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Yemen
SNAPSHOT
Date of independence: 1990
Capital: Sanaa
Population: 21 million (2005)
GDP per person: $600(yr)
Source: World Bank Development Indicators 2005
CONTACTS
Country Representative
Mike E. Sarhan
USAID/Yemen
6330 Sanaa Place
Washington, DC 20521-6330
Tel: 967-1-755-2000
Acting Desk Officer
Nathan Park
Tel: (202) 712-0262
Email: npark@usaid.gov
Increasing girls’ enrollment in school is one of USAID’s objectives in Yemen. Overview
The Republic of Yemen Government (ROYG) took meaningful steps toward substantive poilitical and economic reforms in 2006 and 2007. Despite this progress, Yemen remains one of the least developed countries in the world, ranking 151 of 177 countries on the UNDP Human Development Report in 2005. It faces enormous development challenges with some of the worst indicators in the region.
Programs
Governing Justly and Democratically
Yemen's government ranks below the 25th percentile globally in its effectiveness. This low ranking is indicative of much needed reform within the ROYG. USAID assists the ROYG’s efforts in the formalization of the National Decentralization Strategy as well as the strengthening of the capacity and institutional development of local councils at the governorate and district levels in planning, budgeting and management.
USAID also supports free and fair Parliamentary elections in 2009 through its activities to increase the capacity of the Supreme Commission for Elections and Referendum, to implement its responsibilities efficiently and transparently, establish electoral district boundaries, assist voter registration, enhance women participation, and improve campaign financing and election monitoring.
USAID also supports tribal conflict mitigation programs. Activities include working with tribal youth to promote peaceful resolutions to conflict through dialogue, outreach and an anti-violence youth campaigns. USAID also assist tribal leaders in their efforts to resolve longstanding conflicts that cause senseless violence and delay much needed democratic, economic and educational reforms.
Investing In People: Health
Only 25 % of pregnant women in Yemen are assisted by a midwife or other trained person during delivery. Eighty two children out of 1,000 die before the age of one. To create lasting changes in the health system in remote governorates, USAID renovates health clinics and housing for health providers, provides basic medical equipment to health facilities, trains midwives and doctors to improve emergency obstetric and pre- and post natal care, and improves counseling services and community health education. Over the past year, more than 700 health workers were trained in counseling and health education, including community health education. Through mobile health teams, USAID brought health care services to over 22,750 people in its target governorates. USAID also supports the national Health Information System which allows the Ministry of Public Health and Population and governorate Health Offices improve their collection and utilization of health statistics for better resource management. USAID has also piloted new guidelines for increased routine immunization coverage. In addition, USAID has participated in several rounds of the national polio campaigns, reaching places where children had never been vaccinated.
Investing In People: Education
Yemen’s education indicators are among the lowest in the Middle East. Primary school attendance is only 40% for girls, with only 13% of girls going on to secondary school. To support the ROYG’s efforts to strengthen its basic education system, USAID has developed new programs to improve education, especially for women and girls. In 2006, these programs have trained: 1,539 teachers in teaching reading, writing, science and mathematics for grades 1 through 3; 143 headmasters; 100 community organizations (75 father and 25 mother councils); 36 community participation specialists; and 78 social workers. USAID organized 25 summer camps in 2006 and expects to continue in 2007. An estimated 5,000 students have benefited from USAID sponsored life-skills classes, and over 4,000 women have participated in literacy classes.
Economic Growth: Economic Opportunity
Poverty is pronounced in the remote areas where USAID works, with most people employed in agriculture and herding. To increase incomes in rural areas, USAID helps small farmers, especially women, grow crops, raise animals, and find markets for their products. To provide training for farmers and farm-related businesses, USAID trains staff at the local and national offices of the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation to help them improve their services to poor farmers. USAID assistance is also used to provide small grants to promote business development in the agriculture sector and improve border and customs processes to regulate livestock trade and inspection services for animals arriving from the Horn of Africa. In addition, USAID works with the U.S. Embassy to identify trade opportunities and to expand access to regional and international markets.
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