2012年-世界发展银行全球_Joint_Social_and_Economic_Assessment___Republic_of_Yemen_4页_841kb

MENA Knowledge and Learning: Joint Social and Economic Assessment of the Republic of Yemen

Core Content

The Joint Social and Economic Assessment (JSEA) of Yemen was conducted in response to a request from the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation (MoPIC) and involved collaboration between the World Bank, the United Nations, the European Union, and the Islamic Development Bank. The assessment aimed to evaluate the social and economic impact of the 2011 crisis and identify key priorities for early interventions during the transition period, which was expected to last until the first half of 2014.

Main Purpose

• Assess the social and economic impact of the 2011 crisis.
• Identify challenges and key priorities for early interventions.
• Leverage the political transition for rapid socio-economic development.

Key Findings

Economic Impact

• The Yemeni economy contracted by 11% in 2011 and was unlikely to grow in 2012.
• Poverty increased from 35% in 2006 to 54.4% in 2012.
• Chronic malnourishment affects 58% of children under 5, with 1 million suffering from acute malnutrition.
• Food insecurity rose to 45% of the population (about 10 million people) by March 2012.

Social Impact

• Child labor and child marriage became more common due to the crisis.
• Infrastructure damage was extensive, including buildings, power installations, and gas pipelines.
• 806,600 people were identified as vulnerable due to conflict, including children, returnees, refugees, and displaced persons.

Employment and Informal Economy

• 92% of the employed are in the informal sector.
• 97% of youth (15–24) are informally employed.
• Unemployment is estimated at up to 40% among youth.

Qat Consumption

• Qat production consumes 40% of pumped water, leading to groundwater depletion.
• Qat remains a major employer for millions of Yemenis, with 1 in 7 employed people linked to it in 2005/6.

Key Priorities for Reforms and Development

Short-Term Actions

• Launch a "Yemen Appeal" to the GCC to address food insecurity and child malnutrition.
• Develop a conflict abatement program for IDPs through skills development and support.
• Scale-up poverty alleviation efforts by leveraging cross-border remittances and improving savings and investment instruments.
• Secure social safety nets by establishing a civil registry system and strengthening institutions like the Social Fund for Development.

Medium-Term Actions

• Education Reform: Focus on job creation, repair infrastructure, increase female teachers, and reform TVET governance.
• Food Security: Address the oligopolistic cereals import regime, build grain silos, and implement wheat productivity measures.
• Water Sector: Restructure the National Water Resources Authority, regulate groundwater access, and promote drip irrigation. Explore PPP-based desalination and establish a WASH sector framework.
• Power Sector: Restore generation and distribution, address governance, and invest in renewable energy.
• Health Services: Improve quality and availability of services through a "Policy & Funding Compact", preventive healthcare, and stakeholder dialogue.
• Agriculture and Rural Economy: Engage in national dialogue to reform subsidies and water resource management. Focus on increasing productivity in key sectors.
• Government Capacity: Streamline administrative processes, improve donor coordination, and implement PFM reforms.
• Local Governance: Empower local governments to enhance service delivery in water, education, health, and urban services.
• Gender: Improve girls' education and maternal health, and advance the legal status of women.

Conclusion

The transition period in Yemen requires a measured and systemic approach to reverse economic and social losses. Strategic investments and key reforms are necessary to restore growth, improve public services, and ensure macroeconomic stability. The process must deliver tangible results, involve broad ownership, and include consultative mechanisms to build trust and support for change.

Contact Information

• Laura Tuck, Director, Strategy and Operations, MENA Region, The World Bank
• Regional Quick Notes Team: Omer Karasapan and Roby Fields
• Tel: (202) 473 8177

The MNA Quick Notes are intended to summarize lessons learned from MNA and other Bank Knowledge and Learning activities. The Notes do not necessarily reflect the views of the World Bank, its board or its member countries.