UNDP’s Administrator Visits Yemen
The United Nations Development Programme’s Administrator, Achim Steiner, arrived to Yemen for a five (5) day visit on Thursday, 25 July 2019. His visit included days and nights spent in Aden, Sana’a and Hodeidah meeting with authorities and partners, visiting project sites and beneficiaries, as well as spending time with staff to listen to their concerns. He is the first Administrator to visit Yemen during the conflict.
Aden
Day 1: Thursday, 25 July 2019
The Administrator’s first stop in Yemen was to meet with staff; one of the main priorities of his visit. But due to an unforeseen delay with his flight, he had to miss the scheduled lunch and meeting with staff.
Appreciating the fact that staff had come in early and were willing to stay late to meet with him, he prioritized time with those who could stay late into the afternoon. He listened closely to staff thoughts and concerns, encouraging them to ask whatever was on their minds.
Project Visit: Livelihoods Exhibition
Enhanced Rural Resilience in Yemen (ERRY) and the Yemen Livelihood and Human Security (YLHS) project
In addition to meeting with the Central Bank and the Internationally Recognized Government, an event was created for beneficiaries of ERRY and YLHS.
The two UNDP teams brought together 18 beneficiaries from the communities of Aden, Lahj and Kanfer to showcase their newly acquired skills through UNDP and partnership capacity building programmes. Some of the showcased skills included: beekeeping, sewing, henna, micro-grids, solar panels and cell phone repair.
The Administrator spent time with every beneficiary. He listened. He asked questions. He was truly engaged in hearing their stories, about their families, their struggles and their successes. He referred to the stories he heard here in interviews, conversations and meetings, recalling his positive impression regarding the work of UNDP and partners and the resilience of the Yemeni people.
“I witnessed firsthand the determination and resilience of Yeminis in turning challenges into opportunities.”
Aden
Day 2: Friday, 26 July 2019
Before departing Aden, the Administrator visited two project sites in the Sira Crater neighborhood, both funded by the World Bank.
Project Visit: Road Paving
Yemen Emergency Response Crisis Response (YECRP)
Implemented by the Public Works Project, the road paving project is working to enable an isolated community perched high above the city of Aden access to the city. Due to the steep, rocky terrain and the absence of paved roads, many who live in the area suffer from lack of access to basic needs such as water and health care.
Villagers rely heavily upon donkeys and couriers to bring supplies. With an average income of USD $100 per month, the payment of approximately USD $4 a day for water is both costly and prohibitive for villagers.
UNDP and PWP have already paved a large portion of the road from the bottom of the hill to approximately a third of the way to the top of the hill. There is more to be done, but progress is steady and villagers expressed the very positive impact that the project has already had on them.
“The road has already significantly improved the quality of my mom’s life. She must regularly visit the doctor and used to have to travel down the hill by donkey, causing her great pain. Now, she is met by a car more than half way down. It both eases her pain and the time it takes to get to the doctor.”
Project Visit: Canal and Sewage Rehabilitation
Yemen Emergency Response Crisis Response (YECRP)
The Administrator spent time walking through the streets of Aden, exploring the route of the dilapidated sewage system that has been neglected for years.
He discovered the 3,500 year old tanks where water collects before flowing through the far reaches of the city; walked through the fish and vegetable markets where open sewage and water systems mix; inspected the damaged canals as they kink through the Military Museum; witnessed the ongoing trash clean-up and wall rehabilitation in the open canals; and, climbed down into the canal where broken pipes lead the sewage and water to sea.
The scale of the work being done by the Social Fund for Development (SFD) is significant for the community as it benefits 2,500 people and has employed nearly 100 workers.
Sana’a
Day 2 Continued: Friday, 26 July 2019
After leaving the projects in Aden, the Administrator headed to the Aden airport to continue his onward journey to Sana’a. Upon landing in Sana’a, he met with the UN Country Team and separately with the De-Facto Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
After the meetings, he visited the Old Sana’a City to see two more UNDP Yemen project sites, converse with beneficiaries and to meet implementing partners.
Project Visit: Rehabilitating the Al Khansaa Girls School
Yemen Emergency Response Crisis Response (YECRP)
The damaged school is a large project currently being undertaken by UNDP and partner, Public Works Project. In addition to other components — and benefiting approximately 3,000 girls — the project has worked to rehabilitate the auditorium, classrooms, the outside of the school and the computer laboratory.
