REPUBLIC OF YEMEN

YEMEN FOOD SECURITY RESPONSE AND RESILIENCE PROJECT

(P176129)

Updated based on Additional Financing (P178439)

ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK
(ESMF)

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO);

United Nations Development Program (UNDP);
World Food Programme (WFP);
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)

February 01, 2023

ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS
AF Additional Financing
AIDA Agricultural Investment for Development Analyzer
ARDU Agriculture and Rural Development Unit
CAHWs Community Animal Health Workers
CBO Community-based Organization
CBY Central Bank of Yemen
CCRT Catastrophe Containment and Relief Trust
CFW Cash for Work
COC Codes of Conduct
COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease
CPMU Central Project Management Unit
CRSA Climate Risk Screening Assessment
CRW ERF Crisis Response Window Early Response Facility
DFA de facto Authorities
ECOP Environmental Codes of Practice
ECRP Emergency Crisis Response Project
ESPECRP Emergency Social Protection Enhanced COVID-19 Response Project
EIA Environmental Impact Assessment
EO Earth Observation
E&S Environment and Social
ESA Environmental and Social Assessment
ESAP Environmental Social Action Plan
ESCP Environmental and Social Commitment Plan
ESF Environmental and Social Framework
ESIA Environmental and Social Impact Assessment
ESMP Environmental and Social Management Plan
ESMF Environmental and Social Management Framework
ESRS Environmental and Social Review Summary
ESS Environmental and Social Standards
FA Financial Agreement
FAO Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
FCV Fragility, Conflict, and Violence
FFS Farmer Field Schools
FIES Food Insecurity Experience Scale
FMFA Financial Management Framework Agreement
FSPP Food Security Preparedness Plan
GAFSP Global Agriculture and Food Security Program
GAM Global Acute Malnutrition
GBV Gender Based Violence
GDP Gross Domestic Product
GEMS Geo-Enabling Initiative for Monitoring and Supervision
GHG Greenhouse Gases
GHI Global Hunger Index
GIS Geographical Information Systems
GoY Government of Yemen
GRM Grievance Redress Mechanism

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GRS Grievance Redress Service
HDDS Household Dietary Diversity Score
IBRD International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
ICRC International Committee of the Red Cross
IDA International Development Association
IDP Internally Displaced Peoples/Persons
IFC International Finance Corporation
IFPRI International Food Policy Research Institute
IMF International Monetary Fund
IPC Integrated Food Security Phase Classification
IRG Internationally Recognized Government
LMP Labor Management Procedures
MAI Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation
MAM Moderate Acute Malnutrition
MFB Minimum Food Basket
M&E Monitoring and Evaluation
MIS Management Information System
NASS National Agriculture Sector Strategy
NAIP National Agriculture Investment Plan
NGO Non-governmental Organization
ODA Official Development Assistance
OECD Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development
PP Parent Project
PAD Project Appraisal Document
PCU Project Coordination Unit
PDO Project Development Objective
PiN People in Need
PIT Project Implementation Team
PLW Pregnant or Lactating Women
PMU Project Management Unit
POA Plan of Action
PPE Personal Protective Equipment
PPMU Provincial Project Management Unit
PSC Project Steering Committee
PWP Public Works Project
RAP Resettlement Action Plan
RPF Resettlement Policy Framework
SAM Severe Acute Malnutrition
SAPREP Smallholder Agricultural Productivity Restoration and Enhancement Project
SEA Sexual Exploitation and Abuse
SEP Stakeholder Engagement Plan
SFD Social Fund for Development
SMART Standardized Monitoring and Assessment of Relief and Transitions
SMEPS Small Micro-Enterprise Promotion Service
SOP Standard Operating Procedures
TA Technical Assistance
TOR Terms of Reference

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TPM Third Party Monitoring
VAC Violence against Children
UXO Unexploded Ordinance
WB World Bank
WBG World Bank Group
WDR World Development Report
WFP World Food Programme
YHRP Yemen Humanitarian Response Plan

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Table of Contents
1.INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................... 1
1.1 Project Overview ................................................................................................................ 1
1.2 Purpose and Application of the ESMF .............................................................................. 3
1.3 Scope of the ESMF ............................................................................................................. 4
2. PROJECT DESCRIPTION .................................................................................................. 5
2.1 Project Objective, Components, Beneficiaries and Area ................................................. 5
2.2. Project components ........................................................................................................... 6
2.3 Project Implementation Arrangements............................................................................ 14
3. POLICY, LEGAL, AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK ................................. 20
3.1 Political and Strategic Framework .................................................................................. 20
3.2 Policy, Legal, and Institutional Framework .................................................................... 22
3.3 World Bank’s Environmental and Social Policy Application ....................................... 27
3.4 Gap Analysis and Gap Filling Measures ......................................................................... 37
4. ENVIRONMENT AND SOCIAL BASELINE ............................................................... 37
ABYAN: ......................................................................................................................................... 45
AL BAYDA: .................................................................................................................................... 53
AL DHALE’E: ................................................................................................................................. 58
AL HUDAYDAH:............................................................................................................................ 63
AL JAWF: ...................................................................................................................................... 70
AMRAN: ....................................................................................................................................... 76
DHAMAR: ..................................................................................................................................... 81
HAJJAH: ........................................................................................................................................ 87
LAHIJ: ........................................................................................................................................... 94
TAIZ: ...........................................................................................................................................100
5. PROJECT-LEVEL ENVIRONMENT AND SOCIAL ASSESSMENT AND
PROPOSED MITIGATION MEASURES ......................................................................... 107
6. PROCEDURES FOR REVIEW, CLEARANCE, AND IMPLEMENTATION OF
SUBPROJECT E&S INSTRUMENTS ............................................................................... 125
STEP 1: E&S Risk and Impact Assessment ...............................................................................128
STEP 2: Sub-Project Categorization .........................................................................................128
STEP 3: Development of E&S Documents ...............................................................................128
STEP 4: Review, Approval, and Disclosure of E&S Documents ..............................................129
STEP 5: Implementation, Supervision, Monitoring, and Reporting ......................................129
7. IMPLEMENTATION ARRANGEMENTS .................................................................. 131
8. CAPACITY BUILDING, TRAINING, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ........... 133
9. ESMF IMPLEMENTATION BUDGET ........................................................................ 138
10. GRIEVANCE MECHANISM (GM) ............................................................................. 139
11. UPDATED ESMF CONSULTATION AND DISCLOSURE.................................... 147

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12. ANNEXS ............................................................................................................................ 149
ANNEX 1: FULL LEGAL REVIEW & GAPS ANALYSIS ............................................ 149
ANNEX 2: PROHIBITED PESTICIDES ........................................................................... 183
ANNEX 3: EXCLUSION LIST .......................................................................................... 184
ANNEX 4: GBV ACTION PLAN ...................................................................................... 186
ANNEX 5: ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL SCREENING FORM/CHECKLIST 190
ANNEX 6: GUIDELINES ON ESMP PREPARATION .................................................. 239
ANNEX 7: GUIDELINES ON ESAP PREPARATION ................................................... 241

Tables
Table 1. Project components/sub-components by implementing entity/Yemen partner........ 10
Table 2. Breakdown of Selected Districts by Governorate ...................................................... 13
Table 3: Number of districts by partner North and South Governorate .................................. 13
Table 4: Pilot districts for Geo-bundling disaggregated by north and south governorates .... 14
Table 5 Alignment of WFP Environmental and Social Standards with the World Bank
Environmental and Social Standards ......................................................................................... 28
Table 6 Relevant Environmental and Social Standards ........................................................... 29

Figures
Figure 1 Map of the target area ................................................................................................. 12
Figure 2 Project areas map for activities implemented by FAO, UNDP and WFP ............... 45

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1.INTRODUCTION
1.1 Project Overview
• Yemen has for long been classified as a low-income, food-deficit country which produces
merely ten percent of its food needs. The protracted conflict has crippled the economy,
created an unprecedented humanitarian crisis, which remains the principal driver of
food insecurity in Yemen 1. The cumulative contraction in real GDP is estimated to have
reached 48.4 percent in 2019, compared to 2014, and the unemployment rate is
estimated to have reached 32 percent in 2019 2. After nearly seven years of conflict,
Yemen is currently suffering both chronic and acute deprivation and people are
exhausting means of livelihood and consumption coping strategies. In 2020, the overall
situation has further deteriorated and the brief gains from a relatively more stable setting
in 2019 were shortly reversed. Various elements have contributed to the increasing
fragility amongst the majority of the population: (i) suspension of basic public services and
civil service salary payments; (ii) rapid depreciation of the currency and the consequential
increase in food prices; and (iii) shortages of imported goods; and (iv) the large depletion
in external assistance during 2020 which had financed food imports, other necessities,
and helped stabilize the economy in 2019. Some respite was provided by the IMF in late
spring and summer of 2020. The deteriorating macroeconomic conditions continue to
increase prices of basic necessities and reduce access to income for many Yemenis. Over
24 million people (or 83 percent of the total estimated population) are food insecure 3,
including a staggering 16.2 million people in IPC Phase 3+ requiring urgent emergency
assistance. Food insecurity in Yemen is driven by constrained food production, supply
and distribution and households’ diminishing purchasing power. Over 2.25 million
children under the age of five in Yemen are threatened to suffer from acute malnutrition
in 2021. Of those children, 395,000 are expected to suffer from severe acute malnutrition
and could die if treatment is not received. The projected figures of the IPC nutrition
analysis4 mark a 16 percent increase in acute malnutrition and a 22 percent increase in
severe acute malnutrition among children under five compared to last year’s estimate.
This is the highest number on record in Yemen. In addition, more than one million cases
of pregnant and lactating women are projected to suffer from acute malnutrition during
2021 in Yemen.
• Food insecurity is more severe both in areas with active fighting and bordering areas
with limited access. It is particularly affecting Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and
marginalized groups such as the landless laborers and the Mohamasheen5. Food
insecurity is also severe in areas where people survive on low and irregular sources of
income and low access to public services. The population in IPC Phase 5 (Catastrophe) is
found in five districts of Al Jawf, Hajjah and Amran. The governorates with the highest
proportion of IPC Phase 4 districts (>75%) are located in Al Dhale’e, Al Jawf, Hajjah, Marib
and Rayma Governorates. Each of the governorates of Al Hudaydah, Dhamar, Hajjah, Ibb,

1
IPC ACUTE FOOD INSECURITY ANALYSIS OCTOBER 2020 – JUNE 2021, Issued December 2020.
2
Yemen Socioeconomic Update, Issue 54, November 2020, MOPIC.
3
IPC Phase 2 and above.
4
Yemen: High levels of food insecurity persist | IPC Global Platform (ipcinfo.org)
5
Mohamasheen or “the marginalized ones” is a minority of African descent who suffer from caste-based
discrimination and have long been characterized by deep-seated poverty and exclusion.

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 Sana’a City and Taiz have more than one million people in IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) or above.
The upcoming “lean” season, between March and June 2021 is expected to aggravate this
situation.
• An estimated 4.3 million people have fled their homes since the start of the conflict, and
3.3 million remain internally displaced. Hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition are
among the most pressing and overwhelming challenges Yemen now faces, at a scale that
is not being fully met by national authorities and the international development and
humanitarian communities. Low food access has resulted from a combination of a high
household dependence on food imports, high food prices and significantly reduced
household income. It is estimated that Yemen imported 8 percent less wheat per month
between January and May 2020 than during the same period in 2019 due to limited funds,
which is an insufficient imported amount of wheat to meet the 2020 consumption
requirement.
• In response to the above challenges, the Republic of Yemen has designed the Yemen
Food Security Response and Resilience Project with a Project Development Objective
(PDO) to improve food availability, access, and nutritious diets for households in the
project area and to strengthen the country-level resilience to food security crises.

• The Yemen Food Security Response and Resilience Project (FSRRP, P176129) – the Parent
Project of the AF – is financed by an IDA grant of SDR 35 million (US$ 50 million
equivalent); an IDA Crisis Response Window Early Response Financing (CRW ERF) grant of
SDR 35 million (US$ 50 million equivalent); and a Global Agriculture and Food Security
Program (GAFSP) grant of US$ 27 million. The FSRRP was approved by the Board on May
11, 2021 and declared effective on August 6, 2021.

• The Parent Project is implemented by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO),
the World Food Programme (WFP) and the United Nations Development Programme
(UNDP) (Implementing Institutions). It was prepared under the emergency condensed
procedure, triggering paragraph 12 of Section III of the IPF Policy.

• The Parent Project's distinguishing feature is its support for food security along the
continuum from humanitarian to development response. It does so by providing a critical
foundation for sustainably restoring and protecting livelihoods and helping Yemenis
escape a vicious cycle of heightened vulnerability. 6 The prevailing approach for addressing
food insecurity in Yemen was, until recently, focused on delivering emergency support to
address immediate needs and protect lives and livelihoods. This approach dominates the
humanitarian-led Yemen Food Security and Agriculture Cluster (FSAC), 7 which focuses on
providing: a) emergency livelihood support to around 1.5 million individuals to alleviate
food insecurity and malnutrition; b) conditional cash transfers to around 2.8 million
individuals with cash-for-work and similar interventions; and c) limited support to

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Households deplete their assets to address food security and nutrition requirements, but then fall into more
severe food insecurity due to depletion of their assets.
7
FSAC has been established in 2011 to coordinate the food security response during a humanitarian crisis,
addressing issues of food availability, access, and utilization. It is based at WFP headquarters in Rome and is co-
led by FAO and WFP.

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 livelihoods restoration to around 200,000 individuals, as well as resilience building
interventions and medium-term support for productive activities.

• Recognizing the fluidity of the conflict environment in Yemen, the Parent Project was
designed as a scalable and flexible platform offering a combination of short- and
medium-term activities across four components. Component 1 (Improving household
incomes through Cash-for-Work for agricultural production infrastructure and building
climate resilience) implemented by UNDP through the Social Fund for Development (SFD)
and the Public Works Project (PWP) provides immediate employment opportunity at
community level through a Cash-for-Work (CFW) program for the rehabilitation of
agricultural production infrastructure, while increasing the resilience of food insecure
populations in the medium-term through improved access to climate-resilient water
infrastructure, irrigation networks, rehabilitated lands, and rehabilitated rural roads.
Component 2 (Increasing production and sale of nutritious crop, livestock and fish
products), implemented by FAO and closely coordinated with Component 1, supports
smallholder farmers and producers to invest in productive assets and helps improve their
capacity to better commercialize their products and enter new markets. Component 3
(Improving the nutritional status of vulnerable rural household), implemented by WFP,
aims at improving in the short-term the nutritional security of very vulnerable and
moderately vulnerable households through a variety of instruments, including: (a)
targeted nutrition-sensitive agriculture activities and facilitating uptake by poor
households of appropriate dietary and nutrition practices, in particular improving nutrient
intakes of pregnant mothers and children under two; (b) promoting women’s
entrepreneurship activities and improving the diets of the female-led households; and (c)
improving nutrition in vulnerable households with malnourished women and children.
Finally, Component 4 (Capacity building for food security management and climate
resilience) aims at strengthening the capacity of both the private (households) and public
sectors for food security crisis planning and response, including through the preparation
of a Food Security Crisis Preparedness Plan (FSCPP).

1.2 Purpose and Application of the ESMF

• The Food Security Response and Resilience Project consists of numerous subprojects and
activities to be further refined during implementation. Based on the inability to confirm
specific sub-projects prior to project appraisal, and given the emergency nature of the
project, an Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) has been prepared
under the parent fund and it has been updated based on the additional financing of the
World Bank’s additional fund project document and the updated ESMF will apply to both
the parent project and its additional financing. According to the Environmental and Social
Standards (ESSs) of the Environmental and Social Framework (ESF), the Borrower must
typically prepare and disclose the ESMF8 before appraisal. In the instances of emergency
projects, such as this one, disclosure of the final ESMF is sometimes postponed to after
appraisal to accommodate swifter action, with the caveat that activities for risk-bearing
subprojects only commence only once the relevant safeguards instruments are in place.

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The ESMF examines the risks and impacts when a project consists of a program and/or a series of
subprojects, and the risks and impacts cannot be determined until the program or subproject details have
been identified.

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 It is important to mention that WFP is not actively engaged in this ESMF reviewing process
as it did not participate in the proposal for additional funding, however, it continues in
the parent project and deeply committed with all ESS standards enshrined in the parent
ESMF and ESCP.

