Tag Archive for: Poverty In Yemen

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Yemen’s Economic Recovery

Yemen's Economic RecoveryThe World Bank recently approved a new 5-year framework aimed at supporting Yemen’s economic recovery through investments in jobs, infrastructure and essential services. The plan comes after a decade of conflict that has severely damaged Yemen’s economy and infrastructure.

More Than a Decade of War

Civil war has affected Yemen for more than a decade as conflict between the Houthis and the internationally recognized government continues to drive one of the world’s worst humanitarian and economic crises.

Yemen’s economy has faced severe strain due to policy decisions on both sides, including the relocation of the Central Bank of Yemen from Sanaa to Aden and the printing of trillions of rials in new banknotes without sufficient foreign reserves. These actions have contributed to currency depreciation and rising inflation.

One of the country’s biggest challenges is the existence of two separate financial systems. In 2019, authorities in Sanaa stopped accepting government-issued banknotes, further dividing monetary policy between the two areas.

The collapse of oil exports and reduced foreign currency inflows further weakened government revenues, accelerating economic decline. Combined with disruptions to trade and infrastructure, these pressures deepened Yemen’s overall economic crisis.

The Human Cost of Conflict

Even before the war, Yemen had one of the highest malnutrition rates in the world and ranked among the most vulnerable countries in the Middle East. Nearly half of the population lived in poverty and lacked access to safe water.

Today, food insecurity affects 17 million people, while 18 million lack access to safe water and sanitation. Additionally, 80% of the population lives below the poverty line, while displacement remains widespread across the country. Women and children account for 80% of Yemen’s 4.5 million internally displaced people. Women and girls face heightened risks of gender-based violence, exploitation and early marriage as conflict and economic hardship place additional pressures on families.

Better Livelihoods and More Jobs Amid Fragility

In response to these challenges, the World Bank’s new framework aims to support Yemen’s long-term recovery through investments in health care, infrastructure, water access and economic development.

Under the theme “Better Livelihoods and More Jobs Amid Fragility,” the new Partnership Framework aims to improve nutrition, expand access to electricity and strengthen agriculture and fisheries businesses. The framework also seeks to increase women’s participation in the economy by expanding access to jobs, resources and economic opportunities.

To support these goals, the World Bank approved four projects focused on health care, water access, infrastructure and institutional development.

One of the largest investments targets health and water security. A $94 million health, nutrition and water and sanitation project will expand access to essential services for vulnerable populations, particularly women and children. The initiative will strengthen disease monitoring systems, improve health infrastructure and provide outpatient services to more than 6 million people.

Another $153.6 million project addresses Yemen’s ongoing water crisis by restoring irrigation systems, rehabilitating water infrastructure and introducing digital tools to manage water resources more efficiently. By 2030, the project aims to expand access to water, sanitation and hygiene services to 6.4 million people.

The framework also invests in urban infrastructure. A $21 million project will restore roads, electricity and water systems in selected cities, improving access to essential services for up to 1.75 million people.

In addition to rebuilding infrastructure, the World Bank plans to strengthen public institutions. A $20 million governance project will improve financial management and statistical systems, helping rebuild government capacity and support Yemen’s economic recovery.

Looking Ahead

While Yemen continues to face economic and humanitarian hardships, the new framework offers renewed support for a country working toward recovery. Stéphane Guimbert, World Bank Division Director for Egypt, Yemen and Djibouti, said Yemen’s future “has to be built now,” adding that the goal is to create real opportunities for Yemenis, especially women, while strengthening the institutions that will carry the country forward. Although recovery will take time, the framework aims to lay the foundation for a more stable future.

– Isabella Pedroza

Isabella is based in Salt Lake City, UT, USA and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pexels

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GCC Humanitarian Aid: Gulf Nations Become Top 5 Global Donors

A group of young boys standing together, smiling outdoors. GCC Humanitarian AidThe Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries now rank first as humanitarian nations among the Global South. Between 2019 and 2022, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait contributed more than $28 billion in official development assistance. According to Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, the Secretary-General of the GCC, member states provided nearly $14 billion in official humanitarian aid globally between 2020 and 2025. Increasing regional giving and a general shift in the desire to help have made the council countries the world’s fourth-largest humanitarian donor.

Member states have consistently ranked among the world’s top five donors for several years. Although regional giving was historically informal and discrete, the Gulf’s young generation of leaders now takes control of the countries’ philanthropic activities with a different approach. Rather than focusing on the symptoms of poverty, they prioritize systematic aid that addresses the root causes. The following initiatives highlight how this shift creates lasting advancements in developing nations.

Rebuilding Education in Yemen

The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief), based in Saudi Arabia, has delivered more than $13.3 billion in GCC humanitarian aid to 170 countries since 1996. One of its most impactful efforts focuses on schooling in Yemen through a long-standing partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Together, they rehabilitated 12 schools across the Aden, Lahj and Ta’iz governorates. This work is critical because the conflict in Yemen has destroyed nearly 2,800 schools, leaving 4.5 million children without access to education.

