UNICEF and the Ministry of Information Strengthen National Broadcasting to Advance Children’s Rights

Monday 26 January - Beirut, Lebanon — UNICEF, in partnership with the Ministry of Information, has supported the solarization of Tele Liban’s main transmission station, reinforcing Lebanon’s national public broadcaster as a resilient platform for child rights advocacy, participation, and public service communication.

The transmission station is the second largest transmission station in the country, covering Metn, Kesrouan, large part of Beirut, and Mount Lebanon. It is interconnected with other central stations nationwide, ensuring uninterrupted terrestrial broadcasting of Tele Liban, Radio Liban Arabic, and Radio Liban French, as well as signal distribution to other local television and radio stations.

This initiative forms part of UNICEF’s strategic partnership with the Ministry of Information to strengthen national media as a trusted actor in promoting children’s rights, ethical reporting, and inclusive storytelling.

Information Minister Dr. Paul Morcos said: “We reaffirm the solid partnership between the government and UNICEF in supporting public institutions to promote children’s education and protection, ensure their rights, and enhance cooperation with the Ministry of Information to counter fake news, build capacities, and provide technical support to deliver accurate and reliable information that safeguards children’s rights.”

He added: “We extend our gratitude to UNICEF for the projects implemented within this framework, including support for the Radio Lebanon website, the provision of solar energy to the Tele Liban transmission center in Naas- Bikfaya, and capacity-building support for the National News Agency, which serves as an objective and impartial source of news for all media outlets.”

" Reliable and resilient media are essential for the protection and promotion of children’s rights," said Marcoluigi Corsi, UNICEF Representative in Lebanon. "The Convention on the Rights of the Child calls for children to be portrayed with dignity, protected from harm, and given meaningful opportunities to be heard. As Télé Liban moves forward with a renewed vision, UNICEF is proud to support both the sustainability of its infrastructure and the development of content that reflects children’s realities, voices, and aspirations across Lebanon."

In parallel, UNICEF will support Télé Liban in the production of child- and youth-focused content, ensuring that national programming reflects children’s perspectives, promotes their participation, and upholds child-sensitive media standards.

The Director General of Tele Liban, Dr. Elissar Naddaf, said:  “Providing the Tele Liban transmission center in Naas with solar energy marks an important milestone today, not only for broadcasting, but also for our shared commitment to children and to society. It is particularly significant that this achievement coincides with the centenary of television worldwide: one hundred years ago, the first images appeared on screens, ushering in a new era in the world of media.”

"The solar energy system installed at the transmission station includes 47 Solar PV Pan with a total capacity of around 28 kWp, 1 Hybrid Inverter rated at 30 kW, and 8 lithium high-voltage batteries with a total capacity of 40 kWh", enabling extended daily operation through clean, renewable energy. This transition reduces dependence on fossil fuels, lowers operational costs, and significantly cuts carbon emissions, contributing to Lebanon’s environmental sustainability and climate action goals.

Beyond its environmental impact, the project ensures uninterrupted access to public information, educational programming, and child-focused content, particularly during emergencies, when reliable communication is essential for protection, awareness, and community resilience.

Through this initiative, UNICEF reaffirms its commitment to supporting public institutions that amplify children’s voices, inform communities and advance the rights and wellbeing of every child in Lebanon.