• The purpose of the ESMF is to ensure that the project has concrete plans and processes
in place to avoid, minimize, and/or mitigate the risks and potentially adverse project-
related environmental and social (E&S) impacts once the project activities and/or
subprojects are identified, planned, and implemented. This living document examines
project-related risks and impacts and sets out the principles, rules, guidelines, and
procedures to assess any potential risks and impacts of future subproject and activities
(including technical assistance (TA)) identified later. It provides measures to reduce,
mitigate, and/or offset those adverse risks and impacts from the project, and it also
highlights information about areas where subprojects are expected to be located
(including any specific E&S-related vulnerabilities of those areas; potential impacts that
may occur; and mitigation measures that might be used). Specific objectives of this ESMF
are to:
• Assess the potential environmental and social risks and impacts of the project,
both positive and negative, and propose mitigation measures which will effectively
address these risks and impacts;
• Establish clear procedures for the E&S planning, review, approval, and
implementation of subprojects, TA, and other activities to be financed under the
project;
• Specify appropriate roles and responsibilities and outline the necessary reporting
procedures for managing and monitoring E&S issues/concerns related to
subprojects, TA, and activities;
• Determine the training, capacity building, and technical assistance needed to
successfully implement the provisions of this ESMF;
• Outline and address mechanisms for public consultation and disclosure of project
documents, as well as redress of possible grievances; and
• Establish the budget requirements for implementation of this ESMF.
• This ESMF provides information on (i) items ineligible for Project funding; (ii) how to
conduct the E&S screening; (iii) risks and impacts classifications; (iv) which E&S
documents should be prepared and the process to be followed for their preparation
(including the clearance process); (v) implementation arrangements; (vi) training and
capacity building; (v) grievance redress mechanism; (vi) estimated costs and budget
requirements; and (vii) guidelines and specific forms for preparation of the identified E&S
documents required. This ESMF will be applied to all subprojects, TA, and other
investment activities to be financed by the project under Parent and Additional Fund
1.3 Scope of the ESMF
• This ESMF was developed based on a desk review of project-relevant government laws,
regulations, ordinances and other legal instruments; various background papers and
reports pertaining to environmental and social conditions in the proposed project areas

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 and potential subproject sites; as well as field visits and consultations in those areas.
Safeguard documents already prepared for this project (i.e. Stakeholder Engagement Plan
(SEP) and Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP)) and similar Bank-supported
projects in Yemen (e.g. Desert Locust Project, Smallholder Agricultural Productivity
Restoration and Enhancement Project (SAPREP) were also taken into consideration.
Where possible, this ESMF builds upon those prior documents.
• This ESMF follows the requirements of both the FAO Environmental and Social Standards
(ESSs) and the World Bank’s ESF and ESSs, taking into consideration the related World
Bank Directives (e.g. E&S, Disadvantaged or Vulnerable Individuals and Groups) and Good
Practice Notes (e.g. Gender Based Violence); related Guidance Notes for Borrowers (on
ESSs application, etc.); and relevant Environmental, Health and Safety Guidelines (EHSG).
Information is presented in ten sections, as follows:
I. Introduction
II. Project Description
III. Policy, Legal, and Administrative Framework
IV. Environmental and Social Assessment and Proposed Mitigation Measures
V. Procedures for Review, Clearance, and Implementation of Subproject E&S
Instruments
VI. Implementation Arrangements
VII. Capacity Building, Training, and Technical Assistance
VIII. ESMF Implementation Budget
IX. Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM)
X. ESMF Consultation and Disclosure
• Annexes provide more details on ineligible activities; E&S screening, risks and impacts
classification for subproject and TA activities; actions to address Gender-Based Violence
(GBV); and guidelines for preparation of subproject-specific ESMPs. Information on the
GRMs for the project is referenced under Chapter IX of this ESMF.

2. PROJECT DESCRIPTION
2.1 Project Objective, Components, Beneficiaries and Area

The following are summaries of the project components. For full descriptions, see the PAD
including Result framework of the project.

2.1.1. Project development objective (PDO)

The objective of the Project is to improve the availability of and access to food and nutritious
diets, both in the short and medium term, for targeted households in the Project Area, and
to enhance the Republic of Yemen’s capacity to respond to food insecurity.

Progress toward the achievement of the PDO will be measured by the following outcome
indicators:

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Outcome 1: Short-term access to and availability of food and nutritious diets at household
level improved
Percentage of households (HH) with improved Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES), of
which female-headed households.
Outcome 2: Medium-term access and availability of food and nutritious diets at household
level improved
Increase in the volume of agri-food products commercialized by beneficiaries, of which by
female beneficiaries.
Outcome 3: Country capacity to respond to food insecurity strengthened
Preparedness to respond to food security crises improved, through the adoption of the food
security preparedness plan and the use of the EO monitoring tool.

2.2. Project components

The project has five components. Original financing and Additional Financing components
and sub-components were consolidated.

Component 1. Improving agricultural production infrastructure and building climate

resilience (UNDP)

Provision of support aimed at improving and restoring community infrastructure, including,

inter alia: (a) agricultural land improvement and protection, including terracing and flood
control, (b) small-scale irrigation improvement including on-farm spate irrigation, (c) water
harvesting, and (d) rural road improvement. Refer Annex 2 in the POM for Improving Land
and water Infrastructure Implementation Mechanisms that guide the detail implementation of
component 1
Component 2. Increasing domestic food production and market development (FAO / ICRC)

2.1 Restoring climate-smart agricultural production

(a) FAO provide support to increase staple crop production through, inter alia, the
provision of: (i) input starter kits containing fertilizers, seeds (or vouchers in lieu
of seeds) and small farm equipment to agricultural producers in order to start or
expand seed multiplication, staple crop production, and horticulture production,
(ii) training and advisory services on climate-smart practices and technologies, as
well as access to technical support services to agricultural producers; (iii) goods
including, inter alia, varieties of foundation seeds, production and processing tools
and equipment, and (iv) construction of seed storage facilities for seed producer
groups, in order to increase of the local climate-resilient production of improved
seeds, and to enable the creation of community seed banks (CSBs) and enterprises
at community or regional levels.

(b) (ICRC) provide of support to improve animal health through, the provision of, inter
alia, equipment, cold chain capacity, vaccines and consumables, and training, to

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 local animal disease control units for animal vaccinations and treatment of
selected livestock diseases. FAO will also continue planned vaccination as per the
original project target.

(c) (ICRC) provide support enhance apiculture through provision of starter kits and
training to farmers in order to start or expand apiculture activities in the targeted
area. Refer Annex 3 in the POM for a mix of eligibility and vulnerability criteria for
selection of beneficiaries for apiculture support. Furthermore, ICRC will also select
beekeeping associations and link them with their beekeeping support target. FAO
will also continue planned support for apiculture as per the original project target.

(d) (FAO) provide of support to start or expand fishery activities through, inter alia,
input starter kits containing feed and equipment, extension support, training and
advisory services on good practices, and climate-smart technologies, as well as
access to technical support services to fish farmers.

2.2 Restoring food supply chain and value addition (FAO)

(a) Provision of support to restore food supply chain through, inter alia, (i) technical
assistance, advisory and training support; and (ii) equipment, machinery and other in-
kind assets, to farmers, livestock / agricultural producers, logistics providers, processors
and traders (“Eligible Value Chain Participants”) to establish high-value, high-growth
value chains and build business skill capacity to enable them to scale up, improve
product quality and aggregation, consolidate production and access local, regional and
export markets. Refer Annex 4 in the POm for Grants operational manual that guide the
detail implementation of sub-component 2.2.

(b) Provision of technical assistance for: (i) conducting fisheries and aquaculture needs
and stock assessment; and (ii) analyzing agro-logistics constraints and solutions for
selected value chains.

Component 3. Improving the nutritional status of vulnerable households (FAO / WFP)

3.1 Promoting kitchen gardens backyard production for improved diets (FAO)
(a) Provision of agricultural or small livestock inputs for eligible households to establish
kitchen gardens and backyard production of nutritious food items and training to
promote climate-smart backyard production and to adopt appropriate nutritional
practices and maximize nutritional value of foods.

(b) Provision of immediate livestock feed support to smallholder and vulnerable

households to sustain livestock production during adverse climatic conditions and lean
months. Livestock produce contribute to nutritious, protein-rich foodstuffs – such as
meat, milk and cheese - thus diversifying families' diets and address the prevailing
malnutrition among the vulnerable households.

(c) Introduction of alternative, climate-smart and water and land-efficient agricultural

production technologies on a pilot basis into farming communities, including provision
of farming starter kits; awareness raising and Training activities.

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3.2 Promoting women rural entrepreneurship for improved nutrition and food security
(WFP)

Operationalizing Food Assistance for Training Program by targeting food-insecure

women to enable them to develop skills for restoring or establishing livelihoods and starting
micro or small-scale businesses, through (a) Food Assistance for Training Program with a
monthly allowance, and (b) start-up grants to successful graduates of the Food Assistance for
Training Program to support income generating activities (“F4T Start-Up Grants”). Refer
Annex 5 in the POM for the livelihoods Grants that guide the detail implementation of sub-
component 3.2.
3.3 Provision of nutrition assistance to treat and prevent malnutrition (WFP)

Distribution of specialized nutrition products for malnourished children and pregnant

and lactating women and girls to prevent and treat acute and chronic malnutrition. Carrying
out a social behavior change communication campaign to ensure affected population’s
awareness of the use and benefits of the specialized nutritious products.

Component 4. Capacity building for food security management (FAO / ICRC)

4.1 Development of an evidence-based Food Security Preparedness Plan (FAO)

Development of a Food Security Preparedness Plan, including coordination of the

necessary consultations with relevant stakeholders, and capacity building of local government
implementing agencies.

4.2 Establishment of a satellite-based crop and pasture monitoring and early warning
system (FAO)

Designing and deploying a satellite remote sensing and geographical information

system tool to monitor agricultural production activities and enable inform decision-making
for food import planning.

4.3 Strengthening agriculture extension services (FAO)

Supporting capacity building activities of the extension services’ providers, including,

small civil works for facility improvements, equipment, training, participation in farmer field
schools and development of an electronic agricultural extension services platform and call-in
advisory service.

4.4 Supporting animal health institutions (FAO)

Supporting capacity building activities of the relevant animal health and veterinary
institutions, selected universities and laboratories, to support animal value chain
development activities, through small civil works for facility improvements, equipment,
Training and technical assistance for improved animal health service delivery.

4.5 Supporting seed institutions (FAO)

Supporting capacity building activities of the relevant seed institutions to improve

domestic seed production and multiplication of the capacity for production of climate

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resilient quality seeds, through small civil works for facility improvements, equipment,
training and technical assistance.

4.6 Strengthening apiculture institutions (ICRC)

Supporting capacity building activities of the relevant apiculture institutions,

including, small civil works for facility improvements, equipment, training and technical
assistance for improved animal health service.

4.7 Animal health and vaccination service delivery (ICRC)

Supporting the community animal health workers (“CAHW”) and veterinarians,

including through Training, technical assistance, and their operating expenses to deliver
animal health and vaccination services.

4.8 Studies and technical assistance (FAO)

Carrying out studies and technical assistance, including, inter alia, seed sector
assessment, animal health strategy, and institutional capacity needs assessment of
participating institutions.

Component 5. Project Management

5.1 Facilitating FAO’s Project implementation of Components2.1(a), 2.1(b), 2.2, 3.1,

4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5 and 4.8, administration, management and monitoring and
evaluation, including: (a) FAO’s Direct Costs; (b) FAO’s Indirect Costs and general
management; (c) provision of consultancy services required for technical
assistance and implementation support for FAO; (d) audit; (e) Third-Party
Monitoring for the Project; and (f) maintenance of a Grievance Mechanism.

5.2 Facilitating WFP’s Project implementation of Components3.2 and 3.3,

administration, management and monitoring and evaluation, including: (a) WFP’s
Direct Costs; (b) WFP’s Indirect Costs and general management; (c) provision of
consultancy services required for technical assistance and implementation
support for WFP; (d) audit; (e) Third-Party Monitoring for the Project; and (f)
maintenance of a Grievance Mechanism.

5.3 Facilitating UNDP’s Project implementation of Component 1, administration,

management and monitoring and evaluation, including: (a) UNDP’s Direct Costs;
(b) UNDP’s Indirect Costs and general management; (c) provision of consultancy
services required for technical assistance and implementation support for UNDP;
(d) audit; (e) Third-Party Monitoring for the Project; and (f) maintenance of a
Grievance Mechanism.

5.4 Facilitating ICRC’s Project implementation of Components2.1(c), 4.6 and 4.7,

administration, management and monitoring and evaluation, including: (a) ICRC’s
Direct Costs (operations time reporting); (b) ICRC’s Indirect Costs (support); (c)
ICRC’s Overhead Costs; (d) provision of consultancy services required for technical
assistance and implementation support for ICRC; (e) Agreed Upon Procedures; (f)

9
 Third-Party Monitoring for the Project; and (g) maintenance of a Grievance
Mechanism. Table 1 describes the outcome of the merger of the components and
sub-components

Table 1. Project components/sub-components by implementing entity/Yemen partner

Project components/ subcomponents Responsible

partner
1 Improving agricultural production infrastructure
and building climate resilience
1a Agricultural land improvement and protection UNDP (SFD/PWP)
including terracing and flood control
1b Small-scale irrigation improvement including on-farm UNDP (SFD/PWP)
spate irrigation
1c Water harvesting UNDP (SFD/PWP)
1d Rural road improvement UNDP (SFD/PWP)
2 Increasing domestic food production and market
development
2.1 Restoring climate-smart agricultural production
2.1a Staple crop production FAO (GSMC,
MAIF/SFD)
2.1b Animal health FAO/ ICRC
(GAHVQS)
2.1c Apiculture FAO/ ICRC
2.1d Fisheries FAO
2.2 Restoring food supply chains and value addition
2.2a Support to micro-small and medium livestock FAO (SMEPS/ SFD/
producers contractors)
2.2b Support to supply chain enablers FAO (SMEPS/ SFD/
contractors)
2.2c Support to sesame value chain FAO (SMEPS/ SFD/
contractors)
2.2d Support to producer groups, associations and FAO (SMEPS/ SFD/
cooperatives contractors)
3 Improving the nutritional status and incomes of rural
households
3.1a Promoting kitchen gardens and backyard production Contractors
for improved diets and climate resilience
3.1b Feed for livestock (scale-up): SFD/ contractors
3.1c Innovative activities (scale-up): SFD / contractors
3.2 Promoting women’s rural entrepreneurship for WFP
improved nutrition and food security
3.3 Providing nutrition assistance to treat and prevent WFP
malnutrition for pregnant/lactating women and girls
(PLWG) and children under 5
4 Capacity building for food security management

10
 Project components/ subcomponents Responsible
partner
4.1 Development of an evidence-based Food Security FAO
Preparedness Plan

4.2 Establishment of a satellite-based crop and pasture FAO

monitoring and early warning system

4.3 Strengthening agricultural extension services FAO (AREA /

MAIF (Extension
Dept.) / SFD / PWP
/ Contractors)
4.4 Supporting animal health institutions FAO (GAHVQS /
Vet Lab / Vet Univ
4.5 Supporting relevant seed and plant health institutions GSMC / Quality Lab
/ AREA
4.6 Strengthening apiculture institutions ICRC (MAIF)
4.7 Animal health and vaccination service delivery ICRC ((GAHVQS))
4.8 Studies and technical assistance FAO
5 Project Management and Knowledge Management FAO

2.1.3. Project Target Area and Beneficiaries

59 target districts were from 81 updated districts from 11 Governorates as target districts of
the project (see Figure 1 and Table 2 for map of the target and number of districts targeted
per Governorate respectively). The district selection may be revised with an appropriate
justification or if a district no longer meets the criteria. Table 3 further presents number of
districts targeted by each partner disaggregated by North and South Governorates.

11
Figure 1 Map of the target area

12
Table 2. Breakdown of Selected Districts by Governorate
Governorate Prioritized Selected
1 Abyan 5 5
2 Al Bayda 5 2
3 Al Dhale’e 4 4
4 Al Hudaydah 11 7
5 Al Jawf 9 5
6 Amran 13 8
7 Dhamar 4 4
8 Hajjah 8 6
9 Lahj 6 6
10 Taizz 13 9
11 Shabwah 3 3
Grand Total 81 59

Table 3: Number of districts by partner North and South Governorate

Organizations
FAO UNDP WFP
3.2 3.3
North 33 26 10 34
South 22 21 7 25
Totals 55 47 17 59

The 59 prioritized districts for implementation of FSRRP for were used as the framework for
identification of the “pilot” districts for geo-bundling. The team also decided to prioritize 20
out of 59 as pilot districts for bundling approaches as guided by the WB. The severity of food
insecurity (Percentage of IPC 3 + to a total population of the district); the role of agriculture
in livelihoods/income (Agricultural HHs per district or ratio of agricultural household’s total
population) and access to market used as main criteria for the “pilot” districts selection. 20
districts (9 districts in the North and 11 districts in the south) selected based on the agreed
criteria. The ongoing investment of donor-funded projects including WB in each district and
the North / South balance further considered in the final selection. Table 4 present pilot
districts for Geo-bundling disaggregated by north and south governorates

13
Table 4: Pilot districts for Geo-bundling disaggregated by north and south governorates
Governorate District Name North South Divide
Ahwar South
Abyan Sibah South
Al Dhale'e Ad Dhale'e South
Az Zuhrah North
Al Hudaydah Al Marawi'ah North
Amran Khamir North
Utmah North
Wusab As Safil North
Dhamar Jahran North
Hajjah Khayran Al Muharraq North
Al Maqatirah South
Tur Al Bahah South
Al Madaribah Wa Al
Arah South
Lahj Tuban South
Shabwah Habban South
Shara'b Ar Rawnah North
Al Ta'iziyah North
Ash Shamayatayn South
Al Ma'afer South
Taizz Al Misrakh South

Sub-administrative unit: The team also worked jointly on the identification and selection of
sub-districts (North) and Centers (South) 9 in the selected 20 pilot districts.

