Projects

Yemen’s economy, the poorest among the Arabian Peninsula countries, relies mostly on agriculture which contributes more than 15% to GDP and employs more than 55% of the active population. Poverty is widespread in the rural areas, home to 83% of the poor, who derive their livelihoods and incomes exclusively from agriculture and agriculture-related activities. Rainfed agriculture in the highlands represents more than half of the total cultivated area of Yemen. Climate change is a real concern for Yemen. Most climate modeling scenarios indicate that the drylands of West Asia and North Africa will be the most affected by droughts and high temperatures in the years to come. A greater frequency of droughts and flash floods has already been observed in recent years. Rainfed agricultural areas are the most vulnerable to the impact of climate change. Lower rainfall, a consequence of climate change, would have immediate detrimental impacts on rain-based agricultural systems. One study estimates that climate change could lead to a 50% reduction of crop yields for rain-based agricultural crops by 2020 (Agoumi, 2003).

Support the development of sustainable and resilient livelihoods for rural Yemenis by mainstreaming climate change adaptation, biodiversity conservation, and SLM across productive agriculture, livestock and fisheries sectors

The project is designed to support Yemen’s efforts to reach its priority goals, by building capacity, raising public awareness, and promoting sustainable livelihood approaches at the national, regional, and local levels.

The project involves on-the-job training and the establishment of strategic