Today, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) announced an additional $1 million in financial aid for students at Notre Dame University-Louaize (NDU) aimed at supporting those who might otherwise be unable to pursue higher education. This new funding is particularly significant as Lebanon continues to face an economic crisis, with rising tuition costs placing higher education out of reach for many families. With this additional support, NDU will increase the number of financial aid recipients from 376 to 500 students, covering up to 90 percent of their tuition fees for one academic year.
As this announcement unveils, USAID Lebanon Mission Director Julie Southfield emphasized, "This additional $1 million in funding underscores the U.S. government’s enduring commitment to providing quality education for Lebanese students from disadvantaged backgrounds. This support not only empowers them to achieve their personal and professional aspirations but also contributes to Lebanon’s broader development and prosperity."
Launched by USAID in 2022, the Higher Education Financial Aid (HEFA) initiative at NDU is designed to alleviate the financial burden on students from vulnerable families and expand access to high-quality higher education. The HEFA initiative is a key component of USAID’s broader $14 million Higher Education Capacity Development (HECD) Program (2019-2025). Today’s announcement brings USAID’s investment in the HEFA initiative to $3.85 million since its inception.
NDU student Fadi Boustani, a second-year Economics major and HEFA beneficiary, shared how the initiative has impacted him and his family: Coming from a family of four siblings, it was never easy for my parents to make ends meet, especially after the economic crisis that started back in 2019 and the continuous challenges we face in this country. Thankfully, USAID’s HEFA Initiative came to our rescue.”
More about the Higher Education Capacity Development Program:
Implemented by the Education Development Center, the HECD Program has provided high-quality capacity building and professional development initiatives to over 1,100 higher education administrators and instructors from 10 universities in Lebanon. By enhancing the skills of faculty and staff, HECD enables universities to better prepare their graduates to successfully enter the workforce. Over 14,000 students have so far benefited from the job readiness and training programs offered through the project.