The Ministry of Education and Higher Education Launches the “Teaching and Learning Innovation Fund” funded by the European Union in partnership with UNICEF

Beirut, 27 October 2025 – Lebanese Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MEHE) launched today the Teaching and Learning Innovation Fund (TLIF), marking a significant milestone in Lebanon's education recovery efforts. Funded by the European Union and implemented by UNICEF, TLIF aims to empower public schools to design and lead their own innovative solutions to improve teaching and learning.

The program is fully aligned with MEHE's Learning Recovery Strategy, Education Reform roadmap, and Vision 2030, reinforcing national efforts to enhance quality education.

Minister of Education and Higher Education, Dr. Rima Karami, said: “We thank the European Union and UNICEF not only for funding the projects but for their trust in public schools, a trust that truly matters. The 34 school projects show that transformation is not theoretical but real, happening now in our public schools. The schools that thrived through the “Teaching and Learning Innovation Fund” are the same ones achieving remarkable success in other ways.” She added: “When we partnered with the European Union and UNICEF, we agreed not to treat the two initiatives separately. Both the “Teaching and Learning Innovation Fund” and the “National Campaign” share the same goal and involve the same schools. Therefore, we aim to build on existing success, not create parallel systems, to remove obstacles, provide resources, and connect schools to learn from one another’s successes.”

Despite ongoing crises, schools across Lebanon are leading innovation through inclusive and diverse projects that strengthen literacy, wellbeing, digital learning, and STEAM education.  By trusting schools and equipping teachers as innovators, TLIF demonstrates what is possible when local leadership drives change and international partners come together to support a common goal.

‘The Teaching and Learning Innovation Fund offers Lebanon a unique opportunity to enhance the relevance, and most importantly the quality, of its education system, particularly for frontline teaching staff and the most marginalized children,” said Alessandra Viezzer, Head of Cooperation at the European Union Delegation to Lebanon. “The European Union is proud to contribute to this fund, which we hope will directly address the learning crisis by empowering teachers and schools to develop innovative solutions and enhance educational outcomes. The EU has been a steadfast partner in supporting education in Lebanon as a main donor in the Transition and Resilience Education Fund (TREF). Today, we are excited to see schools and teachers taking the lead in developing solutions to improve learning outcomes’, She added.

Marcoluigi Corsi, UNICEF Representative in Lebanon said: "The Teaching and Learning Innovation Fund is a cornerstone of Lebanon’s education recovery and resilience efforts. It reminds us of one powerful truth: It is in our schools, with our teachers, our students, and our communities, that real change begins. UNICEF is proud to stand alongside the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, CERD, and our partners from the European Union and other TREF donors to scale successful innovations to ensure that every child in Lebanon has the opportunity to learn, thrive, and dream".

As Lebanon continues to face challenges, initiatives like TLIF are crucial for building a resilient education system that can adapt to future needs.