Primary beneficiaries: The primary beneficiaries of the project are rural households most
affected by food insecurity in the targeted governorates. With its various activities, the
original financing is expected to reach around 1 million beneficiaries out of a population of
5,940,000 in the target areas. The AF is expected to reach around 842,500 and altogether,
the total number of beneficiaries is therefore expected to be around 1,842,500. The primary
beneficiaries of the project will be those living in the selected communities in the 11 project
governorates and 59 districts, based on an assessment carried out by the implementing
entities together with the Yemen partners, local authorities and district agricultural offices.
2.3 Project Implementation Arrangements
• Lessons Learned from Implementation of Past Projects: Successful project
implementation in challenging operational environments hinges on carefully considered
partnerships and implementation support arrangements, with local capacity building
incorporated into the project design. In countries, like Yemen, where capacity to
implement and coordinate a crisis response in lacking, the key is to work effectively with
partners whose presence on the ground can mobilize a response. Success factors in these
cases include: a mutual understanding of respective roles and responsibilities; accepting
the need to navigate organizational differences; open lines of communication

9
Sub district and center is the sub-administrative unit following district in north and south respectively

14
 throughout implementation; and adopting best practices in terms of Third-Party
Monitoring (TPM). Yet it is also important to build lasting skills on the ground through
capacity building, as the experience of the South Sudan Emergency Food and Nutrition
Security Project shows. Any outside technical assistance needs to be balanced by a
strong program of capacity building (technical and managerial) for the client. Close
supervision is also needed to effectively track progress, communicate, and establish
teamwork.

• Implementation Arrangements for FSSRP: The project will be implemented by FAO,

UNDP, WFP; and the ICRC in the additional financing to ensure project activities reach
throughout both the South and the North of Yemen. The updated Project Operation
Manual (POM) presents the full details of project implementation arrangements and the
role of partner agencies, and a summary pertaining to safeguards-related
implementation is indicated in this updated ESMF. Each agency will implement part of
the project based on their mandate and relevant experience.

• FAO is the specialized UN agency responsible for and well positioned to respond
to emergencies in agriculture and food security, including crop and food supply
monitoring and needs assessments, evaluations of agricultural relief
requirements, and mobilizing assistance and resources to restore agricultural
activity. The FAO has prior experience in supporting the implementation of Bank-
financed projects on the ground in Yemen (since 2017 it has led the
implementation of SAPREP toward satisfactory achievement of results and more
recently it became the implementing agency for the Desert Locust Response
Project; P174170). SAPREP, implemented in collaboration with SFD, supported a
set of similar activities, including CFW, support to agricultural production by
providing input kits and ensuring access to associated services (such as animal
health services). The FSRR project’s implementation performance rating is
Satisfactory. Given their prior experience in implementing SAPREP, FAO is fully
aware of the Bank’s fiduciary and environmental and social requirements. FAO
has put in place enhanced M&E mechanisms to supervise local implementation
partners and has also been using TPM.

• UNDP is the UN’s development program, and it is committed to supporting the

peacebuilding initiative in Yemen, political stability and enhanced local
governance. UNDP has built a successful partnership with the World Bank in
implementing the CFW activities of the ECRP and Emergency Social Protection
Enhanced Covid19 Response Project (ESPECRP). UNDP is partnering with the SFD
and PWP and their community networks to deliver services. Given their prior
experience in implementing the ECRP and ESPECRP, the UNDP is fully aware of
the Bank’s fiduciary and environmental and social requirements. UNDP
established an M&E system to ensure proper project management, assuring
stakeholders and providing accountability and is also using a TPM mechanism to
monitor project implementation. UNDP communicates with the World Bank
monthly on project implementation and to address emerging challenges. UNDP
had a good collaboration with FAO on water resource management, aimed at

15
 enhancing access to water in agriculture and improving the effective use and
management of scarce water resources in Yemen.

• WFP is the food-assistance program of the United Nations and is the world's
largest humanitarian organization, the largest one focused on emergency food
crisis response, and the largest provider of school meals. In Yemen, in addition to
food and nutrition interventions, such as school feeding programs, WFP is also
engaged in livelihoods development activities through a range of instruments,
including Food-for-Assets and Food-for-Training in close cooperation with FAO.
WFP’s vulnerability, mapping and assessment (VAM) expertise conducts joint
nation-wide food security and livelihood assessments which inform the IPC for
Yemen, as well as regular food security and price monitoring and analysis. WFP
is an implementing agency under the World Bank-financed Restoring Education
and Learning Project (P175036), engaged in school feeding activities, and it has
experience with the Bank’s fiduciary and environmental and social requirements.
WFP did not participate in the proposal for additional funding, however, it
continues in the parent project and deeply committed with all ESS standards
enshrined in the parent ESMF and ESCP.

• ICRC has been working in Yemen since the civil war in 1962. It responds to the
humanitarian consequences of armed conflicts and other situations of violence
in the country by helping secure the water supply; by providing medical
assistance, emergency relief and livelihood support to those in need; by
monitoring the treatment and living conditions of people held in relation to the
situation; and by enabling detainees and civilians to restore contact with their
relatives. The ICRC promotes respect for humanitarian principles and IHL,
primarily among weapon bearers. The ICRC vaccinated and treated over 4 million
livestock in 2022. Livestock have been protected against the endemic PPR and
Sheep pox and treated against bacterial infections and deworming. The ICRC has
also facilitated a Lumpy Skin Vaccination programme for cattle in the North.

• The Country Representation Offices of the partner agencies will be responsible for the
overall implementation of their respective activities and coordinating all relevant
activities at the sub-national level, supported by the regional office staff who will
monitor the activities in different governorates. The FAO will be the lead agency for the
implementation of the project and will be a recipient of both IDA and GAFSP financing.
UNDP will also receive both IDA and GAFSP financing. WFP will receive IDA financing.
Each agency will be responsible for the technical implementation of the relevant
components and sub-components (as indicated in the PAD), as well as all fiduciary,
environmental, and social aspects, monitoring and reporting. The agencies will help
ensure financial and technical accountability of the implementing partner organizations
(such as SFD, SMEPS and PWP) and ensure appropriate training and capacity building of
the staff of the implementing partner organizations. Specifically:

• The FAO will establish a Project Coordination Unit (PCU) based in Sana’a within
30 days of project effectiveness, and technical staff deployed in its Aden sub-
office and other decentralized hubs to ensure day-to-day project management,

16
 including all fiduciary, environmental and social safeguards aspects, and
monitoring and reporting. This will include the hire or appointment of one
Environmental Safeguards Specialist and one Social Safeguards Specialist.
Additional expertise pertaining to safeguards may be outsourced, as needed.

This proposed structure would build on the experience with previous grants
implemented by FAO in the country. Moreover, the UN agency teams in Sana’a
are backstopped by dedicated teams of technical experts at regional and
Headquarters level, as the case may be for the different UN agencies, in line with
the Level 3 fast-track procedures established due to the emergency situation in
Yemen.

• UNDP and WFP will assign dedicated staff to support project implementation and
ensure timely and relevant contributions to the PCU work. UNDP shall hire or
appoint an International Environmental and Social Specialist (IESS),
Environmental Safeguards Specialist (ESS), Occupational Health and Safety
Specialist (OHS), and Social Safeguard Specialist (SSA) or any relevant position for
ESHS. WFP shall hire or appoint staff with expertise in nutrition, Gender & Gender
Based Violence (GBV), resilience and livelihoods interventions, to implement the
Project, provide technical advice and support the management of ESHS risks and
impacts. Furthermore, WFP will define their respective management structures
to implement the Project and reflect those structures identified in the updated
Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP). WFP will identify qualified staff and
resources, particularly staff with environmental and social expertise, to be
assigned to the Project and to support the management of ESHS risks and
impacts.

The ICRC will not create a parallel management unit for its components and activities;
instead, they will fall under direct supervision and implementation of the ICRC’s
Delegation in Yemen. However, the ICRC will hire a dedicated project manager to
oversee the FSRRP-AF. The ICRC can leverage on its already existing structures and staff
to implement this project’s activities, with only limited additional hiring of dedicated
staff required. Planning, approval, management, implementation and
monitoring/evaluation of the activities implemented by the ICRC under Components 2
and 4 is carried out within the framework of the activities of ICRC’s Yemen delegation,
with the bulk of the work being implemented and managed by staff in ICRC’s offices of
Sa’ada, Sana’a, Marib, Bajil, Hodeida, Ibb, Taiz, Al mukha and Aden. The ICRC Yemen
delegation is comprised of over 800 staff members, 750 resident and 100 mobile staff,
of which approximately 60 staff are directly implementing and monitoring the ICRC
Economic Security programme.

• Coordination. The selected organizations are currently working in Yemen and

exchanging information as part of their participation in partner meetings. The agencies
will set up a formal project Coordination Committee, including local partners like SFD,
PWP, and SMEPS, for increased efficiency and efficacy, including coordinating activities
with and among the Implementing Partners. This committee will hold meetings on a
regular basis (likely monthly) to best coordinate their activities, evaluate progress,

17
 address bottlenecks, and consolidate annual work plans. The agencies will prepare and
maintain a jointly agreed co-ordination activity matrix with delineated activities,
responsibilities by implementing agency and timeline, to ensure smooth co-ordination
in project implementation. The frequency of meetings, attendance, communication
tools and other details will be described in the POM. Collecting and reporting on
indicators (including methodology, tools, devices, etc.) to inform the results framework
and progress on implementation will be discussed and agreed among implementing
partners with the support of the Bank. A mechanism will also be established to brief the
authorities at local, governorate and national on a regular basis on the project results
and progress with implementation.

• Local partners with prior extensive experience in implementing similar projects will
have key implementation roles. The PWP and SFD would play a key role as the local
implementing partners for Component 1, SFD and SMEPS would support
implementation of small-scale value chain activities, provision of technologies and
practices for some horticulture crops and restoration of agriculture inputs under
Component 2, alongside FAO. The SFD and PWP are the key local partners in
implementing the ongoing ECRP, SAPREP and Desert Locust Response Project (DLRP;
P174170), and they would lead the implementation of Component 1. SMEPS would
contribute to the value chain development under Component 2. Selecting national
institutions for these roles would contribute to building national capacity for community-
based interventions. For activities that would be implemented by SFD, SMEPS and PWP,
UNDP, WFP and FAO would provide technical guidance and backstopping as required.

• Under the CFW program of Component 1, SFD will be in charge of working with
beneficiaries on the cash component, as well as of restoring climate smart
agriculture and value addition under Component 2. The Agriculture and Rural
Development Unit (ARDU) which will be the SFD’s structural unit in charge of the
implementation of the relevant project activities on behalf of SFD under
Component 1, are located in SFD’s central office in Sana’a, while the branch
offices of SFD would provide support and coordination in their own governorates.
Additional personnel will be recruited to cover any skills or human capacity gaps,
as assessed during project preparation. All staff are required to have satisfactory
expertise, experience, and qualifications. SFD has strong capacity and experience
spanning over 20 years in undertaking participatory and community-based
development activities involving women and men from local communities.

• PWP, under Component 1, will focus on activities related to small-scale

infrastructure works to be carried out by local contractors in cases when the
infrastructure projects are more complex. The PWP Headquarter in Sana'a will
be the office in charge for implementing activities under PWP through their own
10 Branch/sub-area offices in various governorates. PWP has an extensive
experience in its area of responsibility under the project, spanning 20 years, and
well-qualified staff with specialized skills in implementing locally and externally
financed projects. Additional personnel will be recruited to cover any skills or
human capacity gaps, as assessed during project preparation. All staff are
required to have satisfactory expertise, experience, and qualifications.

18
 • SMEPS will work under Component 2 to ensure technical assistance to the value
chain development activities. The management unit in SMEPS central office in
Sana’a will provide overall management and support to the project, while the
branch offices will implement the field activities, and provide support and
coordination for project activities. Each branch consists of a branch manager, a
programs and projects unit which includes Communications & Advocacy,
Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) and a Procurement
Unit, a Finance Unit and Administrative Services which are responsible for the
implementation and monitoring of all activities in the field. SMEPS is well known
for its skilled and well-experienced staff. Similar to the other two national
institutions, SMEPS will recruit additional personnel to cover any skills or human
capacity gaps, as assessed during project preparation. All staff are required to
have satisfactory expertise, experience, and qualifications.

• Results Monitoring and Evaluation: The four organizations will be responsible for
coordinating project monitoring activities for their respective Components and Sub-
components. The objectives of the M&E system are to measure input, output, and
outcome indicators to provide project staff and stakeholders with regular information
on project implementation and outputs, identify potential problems, and determine to
what extent the project is achieving its development objectives. The M&E methodology
will be aligned with the definitions and collection methodologies of the project to enable
data aggregation and consolidation at the project-wide level. The four organizations will
utilize their existing M&E systems as outlined in the PAD and confirmed in the Financial
Agreement (FA).

• Monitoring and evaluation will be based on the collection and reporting of data on the
PDO and intermediate indicators (see the Results Framework (RF) in the PAD for a full
description of these indicators). The results will be presented to the Bank in semi-annual
progress reports as well as the Mid-Term Review (MTR) and final independent evaluation
reports. A baseline survey will be conducted in the project areas. Additional surveys will
be held at the MTR stage and project completion. For their respective activities, the four
organizations and National Institutions will use the detailed data collected through the
standard reporting formats for various levels and other relevant documentation,
including formats for mobile team reporting and integrated outreach reporting on all
interventions based on Agency M&E systems. At each organization or National
Institution hub office data will be collected and reviewed before it is consolidated at the
central level by the relevant team.

• In addition to regular M&E activities, each organization will use an independent TPM
Agency (TPMA) to assess quarterly performance and field monitoring of project
implementation. The TPMA will be expected to: (1) track performance through the
collection of appropriate and credible data and other evidence; (2) analyze evidence to
inform decision-making by World Bank and each organization management; (3)
recommend improvements in effectiveness and efficiency as necessary; and (4) report
on performance and lessons to facilitate learning and support accountability, including
learning from beneficiaries’ experience. Data collection, analysis and reporting will be

19
 carried out in a sex-disaggregated way. The terms of reference (TORs) for the TPMAs will
be agreeable to the Association as per the FA. Where existing TMP arrangements are in
place (such as all UN agencies have existing TPMAs already), the existing arrangements
will be adopted for use under the project. After review by the respective organization,
the TPM reports will be shared with the Bank, no later than three (3) business days after
its receipt, to enable concurrent supervision and timely assessment of project
implementation.

• Additional research to inform food security response mechanism design in FCV

context. The project aims to carry out additional research to assess the effectiveness and
efficacy of the activities supported by the project in addressing short, medium and long-
term food security. Specifically, the research would analyze the activities, response
mechanisms and results achieved under Component 1, 2 and 3. The research carried out
through a collaborative process would emphasize capacity building for government
partners in understanding the efficacy of specific response mechanisms, the role of
project evaluation and interpreting and communicating the evaluation findings in
support of evidence-based policy. It would also contribute to informing the overall IDA’s
FCV agenda and GAFSP. The knowledge gained from these evaluations will be valuable
for fine-tuning project implementation and potentially informing scaling up of this
project or others, as well as strengthening the quality of reports on project impacts. The
analytical work would be led by IFPRI researchers with experience in multiple impact
evaluations in Yemen and will be coordinated by FAO and financed from the project
funds allocated to FAO. Additional details on the proposed research are presented in the
POM.

3. POLICY, LEGAL, AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK

3.1 Political and Strategic Framework
• National Adaptation Plan of Action (NAPA): One of the key national policies is the NAPA,
which is focused on climate change. As stipulated by the UNFCCC, NAPAs provide a
process for Least Developed Countries (LDCs) to identify priority activities that respond
to their urgent and immediate needs to adapt to climate change – those for which
further delay would increase vulnerability and costs at a later stage. On 31 March 2009,
Yemen’s NAPA was endorsed by Cabinet Decree. The legal promulgation of the NAPA
marks a major step for the Yemen and enhances the chances of the country to be eligible
to priority development support under the LDC schemes (e.g., the Global Environment
Facility (GEF)).