This project created a safe learning environment for more than 18,000 students and teachers across the three governorates. By prioritizing critical infrastructure, KSrelief and IOM provided the students with necessities such as clean water and hygiene services. Workers also installed solar energy systems to ensure uninterrupted learning in areas with electricity shortages. This focused aid builds on previous efforts that improved access for more than 17,500 students in the region.

Food Aid and Technology

In the UAE, the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI) serves as an umbrella organization for over 30 initiatives. Established in 2015, MBRGI concentrates its work in sectors including health care, food security and education. The organization recently contributed 43 million AED to the World Food Programme (WFP) to support direct food aid for more than one million people affected by the crisis in Gaza. Since 2021, MBRGI has contributed a total of 230 million AED in humanitarian aid through its partnership with WFP. Through these projects, the organization provides life-saving food assistance and supports sustainable projects that address global hunger.

The region also uses technology to modernize relief efforts. The UAE recently partnered with the WFP to accelerate a digital school initiative in Southern Africa. This program has already successfully enrolled 60,000 students across eight countries. Meanwhile, the UAE-based Kalimat Foundation’s Ara Initiative provides GCC humanitarian aid by making Arabic literary content accessible to children with visual impairments. The program helps publishers with the technology to create interactive features including built-in bookmarks and navigation tools.

Healing Trauma Through Drama Therapy

Kuwait has also taken a lead in specialized humanitarian efforts through the Intisar Foundation. Princess Intisar Al Sabah founded the organization in 2017 to support Arab women affected by war and trauma. By using drama therapy to alleviate trauma, the foundation aims to heal one million Arab women by 2050.

From solar-powered classrooms in Yemen to Arab women healing through drama therapy, GCC humanitarian aid is reaching people across the region in effective ways. The combined efforts of these nations show a clear commitment to peace through development. By adopting strategic and collaborative models, member states ensure that aid helps communities thrive long-term. As these nations continue to expand their global reach, their solution-driven approach positions them as a leading partner in the fight against poverty.

– Nikki Rasoulian

Nikki is based in Los Angeles, CA, U.S.A and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Updates on SDG 1 in Yemen

SDG 1 in YemenSustainable Development Goal (SDG) 1 aims to end poverty in all its forms by 2030. Recent updates on SDG 1 in Yemen reveal both significant challenges and encouraging progress. More than a decade of conflict has damaged the country’s economy, increased food insecurity and left millions of Yemenis in need of humanitarian assistance. Despite these obstacles, international organizations and local partners continue to implement programs that strengthen livelihoods, improve resilience and help communities move toward long-term poverty reduction.

According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), approximately 80% of Yemen’s population lives below the poverty line. Before the conflict escalated in 2015, poverty affected roughly half of the population. Years of violence, economic instability and disruptions to public services have pushed millions more Yemenis into poverty. Poverty in Yemen also intersects with hunger, displacement and unemployment. Families who lose income often struggle to afford food, while conflict and economic hardship have displaced millions and limited access to stable employment opportunities.

Poverty Challenges Continue Across Yemen

Yemen remains one of the world’s most fragile states. The World Bank reported that economic pressures intensified throughout 2025 as inflation rose and household purchasing power declined. Food prices increased significantly in many areas, making it difficult for families to afford basic necessities. Humanitarian organizations also faced funding shortages, limiting the amount of aid available to vulnerable communities.

The United Nations estimated that more than 17 million Yemenis faced hunger in 2025, while more than 1 million children suffered from acute malnutrition. These conditions continue to hinder progress toward SDG 1 and threaten the well-being of millions of people.

The ERRY Program Builds Rural Resilience

One of the most successful poverty-reduction initiatives in Yemen is the Enhanced Rural Resilience in Yemen (ERRY) Joint Programme. The European Union and the Government of Sweden funded the program, while UNDP, FAO, WFP and ILO implemented it through partnerships with local organizations.

From 2016 to 2025, ERRY operated in 37 districts across eight governorates. The program combined livelihood support, food security projects, local governance initiatives and employment opportunities. According to UNDP, ERRY reached more than 2.1 million people through direct and indirect interventions.

The program focused on helping communities generate income rather than relying solely on emergency assistance. It supported farmers, created jobs, strengthened local institutions and increased resilience to climate-related shocks. By investing in long-term recovery, ERRY advanced several targets under SDG 1 while helping communities rebuild their economic foundations.

The impact of the program extends beyond statistics. In a UNDP case study, Abeer, a young photographer in Taiz Governorate transformed her passion into a profession after receiving training and a start-up grant through the ERRY program. She now earns an income by photographing local events and stories. Her experience illustrates how livelihood programs can help Yemenis build sustainable sources of income and reduce dependence on humanitarian assistance.

