Active

A Track II Initiative Rethinking Yemen’s Economy

June 2022 — ongoing
Active

A Track II Initiative Rethinking Yemen’s Economy

June 2022 — ongoing

About the program

This project works to positively influence the agendas of local, national, regional, and international policymakers and engages in economy-related conflict resolution. It also provides a platform for Yemeni businessmen and economists or “Development Champions,” along with women and youth, and engages them in consensus-building on peacebuilding, conflict resolution, stabilization, post-conflict reconstruction, and sustainable development in Yemen. The approach of the Development Champions Forum has been successfully implemented since 2017 and has developed into a well-established brand.

The aim of the project is to build and sustain advancement towards inclusive and sustainable development and peace. The project’s approaches include:

  • Establishing and supporting an institutionalized and independent Development Champions Forum (DCF).
  • Strengthening the capacities of the Development Champions, women, and young people in Yemen to influence the economic peacebuilding process and the development agendas of international, national, and regional actors.
  • Improving evidence-based research and providing recommendations on socio-economic and political developments in Yemen.

The project facilitates the inclusive engagement of Yemenis in economic peacebuilding and improves the understanding of crucial policy areas related to economic peacebuilding and development in Yemen.

Publications

Supporting the Construction Contracting Sector in Yemen for Stabilization and Recovery

The construction sector in Yemen, despite being significantly impacted by political and economic crises and the effects of war, continues to be a crucial sector for the country’s recovery and reconstruction efforts. Within the wider context of the construction sector in Yemen, this brief presents a comprehensive analysis of the contracting sector, which covers the physical work carried out on the production site such as constructing, renovating, or repairing buildings and structures, as well as other heavy constructions such as…

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Enhancing the Role of Microfinance Banks for Sustainable Impact in Yemen

Yemen's microfinance sector is undergoing a radical transformation. Despite initial success in empowering small businesses, the ongoing conflict has exposed deep vulnerabilities. Competition between the fractured central banks has driven a surge in microfinance bank (MFB) licenses. While this promises to expand financial inclusion, it raises serious concerns about long-term sustainability and financial stability.

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The Impact of Flooding on Agricultural Communities in Yemen

Yemen's agricultural communities face a perfect storm of growing ecological threats amid protracted conflict. Flash floods destroy farms, crops, and irrigation systems. Late rains risk drowning mature harvests, and waterlogged fields hinder root growth. Coastal areas battle salinization, and collapsed roads and buried wells hamper recovery.

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Empowering Local Authorities to Lead Economic Development in Yemen

This policy brief outlines a set of recommendations aimed at empowering local authorities in Yemen to effectively provide services and lead local economic development. The aim is to analyze and draw lessons from three ongoing tracks that seek to empower local authorities in Yemen, while also addressing the challenges and opportunities associated with these efforts. The analysis concludes that building consensus between the central government and local authorities is of paramount importance for the successful empowerment of local authorities. It…

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Challenges to Yemen’s Public Revenues

Since April 2022, the war in Yemen has mutated from a high-casualty conflict to a protracted stalemate with relatively stable frontlines. The contest is now over the economy, as the Houthi group (Ansar Allah) leverages negotiations and its military power to put fiscal pressure on the internationally recognized government. The current phase has been marked by the expansion of economic warfare, with the Houthi authorities shutting down trade from government-controlled areas, stoking discontent as public utilities break down and the…

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Scaling up Solar Energy Investments in Yemen

This brief provides an introduction to electricity provision in Yemen and explores the viability of specific solar energy applications for Yemen’s fragile context. It further considers the feasibility of partnering with the private sector in the solar energy sector, and finally presents recommendations and practical steps to address challenges to scaling-up investments in this sector in Yemen. It argues that a paradigm shift is needed to address the energy crisis in Yemen and kickstart meaningful economic activity: from an exclusive…

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Donors

European Union
European Union
The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Yemen
The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Yemen

Partners

Center for Applied Research in Partnership with the Orient (CARPO)
Center for Applied Research in Partnership with the Orient (CARPO)
DeepRoot Consulting
DeepRoot Consulting