• National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan of Yemen (NBSAP): The goal of the NBSAP
is to reverse present negative trends by mobilizing the resourcefulness of the Yemeni
people and applying international technical and financial support. Yemen aims at the
restoration and rehabilitation of its diversity of species, genetic resources, and
ecosystems. Specific objectives were identified to govern the thrust of the action plan.
These objectives spell out the principles to preserve and use in a sustainable way the
irreplaceable biodiversity and natural resources of Yemen. The principles include: a)
striving to maintain the integrity of Yemen’s land and marine resources and their biotic
wealth; b) respect for the intrinsic value of all forms of life, while uses need to be made
both sustainable and equitable; c) pursuit of collaborative management agreements and

20
 institutions; d) indigenous natural resource management systems of the Yemen people
will be supported, protected, utilized and seen as a rich natural heritage; e) responsible
public management based on accountability, transparency, participation in decision
making and a full analysis of impacts; and, f) the Precautionary Principle (as defined in
the 1992 Rio Declaration on Environment and Development). The NBSAP is currently
undergoing some updates.

• National Food Security Strategy: In response to Yemen’s alarming food insecurity

situation, the Yemeni government developed its National Food Security Strategy (NFSS),
which was adopted by the Council of Ministers in February 2011. The NFSS key objectives
were to reduce food insecurity by one third by 2015, to make 90% of the population food
secure by 2020, and to reduce child malnutrition by 1 percent annually. The NFSS is
multi-sectoral and includes measures for restructuring the national budget, promoting
rapid economic growth, improving risk management, investing in agricultural
development and natural resource management, strengthening service delivery
particularly for health, family planning, nutrition, and promoting women’s
empowerment. Because of the prevalence of food insecurity in rural areas, and the
strong linkages between agricultural production and food security, a large part of the
implementation of the NFSS is through the investment program for agriculture. In
particular, the agricultural sector is to contribute to several key elements of the action
plan, including goals to: (a) increase incomes through higher productivity and
development of value chains; (b) promote high value alternatives to Qat; (c) improve
targeting of public investments and improved service provision for agriculture and
poverty-reducing rural development; and (d) promote women’s empowerment through
better access to agricultural assets and services.

• National Agriculture Sector Strategy: To tackle the persistent challenges of the Yemeni
agriculture sector, the Government adopted in March 2012 a National Agriculture Sector
Strategy (NASS) for 2012-2016. In line with the overall objectives of the NFSS, the NASS
aims to increase growth, sustainability, and equity by raising agricultural output, and to
increase rural incomes, particularly for the poor. Four specific goals are outlined: i)
increase domestic food production through improving input supply, increased farmer
awareness, and greater availability of agricultural credit; ii) fight rural poverty through
increasing income of farmers, especially women, and continued promotion of rural
development; iii) preservation of the environment and natural resources, and activating
the role of community participation to ensure sustainability; and iv) improving market
efficiency, lessening post-harvest losses and developing the capacity to export.

• NASS update (2013-2017): Completed in 2013 and provides for new emphasis in
production on: (a) improving productivity in rainfed agriculture; (b) more efficient
agricultural water management; (c) an increased recognition of the role of rural women
in meeting food needs, improving nutrition and protecting the environment; (d) a strong
focus on improving productivity and sustainability of livestock production (as livestock is
the principal asset and economic activity of the poorest and landless); and (e)
diversification of cropping patterns into new or revived cash crops and into more
nutritious foods. The NASS update also promotes for a new institutional emphasis on:
(a) demand-driven and participatory approach factoring in the needs and views of the

21
 farmers, particularly the poorest from the bottom up, (b) a decentralized approach; (c)
increased reliance on the private sector and on public/private partnerships wherever
feasible, and (d) efficient use of scarce public finances. The NASS update is also
consistent with the National Water Sector Strategy and Investment Program (NWSSIP,
2008-2015) which has its goal for agricultural water to maintain a profitable,
economically efficient, equitable and sustainable agriculture.

• National Water Sector Strategy and Investment Program (NWSSIP): The Government of
Yemen is aware of the challenge that the country's water problems pose for water
supplies and achieving food security and has taken some significant institutional steps
over the past years. Strategic planning began in the early 1990s. In 1996, the National
Water Resources Authority (NWRA) was created to implement an integrated approach.
A water law was enacted in 2002, and in 2003 the Ministry of Water and Environment
(MWE) was established. MWE prepared a consolidated strategy, action plan, and an
investment Program 2005-2009 (NWSSIP), adopted and published by the government in
2004. In late 2007, the government decided to prepare an update on NWSSIP 2009-2015
to adjust policy and program measures, and particularly focus on incorporating irrigation
more fully into an integrated water resources management and regulatory framework.

• The National Water Sector Strategy and Investment Program (NWSSIP) update for 2009-
2015, prepared by the MWE, was formulated to deal comprehensively with the water
sector related issues. It also addressed discrepancies in the sub-sector (water resources,
Urban Water Sector Support (WSS), rural WSS and irrigation) in order to harmonize and
promote the interests of all the stakeholders. The objectives of the NWSSIP are to:

• Ensure coordination among all partners working in urban and rural water supply
and sanitation sub-sectors, within and outside the MWE.
• Ascertain those policies in each of these two sub-sectors are unified and that
investments are equitably allocated among governorates according to unified
rules and that no projects are duplicated, especially in rural areas, to ensure that
investments complement each other.
• Ascertain integration of water policies and national policies of sustainable growth
and poverty reduction.
• Ensure that sector financing effectively supports sector goals.
• Monitor and evaluate performance.

• The FSRRP has made provisions in the implementation and achievement of the above
policy objectives in the framework of the concept of comprehensive and integrated
development for the improvement of agricultural production and achieving food security
along with poverty reduction.

3.2 Policy, Legal, and Institutional Framework

• This section discusses and summarizes the provisions of Government of Yemen’s key
policy, legal and institutional framework for environmental and social management in
Yemen in relation to the project and indicates how this ESMF complies with these
requirements. The section also discusses other international policies/standards

22
 /regulations on environmental and social dimensions as well as both FAO and WB
Environmental and Social Safeguards Standards in terms of compliance and concurrence.

Multilateral Environmental and Social Treaties

• The Yemeni Government is a signatory to several internationally binding multilateral

environmental and social agreements. Among the international commitments,
conventions and agreements, the following protocols on agriculture, biodiversity, and
natural resources; oceans and seas; hazardous materials and chemicals; atmosphere and
air pollution; and health and workers’ safety are relevant to the project activities.
Table 4, below, provides a summary.

Table 4: Applicable and Legally Binding International Agreements

Date of adoption or
Conventions / Agreements
ratification
Climate and Atmosphere
The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer
16 September 1987
and its amendments
United-Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) 30 June 30, 1994
Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants
(i.e. a global treaty to protect human health and the environment from
5 December 2001
chemicals that remain intact in the environment for long periods,
9 January 2004
become widely distributed geographically and accumulate in the fatty
tissue of humans and wildlife).
Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer 19 December 1994
11 December 1997;
Kyoto Protocol to the UNFCC
16 February 2005
Civil Responsibility for Damage from Oil Pollution, 14 April 1979
22 April 2016;
Paris Agreement
4 November 2016
Land and Physical Cultural Resources
The Convention on the Protection of World Cultural and Natural
14 September 1982
Heritage
Biodiversity and Natural Habitats
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild
3 March 1973; 22 June 1979
Fauna and Flora (CITES)
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) 1 December 2005
Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance
24 January 2000
especially as Waterfowl Habitats
Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals
1 December 2006
(CMS) à (P#100)
Others: Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, the Rio Declaration on
Environment and Development, The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and The International
Labour Organization (ILO) Conventions.
Source: CATS – October 2020

23
National Regulatory and Legal Framework for the E&S applicable to the Project

• Several policies, strategies, and plans developed in the past by Yemen are relevant for
the proposed project. These are presented below for context, noting that in the current
conflict situation they are overall dormant. The project design has been well-informed
by these policies.

Environmental and Social Policy, Strategies and Law in Yemen

• The environmental and social related polices and laws in Yemen include inter alia: the
Environment Protection Law (EPL) Number 26 of 1995, forming the basis for
environmental protection, issuance of permits, and environmental and social impact
assessments (ESIAs). The provisions of this law are implemented through Executive
Regulations (by-Law 148-2000), issued by a decree of the Council of Ministers to protect
the environment, natural resources, society, and health. In addition, the law is designed
to protect the national environment from activities practiced beyond national
boundaries and to implement international commitments ratified by the Republic of
Yemen in relation to environmental protection, control of pollution, conservation of
natural resources, and such globally important environmental and social issues, such as
ozone layer depletion and climate change.

• The law equally stipulates the incorporation of environmental and social considerations
in economic development plans at all levels and stages of planning for all sectors. It also
requires the preparation of ESIAs for projects proposed by the public and private sectors.
However, to date there is still no regulatory framework to support the implementation
of the EPL and the provision of undertaking ESIAs for projects is not strictly enforced.
ESIA studies should be undertaken by an independent authority.

• Equally important, environmental standards and specifications have been prepared by

the former Environment Protection Council as annexes to the Executive Regulations,
covering potable water quality, wastewater quality for agriculture, and ambient air
quality, emissions, noise, biodiversity and protected areas. These include standard
application forms intended for use by all relevant government bodies. Also, there are
other policies, strategies, and programs in Yemen to safeguard the broader Environment
(physical and natural). The list of these policies, strategies and programs are:
• National Environmental Action Plan;
• Environment & Sustainable Investment Program;
• Biodiversity Strategy;
• Environmental (and Social) Impact Assessment Policy for the Republic of Yemen;
• Reports on the State of Environment (by Environment Protection Authority
[EPA]);
• Evaluation of Future Development of the EIA System in Yemen etc.;
• National environmental and social laws and regulations, and the operating
procedures of SWF;
• The 1990 Reunification Constitution of Yemen;
• Labor Law, Act No.5 of 1995, includes Occupational Health and Safety (OHS)
requirements for workplaces that need to be applied in the project. It states that

24
 women are equal to men in all aspects without any discrimination, and that
equality should be maintained between women and men workers in recruitment,
promotion, wages, training, social insurance. It also regulates work time for
pregnant women. The law regulates the rights and wages of workers, their
protection, and occupational health and safety. In addition, the supplementary
Social Insurance Law regulates retirement compensation.
• Yemen has ratified ILO Convention Number 138 on Minimum Age for Admission
to Employment (Law 7/2001). The Convention establishes a minimum age for
admission to employment.
• Yemen has also ratified the ILO Convention 182 on the Worst Forms of Child
Labor. It refers to child labor as work that is mentally, physically, socially or
morally dangerous and harmful to children; and interferes with their schooling
by depriving them of the opportunity to attend school, by obliging them to leave
school prematurely; or by requiring them to attempt to combine school
attendance with excessively long and heavy work.

• Pesticide Law in Yemen: The Pesticides Law was decreed in 1999 (Law No. 25 of 1999)
and includes seven chapters and 36 articles. Executive regulations for enforcement are
to be issued by resolution of the Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation. A registration
guide and executive regulations were prepared to facilitate enforcement. Penalties for
violations are stated. The law's objectives are to regulate the handling, registration, and
inspection of pesticides and to avoid the poisonous effects on humans, and animals, the
environment, and economically beneficial insects. The competent authority for
enforcing the law is the General Directorate of Plant Protection (GDPP) of the MoAI, and
the Directorate is to coordinate its work with the EPA. The Pesticides Law provides the
national legal basis for the application of the World Bank's ESS 3: Resource Efficiency and
Pollution Prevention and Management. The list of prohibited and smuggled pesticide in
Yemen is attached in Annex 2.

• To better control the quality of imported pesticides, the government established the
"Pesticides Formulation Laboratory". In 1999, Parliament approved the Agricultural
Pesticides Act. Procurement of pesticides is envisaged under the project. Precautions to
avoid excessive and improper pesticide use are required. A mechanism will be put in
place to demonstrate Integrated Pest Management procedures and to develop a farmer
education program that stresses good and safe practices for storage and application of
pesticides.

• Water Law: The Water Law was issued in 2002 (Law No. 33 of 2002) and modified in
2006 after the creation of Ministry of Water and Environment (MWE). Its by-law was
issued in 2011 by the Cabinet decree. The law defines water resources as any water
available in the republic's territory and its share of common waters jointly owned with
neighbouring countries. This is comprised of ground water, surface water, wastewater
after purification, and saline water after desalination. The law's main objective is to
regulate, develop, sustain and increase efficiencies in water utilization, protect from
pollution, transport, and engage the beneficiaries of water installations in participatory
management, investment, development, operation, maintenance and preservation at

25
 the various stages of development. In Yemen, water is considered a common property
accessible to all.

• Management of water resources is entrusted to the National Water Resources Authority

(NWRA), which assesses the resources, classifies water basins and zones, and prepares
the national water plan, which is considered as one of the components of national
economic and social planning. Drinking water and domestic use have absolute priority.
Then in declining priority, watering livestock, public utilities, irrigation, industrial
purposes, minimal level of environmental needs. For these uses, water distribution a nd
transport should be done according to sanitary means.

• The responsibility of sustainable water management in the irrigation sector and the
setting up of operation and maintenance of irrigation structures is delegated to the
Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation (MAI). Moreover, MAI should provide protection
from floods, soil and wadi banks erosion, maintain agricultural terraces and prevent the
expansion of industrial or other infrastructure at the expense of wadi or rainwater runoff
channels. Existing and acquired water rights prior to the issuance of the law will be
maintained, except in exceptional cases when fair compensation will be ensured.
Traditional water rights of rainwater harvesting and natural runoff flow in relation to
irrigation shall be maintained. The same applies for the traditional rights on natural
springs, streams, and creeks. The Water Law and its by-law are a notable achievement
in Yemeni legislation and provide important legislation for environmental and social
management of the project activities pertaining to agricultural production.

• Cooperatives Societies and Unions Law (Law No. 39 of 1998): Law 39 of 1998 relates to
Cooperative Societies and Unions, the organizational and legal reference for all
cooperatives and cooperative unions in the Republic of Yemen. This law is relevant to
the project since it addresses community mobilization and engagement in terms of
collective actions that would lead to better community involvement in the design,
implementation and operationalization and maintenance of the coping measures and
the income generation activities.

• Law no. 39 of 1998 grants a relevant Ministry and its departments and branches in the
governorates the right to supervise and assure compliance with relevant laws and
provide advice and technical assistance to the cooperatives to plan their activities as well
as to attend their General Assembly meetings. It defines five specific types of
cooperatives. Any other type of cooperative, such as the Agricultural Cooperative Union
(ACU) and its branches in the country can be created according to the provision of Article
142, which states that it is lawful to establish other cooperative societies, according to
provision of this Law, in other services. More specifically, Article 142 stipulates that a
decree of establishment under appropriate line Ministry shall be developed and
forwarded to the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor for approval and issuance.

• Water User Associations (WUAs) which were supported by water law are eligible under
law 39 of 1998. These associations have the privileges granted to it by law, as well as the
support of the Water Law.

26
3.3 World Bank’s Environmental and Social Policy Application
• Given that project activities and subproject locations cannot be identified by appraisal, an
Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF), Environmental and Social
Commitment Plan (ESCP), Labour Management Plan (LMP), Stakeholder Engagement Plan
(SEP), Resettlement Policy Framework (RPF), Pesticide Management Plan (PMP), and Security
Management Plan (SMP), have been prepared. Given the emergency context, the ESCP and
SEP were prepared and disclosed for comment and review prior to the appraisal stage and
World Bank Board approval, with the other safeguards instruments being prepared afterward
and as stipulated in the ESCP. The scope and application of the ESSs are discussed below.

Environment and Social Standards (ESSs) Relevant to the Project

• Based on the World Bank Environmental and Social Framework and the E&S screening
conducted for this project, all environmental and social standards are relevant to the
project with the exception of ESS7 (Indigenous Peoples/Sub-Saharan African Historically
Underserved Traditional Local Communities), ESS8 (Cultural Heritage), and ESS9
(Financial Intermediaries). The World Bank’s Environment and Social Framework (ESF)
stipulates that all World Bank-financed investment projects must meet the ten
environmental and social standards which were designed to avoid, minimize, reduce, or
mitigate adverse environmental and social risks and impacts of projects. The ESSs
include:
• ESS1: Assessment and Management of Environmental and Social Risks and
Impacts;
• ESS2: Labor and Working Conditions;
• ESS3: Resource Efficiency and Pollution Prevention and Management;
• ESS4: Community Health and Safety;
• ESS5: Land Acquisition, Restrictions on Land Use and Involuntary Resettlement;
• ESS6: Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Management of Living Natural
Resources;
• ESS7: Indigenous Peoples/Sub-Saharan African Historically Underserved
Traditional Local Communities;
• ESS8: Cultural Heritage;
• ESS9: Financial Intermediaries; and
• ESS10: Stakeholder Engagement and Information.