Urban Development Projects Create Economic Opportunities

Infrastructure investments have also contributed to poverty reduction efforts. Through the Yemen Integrated Urban Services Emergency Project, UNOPS and the World Bank restored critical services while creating employment opportunities for local residents.

By the end of 2025, the project had improved services for more than 4.5 million people. Workers rehabilitated nearly 240 kilometers of roads and more than 301,000 meters of water and sanitation networks. The initiative also generated more than 1.4 million labor days of employment, providing income for thousands of households.

These investments address immediate community needs while strengthening local economies. Improved transportation, reliable services and temporary employment help families increase income and access essential resources.

Looking Ahead for SDG 1

Although Yemen continues to face severe economic and humanitarian challenges, recent updates on SDG 1 in Yemen highlight the impact of targeted development programs. Initiatives such as the ERRY Joint Programme and the Yemen Integrated Urban Services Emergency Project demonstrate how international partnerships can support poverty reduction even in fragile environments.

These programs have already reached millions of Yemenis through job creation, livelihood support and improved public services. While substantial work remains before Yemen can fully achieve SDG 1, ongoing investments in resilience and economic recovery offer a path toward a more stable future. Continued support from development organizations, donors and local communities can help ensure that more Yemeni families escape poverty and build sustainable livelihoods in the years ahead.

– Angela Qi

Angela is based in Beijing, China and focuses on Business and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pxhere

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A Spotlight on Migration to Yemen Amongst Civil War

Migration to YemenThe ongoing Yemeni Civil War, which first broke out in September 2014, placed the country in a severe humanitarian crisis. This conflict has led to approximately 4.5 million internally displaced persons in Yemen, and yet the country itself remains a widely used migration corridor. Thousands of migrants travel from Sub-Saharan Africa along the East towards the Gulf states in seek of economic opportunities and increased security. However, the Eastern route is one of the most dangerous for migrants, with migration to Yemen resulting in more than 63,000 refugees from Somalia and Ethiopia in Yemen in 2023.

The Dangers That Migrants Face

The Houthi movement’s seizure of Yemen’s capital Sana’a in 2014 resulted in ongoing political instability. A Saudi-led coalition became militarily involved with the aim of restoring control, following the weakening of the current government, leading to a civil war.

The political climate remains unclear in 2026, with control in Yemen still being divided amongst different groups. This means that migration to Yemen involves arriving in a nation that lacks a singular body of power providing rules and policies. Not only are migrants subject to natural threats, including a lack of shelter, food and water, along with environmental disasters, but they are also now often exposed to exploitation. Without a stable government smugglers can drive the narrative of helping migrants to safety while instead driving them into serious danger. For instance, these individuals become at risk of being victims of trafficking or exploitation, with hundreds of migrant deaths and disappearances being recorded along this route. Yet programs aimed at relieving migrants of these humanitarian conditions remain underfunded.

The Impact on Vulnerable Groups

The reality is that many migrants arriving from outside Yemen come from vulnerable groups, including unaccompanied minors and children who are younger than five years old. In addition to this, migration to Yemen by Yemeni migrant returnees include individuals from these vulnerable groups, as well as elderly individuals and pregnant women. These migrant children are included in the 2.2 million undernourished children in 2026. 

Despite this crisis remaining one of the most threatening in the world, Yemen’s 2025 response plan was only funded by 25%, making it impossible to provide the necessary humanitarian aid. This also means that key food, shelter and health services are increasingly difficult to maintain, furthering the threats posed to vulnerable groups.

The Plan Going Forward 

International support is thus crucial. Organizations such as UNICEF are providing children with basic nutritional and healthcare support, with donations being invaluable to the aid provided. In 2025, UNICEF progressed its WASH programme, helping individuals gain access to clean water through more than 50 water supply projects, as well as funding health care facilities which helped 4.6 million women and children tackle malnourishment and illness. UNICEF also supported more than 100,000 children by improving educational facilities and implementing vaccinations, given to more than 15 million children in the wake of disease amongst migration to Yemen.

Further to this, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) sets out to help displaced migrants across Yemen, facilitating safety and urgent care through their Voluntary Humanitarian Return (VHR) programme. The VHR programme sets out to minimize the unsafe conditions caused by migration to Yemen, assisting more than 6,500 migrants with their departures and onward journeys. However, despite these efforts a lack of funding acts as a barrier to relieving migrants of hardships.

Looking Ahead

Sustained international support is also necessary for the UN’s mission to support this ongoing humanitarian crisis. Without more funding or international assistance, migrants will continue to suffer at the hands of this humanitarian emergency.

