ILO and Anera Strengthen Employment Pathways for Persons With Disabilities in Lebanon
BEIRUT, Lebanon (Sept. 17, 2026) — A new initiative under the European Union-funded ILO-ENABLE Programme, the On-the-Job Training Programme for Socio-Economic Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Lebanon, was launched to support persons with disabilities to develop relevant skills, gain practical workplace experience, and strengthen their pathways to decent and inclusive employment — while supporting employers in fostering more accessible and inclusive workplaces.
Persons with disabilities can face barriers to accessing skills development, practical work experience, and employment opportunities. The program seeks to help address some of these barriers by strengthening pathways to decent work and supporting greater inclusion in the labor market.
The initiative is implemented by Anera under the EU-funded ENABLE Programme, which is implemented by the International Labour Organization (ILO) in partnership with the Lebanese Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA). The program combines skills development, career preparation, and on-the-job training to support 100 participants in building relevant technical skills, of whom 80 will go on to gain practical workplace experience through placements.
Through training and workplace placements, participants have the opportunity to apply their skills in real work environments, gain experience, and develop professional networks. This training will also help participants strengthen their readiness to navigate employment opportunities and transition into the workplace.
Inclusive employment requires action from both jobseekers and employers. Alongside supporting participants, the program engages employers to better understand and address barriers that may limit the participation of persons with disabilities in the workplace. This includes promoting workplace accessibility, reasonable accommodation, and inclusive employment practices — helping create working environments where persons with disabilities can participate, contribute, and progress on an equal basis.
“Creating pathways to employment for persons with disabilities requires more than skills training alone,” said Samar El Yassir, Anera Country Director for Lebanon and Jordan. “It requires workplaces that are accessible, inclusive, and ready to recognize and support the contributions of persons with disabilities. Through this programme, we are working with both participants and employers to help remove barriers and create more equitable opportunities to enter and participate in the labour market.”
“This initiative puts economic inclusion into practice by supporting persons with disabilities to develop relevant skills and gain workplace experience, while working with employers to create more accessible and inclusive workplaces. It reflects the approach of Lebanon’s recently launched Economic Inclusion Strategy, which seeks to strengthen pathways from social assistance towards sustainable livelihoods and decent work, ensuring that persons with disabilities have greater opportunities to participate and contribute to the labour market,” said Giulio Bordon, ILO ENABLE Technical Programme Coordinator.
Persons with disabilities have the right to equal access to decent work and to participate fully in the labor market. By bringing together participants, employers, training providers, and other stakeholders, the program seeks to help build pathways toward employment while demonstrating the value of more accessible and inclusive workplaces.
The program aims to contribute to a more inclusive labor market in Lebanon by strengthening the connection between job seekers and employers and sharing practical approaches to disability-inclusive employment.
As implementation progresses, Anera will document the experiences of participants and employers to highlight the different pathways people may take toward employment, including the skills they develop, the challenges they encounter, and the changes that can help make workplaces more inclusive. These experiences will inform future stories and communications about the program and its implementation.
For more information:
In Washington
Steven Fake
Senior Media Relations Officer
+1-202-266-9719
[email protected]
In Beirut
Farah Maalouf
Senior Communications Manager, Lebanon & Jordan
+961-1-426107/8 Ext:135
[email protected]
About Anera
Since 1968, Anera has helped refugees and others hurt by conflicts in the Middle East live with dignity and purpose. Anera, which has no political or religious affiliation, works on the ground with partners in the West Bank, Gaza, East Jerusalem, Lebanon, and Jordan. We mobilize resources for immediate humanitarian relief and for sustainable health, education, and economic development efforts. Our staff are from the communities they serve, navigating the politics that constrict progress to get help where it’s needed most. We will keep building better lives until hope finds its way in the Middle East.