Northwest Syria is one of the most challenging contexts in which humanitarian actors work. Keeping schools open and ensuring children are safe to learn are essential to building hope for future generations.
The Syria Education Programme – known locally as ‘Manahel’ – is a five-year programme funded by UK International Development and implemented by Chemonics to provide access to safe, inclusive, and quality learning opportunities for children in conflict-affected areas of Syria, and to deliver support to teachers and education staff so they can manage education effectively.
As well as paying teacher stipends to keep schools open and functioning, Manahel focuses on: the development of effective pedagogy and curricula for literacy and numeracy; improvements in the practices of inclusion, psychosocial care and child protection, and provision of teacher training and coaching. In 2024, it is entering a new phase having already impacted more than 600,000 children in northern Syria’s Idleb and Aleppo provinces (2018-2023).
DHA began supporting the programme in 2023 with strategic advocacy and communications work to engage a diverse range of stakeholders – from programme staff and participants to global funders. Through print and digital resources, we ensure that the programme shares key learning and research in order to promote effective practice throughout Syria and beyond – so the wider education sector benefits from the programme’s positive impact on children who are seeking education in an emergency context.
In 2024, we are launching the second phase of the programme with a set of exciting initiatives, including a website to host important programme findings and resources, a launch event to build alliances between programme partners, video and animation content to promote the new phase and it’s aims, a social media strategy and an ongoing knowledge leadership work.