– Beatrice Toye

Beatrice is based in the United Kingdom and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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5 Nonprofits Working to End Polio in Yemen

Polio in YemenIn recent decades, Yemen has faced crisis after crisis, with war, drought, disease and famine simultaneously affecting a vulnerable population. The presence of polio in Yemen is another challenge to an already struggling population. Several nonprofits are working toward its eradication. Below are insights into five of the most important.

The Impact of COVID-19

When the COVID-19 pandemic arrived and the health care efforts of many of the world’s largest nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) were disrupted, the people of many developing nations suffered, including those of Yemen.

Roughly 25 million infants worldwide did not receive potentially lifesaving vaccinations, the largest regression in vaccination data in more than 30 years. In Yemen, the combined effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and protracted conflict resulted in national vaccination rates falling sharply, with declines of 25% in certain months of 2020. In 2024, 580,000 children in Yemen were recorded as zero-dose, a crisis demanding a multilateral response.

Beginning in 2023, several major global partners in public health, including the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Health Organization (WHO) and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, formed The Big Catch-up, a program working to reverse the damage to immunization progress caused by the pandemic. The project is making progress in eradicating poliovirus worldwide. With around 85% of all children affected by polio living in the most volatile states, this effort is significant. The following five organizations are at the forefront of the fight against polio in Yemen.

5 Nonprofits Working to End Polio in Yemen

  1. The Global Polio Eradication Initiative. At the center of global efforts for complete immunization against poliovirus, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), in collaboration with the federal government, is making considerable progress in early detection and surveillance of outbreaks. With an over 80% early detection rate for key symptoms, its work is an important stage in the immunization process and gives patients essential time for treatment and recovery. This progress has been made despite the adverse conditions in Yemen, which the GPEI categorizes as one of several “consequential geographies” that complicate eradication efforts. Its work in collaboration with global partners reflects continued developments being made in a post-pandemic world.
  2. UNICEF. In the summer of 2025, UNICEF and the WHO began a vaccination campaign against polio in Yemen, aiming to reach more than 1.3 million children in the nation’s most stable regions. Working with the Ministry of Public Health and Population, UNICEF provided and supported almost 7,000 vaccination teams, including 6,000 mobile units, to deliver intervention before the outbreak that began in 2021 grew further. With 98% of the 282 cases recorded between 2021 and July 2025 occurring in children under 5, the focus of UNICEF’s actions is on early-life immunization. Peter Hawkins, the UNICEF Representative to Yemen, said that vaccination is the way to keep children safe.
  3. The International Organization for Migration. While not a health care-focused nonprofit, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is an ally in organizing and delivering immunization programs. In the absence of a reliable national infrastructure, on-the-ground specialists support health care workers in accessing and administering vaccines. Working in both permanent communities and large populations now living in internal displacement camps, the IOM’s insights into the requirements and challenges in these areas have supported operatives with specialist advice. The IOM also continues to engage in awareness initiatives aimed at reducing vaccine hesitancy and misinformation. Reaching 31,000 people in 2024 alone, the campaign has helped address a significant obstacle to a successful polio vaccine rollout.
  4. Islamic Relief U.K. A major provider of health care and hospital aid across Yemen and the wider region, Islamic Relief U.K. has a track record of supporting Yemen’s under-resourced health care facilities. By providing otherwise inaccessible technology and provisions to health care centers facing extreme budgetary limitations and violent attacks, the organization enables them to continue their work. The functionality of these centers is essential to the operations of a campaign against poliovirus and to support the health care needs of a country facing significant challenges.
  5. The Yemen Relief and Reconstruction Foundation. As one of the leading nonprofits operating in Yemen, the Yemen Relief and Reconstruction Foundation (YRRF) is engaged in efforts across the spectrum of national issues. With a diverse portfolio of funding, its efforts are focused on the most pressing crises and preventative measures. The support offered to medical centers and laboratories represents a key approach to long-term eradication of poliovirus. A 2025 investment by the foundation into the National Central Public Health Laboratories in Sana’a supports the laboratory’s work in serving patients from numerous governorates and its capacity to perform diagnostic tests that can detect polio at an early, non-critical stage. This funding and specialist support offer Yemen a domestic, sustainable means to address the threat of poliovirus to its child population through the collaboration of all five nonprofits listed here.

Looking Ahead

The work of each of these nonprofits is bringing Yemen closer to eradicating polio, but continued public and government support is needed. Increased funding and sustained international attention can help complete this work, securing the future health of children in Yemen and beyond.

– Evan Meikle

Evan is based in Kingston upon Hull, UK and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Yemen’s Health Care Amid Conflict

yemen's health careThe Republic of Yemen has been in civil war since 2014, pitting the Iran-backed Houthi movement against a Saudi-led coalition supporting the internationally recognized government. This has led to the systematic collapse of formal health care. The Houthis are running a quasi-state in the north that exploits aid as a tool of political control. With hospitals destroyed and clinics inaccessible, Yemen’s private pharmacists diagnose conditions, dispense prescription medications without oversight and provide basic medical advice. Yemen could formalize pharmacists’ expanded role through tiered licensing, basic diagnostic training and integration with telemedicine networks.