• In addition to the ten World Bank ESS, the project has been screened against the FAO
Environmental and Social Safeguards, which correlate and align with World Bank
standards as depicted in Table 5, below:
Table 5: Alignment of World Bank and FAO Environmental and Social Safeguards
WB Environmental and Social Framework – FAO Environmental and Social
Environmental & Social Standards (ESS) Safeguards (ESS)
ESS1 – Assessment & Management of Environmental ESS1 – Natural Resources
and Social Risks & Impacts Management
ESS9 – Financial Intermediaries ESS8 – Gender Equality
ESS10 – Stakeholder Engagement and Information
Disclosure

27
 WB Environmental and Social Framework – FAO Environmental and Social
Environmental & Social Standards (ESS) Safeguards (ESS)
ESS2 – Labour and Working Conditions ESS7 – Decent Work
ESS3 – Resource Efficiency and Pollution Prevention & ESS5 – Pest and Pesticide
Management Management
ESS4 – Community Health and Safety ESS7 – Decent Work (partially)
ESS5 – Land Acquisition, Restriction on Land Use and ESS6 – Involuntary Resettlement and
Involuntary Resettlement Displacement
ESS10 – Stakeholder Engagement and Information
Disclosure
ESS2 – Biodiversity, Ecosystems, and
ESS6 – Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Natural
Management of Living Natural Resources Habitats
ESS3 – Plant Genetic Resources for
Food & Agriculture
ESS4 – Animal – Livestock and
Aquatic Genetic
Resources for Food and Agriculture
ESS7 – Indigenous Peoples/Sub-Saharan African ESS9 – Indigenous Peoples and
Historically Underserved Traditional Local Communities Cultural Heritage
ESS8 – Cultural Heritage

• Alignment of the World Bank and WFP Environmental and Social Safeguards are also
displayed in Table.

Table 5 Alignment of WFP Environmental and Social Standards with the World Bank Environmental and Social Standards

World Bank WFP Environmental and Social Standards

ESS 1: Assessment and Management of ESS 1: Sustainable Natural Resources

Environmental and Social Risks and Management (ESS 1, ESS 3, ESS 6)
Impacts ESS 2: Biodiversity and Ecosystems (ESS 1, ESS
ESS 2: Labor and Working Conditions 3, ESS 6)
ESS 3: Resource Efficiency and Pollution ESS 3: Resource Efficiency, and Waste and
Prevention and Management Pollution Management (ESS 3, ESS 6)
ESS 4: Community Health and Safety ESS 4: Climate Change (ESS 3, ESS 6)
ESS 5: Land Acquisition, Restrictions on ESS 5: Protection and Human Rights (ESS 2, ESS
Land Use and Involuntary Resettlement 4, ESS 8)
ESS 6: Biodiversity Conservation and ESS 6: Gender Equality (ESS 2, ESS 4, ESS 5, ESS
Sustainable Management of Living Natural 8, ESS 10)
Resources
ESS 7: Community Health, Safety and Security
(ESS 4, ESS 5, ESS 7, ESS 8)

28
 World Bank WFP Environmental and Social Standards
ESS 7: Indigenous Peoples/Sub-Saharan ESS 8: Accountability to Affected Populations
African Historically Underserved (ESS 9, ESS 10)
Traditional Local Communities
ESS 8: Cultural Heritage
ESS 9: Financial Intermediaries; and
ESS 10: Stake-holder Engagement and
Information Disclosure

• For simplicity, this chapter discusses the project screening and relevance of standards in
relation to the World Bank ESF. Table 6 provides a summary of the relevant standards,
and the paragraphs following provide details on the extent to which each standard is
relevant based on the project design.

Table 6 Relevant Environmental and Social Standards

WB Environmental and Social Framework – Relevant

Environmental & Social Standards (ESS) (Y/N)
ESS1 – Assessment & Management of Environmental and Social Risks & Impacts Y
ESS2 – Labour and Working Conditions Y
ESS3 – Resource Efficiency and Pollution Prevention & Management Y
ESS4 – Community Health and Safety Y
ESS5 – Land Acquisition, Restriction on Land Use and Involuntary Resettlement Y
ESS6 – Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Y
Management of Living Natural Resources
ESS7 – Indigenous Peoples/Sub-Saharan African Historically Underserved N
Traditional Local Communities
ESS8 – Cultural Heritage N
ESS9 – Financial Intermediaries N
ESS10 – Stakeholder Engagement and Information Disclosure Y
ESS1: Assessment and Management of Environmental and Social Risks and Impacts
• ESS1 requires the project and subproject owners to be responsible for assessing,
managing, and monitoring E&S risks and impacts associated with each stage of a
project/subproject supported by the World Bank to achieve E&S outcomes consistent
with the ESSs. It requires a description of the project area as well as an assessment of
potential positive and negative impacts. The Environmental and Social Assessment (ESA)
and proposed mitigation measures detailed in Section IV of this ESMF are proportional
to the risk levels of project activities and subprojects. Subprojects and activities under
the project will support cash-for-work opportunities, increased food security, and
improved nutrition. Some of these investments will include technical and material
assistance for changed practices in primary production; small-to-medium-scale
infrastructure works; equipment and inputs provision for identified households; and
capacity building.

29
• The project is largely expected to bring about significant positive impacts to the project
areas. Moreover, the project is not anticipating any significant threats against
biodiversity and habitats and does not involve the introduction of alien or nonnative
species in the project areas. No adverse or irreversible impacts are expected on cultural
heritage. Nonetheless, the project has been given a substantial risk rating, both
environmentally and socially, given the following:

• Exposure of project workers and communities to health and safety risks,

including serious injury and/or transmission of diseases like COVID-19, during the
implementation of works under Component 1 (Cash for Work) if project
activities10 are not adequately managed. This is anticipated as the project will
provide temporary work opportunities to local community members who are
unskilled, largely illiterate, and with little or no knowledge or experience in
applying OHS measures. This ESMF details potential mitigation measures, as will
subproject specific ESMPs. Labour-related risks are covered more specifically
within the LMP.

• Challenges to ensure that project services and benefits can reach all segments
of the targeted beneficiaries in a transparent, equitable, and inclusive manner,
particularly for disadvantaged and vulnerable individuals and groups, and the
potential conflict which may arise among local communities, interested groups,
and factions over the sharing and distribution of project benefits. To address this,
FAO, UNDP, ICRC and WFP will take these into consideration in selecting and
designing subcomponent investment activities and conducting stakeholder
engagement. They will also align their SMPs and work closely with their
implementing partners (SFD, PWP, SMEPS) to define key selection criteria for
target areas and provide a participatory, inclusive, and transparent mechanism
to identify and target beneficiaries based on clear eligibility criteria. The SEP is
intended to support inclusivity and ensure equitable distribution of benefits.

• Minor, localized, and mitigatable negative impacts pertaining to the small

infrastructural works under Component 1 and the installation of hydroponic &
aquaponics under Component 4, including noise, generation of dust and solid
wastes, water use increase, and energy demand increase. Some of these
impacts are also expected during the operation phase as well. Mitigation options
for these minor impacts are provided in this ESMF and would be covered under
each subproject specific ESMP.

• Potential increase in the use of pesticides and fertilizers due to the

rehabilitation of terraces under component 1 as well as the operation of

10
The rehabilitation works under the cash for work program which will support the rehabilitation and
maintenance of terraces, on-farm water harvesting facilities (underground cisterns and open wadi pits),
watershed management/rainwater harvesting structures in mountainous areas (check dikes and
gabions/retaining walls in wadi beds), spate irrigation works in lower mountains and foot-hills (small spate
diversion canals, shallow wells, and springs), irrigation canals and farm-level conveyance systems,
rehabilitation of small rural access roads to isolated villages/communities.

30
 hydroponics and aquaponics under component 4, thus an updated PMP has been
prepared to mitigate potential negative impacts.

• Security risks due to the ongoing conflict. Considering the high-security risks in
Yemen, the SMP defines how project workers and equipment are secured.

• The environmental and social assessment (ESA) requirement under ESS1 is covered
within this ESMF, which examines the risks and impacts associated with the project. This
ESMF has defined screening mechanisms and monitoring procedures for the
identification and management of potential adverse environmental and social impacts
and provides a grievance redress mechanism with guidance on the reception, recording,
handling, and reporting of complaints that may be encountered during project
implementation. Further details can be found in the project SEP.

• During implementation, all subprojects or activities will be screened in accordance with

the guidelines and requirements set forth in this ESMF. The results of the screening will
identify the risks that the subprojects will pose, differentiated as: high, substantial,
moderate, or low. For any of the identified high-risk subprojects, an ESIA would be
required, while a simple ESA would be done for substantial and moderate risk
subprojects. These subprojects will prepare and implement proportionate ESAP, ESMPs
and Environmental Codes of Practice (ECOP) when appropriate. The ESAP will be
developed for the low and moderate risks sub-projects. Nevertheless, the ESMPs for sub-
projects that are estimated at substantial risks. The subsequent ESAP and ESMP will
consist of the set of mitigation, monitoring, and institutional measures to be taken
during implementation and operation of a project in order to eliminate adverse
environmental and social risks and impacts, offset them, or reduce them to acceptable
levels. The project implementing agency will: (a) identify a set of responses to potentially
adverse impacts; (b) determine requirements for ensuring that those responses are
made effectively and in a timely manner; and (c) describe and report the means for
meeting those requirements.

• As a substantial-risk project, all subprojects shall be consistent and adhere to the

country’s national environmental and social standards, as well as the ESSs of the World
and implementing agencies. In instances where gaps are evident, the more stringent
policy is followed. Gaps are detailed in Section 3.4 of this ESMF and are provided in detail
in Annex 1.

ESS2: Labor and Working Conditions

• ESS2 recognizes the importance of employment creation and income generation in the
pursuit of poverty reduction and inclusive economic growth. Project/subproject owners
can promote sound worker-management relationships and enhance the development
benefits of a project by treating workers fairly and providing safe and healthy working
conditions. Based on the current FSRRP design, some activities will require the hiring of:
(i) direct workers (e.g. implementing partners’ staff and consultants); (ii) contracted
workers for construction and rehabilitation work and/or similar work related to the core
functions of the project (including contractors who in turn employ workers/labour based

31
 on daily wages to perform skilled field-related works, IT-related works, and/or training-
related works); (iii) community workers recruited by the contractor or SFD for Cash for
Work activities within the communities (with at least 50% of contracted workers coming
from the local community) and/or Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) to provide
nutrition services under sub-component 3.3.. The impacts and risks of this could include
the possible use of child labor and forced labor, discriminatory practices in recruitment,
occupational health, and safety issues and GBV/SEA risks, as well as possible conflicts
with local communities.

• To be consistent with the ESS2 requirement, and as part of the ESA, a Labor Management
Plan was prepared for the PP and updated for the AF and will be incorporated within a
given subproject’s Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP), to be
implemented during the project. The LMP clarifies how subproject workers will be
managed in accordance with requirements of both the national laws and ESS2, including
management to reduce risk of transmission of infectious diseases like COVID-19 and/or
HIV-AIDs. As part of ESS2 and the LMP, a separate GM will be available for workers.

ESS3: Resource Efficiency and Pollution Prevention and Management

• ESS3 recognizes that economic activity and urbanization often generate pollution to air,
water, and land, and consume finite resources that may threaten people, ecosystem
services, and the environment at the local, regional, and global levels. This ESS sets out
the requirements to address resource efficiency and pollution prevention and
management throughout the project life cycle. Significant use of materials and resources
(including water) are not expected under the project, nor is generation of significant
amounts of GHG emissions from construction and operations. Nonetheless, given that
the activities involve smaller infrastructural works and primary producers, the risks and
impacts related to the release of pollutants, construction debris, solid waste generation,
the management of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and hazardous wastes, impact on
community, and resource use efficiency will be assessed for each subproject, and
proportional mitigation measures will be incorporated within the related ESMPs.

• ESS3 is relevant. The project will support the rehabilitation of terraces and the
construction of hydroponics which might lead to increasing the use of pesticides and
fertilizers, yet the project will not support the purchase of such chemicals and it will
discourage their use through dissemination of alternative techniques and general
information on the risks incurred if they are used. Pesticide toxicity and misuse could
potentially lead to pollution of soil, water, air, and cause harm to non-target organisms,
as well as negative impacts on health and safety, particularly of farmers or those who
apply pesticides. To mitigate such risks, FAO has prepared a stand-alone Pest
Management Plan including a screening procedure to determine if site-specific PMPs
need to be prepared. The PMP includes, inter alia, measures for: (i) adequate
transportation, storage, handling, and management of pesticides; (ii) management of
stocks in an effective, efficient, and transparent way; (iii) suggested capacity building
program that will be conducted to farmers for adequate storage, transportation, and
management of pesticides; and (iv) disposal of unwanted or surplus pesticides and waste
resulting from applying pesticides and for any COVID-related material.

32
• Given the nature and scale of the physical interventions foreseen under the project, it is
not expected to make significant use of resources such as water, energy, and raw
materials. In addition, it is not expected that activities supported under the project will
significantly generate pollution. However, this ESMF proposes guidelines to assess the
potential cumulative impacts of water use upon communities, other users, and the
environment. The Climate Smart Agriculture approach guides the relevant mitigation
measures. With regard to hydroponics, the implementing agency will adopt measures
specified in the World Bank Environmental, Health, and Safety Guidelines (EHS
Guidelines) 11 to optimize energy usage. This ESMF and subsequent site-specific ESMPs
identify measures required to ensure efficient use of water and energy, as well as proper
disposal of wastes associated with activities such as debris and other residues from
rehabilitation, works under Component 1, and construction works of hydroponics and
aquaponics under Component 4. Waste generated by these activities will be disposed of
at approved sites according to with the national laws and regulations. The site-specific
ESMP outlined will include mitigation measures to minimize and manage the noise levels
by applying standard restrictions to hours of site work. It is also mentionable that
Component 1 will support cash-for-work interventions which will support farmers for the
rehabilitation of water resources which will improve resource management (i.e., water
in targeted areas which will involve positive outcomes in line with the objectives of ESS3).

ESS4: Community Health and Safety

• ESS4 addresses the health, safety, and security risks and impacts on project-affected
communities and the corresponding responsibility of subproject owners to avoid or
minimize such risks and impacts, with particular attention to people who, because of
their specific circumstances, may be vulnerable. The project participants might be at risk
or exposed to Gender Based Violence (GBV) or Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) -
during the implementation of the project. A GBV risk assessment and/or a gender
analysis will be conducted for sub-project areas and a GBV action plan for those areas
will be developed prior to sub-project implementation. The GBV action plan will include:
(i) a specific grievance redress mechanism related to cases of GBV and SEA (including an
established referral pathway to refer GBV/SEA cases to specialized agencies); and (ii)
community-level awareness sessions on GBV/PSEA to be conducted for participants and
their communities to ensure the protection and safety of participants. The project-level
GBV action plan is presented in Annex 4 of this ESMF. Measures to limit the spread of
COVID-19 within communities are included in the generic ESMP template annexed in the
ESMF.

• The project also has security risks due to the current conflict and security situation in
Yemen. To mitigate these social risks, FAO, UNDP, and WFP jointly prepared a security
management plan (SMP) and are working closely with SFD, PWP, and SMEPS to define
key selection criteria for target areas – criteria which form part of the stakeholder

11
The World Bank Group EHS Guidelines can be found at the following URL:
https://www.ifc.org/wps/wcm/connect/29f5137d-6e17-4660-b1f9-02bf561935e5/Final%2B-
%2BGeneral%2BEHS%2BGuidelines.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CVID=jOWim3p

33
 engagement process, including the disclosure of public information and project-related
outreach. The ICRC has submitted its own security management plan (SMP) which has
been approved by the WB

• For risks related to the construction of small infrastructure which community members
may be involved with, standard measures from the World Bank Group EHS Guidelines
are incorporated under Section IV of this ESMF and must be adhered to/implemented
during the construction and operation of any project-financed infrastructure. These
include measures related to general facility design and operation, communication and
training, various physical and chemical hazards, personal protection (e.g. wearing of
personal protective equipment), and monitoring. Measures, based on national and
international guidelines for the reduction of Covid-19 transmission, are also included in
Section IV of this ESMF. If an E&S screening for a subproject indicates further risks than
those listed under Section IV of this ESMF, then the subproject would be subject to a
more detailed ESIA and the subsequent ESMP must incorporate additional mitigation
measures proportionate to those risks.

