Aden (South24) 

The World Bank Group’s Board of Executive Directors has approved funding for four new projects in Yemen with a total value of $285 million, targeting the health, water, urban services, and governance sectors. The Board also approved a new Country Partnership Framework (CPF) for the period 2026–2030.  

The World Bank stated, in a press release issued Thursday (June 4), that the new financing package includes $153.6 million for the Water Management and Irrigation Improvement Project, and $94 million for the Health, Nutrition, and WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) Project. Additionally, $21 million was allocated as additional financing for the Yemen Emergency Integrated Urban Services Project, and $20 million for the Public Institutions and Systems Modernization Project.  

It explained that the Water Management and Irrigation Improvement Project, which represents the largest component of the financing package, aims to address Yemen's water scarcity crisis by rehabilitating irrigation systems, water harvesting structures, and restoring water supply infrastructure in several key basins, including Aden-Tubn and Wadi Hajr. 

It added that the Health, Nutrition, and WASH Project will provide health, nutrition, and water services to the most vulnerable, with a focus on pregnant and lactating women and children under five. It is expected that more than six million people will benefit from outpatient healthcare services.  

The financing also includes additional support for the Emergency Integrated Urban Services Project to improve roads, water and sanitation networks, flood risk management, and to provide electricity to schools and hospitals. This is in addition to a project focused on modernizing public institutions, enhancing governance, and public financial management. 

Concurrently, the World Bank approved a new Country Partnership Framework (CPF) for Yemen for the period 2026–2030, titled "Better Livelihoods and More Jobs Under Fragility," to serve as the main reference for the Group's work in Yemen over the next five years. 

The Bank stated that the new framework focuses on three key objectives: improving nutrition, expanding access to electricity, and strengthening agribusiness, aquaculture, and the fisheries sector. 

The statement pointed out that Yemen faces profound economic and humanitarian challenges after more than a decade of conflict, with real GDP per capita declining by about 58%. Furthermore, more than three-quarters of the population live below the poverty line, and nearly half of all children suffer from stunting. 

"Building the future of Yemen must start now," said Stefan Gember, World Bank Country Director for Egypt, Yemen, and Djibouti, emphasizing that the new strategy focuses on providing real opportunities for Yemenis and strengthening institutions capable of leading the recovery and development process. 

The Bank explained that the new framework relies on expanding investment in Yemeni institutions, businesses, and local delivery systems, while giving a greater role to the private sector as one of the most prominent factors of economic resilience during the years of conflict. This is in addition to enhancing women's participation in economic activity and improving their access to basic services and job opportunities. 

Khawaja Aftab Ahmed, Division Director for the Levant, Iraq, and Yemen, IFC, said that over the past years, the Yemeni private sector has formed one of the essential pillars of economic resilience in the country. 

He emphasized that continued support for Yemeni businesses will contribute to driving growth and creating jobs, adding that the IFC sees promising opportunities for the private sector in several fields, including agriculture and energy, enabling it to play a pivotal role in economic recovery efforts. 

The World Bank confirmed that it has maintained its presence in Yemen throughout the years of conflict, with its current active portfolio valued at approximately $2 billion spread across nine active projects. 

It added that the preparation of the new Country Partnership Framework came after consultations with government authorities, the private sector, civil society organizations, development partners, and UN agencies, with support from international donors including the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and the European Union.