Conflict, Funding Collapse and Deliberate Obstruction

The Trump administration labeled the Houthis as a terrorist organization in 2025, causing U.S. funding to decrease. This was meant to pressure the Houthis, but it punished ordinary Yemenis instead, scaring away donors and giving NGOs legal exposure for any activity that could be construed as materially supporting the Houthis.

Human Rights Watch documented how the Houthis’ systematic detention of aid workers is deepening Yemen’s humanitarian catastrophe. As of early January 2026, at least 69 U.N. staff (all Yemeni nationals) and dozens of staff from international and local NGOs have been arbitrarily detained since mid-2024, with arrests occurring in several waves. The arrests, combined with office raids and the seizure of equipment have effectively paralysed aid operations in Houthi-controlled areas. The U.N. suspended operations in Saada entirely – the majority of Saada’s population has moved from crisis level to emergency level food insecurity in that period.

The World Food Program (WFP) announced in January 2026 that it is shutting down its operations in Houthi-controlled northern Yemen entirely. All 365 WFP staff in the region will have their contracts terminated by the end of March. Northern Yemen accounts for around 70% of the country’s humanitarian requirements, and more than 18 million people were already at risk of acute food insecurity, with tens of thousands facing famine-like conditions. An estimated 4.8 million people remain internally displaced across Yemen as a whole.

A Broken System Looking for a Fix

Yemen’s health care operates in a legal and institutional vacuum. The government, currently based in Aden under the Presidential Leadership Council, nominally controls the Ministry of Public Health and Population (MoPHP), which retains legal authority over health care. Any formal tiered licensing system would need MoPHP sign-off to have legal standing. The practical problem is that MoPHP’s writ does not run in Houthi-controlled areas (most of the north, including Sana’a), where a parallel health bureaucracy has operated since around 2016.

Launched in September 2024 in Aden, Yemen’s National Quality of Health Care Strategy 2025–2030 is a joint initiative between WHO and Yemen’s Ministry of Public Health and Population. It aims to improve the quality, safety and equity of health services across the country despite the ongoing challenges of conflict, poverty and weak infrastructure. Furthermore, it has the support of seven years of collaboration between WHO, MoPHP and the World Bank’s International Development Association, with current implementation supported through the Emergency Human Capital Project, which could be a major funding vessel. WHO and MoPHP should co-develop a short-form pharmacist diagnostic certificate and acknowledge honestly that MoPHP cannot certify in Houthi territory, so NGOs operating there would need to serve as the de facto credentialing body on a provisional basis.

Medicine Availability: The Data

A peer-reviewed academic study involved researchers who surveyed 30 health care facilities across 13 districts in three southern Yemeni governorates (Aden, Lahij, and Abyan) between November 2017 and February 2018. On average, only 52.8% of essential medicines were available across all facilities – well below the WHO’s voluntary target of 80%.

  • Private pharmacies had the best availability at nearly 80%;
  • Private hospitals around 73%, because they are commercially supplied;
  • Public hospitals came in at 53%;
  • Public health care centres involved availability at just 19% – ⅘ essential medicines were not on the shelves.

Yemen imports 80-90% of its medicines, and the conflict has severely disrupted supply chains, destroyed infrastructure, and caused economic collapse.

With the WFP’s withdrawal from the north, Houthi detention of aid workers continuing and the conflict destroying health infrastructure, the formal system is contracting further while need accelerates. Yemen’s southern governorates, more accessible and more stable than the north, offer a viable starting point. A tiered licensing framework, negotiated between the internationally recognized government and established NGO networks, could begin there. Understanding Yemen’s health care means understanding what happens when a health system disappears entirely.

– Anisa Begum

Anisa is based in Birmingham, UK and focuses on Business and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Vocational Education Training Centers in Yemen

Education Training Centers in YemenVocational education training centers in Yemen are giving young people the tools to rebuild their futures. From classroom learning to community rebuilding, these centers are helping reduce unemployment and foster economic resilience in one of the world’s most vulnerable nations. 

About Vocational Education Training Centers in Yemen

Vocational education training centers in Yemen have faced immense challenges since Houthi rebels seized the capital city of Sanaa in 2014. The prolonged civil war has devastated Yemen’s social and economic structures, making it difficult for educational and training institutions to operate effectively. Regional intervention and years of political instability have fueled the conflict, driving millions of elders, women, children and innocent lives into poverty. Experts consider the conflict in Yemen one of the worst humanitarian crises in modern history, following the 2025 Gaza genocide, including widespread famine and disease outbreaks.

