Technical and scientific support to foster integrated services for persons with disabilities in Lebanon

Title Programma pilota per servizi integrati alle persone con disabilità in Libano
 Location Libano
Project leader Centro Salute Globale – Regione Toscana
Partner Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA), Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), Ministry for Education and High Education (MEHE), Azienda Sanitaria Toscana
Funding  Italian Agency for Development Cooperation – AICS

Context
Despite the Lebanese government and international organisations efforts, the system that provides services for persons with disabilities is still highly fragmented. The main challenges concern the responsibilities that are distributed among different Ministries and an approach that is still predominantly service-based.

The lack of a shared classification and disability assessment criteria, the absence of integrated IT tools and limited inter-institutional collaboration hamper the provision of inclusive, participatory care consistent with the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).

General Objective
The project aims to promote the rights of persons with disabilities in Lebanon in line with the principles of the UNCRPD. In particular, it aims to strengthen the role and capacities of Lebanese institutions in providing an inclusive, integrated and multidimensional social and health care approach, with a focus on:

  • revising the classification system and registration procedures;
  • improving early detection skills;
  • inter-institutional dialogue;
  • social understanding of disability stigma, including its gender dimension.

Our Contribution
The Inclusive Development Unit has been involved as a technical-scientific partner to provide analysis, training and co-design expertise. Specifically:

  1. Analysis and co-design of classification systems

The research group will support for the review of the disability classification system and related benefits and facilitate co-design workshops to define shared criteria and a new social and health care record.

  1. Institutional capacity building

ARCO Researchers will deliver training for officials and operators from MoSA, MoPH, MEHE, SDC, PHCC and schools on bio-psycho-social models, the International Classification of Functionings (ICF) and multidimensional care models. They will also co-designs operational tools and protocols for interdisciplinary teamwork (UVMD).

  1. Strengthening inter-institutional dialogue

Researchers from the Inclusive Development Unit are going to promote technical seminars and discussions between MoSA, MoPH and MEHE and in parallel participate in the establishment of a permanent coordination committee.