The Administrator met with implementing partners, the principle, teachers and students. He listened to their stories and was moved by the resilience and fortitude of the teachers and students alike. Despite bombs, gunfire and a shortage of school books, they have all persevered in their resolve to both provide and gain an education.
Project Visit: Community Farming
Yemen Emergency Response Crisis Response (YECRP)
A part of a 12 sub-project programme, the Administrator visited a community farming plot that has been completely restored in the middle of Old Sana’a. Surrounded by thousand-year-old traditional Yemeni buildings, the garden was once a waste land for trash and rubble. But because of this project, the surrounding community has reclaimed the once deserted area into an oasis of fruit trees, coffee plants and vegetables. Community gardens have long held an important part of the Old Sana’a culture and together with partner, SFD, UNDP is helping to restore this practice.
Meeting with Implementing Partners: SFD and PWP
A priority of the Administrator’s was to meet with our implementing partners whenever possible. These meetings helped him better understand UNDP’s core partnerships and successes and challenges of our project implementation. While in Sana’a he met with SFD, PWP and SMEPS in Old Sana’a City.
Hodeidah
Day 3: Saturday, 27 July 2019
The Administrator was on the road by 0600 am to ensure enough time in Hodeidah with staff, authorities and site visits. After a six-and-a-half hour journey, he arrived to the office compound and was warmly greeted by staff.
In addition to meeting with the local authorities and the Yemen Red Sea Port Corporation, the Administrator took time to visit the port of Hodeidah. He walked the port, learning about the upcoming work to rehabilitate the port to make it operational once again. As 80 per cent of Yemen’s imports and 75 per cent of the humanitarian assistance come through the port, this is an extremely important project for UNDP and Yemen.
All Aboard! Staying on the Antarctic Dream
The Administrator is the first high-level official to stay overnight in Hodeidah during the ongoing conflict.
Hodeidah
Day 4: Sunday, 28 July 2019
Project Visit: Cash-for-Work
TRAC II
After meetings with local authorities, the Administrator visited the ongoing cash-for-work project that is taking place in neighborhoods throughout Hodeidah. Implemented by UNDP and our partner, the Sustainable Development Foundation (SDF), the project includes educating the community on proper disposal of trash, planting trees and shrubs and picking up trash from the streets. Hundreds of people have been employed and educated, and thousands of plants and shrubs planted.
Sana’a
Day 5: Monday, 29 July 2019
The Administrator’s last day continued to be packed with meetings with the authorities from the De-Facto Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the De-Facto Ministry of Transport, staff and to view UNDP Yemen’s progress with our solar panel project.
UNDP Yemen Solar Panel Project
UNDP Yemen has placed more than 400 solar panels in the parking lot to help us move from generator and fuel power to sustainable energy. The solar energy runs from approximately 1800 in the evening to around 0730 in the morning, saving the Country Office approximately USD $73,000 per year. This is enough to buy nearly 222,000 vaccines and almost 7,000 text books. And the carbon dioxide emissions savings is equivalent to driving over 1,257,000 kilometers.
Our goal is to be 100% in Sana’a and less reliant upon generators in both Aden and Hodeidah.
Marking the New Era: Switching from Generator to Solar Power
The Administrator was on hand to “flip the switch” from UNDP’s 100% reliance upon generator and fuel power to solar. A special machine was created and set-up to turn off the generator power and switch the Country Office’s electricity to solar power.
UNDP Yemen Country Office Staff Meeting
Similar to other staff meetings, the Administrator ensured there was ample time to speak to staff to allow him to hear and address concerns. Here is a message to all UNDP Yemen staff.
Thoughts from the Administrator on his visit to Yemen
While in Hodeidah, the Administrator took some time to reflect on his journey and the impact it has had on him.
Amman, Jordan
Day 5 Continued: Monday, 29 July 2019
The Administrator left Yemen only to continue his messaging around the Yemeni people, the situation and the need for strong, continued international action in Amman. In addition to the BBC World interview below, there were also stories featured on BBC Arabic, BBC Newshour, in the Washington Post, New York Times, Yahoo News, Le Figaro, France 24, El Nuevo Herald and on Radio France Internationale.