After nearly a decade of war, Yemen continues to face extreme economic, social and health challenges that will affect Yemenis’ lives in the long run. With collapsing infrastructure, limited job opportunities and severe disruptions to education, young people are among the most affected. According to the World Bank, the country’s real GDP per capita has dropped by nearly 60% since 2015, and more than half of Yemeni’s population now faces food insecurity. Poverty and war have forced many families to withdraw children from school or depend on unsatisfactory, informal labor just to survive.

In Yemen, where some children search for a loaf of bread to ease their hunger and families struggle to meet even their most basic needs, vocational education and training centers have emerged as a vital solution. By equipping youth and adults with practical skills in fields such as construction, agriculture and technology, these programs provide pathways to employment, support local economies and help restore a sense of stability and hope for a long-term recovery.

Skills for Stability

Vocational education training centers in Yemen are offering practical, life-changing skills to communities in crisis. These centers teach trades such as plumbing, solar installation, tailoring and information technology. Teachers at vocational centers teach skills that directly meet the needs of local markets in Yemen. According to UNICEF, programs supporting technical and vocational education in Yemen have helped thousands of youth, particularly women and displaced people, gain the expertise needed to secure jobs and rebuild their communities. 

In a country where years of conflict have left many without traditional schooling, these centers serve as safe havens for learning and empowerment. Students often share classrooms powered by solar panels they install themselves, blending education with action. Each new skill learned represents a step away from dependency and closer to resilience for individuals and communities in Yemen.

Amina’s Story

Despite the challenges, Amina, a young woman from Yemen, refused to give up hope. Her school principal nominated Amina to join a UNICEF-supported like-skills and vocational training program, and she eagerly embraced the opportunity. After more than two months, she learned sewing and business management and upon completing the training, Amina received a sewing machine and materials to start her own small business.

“My life has changed. I was afraid of meeting people before, but now I am more confident and independent. I can now provide all my needs without depending on others,” said Amina.

In a modest room made of stone and clay, Amina set up her own small workspace, where she now tailors vibrant dresses for women and girls in her neighborhood. What began as a simple effort to practice her new sewing skills quickly turned into a thriving business as word spread throughout her community. Today, she earns roughly 20,000 Yemeni riyals each month (about $84 USD), which is enough to support her parents and ten siblings. Amina’s journey shows how access to vocational education can transform lives, turning hardship into independence and hope into opportunity.

Economic Ripple Effects

Vocational education in Yemen does more than create jobs; it lays the foundation for long-term economic development. By equipping people with practical skills, training programs help reduce unemployment, boost productivity and encourage small business creation. According to the World Bank, Yemen’s economy had contracted by nearly 60% since 2015, making the rebuilding of human capital crucial for its recovery.

As trained workers begin to rebuild infrastructure and launch microenterprises, they stimulate local markets and attract investment opportunities. Indeed, international partners, including the World Bank and UNDP note that investing in job training in Yemen can also open new avenues for economic cooperation and trade, creating pathways for growth that extend beyond national borders. This progress highlights the importance of vocational education in Yemen as a driver of job training and economic development.

The Good News

Despite the challenges, success stories are emerging across Yemen. In Taiz, a women’s sewing collective launched in 2022 with support from UNICEF has trained more than 200 women in tailoring and business management. Many of these women now run small businesses that provide clothing for their communities and income for their families. In Sana’a, a solar training program that the Social Fund for Development created in partnership with local schools has equipped young people with the skills to install and maintain solar panels, helping restore electricity to schools and homes in areas that power shortages affect.

These programs restore livelihoods and strengthen hope, showing that even amid a crisis, education can rebuild lives and communities. Yemen’s vocational training centers demonstrate that opportunity can flourish in conflict. Supporting these initiatives helps transform crises into capacity, giving young people tools to rebuild their country. 

Advocating for policies and funding that expand the vocational education training center in Yemen remains essential to promoting long-term stability and economic recovery. Strengthening these centers helps create employment opportunities. Supporting local economies and empowering communities to rebuild their future through education and skill development.

– Furdeuce Mused

Furdeuce is based in Oakland, CA, USA and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Telemedicine in Yemen: Health Care Amid War

Telemedicine in YemenYemen is one of the world’s vulnerable countries, with a GDP per capita of just $433. Decades of conflict, including a civil war that has killed more than 300,000 since 2014, have left millions of Yemenis without necessities. Health care in particular is lacking all over Yemen. The country has a mere 0.3 physicians per capita, below the global average.

Rates of vaccination against communicable diseases hover between 40% and 50%, compared to more than 90% in Western countries. Only 50% of the country’s medical facilities are functional. It comes as no surprise, then, that 80% of Yemenis face “significant challenges” in accessing health care.

The problem is even more dire in rural areas. The scarcity of health care in Yemen has fueled major outbreaks of preventable diseases such as cholera, diphtheria and polio. These outbreaks have caused thousands of deaths and cost the Yemeni economy millions of dollars.

