Background Note
The Yemen International Forum (YIF) serves as a continuous civil-society-led peace initiative, providing a multistakeholder platform for Yemeni-Yemeni dialogue and for regional and international engagement in policy dialogues that support overcoming the current crises and pave the way to a peaceful, prosperous, and just Yemen.
Since its launch in 2022, the YIF has convened over 500 political representatives, policymakers, peace mediators, experts and civil society representatives, contributed to multi-thematic peace initiatives, ranging from political and civic engagement to transitional justice, economic de-escalation, and addressing environment-conflict nexus.
Yemen and the Red Sea crisis
The third Yemen International Forum (YIF) will convene in 2025 at a critical juncture for Yemen. The peace process, which was poised for a significant opening following talks in late 2023, has stalled in 2024, raising the risk of renewed conflict and further economic collapse. Challenges related to security and the economy are further exacerbated by an imbalance in negotiating power and political fragmentation among the various parties to the conflict. Overall, these factors are contributing to an unconducive environment for meaningful peace negotiations. This fragile situation is further complicated by the ongoing regional conflict, including the Red Sea crisis, which has heightened tensions within Yemen and across the Arab region and the Horn of Africa. Disruptions to international shipping and maritime security underscore the broader stakes internationally, with Yemen’s stability playing a pivotal role in regional security. YIF III will tackle these challenges head-on, focusing on setting the stage for an inclusive peace process through constructive Yemeni-Yemeni dialogue and proactive regional engagement aimed at mitigating the risks of further escalation and renewal of widespread fighting.
What will be the focus of this year’s conference?
The Yemen International Forum III (YIF III) aims to foster peace in Yemen through an integrated approach that supports cohesion among Yemeni actors, actively engages regional partners and establishes a foundation for a peaceful, stable, prosperous, and just Yemen.
The forum seeks to strengthen trust and collaboration among Yemeni political groups, enhancing their ability to act effectively and contribute to the development of shared principles for political engagement. It emphasizes partnerships between public institutions and civil society to ensure free and inclusive civic spaces that amplify Yemeni voices, including women, youth, and minority groups. By embedding principles of transitional justice discussions, YIF III aims to continue efforts to develop a locally-defined transitional justice framework that addresses past grievances, promotes accountability, and fosters reconciliation, with the overall goal of creating a durable foundation for lasting peace.
At the regional level, YIF III emphasizes proactive engagement with stakeholders to prevent the renewal of conflict and further economic collapse while addressing the security and economic impacts of regional destabilization. Environmental resilience will be highlighted as a shared regional goal, with a focus on sustainable resource management and resilience as critical components of long-term peace and stability in Yemen and the region.
The forum also aims to strengthen multilateral support for a comprehensive peace process in Yemen by fostering coordinated international and regional efforts to ensure a holistic and enduring resolution to Yemen’s challenges.
Who is participating in YIF III and who is organizing it?
The YIF III will convene up to 250 participants, at least 70 percent of whom will be Yemeni stakeholders, including political leaders, tribal leaders, women, minorities, youth, and civil society actors. It will also include high-level regional and international policymakers, UN representatives, and policy experts. As part of its commitment to inclusivity, YIF III will ensure geographic, gender, political, and generational diversity.
The YIF III is organized by the Sana’a Center for Strategic Studies and supported by the Netherlands, Norway, and Open Society Foundations. The YIF III agenda has been developed in partnership with various organizations leading peace initiatives relevant to the YIF’s focus areas.
Where and when?
The conference will convene over the course of three days in the Jordanian capital of Amman, from February 16-18, 2025. To ensure confidentiality and to provide a secure and safe environment, the exact location will be shared only to confirmed participants, and only participants of the conference will have access to the premises for the duration of the forum.