The Muhanna Foundation
Strengthening Our Region's Economies & Institutions Through Research, Education, & Capacity Building
About Us
The Muhanna Foundation, created in 1994, is a non-profit organization established in Switzerland and based in Beirut, Lebanon. It is dedicated to the promotion of continuing education for professionals involved in municipalities, social security, pensions, insurance industry, and supervision in actuarially under-developed countries, in general and in the Arab World & East Africa in particular.
The Foundation organizes conferences, seminars and trainings in a variety of fields including insurance, investment and governance on a regular basis in the region of its operation. Additionally, the Foundation runs three separate Diploma Programs, one in Municipal Administration and Finance, the second in Social Insurance and the third in Actuarial Techniques.
In its commitment to education, the Muhanna Foundation provides Awards and Scholarships in the fields of Actuarial Science and Mathematics to students who are completing actuarial education in several countries, namely, Bahrain, Jordan, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania and Yemen.
The Foundation operates as an official examination center for actuarial students sitting for professional exams of the Society of Actuaries (United States Actuarial System) and the exams of the Institute of Actuaries (United Kingdom Actuarial System).
The Foundation has a long track record of providing services to UN Habitat, the World Bank, private sector institution, academic institutions and other UN organizations. We combine innovation and creativity with a world class team capable of delivering on large technical collaboration projects.
Our Mission
We are dedicated to the development, funding and execution of municipal, social insurance and actuarial education. Additionally, we contribute to the civil, academic and business communities by providing independent research and continuing education programs for professionals.
Social Protecton Education
Providing high – quality training in social protection for institutions and businesses in the MENA region & East Africa.
Municipal Education
As part of the Foundation’s integral role in societal and national development, we provide municipal education programs aimed for mayors, council members, and employees.
Actuarial Education
The Foundation offers specialized insurance training programs in actuarial science, IFRS 17, and financial accounting—serving as a trusted regional source for technical and professional development.
Customized Programs
For over three decades, the Foundation has delivered OJT and customized programs and published world-class research for the public good.
Our History
The Muhanna Foundation, established in 1994, began by advancing actuarial education across the MENA region and East Africa. Over time, it expanded its expertise to include social protection and municipal education. With a proven record of collaboration with institutions such as UN-Habitat, the World Bank, ISSA, and leading private and academic organizations, the Foundation combines innovation and technical excellence to deliver impactful capacity-building and research initiatives. It also produces rigorous studies that inform and inspire policy dialogue across social and economic domains.
Foundation Founding
We were established in response to the lack of actuarial education across the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and Africa — regions where no formal programs existed at the time. Over the years, our work expanded beyond actuarial education to include specialized training in social insurance, social security, and municipal management.
Relocation to Lebanon
In line with our mission to advance education, the Foundation relocated its headquarters to Lebanon, positioning itself at the heart of the region to expand its capacity-building programs.
Advancing Social Insurance Education
The Foundation launched its pioneering Social Insurance Diploma Program in Amman, Jordan, marking a key milestone in developing expertise within the field. Since then, it has trained professionals dedicated to strengthening and sustaining social protection systems. In partnership with the International Social Security Association (ISSA), the Foundation also delivered the first Arabic-language training on the ISSA Guidelines.
Expanding into Municipal Education
With the endorsement of Lebanon’s Ministry of Interior and Municipalities, the Foundation introduced specialized municipal training programs covering the legal and administrative frameworks, as well as financial management, to strengthen local governance and institutional performance.