Inside Lebanon’s digital training platform

NUMŪ is an initiative aimed at expanding access to digital and artificial intelligence skills in Lebanon, offering free, internationally recognized training and certifications to tens of thousands of Lebanese citizens. The program is the result of a partnership between the Ministry of State for Technology and Artificial Intelligence and the Kamel Youssef Jaber Cultural Center in Nabatieh.

In an exclusive interview with The Beiruter, a representative of the Ministry explained that the initiative’s objectives include “building comprehensive nationwide digital and AI literacy; enabling the use of AI across state institutions and various economic sectors; developing job-ready digital and AI skills; and strengthening technical capacities alongside critical and analytical digital skills.”

The representative emphasized the symbolic and practical importance of launching the initiative in Nabatieh, noting that “it was essential that people in the South do not feel deprived of technological advancement or excluded from the digital future.” The first phase of the program was implemented in collaboration with UNICEF, establishing a model that combines international support with local community infrastructure. The goal is to create replicable hubs that can later be expanded to other regions.

A program designed for multiple realities

NUMŪ reflects the fragmented reality of Lebanon’s workforce and its widespread geographic dispersion. “This initiative will include trainers and professionals from abroad,” the source said. “It creates pathways to train people wherever they are.”

A central pillar of NUMŪ is its network of international partnerships, secured at a time when many global technology companies have reduced or ended their presence in Lebanon. “Despite Microsoft having previously exited Lebanon, the minister personally engaged with the company,” the source explained. “An official memorandum of understanding was signed in Baabda, resulting in 100,000 fully funded training grants for Lebanese participants.”

These grants focus on artificial intelligence and digital skills, with certifications provided free of charge. The platform also includes:

- 50,000 training grants from Oracle

All programs are unified under the NUMŪ platform.

The scale of these figures is notable, not only in terms of access, but also in how they reposition Lebanon within the global digital ecosystem.

A national platform, built gradually

NUMŪ is being rolled out in phases, with Nabatieh serving as the starting point of a broader national trajectory. Future phases are expected to expand geographically, through partnerships with cultural centers, educational institutions, and community hubs capable of hosting and supporting digital learning.

The long-term vision is clearly defined: nationwide digital literacy, increased AI readiness across public and private sectors, and a workforce equipped with critical, analytical, and technical skills.

In a country shaped by disruption and uncertainty, the initiative offers structured access, sustained investment in human capital, and a commitment to ensuring that Lebanon’s digital future is not confined to one city, one social group, or one generation.