanese, 50% girls, 50% boys)
  • 26’000 teachers, 25 non-formal education providers

Indirect target group:

  • all 115,000 children enrolled in non-formal education (50% girls, 50% boys)
  • MEHE teaching workforce, principals and administrative staff
Medium-term outcomes
  1. Children’s learning loss on Foundational Literacy and Numeracy accrued in the past 4 years of school disruption is reduced by their exposure to the Learning Recovery Pedagogy in public school setting implemented by trained staff 
  2. A cost-effective and sustainable Multiple Flexible Pathways/Non-Formal Education framework put in place to provide out-of-school children with a smooth transition to formal education 
  3. Schools are equipped with sustainable sources of power which improved the teaching and learning environment for vulnerable children 
  4. The education system (MEHE and the wider education community) is able to maintain the delivery of education with a focus on learning, in regular implementation periods of times of crisis (resilience) 
Results

Expected results:  

Output 1.1: The learning recovery pedagogy is implemented in public schools by trained education staff

Output 2.1: Develop a cost-effective and sustainable Multiple Flexible Pathways education policy framework

Output 3.1: A solar assessment of schools to provide a basis for decisions over needs and priority investments in solarisation

Output 4.2: Capacity of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MEHE) on financial management and its management abilities on data, financing, policy, planning and grievance are enhanced


Results from previous phases:  

This Credit Proposal is a first contribution to UNICEF for education in Lebanon. Below are key insights from SDC current education programming, and previous programming by other donors for refugees in Lebanon: 

  • In order to be effective, international support to public education needs a robust compliance mechanism, and must go along with system governance reforms 
  • A viable public education system and effective pathways from non-formal to formal education are crucial to ensure access to formal education for out-of-school children
  • A framewok is needed to ensure the quality of non-formal education 
Directorate/federal office responsible SDC
Project partners Contract partner
Private sector
United Nations Organization (UNO)
  • Swiss Private Sector
  • United Nations Children’s Fund


Coordination with other projects and actors

The contribution to the public sector complements:

  • Swiss contribution to Plan International and Save the Children (focusing on non-formal education), to UNICEF, IRC and Najdeh (on Child protection incl. child labour, violence against children)
  • Switzerland’s global contribution to Education Cannot Wait for its multi-year programme in Lebanon

TREF is currently the only multi-donor vehicle to support public education in Lebanon; UNICEF coordinates closely with other stakeholders (UNESCO, World Bank) 
Budget Current phase Swiss budget CHF    4’300’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF    1’726’870
Project phases Phase 2 01.07.2023 - 31.12.2024   (Current phase) Phase 1 01.10.2021 - 30.09.2024   (Current phase)
  • Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation EDUCATION
    EDUCATION
    GOVERNMENT AND CIVIL SOCIETY
    Sub-Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation
    Education policy and administrative management
    Primary education
    Public sector 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

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Last update 05.02.2024