Yemen is one of the most complex territories in terms of humanitarian security, Director of the Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen and Saudi Arabia, Hala Al-Saleh, said during the event titled “Designing Development Programs in Conflict Zones” held within the framework of WUF13, APA reports.
She explained why the Saudi Arabian model has become a successful tool for stability in Yemen:
“It was aimed at restoring services in a fragile environment, supporting communities, contributing to gradual stability, and addressing ongoing challenges. During the crisis and conflict period in Yemen, Saudi Arabia launched a strategic initiative in 2018. This initiative operates in a different context because it works in an unstable environment, cooperates with the Yemeni government, advances development alongside stability, ensures cross-sector integration, and creates effective local and international partnerships.
This program operates as a Southern Development and Reconstruction Program. To date, we have implemented more than 300 projects across eight key sectors. These include education, transport, energy, agricultural efficiency, and other areas. In addition, we have established more than 40 international, local, and UN partnerships. Our intervention activities cover 16 governorates of Yemen.
One of the main points distinguishing us from other institutions and organizations is that we do not operate in isolation. We are part of an integrated network that brings together the Yemeni government, international organizations, the United States, and civil society organizations. The goal is not only to coordinate activities — this is one of the core elements of our model. Because when partners work with a unified development approach, the scale of impact expands, efficiency increases, duplicated activities decrease, and trust between institutions and society is strengthened.”
