COUNTRY FOCUS : LEBANON
Unfortunately , the macroeconomic and political situation is beginning to overwhelm the country .
Hostilities in Southern Lebanon displaced tens of thousands of people late last year , compounding the challenges facing the nation as it works to respond to political turmoil , economic collapse and spillover from the crisis in Syria . In response to these challenges , Education Cannot Wait announced a new additional US $ 2.2 Million grant that will provide girls and boys impacted by these ongoing crises with access to safe , inclusive learning environments .
Hostilities in the region resulted in the closure of 50 public schools and eight technical education schools . Approximately 20,000 students have had their education impacted , and recent estimates indicate that as many as 91,000 people are displaced in Lebanon , including more than 33,000 children . Even before this recent uptick in violence , around 27 % of children were out of school in Lebanon .
UNICEF is supporting the strategies and approaches of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education , as well as the Centre for Educational Research and Development , to ensure the continuity of teaching and learning for children and youth affected by the conflict in the South , including at primary and secondary levels , as well as in technical and vocational education .
The new investment aligns with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education ' s emergency response plan and the Education sector strategy . There is a strong focus on improving access to inclusive and safe learning opportunities for displaced children . This includes the establishment of school hubs , as well as increasing the availability of online learning resources for children who are unable to access traditional schools .
Established in 1994 , Alfa is the brand name owned by Mobile Interim Company 1 SAL which is managing the first Lebanese mobile network for the benefit of the Republic of Lebanon and Ministry of Telecommunications . Alfa currently serves more than 2 million subscribers through a state-of-the-art network covering 99 % of Lebanon .
The strategic alliance between Vox Solutions and Lebanon ' s Alfa marks a direct connectivity partnership . It empowers Alfa to leverage the advanced expertise and capabilities of the multiglobally awarded VOX-360 platform in A2P Voice and SMS traffic monetisation to ensure the highest protection to its network not only from messaging bypass , but also from future voice and Flash Calls fraudulent activities , including critical communications like one-time passwords and customer notifications .
Fraud presents an increasingly pressing issue for mobile operators . VOX-360 platform stands as a distinctive end-to-end solution in the market due to its features related to anti-fraud , flash call authentication , A2P SMS monetisation and mobile identity . It empowers mobile operators to identify and prevent spam , along with blocking fraudulent traffic proactively , safeguarding end users from potential impacts .
AIT inflates traffic volumes , which not only drives up enterprise costs but also reduces revenues for mobile network operators . VOX-360 ranks among the foremost solutions in the industry for tackling this mounting challenge .
Vox Solutions utilizes its multi-award-winning antifraud technology , VOX-360 , to offer a reliable , accurate and real-time view of operators ' voice and SMS services . By partnering with operators , Vox Solutions provides secure & reliable 2FA services to enterprises , globally .
The investment also provides a focus on training teachers to respond to the unique needs of displaced children , with a focus on mental health and psychosocial support , gender-responsive training and more .
Telecom
In December last year , Alfa Telecom , Lebanon ' s first and leading mobile operator , announced that it has inked a three-year exclusive interworking agreement with Vox Solutions to ensure higher protection and enhanced control over the entry and delivery of A2P SMS and OTP voice traffic within its network , further reinforcing its ongoing risk mitigation and anti-fraud efforts .
For MNOs , Vox Solutions is focused on monetisation of SMS and Voice services , being the first company in the market to offer a Flash Calling , Voice A2P , end-toend solution . For the enterprise segment , Vox Solutions focus on A2P messaging , A2P & P2P Voice , while also providing solutions focused on Cloud Communications .
Along with tourism , many Levantine governments including Lebanon have prioritised the ICT sector to drive their economic development agendas in the absence of abundant natural resource wealth . From establishing dedicated ministries for digital economy to designing ambitious national digital transformation programs , national governments throughout the region are committed to ensuring that the Levant is a fertile ground for entrepreneurship and innovation . p
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