A Modern Solution

The enormous toll of treatable diseases in Yemen has given rise to a novel solution: telemedicine. Telemedicine is a form of low-cost health care in which physicians remotely diagnose and administer medical treatment to faraway patients. Physicians specifically utilize phone calls, text messages, online video-conferencing and other telecommunications technology to ensure their patients receive high-quality care.

Since its inception in the mid-1900s, telemedicine has proliferated—reaching millions of needy patients all over the world. In war-torn Yemen, several institutions have been using telemedicine since 1997. Leading the way are international companies, NGOs and medical associations. One example is SmartHealthTec, a Dubai-based medical equipment company that opened a branch in Yemen. The branch has recently inaugurated telemedicine platforms in the country to ensure the effective operation of its equipment “even in crisis conditions.”

Meanwhile, the international NGO Swinfen Charitable Trust has connected Yemeni doctors with medical consultants to address 85 complex cases across the country. This telemedicine approach enabled specialists to provide feedback to patients who otherwise had no access to such expertise. A 2020 study of a group of Yemeni patients and clinicians found general satisfaction with the Swinfen Charitable Trust’s telemedical consultations.

Similarly, the Eradication of Leishmaniasis [skin disease] from Yemen Project has successfully used telemedicine to reach vulnerable patients since 2013. Through WhatsApp and phone calls, Yemeni dermatologists have provided free medical recommendations to patients in different, often unreachable parts of the country. This has likely saved the lives of many patients who would have perished from skin-related conditions in a war-torn context without medical facilities.

Challenges Remain

Despite its success in reaching patients, telemedicine in Yemen still faces major limitations. Only 18% of Yemenis consistently use the Internet and just 55% have phone service. Reliable wi-fi infrastructure is also severely lacking. These barriers restrict who can access telemedicine in the first place.

Even with expanded Internet and wi-fi access, telemedicine will remain limited in scope. Severe medical conditions almost always require in-person treatment, such as surgery. Telemedicine cannot solve everything.

Telemedicine’s Potential

Regardless of its limitations, telemedicine can still strengthen health care in Yemen. Years of conflict have severely damaged the country’s physical health facilities. Yet international companies, NGOs and collaborative projects have successfully used telemedicine to reach patients in need. Its low-cost, remote nature, combined with advances in telecommunications, ensures that telemedicine will remain a vital part of Yemen’s health care system for decades to come.

– Pranav Kanmadikar

Pranav is based in Louisville, KY, USA and focuses on Technology and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Freepik

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Preserving Yemen’s Cultural Pride

Yemen's Cultural PrideSince 2015, the civil war in Yemen has remained one of the largest humanitarian crises in the world. Widespread poverty, displacement, famine and diseases have dismantled the country. More than 80% of Yemenis struggle to access food, safe drinking water and adequate health services. The ongoing conflict and oppressive system continue to limit and deny Yemenis their fundamental human rights and freedoms.

However, Yemen’s cultural heritage fosters a profound sense of belonging, identity and resilience amidst the ongoing humanitarian crisis and conflict. Several initiatives are preserving and restoring historical archives, while instilling Yemen’s cultural pride and opportunities in the young generation. The Yemeni House of Music, Takween Cultural Club and the UNESCO Cash for Cash project are initiatives promoting artistic and creative industries, increasing employment and creating social cohesion among the Yemeni population.

Yameni House of Music and Art

Yemeni House of Music and Art (YHMA) is dedicated to preserving Yemen’s rich musical and artistic heritage. By digitizing 10,000 recordings, the lyric and audio heritage has been safeguarded. This has encouraged new research, helping to revive Yemen’s cultural heritage efforts. Additionally, there is a push to instill cultural pride in the younger generation by getting them involved in crafting and playing the Yemeni lute, Al Quanbus.

This endangered traditional musical instrument has been revived and honoured by Yemeni youth. YHMA promotes artistic expression through performances and exhibitions celebrating the richness of Yemeni culture. Likewise, The Heritage Symphony echoes a similar message and recently hosted composer Mohammad Alghoon, who plays a significant role in preserving Yemen’s musical legacy.

Alghoon’s ability to blend authenticity with modernity creates a distinct image of contemporary Yemeni cultural pride. Both celebrate Yemeni musical heritage, creating spaces of love, connection and identity, while promoting cultural pride.

Takween Cultural Club

The Takween Cultural Club ensures safe and expanded access to cultural artefacts and experiences. In particular, the restoration of the Alsutania Library has transformed the oldest library in Hadramout, becoming one of the first modern libraries in the Arabian Peninsula. The Writing Foundation supported the restoration project by reviving 3,000 manuscripts through basic repair strategies. During this process, damaged texts were digitized by newly trained library staff and volunteers.

