At a time when the main parties to the conflict have historically shown little regard for the voices of Yemenis, excluding them from the formal negotiations and sidelining their participation, the Yemen International Forum (YIF) is a novel initiative that brings Yemenis to the forefront of shaping the peace agenda and regaining ownership of their country’s future.

It is an inclusive platform and process for Yemeni actors to engage in problem-solving discussions on the future of Yemen, among themselves and with international actors. The aim of the YIF is to create conditions conducive to diplomacy in Yemen and reinforce the formal peace process led by the UN Office of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen (OSESGY) with information that is grounded in local knowledge and reflects on the ground realities and the voices of different groups in Yemen. The YIF is a continuous process of Yemeni-led consultations convening in an annual conference.