Yemen Country Plan Consultation

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Yemen is the only low-income country in the Middle East, with 35% of Yemenis living in poverty. Yemen is ranked 153 out of 177 on the Human Development Index, with female literacy at 34.7% and the annual population growth rate at 3.2% - one of the highest in the world. The population is expected to double within 15 years.

Alongside poverty and a rapidly expanding population, there are several other major challenges facing Yemen today, the most important being severe economic decline. Oil is Yemen’s principal export, but is predicted to run out within the next decade. Water is also in short supply, with Yemen being one of the most water scarce countries globally. There is low-level conflict throughout most of the country. In some areas this is fuelled by competition for land and other depleting resources. In the north, an insurgency against the government has recently intensified and spread, resulting in increasing numbers of internally displaced people. All conflict is exacerbated by high levels of arms availability. There is also a significant terrorist threat. With 75% of Yemen’s food imported, the recent increase in global food prices has added another serious challenge to Yemen’s existing long list.

DFID Yemen’s overall approach is therefore focused on reducing the country’s poverty and fragility. This includes supporting Government and non-government service delivery in key areas: education, health, water and justice and policing, as well as promoting economic growth and strengthened public financial management. Our development programme is complemented with humanitarian support where necessary. All our work is underpinned by aid effectiveness, conflict and gender sensitivity principles.

In August 2007, the UK signed a 10-year Development Partnership Arrangement with the Government of Yemen (link - PDF), underlining our long-term commitment to the country. This Arrangement is monitored through a set of mutual commitments from Yemen and the UK. This represents an important shift in UK-Yemen relations towards a more equal partnership, based on frank and two-way dialogue.

More detailed information about our current programme can be found in DFID Yemen: Our Current Programme (link – PDF).

DFID is currently developing a Country Plan to guide our development partnership with Yemen for the next 3 years. To help us with this country planning process, we would like to invite you to answer the questions below, and provide comments on the future direction of the Yemen programme. We will use your feedback to help us develop the issues and choices we will present to the UK Secretary of State for International Development later this year.

Please send your comments to Yemen-CP@dfid.gov.uk by 26 September 2008. We really value all your individual comments but cannot provide a response to all of them. However, a consolidated reply addressing the key issues raised will be sent to all respondents after the consultation has closed.

Yemen Country Plan consultation questions

1. What are the critical issues facing Yemen over the next 3 years?

2. How can DFID best support non-oil economic growth and diversification in Yemen? Should we be focusing more on this issue than currently? How can we help ensure that growth helps the poor and is environmentally sustainable?

3. How can DFID best support Yemen in the key sectors we have identified (education; health; water; community level service delivery; public financial management; growth and private sector development, justice and policing)?

4. What more can we do to strengthen the voice of Yemeni citizens and non-governmental organisations in the development process, particularly within our chosen sectors?

5. How could the donor community as a whole work more effectively to support Yemen’s development? What role could DFID play in making donor assistance to Yemen, and particularly the work of multilateral agencies such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Bank, more effective? How could DFID work more closely with GGC donors and other Arab Donor institutions?

6. How can DFID best support a reduction in violent conflict and risks of future violent conflict in Yemen?

7. Should we take a more geographically-focused approach to our programme? If so, where should our focus be, and why?

8. What can DFID learn from Yemen’s experience of development to date to inform our future approach?