ESS5: Land Acquisition, Restrictions on Land Use and Involuntary Resettlement

This ESS recognizes adverse impact for project/subproject on local peoples, especially
those considered to be vulnerable or disadvantaged. The proposed interventions in
farmland and irrigation works under Component 1 include rehabilitation, maintenance,
and small construction activities. They are all planned to take place within their existing
footprints and are expected to be quite small in scale. An exclusion list has been included
in Annex 3 of this ESMF to avoid permanent, large-scale land acquisition or resettlement.
Large-scale land acquisition or resettlement are not anticipated under the project at this
stage. For possible unanticipated needs of a small amount of land taking, a Resettlement
Framework proportional to expected risks and impacts has been prepared to guide
planning for such eventualities.
ESS6: Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Management of Living Natural Resources
• ESS6 recognizes that protecting and conserving biodiversity and sustainably managing
living natural resources are fundamental to sustainable development and it recognizes
the importance of maintaining core ecological functions of habitats, including forests,
and the biodiversity they support. ESS6 also addresses sustainable management of
primary production and harvesting of living natural resources and recognizes the need
to consider the livelihood of project-affected parties, including Indigenous Peoples
whose access to, or use of, biodiversity or living natural resources may be affected by a
project.

• The project's physical interventions will be limited to the existing rural centers. The
proposed project activities are not anticipating any significant threats against
biodiversity and habitats. The project does not intend to introduce alien or non-native
species in the project areas of implementation. However, this ESMF proposes relevant
measures which may improve the landscape where cash-for-work activities will be
undertaken. The exclusion list in Annex 3 also helps to avoid any threats against natural
habitats.

34
ESS7: Indigenous Peoples/Sub-Saharan African Historically Underserved Traditional Local
Communities
• As there are no communities falling under the ESS7 definition of Indigenous People/Sub-
Saharan African Historically Underserved Traditional Local Communities, this standard is
not considered relevant to the project.
ESS8: Cultural Heritage
Given the nature, scale, and location of the Project, this ESS8 standard is not considered
relevant to the project because no activities will be implemented in cultural heritage
sites. Moreover, no cultural heritage impacts are expected under the project.
ESS9: Financial Intermediaries (FI)
• ESS9 is not relevant to the project because no financial intermediaries are expected to
be involved.

ESS10: Stakeholder Engagement and Information Disclosure

• ESS10 recognizes the importance of open and transparent engagement between the
project owner and project stakeholders as an essential element of good international
practice. Effective stakeholder engagement can improve the environmental and social
sustainability of projects, enhance project acceptance, and make a significant
contribution to successful project design and implementation.

• This project mainly supports on-going development programs in the country.

Stakeholder engagement has been carried out in these areas to a varying extent and,
based on these early experiences, a large number of stakeholders are anticipated to be
engaged in the project, including public institutions, such as government agencies at the
national and local level, FAO, UNDP, ICRC, WFP and its project implementing partners,
civil society organizations, farmer organizations (including water user associations), and
different groups of targeted project beneficiaries communities. The targeted
beneficiaries could include farmers, pastoralists, agro-pastoralists, and fishing
communities; agro-enterprise producers, processors, and traders; internally displaced
people, field agricultural extension officers, animal health workers. Based on early sector
experiences, vulnerable or disadvantaged groups may include but are not limited to,
disadvantaged communities in certain parts of the country, households facing food
insecurity and food shortages, female-headed and elderly-headed households, internally
displaced persons, people with disabilities, extremely poor, and Illiterate persons.

• Stakeholder engagement has been conducted between the FAO, UNDP, WFP, SFD, PWP,
and the MAI in the early stage of project life cycle. Two stakeholders’ engagement and
consultation workshop conducted with different affected parties for the PP & AF
activities. Moreover, the stakeholders’ engagement and consultations have been
executed at the field level in the targeted districts. The implemented stakeholders’
engagement and consultation activities have been detailed and updated in the project
SEP. The ICRC only recently joined the discussions and will begin its implementation
under the AF. The consultation focused on their respective findings on stakeholder
needs, preferred methods of communication, and key obstacles based on their ongoing
works within the potential project areas. A preliminary Stakeholder Engagement Plan

35
 was drafted and disclosed prior to project appraisal and has since been updated to
further reflect comments and changes in the project design for AF. The SEP draws from
lessons learned from FAO and UNDP during the earlier SAPREP project and YECRP project
from the ongoing projects like the Desert Locust Project and the lessons learned from
WFP during the ongoing Education Project, as well as recommendations from the SFD
and PWP’s extensive on-ground network. Further stakeholder analysis and consultations
carried out in the finalization of the project design and the SEP has been updated
accordingly.
• The Inception Workshop in the South (Aden) was already organized on the 6 th December
2021 (for the Parent Project), The Inception Workshop in the North (Sana’a) was already
organized on the 30th March 2022 (for the Parent Project), and Inception Workshop in
the South (Aden) was organized on the 15 th June 2022 (For Additional Financing) with
the participation of UN head of agencies (FAO, WFP and UNDP), implementers partners
(SMPES, SFD and PWP), MAIF, Local authority from targeted governorates and
Community committees’ members from targeted governorates.

• To address complaints or concerns related to project activities, the project utilizes the
Grievance Mechanism (GM) of FAO, UNDP, ICRC and WFP in addition to the SFD and PWP
GM. This GM is summarized in the SEP and within Section IX of this ESMF.

(b) Legal Operational Policies that Apply

• Given that the project will not occur on international waterways or in a way that may
affect the relations between the World Bank, its clients, and riparian states, there is no
need to consider OP 7.50 Projects on International Waterways as relevant. Likewise,
there will be no project activities occurring in or around disputed areas, OP 7.60 Projects
in Disputed Areas is not considered relevant.

• The WB policy on Access to Information 12. The WB Access to Information Policy is

intended to ensure that persons and groups affected by the project are kept informed
of the project objectives and impacts and are consulted throughout project preparation
and implementation to ensure that their interests are represented. E&S documents are
disclosed locally in the project areas and the WB’s external website offering access to
information on WB projects and programs to the public.

• World Bank policy requires governments to conduct meaningful consultations with

stakeholders such as project-affected groups and local NGOs about the project’s
environmental and social aspects and takes their views into account in the design of the
project. All draft E&S instruments have been disclosed locally in an accessible place via
the websites of the implementing agencies and/or implementation partners and in a
form and language understandable to key stakeholders, and in English at the WB’s
external website before the project appraisal.

12
Detail of World Bank Policy o Access to information is available at http://www.worldbank.org/en/access-
to-information

36
• World Bank Group Environmental, Health, and Safety Guidelines 13. The WB-financed
projects should also take into account the WB Group’s Environmental, Health, and Safety
Guidelines (known as the "EHS Guidelines") 14. The EHS Guidelines are technical
reference documents with general and industry-specific examples of Good International
Industry Practice (GIIP). It contains the performance levels and measures that are
normally acceptable to the WB Group and are generally considered to be achievable in
new facilities at reasonable costs by existing technology. The EA process may
recommend alternative (higher or lower) levels or measures, which, if acceptable to the
WB, become project- or site-specific requirements. The EHS Guidelines apply to the
Project and shall be incorporated into the Environmental Codes of Practice (ECOP)
included in the contract.

3.4 Gap Analysis and Gap Filling Measures

• The World Bank classifies projects and subprojects into one of four classifications: high
risk, substantial risk, moderate risk or l ow risk and discloses a project’s risk classification
and basis for that classification in project documents and on the World Bank website.

• Based on the project’s substantial risk rating both environmentally and socially, the
project will apply the more stringent of regulations. Specifically, whilst national
regulations are adequate for some of the investments, additional gap-filling measures
will be used for others so that they can adequately address issues related to contract
management, safety of local communities, and workers. Capacity building efforts
pertaining to regulation and oversight are also incorporated to help bridge the
regulation/enforcement gaps between national practice and World Bank and FAO
standards. A detailed overview of the gaps and recommended actions are available in
Annex 1, which highlights the differences between the World Bank’s ESF and the national
legislation.

4. ENVIRONMENT AND SOCIAL BASELINE

4.1 Country-Wide Social Demographics

• Language: Modern, standard Arabic is the official language of Yemen, whilst at least five
other dialects of Arabic are spoken in the country (Sanaani, Ta’Izzi-Adeni, Hadrami, Gulf
Arabic, and Judeo-Yemeni). Approximately 7.6 million people speak Sanaani in the East,
West and central regions of Yemen, whilst approximately 6.76 million people speak
Ta’Izzi-Adeni in the southern parts of the country. Around 300,000 people speak Hadrami
in Shabwah and Hadramawt governorates. Approximately 10,000 people speak Gulf
Arabic, and only 1000 people speak Judeo-Yemeni. Judeo-Yemeni is spoken by Jewish
communities in Sana’a, Shabwah, Al Bayda and Aden, whilst Sanaani, Ta’Izzi-Adeni and

13
The EHS Guidelines can be consulted at https://www.ifc.org/wps/wcm/connect/29f5137d-6e17-4660-b1f9-
02bf561935e5/Final%2B-%2BGeneral%2BEHS%2BGuidelines.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CVID=nPtguVM
14
https://www.ifc.org/wps/wcm/connect/topics_ext_content/ifc_external_corporate_site/sustainability-at-
ifc/publications/publications_policy_ehs-general

37
 Hadrami are considered Muslim languages. 15 About 60,000 people speak Mehri in desert
areas near the Oman boarder, and approximately 80,000 speak Soqotri on the island of
Socotra.16

• Religion: About 99.1% of Yemen’s population is Muslim, while Jews, Baha’i, Christians,
and Hindus make up the remaining 0.9%. 17 Of the Muslim majority, approximately 65%
identify as Shafi’ Sunni’ while 35 percent are Zaydi Shia. 18

• Land tenure: Yemen’s cultivated land approximately divided between 1.2 million
landholders with 62% of these landholdings less than 2 hectares, and 4% at least 10
hectares or more.19 Yemen’s property rights are informed by Islamic Shari’a Law and are
written under the Law of Land and Real Estate No. 21 of 1995, which forms the basis of
land categorization, however – in a country with many different authorities in different
regions, legal pluralism is the reality. 20 Sheikhs, or traditional authorities, uphold
governance in many rural areas and play an important role in decision making regarding
property rights in local contexts.

• Yemen’s land tenure system is categorized into five main forms of property. The first is
government land, which is estimated to be 90% of all land in Yemen, but only 10% of
cultivated land. Second is privately owned property which accounts for approximately
85% of all cultivated land, yet only 10% of total land area in Yemen. Third are religious
endowments, otherwise known as Waqfs. Waqfs can serve important social purposes
such as providing land access to the public, the poor and tenant farmers, and consists of
3-4% of Yemen’s land. Fourth is communal land, which tribal communities claim to own
yet the government claims as state land. Fifth is land tenancy, which also covers 3-4% of
Yemen’s land area and takes place on government, private and Waqf land. 21

• Approximately 80% of disputes in Yemen are related to land because the government
does not have a system for authenticating title deeds and land documents, whether
formal or customary. 22,23 At least 70% of these disputes are settled with Sheikhs, as
opposed to using the country’s legal and court system. 24 About 90% of all conflicts are
prevented or resolved through customary law systems. State and rule of law institutions
are considered weak and largely ineffective outside of Yemen’s main cities and are often
not trusted in rural areas. Yemen’s tribes provide social order outside of the formal
system and are known to successfully prevent and resolve conflicts over resources,

15
https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-languages-are-spoken-in-yemen.html
16
https://www.land-links.org/country-profile/yemen/#land
17
https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/yemen/
18
Idem.
19
https://www.land-links.org/country-profile/yemen/#land
20
https://carnegieendowment.org/files/yemen_tribal_governance.pdf
21
https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/901231468347330974/pdf/549230ESW0P1020l0land0tenu
re109June.pdf
22
https://www.land-links.org/country-profile/yemen/#land
23
https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/901231468347330974/pdf/549230ESW0P1020l0land0tenu
re109June.pdf
24
https://www.land-links.org/country-profile/yemen/#land

38
 development services and land. Sheikhs are accountable to their community to resolve
conflict and safeguard their tribes’ interests. 25

• Law No. 39 of 1991 requires that land be registered, however, mainly urban land is
registered under formal law while rural land is documented under land title documents
(basira) or land inheritance certificate (fasl) prepared by a sheikh or amin. Land
registration in the formal system is considered inefficient, time-consuming and overall
untrustworthy. Only about 10-20% of Yemen’s land is registered in the formal system
while the rest is under basira or informal documentation. However, as mentioned above
there is no mechanism in place in the formal system with which to authenticate either
formal or informal land deeds and no national cadaster exists which creates space for
land fraud. 26 This is also a problem regarding state owned land – as the state has no
reliable records of documents or inventory of state-owned lands, land grabs are
common.27

• Land tenure is an important means of access to land for many Yemenis, especially for
poor and marginalized groups, yet owner cultivation is still predominant. In much of the
highlands, a system of share tenancy operates where a landowner contributes the land
and labour and the crop is shared between the landowner and tenant according to a
traditional system of distribution. This system of distribution can vary from area to area
and is common in highland regions, even though the practice is slowly decreasing as
other employment options become available. Fixed rents are more common on Waqf
land and larger, irrigated low-land holdings. 28

• Land reclamation by tenant farmers is also considered in land tenure agreements. It is

common for a tenant that has reclaimed uncultivated or rangelands to keep a greater
share of the harvest, or possibly all of the harvest, for several years in order to recover
the cost of land reclamation. This is also common for tenants who shift production to
qat. If a landowner wishes to terminate a tenancy after land reclamation or qat planting,
the landowner will pay the tenant the market value of the improved land. However, if
the landowner provided capital for improvement, the landowner will pay half the market
value.29

• The land tenure system has long been considered stable in Yemen, with average tenancy
agreements spanning between 30 and 50 years. Yet, as demand for cultivatable land
increases, the power of landowners also increases as well as their bargaining power.
Access to land for marginalized groups could decrease as demand for cultivatable land
grows. Already, marginalized ethnic groups – such as the Muhamasheen – face large
barriers to land access throughout the country. 30

25
https://carnegieendowment.org/files/yemen_tribal_governance.pdf
26
https://www.land-links.org/country-profile/yemen/#land
27
https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/bitstream/handle/10986/12298/549230ESW0P1020l0land0tenure1
09June.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
28
https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/901231468347330974/pdf/549230ESW0P1020l0land0tenu
re109June.pdf
29
Ibid.
30
Ibid.

39
• Communal Land: The state claims ultimate ownership of communal lands while the
communities living on them exercise use and management rights. Law 21 of 1995 states
that all communal lands are owned by the state and that the state must manage land in
the interest of people and communities. However, most communal land holdings are
governed under customary law by tribes – even though they are legally owned by the
state.31 Under current law, much of what is considered tribal land by rural communities
is communal land and is likely owned by the state, and thus there is considerable
potential for conflict regarding these lands. Persons using state land have the right to
usufruct or utilize the land as they see fit short of destroying it, but many believe their
rights extent to ownership. 32

• This discrepancy in land ownership arose with the emergence of the People’s Democratic
Republic of Yemen in 1967, which led to the abolition of private property, including Law
No. 11 of 1972 which expropriated tribal groups’ landholdings. Prior to this law, tribal
groups controlled and laid claim to large swathes of land in both the north and south.
While conflict over landownership concerning communal state and tribal lands could be
present throughout Yemen, it is especially known to be related to lands in and near Aden,
Hudaydah and Mukalla. In Mukalla, the Al Akabra tribe has an ownership claim over most
undeveloped land to the east of the city and has been engaged in ongoing disputes over
ownership for many years. 33

• Women and Land: Under formal law, women have a legal right to own, buy, and sell land
in Yemen. However, customary law and traditional and religious practices prevail, and
few women can realize their formal rights. Few women, including women heads of
household, own land. In some regions, women must obtain the permission of their
husband to buy or sell land, regardless of ownership. Under the Personal Status Law,
women who are divorced must leave the family house. 34

• Gender-Based Violence (GBV): Gender inequality is recognized as one of the root causes
underlaying food insecurity, malnutrition and poverty in Yemen. Since the beginning of
the conflict in Yemen the gender dynamics changed, consequently, women and girls
have become more marginalized. Increasing levels of gender-based violence have also
been reported which could further reinforce gender inequality in the country. 35 Men and
boys have also experienced higher levels of gender-based violence. 36

• Women in Yemen face pervasive discrimination in both law and practice as a result of
society’s prescriptive gender constructs and norms. Women have limited access to
political participation and representation, economic opportunities, educational
opportunities and access to healthcare Child marriages have also increased due to
poverty and social insecurity as a result of the conflict – this is often used as a coping
31
https://www.land-links.org/country-profile/yemen/#land
32
https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/bitstream/handle/10986/12298/549230ESW0P1020l0land0tenure1
09June.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
33
Ibid.
34
https://www.land-links.org/country-profile/yemen/#land
35
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/rr-yemen-gender-conflict-analysis-201016-en_0.pdf
36
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/068-
Conflict%20and%20Gender%20dynamics%20in%20Yemen.pdf

40
 mechanism by conflict affected families. In general, the north of Yemen is considered
more conservative than the south in terms of gender and women’s rights. 37

• Gender-based violence can be in different forms: sexual harassment, forced marriage,

early marriage, exchange marriage, female genital mutilation, denial of inheritance a nd
restrictions to mobility. The government has made efforts to improve the rights of
women in Yemen, through the formation of a Women’s Development Strategy and a
Women Health Development Strategy. However, enforcement of this legislation, in
addition to traditional cultural and religious norms, is challenging and soared the gender
inequalities in rights and opportunities between Yemeni women and men. 38

• COVID-19: In Yemen, from 03 January 2020 to 12:47pm CEST, 15 July 2021, there have
been 6 964 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 1 366 related deaths – according to the
World Health Organization (WHO). 39 50 percent of Yemen Governorates (11/22) have
reportedly been affected40; however, it should be noted that reporting limitations due
to conflict and reduced resources mean that the number of governorates (and
individuals overall) affected are likely underreported. Yemen’s healthcare system is in
tatters after six years of war. Through the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access program
(COVAX Facility), Yemen should receive 14 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, which
could vaccinate 23 percent of the population across the country, according to the United
Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). 41

• On 20 April 2021, Yemen launched the first round of its COVID-19 vaccination campaign
in Aden and covered 13 Yemeni governorates. The campaign aims to reach 317 363
people in 133 districts across Yemen. Saudi Arabian authorities at the land border are
requesting Yemen to provide a COVID-19 vaccination certificate to allow entry into the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). 42 As of 12 July 2021, a total of 297 405 vaccine doses
have been administered. 43 The WHO will start COVID-19 vaccinations in Northern
Yemen, where the de facto authorities have not provided any COVID-19 infection or
fatality figures since May 2020. 44

• According to Human Rights Watch, Houthi authorities in Yemen have suppressed

information about the dangers and impact of COVID-19 and undermined international
efforts to provide vaccines in areas under their control. 45
•

37
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/068-
Conflict%20and%20Gender%20dynamics%20in%20Yemen.pdf
38
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/068-
Conflict%20and%20Gender%20dynamics%20in%20Yemen.pdf
39
https://covid19.who.int/region/emro/country/ye
40
https://www.humanitarianresponse.info/sites/www.humanitarianresponse.info/files/documents/files/covid
19_update_info_sharing-27_may_2021.pdf
41
https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/06/01/yemen-houthis-risk-civilians-health-covid-19
42
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/20210606_COVID19_DTM%20Yemen%20Mobility%
20Restrictions%20Dashboard%20DRAFT_%2325_V2.pdf
43
https://covid19.who.int/region/emro/country/ye
44
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/20210606_COVID19_DTM%20Yemen%20Mobility%
20Restrictions%20Dashboard%20DRAFT_%2325_V2.pdf

41
• As for the 31 May 2021, no IDP households reported COVID-19 as the reason for
displacement. So far, the total number of IDPs who have cited COVID-19 as the primary
reason for displacement is 1 559 households. 46

• Food security and nutrition: Prevalence of inadequate access to food was 42% during
March 2021, after having slightly decreased to 39% and 40% during January and February
2021, respectively. 47 More than half of the governorates (13 governorates), had “very
high” prevalence of inadequate food consumption during March 2021 (≥40%); the
highest was recorded in Lahij (63%), Amran (59%), Shabwah and Al Dhale’e (57%),
followed by Al Jawf and Raymah (56%).48

• Prevalence of poor access to food increased to around 20% or more in nine of the
governorates. Prevalence was highest in Lahij (28%), Raymah (26%), Abyan (23%),
Shabwah (22.5%), Al Jawf and Amran (21%).49 Key factors limiting household ability to
access food (as reported by households) included cumulative increase in food prices
coupled with reduced incomes and unemployment which continued to depress the
purchasing capacity of households further in 2021. 50

• Nutrition education in Yemen spreading in schools in order to reach school age children
and their families. This has involved training schoolteachers about nutrition and having
schoolteachers disseminate nutrition information to parents during parent-teacher
conferences. 51 In Yemen, nutrition of children is increasingly threatened with
consequences throughout the lifecycle and acute malnutrition is now at serious lev els
across the country. Only 15% of children are eating the minimum acceptable diet for
survival, growth and development. Almost two million children under the age of five
suffer from acute malnutrition, including 360,000 from severe acute
malnutrition (SAM).52

• In Yemen, nutrition education is limited, with existing efforts spearheaded by

international organizations and the government. The Republic of Yemen Multi-Sector
Nutrition Plan aims to address child malnutrition, low birth weight, maternal
malnutrition, micronutrients, child and maternal mortality. 53 The nutritional status of
women of childbearing age is also a matter of significant concern in Yemen. Since 1997,
there has been no improvement in the nutritional status of women and almost 1/4 of
women are malnourished. Maternal malnutrition increases the risk of poor pregnancy
outcomes – including obstructed labour, premature or low-birth-weight babies and
postpartum hemorrhage. 54 In 2019, over one million pregnant and lactating women

46
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/20210606_COVID19_DTM%20Yemen%20Mobility%
20Restrictions%20Dashboard%20DRAFT_%2325_V2.pdf
47
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/WFP-0000130243.pdf
48
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/WFP-0000130243.pdf
49
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/WFP-0000130243.pdf
50 35
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/WFP-0000130243.pdf
51
National Nutrition Strategy for Yemen
52
https://www.unicef.org/yemen/nutrition
53
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/National-Strategy-for-SBC-for-
Nutrition_Yemen%28English-version%29.pdf
54
https://www.unicef.org/yemen/nutrition

42
 were educated on Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF), to improve survival, growth,
and development of children. A total of 1.7 million pregnant and lactating women
received IYCF counselling in 2018. 55 Through the Nutrition Cluster Bulletin, nutrition
education on improving exclusive breast feeding in the first 6 months and IYCF
counselling for children under two years was provided to 3,195,059 pregnant and
lactating women and care givers. 56

• The government’s National Fisheries Strategy also addresses nutrition and food security
by boosting the livelihood opportunities of fishing families and communities. The
National Fisheries Strategy (2012–2025) has an overall goal of enhancing the sector’s
contribution to economic growth, improving community livelihoods, empowering
women and youth and strengthening food security. The strategy sets forth plans for the
sector for the following: (i) efficient use of fishery and aquaculture resources; (ii)
economically and environmentally viable solutions; (iii) good governance and
management; (iv) close collaboration with related sectors and strong public-private
partnerships as committed principles; (v) improvement in stock management; (vi) value
chain developments and additions; and (vii) domestic marketing and promotion of
alternative livelihood systems, with a particular focus on strengthening food security. 57

• International organizations also contribute to food security and nutrition education in

Yemen. In particular, the Global Nutrition Cluster is active in Yemen. However, at the
moment the majority of international aid is directed toward emergency food provisions
and measures as opposed to nutrition education. 58 Food security is addressed through a
multi-pronged approach targeting household income, agricultural production and
productivity, farmers’ access to markets, nutrition enhancing practices, and food security
management. 59

• Actions to address child labour: More than 1.3 million children are involved in child
labour in Yemen, including 469 000 between the ages of 5 and 11 – most of them unpaid.
In 2019, the Republic of Yemen Government passed the Action Plan to End and Prevent
the Recruitment of Children by the Yemeni Armed Forces, which involved creating 90
Child Protection Focal Points in the armed forces and training 40 of them to identify child
soldiers.60 Yemen has also ratified the International Labour Organization (ILO)
Convention No. 138 on Minimum Age and Convention No. 182 on the Worst Forms of
Child Labour, accepting that children under the age of 14 cannot be employed and that
children under the age of 18 cannot be employed in hazardous labour. 61 However, 2004
Ministerial Decree No. 56 sets the minimum working age at 15, but section 133 of the
2002 Child Rights Laws states that the working age is 14. Therefore, the actual minimum

55
Ibid.
56
https://www.humanitarianresponse.info/sites/www.humanitarianresponse.info/files/documents/files/2020
_nc_bulletin_issue_10_jan-dec_2020_with_im_revision_002_0.pdf
57
https://mqsunplus.path.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Yemen-MSNAP-FINAL_29April2020.pdf
58
https://www.humanitarianresponse.info/sites/www.humanitarianresponse.info/files/documents/files/2020
_nc_bulletin_issue_10_jan-dec_2020_with_im_revision_002_0.pdf
59
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/mena-yemen-overview-april21-eng.pdf
60
https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/resources/reports/child-labor/yemen
61
https://www.ilo.org/global/about-the-ilo/newsroom/news/WCMS_201431/lang--en/index.htm

43
 age for employment is uncertain. 62 Yemen’s Labor Code prohibits hazardous work for
children under the age of 15 – unless they are working in agriculture, domestic service
or working with their families, in which case working conditions must be “suitable” (this
term is not defined in the Labor Code). However, Decree No. 56 prohibits hazardous
work for anyone under the age of 18 with no exception. 63 The Child Rights Laws protect
children under age 18 from economic exploitation and the Child Rights Act prohibits child
prostitution.64 Decree No. 56 states that the worst forms of child labour must be
eliminated – including prostitution, pornography, child soldiers, forced labour, trafficking
and illicit activities – and stipulates prison sentences for selling children, forcing children
into prostitution and/or inciting children into drug trafficking. 65

• Social Protection measures at the government level: Social protection in Yemen at the
government level consist of numerous programmes and initiatives. The Social Safety Net
Programme includes the Social Welfare Fund, Social Fund for Development, Agricultural
and Fishery Promotion Fund, Public Work Programme, Family Productive Programme
and the Small and Medium Enterprises Fund. These programmes and funds provide cash
assistance for poor households, implement projects that create job opportunities and
lead to ownership of assets, provide basic services, provide social protection for military
and non-military employees during old age and illness and support productive activities
in agriculture and fisheries. The government has also started recognizing the importance
of social protection institutions – such as cooperatives, trade unions and professional
associations. 66

• Yemen’s Strategic Vision 2025 aims to expand the social safety net and targeting
mechanisms, empower the poor economically through funding for small business and
delivering capacity building though training programmes, expand social insurance and
pension coverage to include all employees in all units of the government as well as public
and private institutions, increase labour-intensive investments in all economic sectors –
but particularly in agriculture in rural areas, implement national strategies for social
protection and food security and increase the availability of loans for the poor in rural
areas – especially for women. 67 Specific laws include the Insurance and Pension Law No.
25 of 1991 and the Social Welfare Law No. 31 of 1996. 68

3 4.2 Environmental and Social Baseline for Project Areas

• An overview of the environmental and social baseline for each project area is provided
in this section. Only safeguard-relevant information is discussed at length and, whenever
deemed necessary, additional information on other environmental and social
development-related information has been provided. Project areas are covered in
alphabetical order for ease of reference.

62
https://www.refworld.org/pdfid/4d4a68190.pdf
63
Ibid.
64
Ibid.
65
Ibid.
66
https://www.ids.ac.uk/download.php?file=files/dmfile/SocialprotectionandsafetynetsinYemen.pdf
67
https://www.ids.ac.uk/download.php?file=files/dmfile/SocialprotectionandsafetynetsinYemen.pdf
68
https://www.ids.ac.uk/download.php?file=files/dmfile/SocialprotectionandsafetynetsinYemen.pdf

44
 Figure 2 Project areas map for activities implemented by FAO, UNDP and WFP

ABYAN:
• Topography & Geology: The Governorate of Abyan is located in the southern part of the
Republic of Yemen, with an area of 16,442 square kilometers. It is about 427 km to the
southeast of the Capital Sana’a and surrounded by Shabwah and Albyda Governorates
on the North, the Arabian Sea on the south, Shabwah governorate to the East, and Aden
and Lahij governorates on the west. Abyan governorate consists of 11 districts which are
divided into coastal districts (Khanfir , Zingibar and Ahwar) and mountainous districts
(Sara, Rasad, Sibah , Lawdar, Mudiyah , Al Wadea, Jayshan and Al Mahfad ). Zingibar is
the administration center – the capital – for Abyan governorate. 69,70

• The topography of Abyan varies from high mountains reaching 2 350 m above sea level
in Rasad and Sibah districts to escarpments along the coast, running from west to east
the length of the governorate. 71 Abyan delta is a prominent feature of Abyan
governorate and one of the largest irrigated areas in Yemen with 40 thousand hectares
of irrigable land. 72 The basement rocks of Abyan’s mountainous areas consist of
Precambrian pink to gray granitic gneiss, migmatites, amphibolite, marble and

69
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/smart_survey_abyan_jan_2018.pdf
70
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/abyan/
71
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/smart_survey_abyan_jan_2018.pdf
72
water-10-00121-v2.pdf

45
 metavolcanic rock and form part of the Al-Mahfid gneiss terrane and the Precambrian
Shield. Marble is present as tectonic layers within the gneiss terrane. 73 The Precambrian
Shield forms the basement of the Arabian Peninsula and is comprised of igneous rocks
such as pink orthoclase granites, diorite, gabbro and mafic volcanic rocks. The Arabian
shield also consists of metamorphic rocks such as mica, chlorite and garnet schists,
gneiss, quartzite, marble and slate. These rocks have experienced intense folding and
faulting over time and so the structure of the shield is considered complex. 74

• Climate & Meteorology: Abyan’s climate varies according to the topography of the
terrain. In the coastal plains the climate is hot during all seasons and temperature can
rise in the summer to 40°C. In the winter months, the mean temperature decreases to
20°C. The coastal plains also witness low frequencies of rainfall in the winter and autumn
months. However, in the mountainous highlands the weather is warm with moderate
degrees in summer and winter along with occasional rainfall witnessed in the spring and
summer seasons. 75

• Soil Quality: Abyan’s soils are isohyperthermic and aridic. 76 Isohyperthermic soils are
the hottest soils on Earth and measure above 22° C. 77 Aridic soils are hot and dry and
occur in aridic climates. Irrigation is required in aridic soils in order to produce crops. 78,79

• Land Use: Fishing and agriculture are considered the main activities for local people in
Abyan and contribute 4.72 percent of Yemen’s agricultural products. 80 The most
important crops produced in the governorate are cotton, vegetables, and fruits. 81 Date
palms and livestock rearing also serve as a source of livelihoods. The most popular wadis
are Wadi Bana, Wadi Hassan, Wadi Wadi Alsaila Albaidaa, Wadi Lema and Wadi Ahwar.
Fishing is a common livelihood along the coast. 82 In the Abyan Delta, cash crops such as
cotton and sesame are grown along with staple and other crops such as mango,
watermelon, banana, papaya, lemon, groundnut, tomato, sorghum, millet, wheat and
maize. Due to water shortages within the Delta region, crops are commonly irrigated at
only 80 percent or lower of their water requirements. 83

• Water Resources: Almost half (48 percent) of households in Abyan do not have access
to potable water (OCHA: An overview of the humanitarian needs in Yemen 2018). Water
services and sanitation are available in some districts, but not all. Local water services

73
LeBasetal2004MinandPetrologyThecarbonatite-mantledykesofAbyanProvinceYemenRepublic-
themixingofmantleandcrustalcarbonatematerialsrevealedbyisotopeandtraceelementanalysis.pdf
74
https://edepot.wur.nl/493427
75
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/smart_survey_abyan_jan_2018.pdf
76
https://edepot.wur.nl/493427
77
https://passel2.unl.edu/view/lesson/69c7561e50b3/11
78
https://passel2.unl.edu/view/lesson/69c7561e50b3/11
79
http://www.soilinfo.psu.edu/index.cgi?soil_clim&information&general&taxonomy_defs&soil_moist_regime
s&classes&aridic
80
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/smart_survey_abyan_jan_2018.pdf
81
https://www.yemenna.com/index.php?go=guide&op=show&link=abin cited in
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/abyan/
82
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/smart_survey_abyan_jan_2018.pdf
83
water-10-00121-v2.pdf

46
 operate with support from international organizations. 84 Disputes over water for crops
in the Abyan Delta have led to over 100 deaths in the past decade due to the absence of
clear water rights and inequalities in the use of local resources. This has led to
unbalanced water allocation and contention between the more affluent Yafa‘e tribe
upstream and less privileged Fadhli tribe downstream. Water is traditionally allocated
first to upstream fields with the constraint that only one saturation per irrigation season
is achieved. After the demand of the upstream Yafa‘e tribe is fulfilled, the water is passed
downstream to the Fadhli. Consequently, Fadhli farmers downstream have resorted to
groundwater extraction to irrigate their fields yet are still facing water shortages due to
decreasing volume of groundwater reserves and aquifers. The Yafa‘e relies on spate
irrigation from Wadi Bana. 85

• Irrigation System: freshwater Spate irrigation, or the use of seasonal floods, is the most
common source of irrigation in Abyan governorate with groundwater extraction the
second most common source. However, these two sources are not enough to meet the
needs of the Abyan population, even in the Abyan Delta – one of the largest irrigation
systems in Yemen. Rules regulating spate irrigation in Abyan follow allocation of water
to upstream and then downstream users and/or year of establishment, meaning that
water users established on land first can access water first. 86