More than 800 people participated, especially young men and women who gained practical IT and library management training. Both bookbinding and digital archiving formed the basis for ensuring the library’s longevity. After six months of conservation work, the library saw a 600% increase in visitors. Researchers, writers and university students can work safely and contribute to the archives. The library became a symbol of Yemeni cultural pride and community. It also became a hub for education and discussion through seminars and events, enriching public engagement.

UNESCO Cash for Cash Project

UNESCO Cash for Work supports Yemen’s disadvantaged youth by promoting social welfare opportunities. Launched in 2018, Cash for Work creates jobs related to cultural preservation for Yemen’s urban youth. The project seeks to develop sustainable short- and long-term employment opportunities since young people comprise 70% of the Yemeni population. These are focused on regeneration activities and the restoration of historic buildings.

This provides economic benefits and fosters a sense of cultural pride, social cohesion and peace-building through these restorative efforts. Additionally, Cash for Work addresses urban youth well-being and livelihood as it gives young people a purpose and skill set, preventing them from being influenced by radicalization movements.

Going Forward

Yemen’s cultural pride is at the nation’s heart, destabilized by the ongoing conflict. For many Yameni, these three initiatives have provided a sense of belonging, identity and community spirit. They have also successfully instilled a strong sense of cultural pride and purpose in the young generation of Yemenis to continue preserving, celebrating and restoring their rich and profound heritage into the future.

– Jule Riemenschneider

Jule is based in Oxford, UK and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Strides to Lower The Gender Wage Gap in Yemen

Gender Wage Gap in YemenThe gender wage gap is a global problem. Women earn less money than their male counterparts in the same position. All because they are women and are deemed lesser than men, even if they go above and beyond. However, women can still earn enough in most countries to make a living. In Yemen, though, the majority of women are not even working due to traditional gender roles. Men are usually the breadwinners, while women stay at home to help with children.

Gender Wage Gap in Yemen

The World Bank data for Yemen shows that only 4.9% of women are in the labor force. Only 54% of women are literate, which indicates that women are not receiving proper education. To go along with this, 41.9% of girls complete lower secondary school compared to 55.7% of boys. Even if women can participate in the workforce, more than half of them are in a vulnerable employment position. This means that they do not have protection against any economic shocks, making them more likely to fall into poverty. Because of this, only 4.5% of women hold senior and middle management positions, the lowest amount in all economies.

The UNDP’s Efforts to Promote Gender Equality in Yemen

Yemen has launched the Strengthening Institutions and Economic Resilience in Yemen (SIERY) project to not only promote gender inclusivity but also help educate women and teach them the necessary skills to enter the labor force. With economic resilience, they can create more jobs and provide a stable economy, leaving women less vulnerable to market crashes.

In its efforts to support women and youth, UNDP helped build schools along with maternity and children’s hospitals. The organization has also installed solar power systems so young women can receive a proper education, leading to more women being educated in a safe environment. To help women in the workforce, the UNDP has helped more than 80 women build businesses via grants and loans, allowing them to be self-sustaining for their families, leading to a better quality of life. The business these women have created for themselves: Sesame products.

Sesame Processing Changed Women’s Lives

Among the UNDP’s interventions was giving women the opportunity to learn how to process sesame and create products from it. The UNDP states that “The curriculum included modules on food processing, sesame oil extraction, soap and scrub making, sesame paste (tahini) production, branding, packaging, and foundational business skills,” giving them the tools to not only make a living, but to boost the economy as well.

Sara, a woman who was displaced because of conflict in Yemen, has become the breadwinner for her family. She said, “The course also gave me confidence to start my own small business to support my family and offer high-quality local products to the community.” This gave her the ability to support her family and community at the same time.

Fatima, a mother of three, stated: “…we are using locally grown sesame, rather than relying on imported raw materials. I have already started making soaps and creams at home, and the response has been very positive.” This shows how this program has created a long-term business for women to stay in the workforce.

Shaimaa shared, “My business is allowing me to earn an income, support my family and meet market demand for quality sesame products.” This supports the UNDP’s mission to create a more stable economy along with meeting supply and demand. The sesame is also local, ensuring that the women do not have to rely on imports. The UNDP’s SIFEY project has given countless women and children education, jobs, and safety, leading them to live better and more fulfilling lives.

Next Steps: A Conflicted Future

Humanitarian aid is still crucial in Yemen due to its civil war. The Human Rights Watch states how “only 21 of 88 wells linked with Taizz’s public water supply network are operational,” which has led citizens to pay enormous fees for clean water access, or try to harvest rain water that could be riddled with diseases.

The war has led women and men alike to be unemployed and displaced. However, women are continuing to receive education, which has helped reduce the gender wage gap in Yemen, giving them have a stable source of income for their families. For Yemeni women, the future is clouded, but having resources for education and employment can help them wade through rough waters.

– Alexis Thomas

Alexis is based in Raleigh, NC, USA and focuses on Technology and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr