The protracted conflict in Yemen has led to urgent, widespread humanitarian and development crises and resulted in significant damage to the economy, physical infrastructure, service provision, health, and education systems, as well as social fabric. It has also caused hundreds of thousands of deaths. By the end of 2021, Yemen’s conflict will lead to 377,000 deaths – nearly 60 per cent of which are indirect and caused by issues associated with conflict like lack of access to food, water, and healthcare. These deaths are overwhelmingly made up of young children who are especially vulnerable to under and malnutrition.

When comparing Yemen’s current situation to a scenario without conflict, the country has lost a cumulative US$126 billion in potential gross domestic product (GDP) since 2015. In addition, 15.6 million people have been pushed into extreme poverty and 8.6 million more people into undernutrition.
The report examines a set of possible futures for Yemen’s recovery, beginning with a peaceful end to the conflict, and based on five building blocks:

1. Agricultural Investments: Focusing upon improving access and reducing food insecurity.

2. Economic Development: Concentrating upon boosting investment and productivity while utilizing diverse sources of finance.

3. Empowered Women: Demonstrating the effect of improving women’s health, education, and participation in the economy and society.

4. Human Capabilities: Addressing human development, especially population health and education.

5. Governance Quality: Modelling a more secure peace, greater transparency and government effectiveness, and effective public-private partnerships in infrastructure development.

This research suggests the following recommendations for post-conflict recovery in Yemen:

• Prioritize a sustainable and lasting peace.

• Coordinate international, national, and local recovery efforts.

• Invest in human health and education for long-term sustainable development.

• Invest in women’s empowerment to unlock significant potential through inclusive recovery. Yemen ranks last globally in the UNDP’s Gender Inequality Index.

• Focus on food security within the constraints of Yemen’s agricultural limitations. With a growing population and numerous geographic challenges,
  Yemen will likely be reliant on imports for food in the future. However, actions can be taken to address acute hunger now while developing a more secure and sustainable agricultural portfolio to support Yemen over the long run.

• Leverage the private sector to generate growth, employment, and funding.

Take an integrated approach to post-conflict recovery.