Under the umbrella of a coalition comprising eight (8) Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs), led by the Lebanese Union for Persons with Physical Disabilities (LUPD), in partnership with the International Labour Organization (ILO) and funded by the European Union (EU), this project was successfully implemented over a year and a half (from November 2022 to May 2024) with the aim of empowering persons with disabilities and enhancing their inclusion in social protection systems in Lebanon.

The project focused on building the capacities of persons with disabilities, effective advocacy to ensure that social protection systems are fair and inclusive, as well as providing technical support to the National Disability Allowance (NDA) program.

Key Achievements and Main Outcomes

Advocacy and Unified Visions

• Position Papers: Seven (7) position papers were developed, discussed, and adopted by OPDs to establish an inclusive and unified vision on social protection and disability issues, serving as a guide for decision-makers. The titles included:
  • Cash allowance for persons with disabilities in Lebanon
  • Engagement and consultation of OPDs
  • Social health protection for persons with disabilities in Lebanon
  • The importance of transitioning from institutional care to inclusion in disability issues
  • Social assistance for persons with disabilities
  • The role of international organizations in mainstreaming disability inclusion
  • The Access to Rights Program of the Ministry of Social Affairs

• Workshops and Advocacy Roundtables: A series of workshops and roundtables (four key events, including two with major donors such as the EU and the World Bank) were organized, with 75-76 participants at each event, to enhance dialogue and cooperation between OPDs, relevant ministries (Social Affairs, Public Health), donors, and UN agencies.

Capacity Building and Community Empowerment

• Skills Development: 24 discussion sessions were organized for four disability groups (visual, hearing, intellectual, physical) including at least 80 participants, in addition to four specialized advocacy workshops including 20 participants, leading to the development of an advocacy action plan focusing on independent living and social support services.
• Inclusive Media Materials: Five (5) information brochures were produced and adopted, adapted and available in Easy-to-Read format and accompanied by sign language videos, covering key social protection concepts (such as the NDA program, Aman, disability card, and health protection), to bridge the knowledge gap for persons with different disabilities and their families.

Support and Development of the National Disability Allowance (NDA)

• Technical Support and Training: Consultants from OPDs provided specialized technical expertise to ILO and UNICEF, and participated in developing and delivering in-depth training for 30 participants from call center staff at UNICEF and OMT management, ensuring an inclusive approach in service delivery.
• Impact Assessment: A comprehensive needs assessment was conducted targeting 98 persons through questionnaires and 38 persons through focus group discussions, in addition to applying an advanced qualitative research methodology known as “User Journey Maps,” to assess the experience of NDA beneficiaries, identify challenges, and provide concrete recommendations to enhance the program’s inclusion and effectiveness.

The project succeeded in establishing a solid foundation for an inclusive and rights-based approach to social protection systems in Lebanon, and contributed to strengthening the role of OPDs as a key partner in policy formulation.