• Agroecological Zones & Eco-Regions: Abyan is located in the Afrotropical realm and the
deserts and xeric shrublands biome eco-region. This eco-region is located along the
southern coast of the Arabian Peninsula and is characterized by low rainfall and dense
fogs from the southwest monsoons, which serve to provide moisture in the dry
environment. 87 Abyan falls under four livelihood zones, the Greater Yemen Coastal and
Island Fishing Zone, the Western Coastal Plain Sorghum Millet and Livestock Zone, the
Western and Central Wadi Sorghum, Millet, Vegetable, Fruit and Livestock Zone and the
Central and Eastern Plateau Agro-pastoral Zone. The Greater Yemen Coastal and Island
Fishing Zone spans the coast of Yemen and its islands and is characterized by fishing-
based livelihoods. In this zone, crop production is less common but rearing and selling of
goats, sheep and cattle is common in addition to ocean-based livelihood activities. The
Central and Eastern Plateau Agro-pastoral Zone is characterized by low rainfall making
the production of crops risky. People in this zone rely on sorghum and wheat as food and
cash crops and rear cattle sheep and goats. In the Western Coastal Plain Sorghum Millet
and Livestock Zone, sorghum and millet are grown as food and cash crops while cotton
is also produced as a cash crop. In the Western and Central Wadi Sorghum, Millet,
Vegetable, Fruit and Livestock Zone sorghum, millet, maize and vegetables are grown as
food and cash crops. 88

84
Interview with Local Council Member, Abyan. March 2019 cited in
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/abyan/
85
water-10-00121-v2.pdf
86
water-10-00121-v2.pdf
87
https://www.worldwildlife.org/ecoregions/at1302
88
https://fews.net/sites/default/files/ye_zonedescriptions_en.pdf

47
48
• Biodiversity & Forests: Abyan’s forests are comprised of deciduous woodland, semi-
deciduous thicket and grassland. As fog decreases toward the north, grasslands are
replaced by succulent shrubland which eventually leads to sparse vegetation and then
open desert. Over 900 vascular plants are known to grow in the foggy areas of the coast,
including at least 60 endemic species and two endemic genera, many of which have
medicinal or economic value such as frankincense. Abyan’s fauna include Arabian oryx,
Arabian wolf, Arabian gazelle, honey badger, Ruppell’s sand fox and red fox. The main
threats to Abyan’s biodiversity include over-grazing by camel, goats and cattle owned by
pastoralists as well as cutting wood for timber and off-road driving. 89

• Protected Areas: There are no protected areas in the Abyan governorate.

• Demographics: The governorate of Abyan is 16 943 km2. Total population is 615 154
people as of 2019 90 ( 568 000 people as of 2017 with 279 000 female and 289,000 male
residents.91) Average family size is 6 individuals. 92 As of 2019, there were 29.124
individual IDPs and 4.854 IDP households in Abyan. 100% of displacement within the
Abyan governorate has occurred due to conflict, as opposed to natural disaster. 93 As of
2019, there were 11 496 individual returnees and 1 916 returnee households. 94

89
https://www.worldwildlife.org/ecoregions/at1302
90
http://www.ipcinfo.org/fileadmin/user_upload/ipcinfo/docs/201224_Yemen%20IPC%20AFI%20Brief_En_Fi
nal [3].pdf
91
2017 Yemen Central Statistical Organization projections based on the 2004 census, cited in
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/abyan/
92
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/task_force_on_population_movement_8th_report_-
_apr_2016.pdf
93
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Yemen%20Area%20Assessment%20Round%2037_0.
pdf
94
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Yemen%20Area%20Assessment%20Round%2037_0.
pdf

49
• Education: In Yemen, the literacy rate among the population aged 15 years and older is
54.1 percent (73.2 percent among males and 35 percent among females). Between 15
and 24 years old the literacy rate is 77 percent (92.8 percent among males and 60.6
percent among females). Among people 65 years and older the literacy rate is 13.7
percent (25.7 males and 1.5 percent among females). 4 781 367 people (1 395 248 men
and 3 386 119 women) aged 15 years and older and 958 315 people between 15 and 24
years old (150 671 male and 807 644 female residents) are illiterate. 95

• The education system has suffered significant damage due to conflict: 69 schools have
been damaged in the war in Abyan, according to OCHA. 96 A UNICEF study states that in
2011 and 2012, the revolution and subsequent uprisings alone prevented 1.2 million
children in Yemen from regularly accessing education, particularly in Abyan (and
Lahij).97According to the Abyan Education Office, 4 371 IDP children are estimated to
have remained in Abyan governorate. At the start of the academic year 2011-2012, more
than 43 schools were occupied by IDPs in Abyan. 98

• In terms of learning environment, there is a lack of assistance provided to vulnerable

children. Over 90 percent of schools do not provide protection monitoring, school meals,
hygiene and dignity kits to female students. 98 percent of respondents mentioned that
no school uniforms are provided to vulnerable children attending schools. 60 percent
monitored school attendance/dropout rate while only 50 percent provided remedial and
support classes. Many families mentioned that they could not afford the school uniforms
to send their children to school. 99

• A 2019 Study carried out in Abyan (and Zinjibar) found that 33 percent of IDP children
have a mental or physical disability. 100 Rates of child disability (as high as 10 percent) 101
has meant children are not sufficiently included in educational interventions across the
country.

• Teachers are paid regularly and, overall, despite challenges, education in Abyan appears
to be stable and continues to function with funding from local authorities and several
donors.102

95
http://uis.unesco.org/en/country/ye?theme=education-and-literacy
96
An Overview of the Humanitarian Needs in Yemen 2018, cited in https://yemenlg.org/governorates/abyan/
97
Education-Focused Conflict Analysis of the Republic of Yemen. Draft Final report (Sana’a, Yemen: UNICEF
Yemen Country Office, 2013), p. 22
98
https://www.unicef.org/mena/media/6691/file/Yemen%20Country%20Report%20on%20OOSC_EN.pdf%20.
pdf
99
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/education_cluster_-_sdr_report_yemen_2020-08-
17-.pdf
100
Youth Foundation of Abyan. Education Needs Assessment Abyan Governorate Khanfar and Zinjibar
Districts. Feb 2019, cited in https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/education_cluster_-
_sdr_report_yemen_2020-08-17-.pdf
101
UNSDG. Policy Brief: A Disability-Inclusive Response to COVID-19. May 2020, cited in
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/education_cluster_-_sdr_report_yemen_2020-08-17-
.pdf
102
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/abyan/

50
• Health: Health services in the governorate are available through hospitals and
healthcare facilities that rely mainly on support from international organizations. The
services provided are limited and insufficient to meet the needs of the population. 103 29
978 cases of Cholera and 57 related deaths (CFR 0.19 percent) were reported in Abyan
from the 27 April 2017 to 31 August 2019. 104 From 01 January to 25 May 2019, there
were a total of 10 240 suspected cases of dengue fever along with 36 associated deaths
(CFR 0.4 percent). The highest proportion of cases are from districts where access is a
challenge due to the security situation. 105 As of 31 May 2021, 42 total COVID-19 cases
were reported, with 10 deaths and 25 recoveries. 106

• Poverty Profile: According to the 2014 Households Budget Survey, the poverty rate in
Abyan was 48.6 percent. With the economic downturn the governorate has faced due to
the war, this rate is likely to have increased tremendously over the past few years. 107
According to OCHA (Humanitarian Response Plan for Yemen 2018), there are nearly 500
000 people (88 percent of the population) in need of assistance in Abyan. 58 percent of
them are in dire need. 108 People in need (PiN) in Abyan include 5 697 IDPs in catastrophic
need, 7 569 in extreme need, 10 353 in severe need, 8 349 stressed and 4 067 in minimal
need. Regarding non-IDPs in Abyan – 122 872 are in catastrophic need, 125 638 are in
extreme need, 146 415 are in severe need, 122 408 are stressed and 65 524 are in
minimal need. 109

• Food Security: Emergency Food Security and Nutrition Assessment (EFSNA) conducted
in 2016 shows that the nutrition condition in Abyan exceeding the WHO’s “emergency”
threshold, with a Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) prevalence of 16 percent. The
Community-Based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) programme is run by the
GHO and some NGOs in 90 out of 140 health facilities with a coverage percentage of 64
percent.110 However, response does not match the governorate needs due to
unavailable proper health service and lack of drugs in the functional health facilities. 111
Food is the main need for the majority of households in Abyan, as opposed to
shelter/housing and financial services. 112 Six governorates in Yemen have acute
malnutrition rates that exceed the 15 percent WHO emergency threshold, including

103
Interview with Local Council Member, Abyan. March 2019 cited in
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/abyan/
104
Interview with Local Council Member, Abyan. March 2019 cited in
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/abyan/
105
https://applications.emro.who.int/docs/yem/CoPub_Yem_Situation_rep_may_2019_en.pdf?ua=1&ua=1
106
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/20210606_COVID19_DTM%20Yemen%20Mobility%
20Restrictions%20Dashboard%20DRAFT_%2325_V2.pdf
107
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/abyan/
108
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/abyan/

109
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Yemen_HNO_2021_Final.pdf
110
Task Force on Population Movement 16th report, October 2017, cited on
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/smart_survey_abyan_jan_2018.pdf
111
Task Force on Population Movement 16th report, October 2017, cited on
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/smart_survey_abyan_jan_2018.pdf
112
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Yemen%20Area%20Assessment%20Round%2037_0
.pdf

51
 Abyan.113 According to the IPC Acute Food Insecurity Analysis October 2020 – June 2021,
in a population of 615 154 people, 123 500 are in IPC Phase 1 (Minimal), 185 500 in IPC
Phase 2 (Stressed), 206 500 in IPC Phase 3 (Crisis), 98 000 in Phase 4 (Emergency) and
none in Phase 5 (Catastrophe). 49 percent of the population (304 500 people) is in IPC
Phase 3 or higher. 114

• Instances of Child and Youth Labour: Exploitation of children in slavery-like situations in

coastal areas for labour related to fishing does occur, particularly along the Gulf of Aden
coast. Children are forced to work on fishing vessels in harsh and unsafe conditions. 115,116

• Social Protection: Abyan’s executive offices – functioning normally – provide services to

the people at the minimum level with support mainly from international donor
organizations in areas such as education, healthcare and humanitarian relief. 117 Through
the Protection for Community Resilience Project (SPCRP), as of June 2019 the United
Nations Development Programme‘s (UNDP) Social Protection for Community Resilience
Project (SPCRP) was implemented in partnership with the Social Fund for Development
(SFD) with funding from the European Union (EU) to strengthen community resilience in
13 of Yemen’s most vulnerable governorates, including Abyan. 118 Another critical social
protection/cash assistance intervention was the Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM)
project implemented in partnership with Field Operation and Emergency sections (the
project coordinator) and Action Contre la Faim (ACF - the project implementer). The RRM
mechanism integrated a few critical first-response activities, including the unconditional
cash disbursed among IDPs in Abyan (as well as Lahij and Aden governorates). In total, 1
196 IDP households (6 789 individuals), including 3 131 children under five (1 531 girls
and 1 600 boys) were reached with three-month unconditional cash assistance (USD 96
– the amount equal to the value of a food basket) to address the displaced population’s
food and other basic needs and facilitate their access to social services. 119 WB/UNICEF
ECT program for SWF beneficiary households and WFP in-kind assistance program have
the highest number of recipients in Abyan’s governorates (50.000 and 50.000
respectively) 120

113
https://www.humanitarianresponse.info/sites/www.humanitarianresponse.info/files/documents/files/yem
en_hno_2021_final_version_1.pdf
114
http://www.ipcinfo.org/fileadmin/user_upload/ipcinfo/docs/201224_Yemen%20IPC%20AFI%20Brief_En_Fi
nal [3].pdf
115
https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/ILAB/pdf_override/Yemen_ACCESSPLUS_CLOSED_0.pdf
116
https://reliefweb.int/report/yemen/yemen-what-do-about-child-labour
117
Interview with Local Council Member, Abyan. March 2019 cited in
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/abyan/

118
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/SPCRP%20June%202019%20Factsheet-
%20Eng..pdf
119
https://socialprotection.org/connect/communities/social-protection-crisis-contexts/documents/european-
commission-span-2019-case-1
120
https://documents.worldbank.org/en/publication/documents-
reports/documentdetail/606011617773513363/insights-from-yemen

52
 AL BAYDA:

• Topography & Geology: The Governorate of Al-Baydha is located in central Yemen and
is 267 kilometers south of Sana’a. The governorate has 20 districts. The city of Al-Baydha
is the governorate capital. The governorate has special significance for its location in the
center of Yemen. It has shared borders with eight other Yemeni governorates: Marib,
Shabwah, Lahij, Al-Dhalea, Ibb, Dhamar, and Sana’a. 121

• The topography of Al Bayda is mainly a mountain plateau of the Sarawat Mountain Range
and contains some plains and desert regions. Maximum elevation is 10 414 feet and
minimal elevation is 2 250 feet while average elevation is 5 623 feet. 122 The geology of
Al Bayda follows that of other Sarawat mountainous areas. Basement rock is the
Precambrian shield with the Yemen Volcanics formation occurring extensively
throughout the governorate and other parts of southwest Yemen. The Yemen Volcanics
are comprised of igneous volcanic rock and are characterized by rocky mountainsides
and soil formation in areas protected from weathering and erosion. 123 Much of Al Bayda
consists of exposed Precambrian basement rock due to weathering and eroded
mountain tops. 124

• Climate & Meteorology: Al Bayda experiences moderate temperatures in summer

months and cold temperatures during the winter in the mountainous highlands and hot
summers and moderate winters in the desert lowlands. Al Bayda has 4 major climatic
zones including cold desert climate, cold semi-arid climate, hot desert climate and hot
arid climate. December is the coldest month with average temperatures of 15.2° C while
June is the hottest month with average temperatures of 23.8° C. Average annual rainfall
is 179 mm with the lowest rate of rain occurring in November and December with 1 mm
each and the highest amount of rainfall occurring in August with 58 mm. Rain falls over
an average of 28 days with 0 days in November and December and 10 days in August.
Humidity ranges from 27 percent in June to 52 percent in August. 125

• Soil Quality: Al Bayda’s soils are commonly shallow with the deepest soils found on
terraced slopes, valleys and wadis. Soils are predominantly alkaline, calcareous and
saline. Soils are rich in minerals, yet these minerals are not of much value to plants so
overall soil micronutrients are poor for plant growth. 126

• Land Use: Agriculture is the main economic activity in the governorate. Al-Baydha
produces about 2.6% of the total agricultural output of Yemen. The most important
products are vegetables and cash crops. 127 Qat is one of the most important cash crops
in Yemen and is cultivated throughout the governorate. The area around Rada’ produces
an endemic type of qat know as rada’i. Al Bayda produces 13 percent of Yemen‘s qat and

121
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/al-baydha/
122
https://en-ie.topographic-map.com/maps/kl9y/Al-Bayda-Governorate/
123
https://edepot.wur.nl/493427
124
https://fews.net/sites/default/files/ye_zonedescriptions_en.pdf
125
https://en.climate-data.org/asia/yemen/al-bayda-governorate-2049/r/july-7/
126
https://www.ircwash.org/sites/default/files/823-YEAL90-7941.pdf
127
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/al-baydha/

53
 has the 3rd highest qat production in the country. In mountainous regions, crops are
grown on terraces and livestock is reared. In the plains, plateaus and valleys crops are
produced in fields. Pastoralism is common in Al Bayda, particularly in desert regions of
the governorate. In mountainous regions, production of sorghum, millet, maize and qat
is common with qat being the main economic driver of the region and providing a reliable
source of income throughout the year. 128

• Water Resources: Wadis, or mostly drive riverbeds through which floods are drained,
are common in Al Bayda and provide an important source of water. Large, eastward
flowing, wadis are drained through Al Bayda’s plains around Rada’ to the Eastern Sand
Desert and Empty Quarter. The drainage of these wadis creates fertile areas in the plains
and provides water for irrigation. Even though rainfall is infrequent, the governorate’s
shallow soils often cannot absorb all rainfall and runoff is collected in common drainage
basins which send water toward the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden and Empty Quarter. 129 As
for drinking water, in 2016/17, the majority (59%) of households in Al-Baydha did not
have ready access to potable water. Regarding sanitation, a sewage system exists only
for some neighborhoods of Al-Baydha City and in Rada’a. Moreover, the system is
subject to breakdown and local authorities must carry out the repairs with limited
resources.130

• Irrigation System: Rainfed, runoff and groundwater extraction are the forms of irrigation
utilized in Al Bayda. Rainfed irrigation requires no human intervention and is when water
is supplied from natural rainfall. Runoff irrigation takes place when runoff and drainage
systems, such as wadis, are directed to agricultural fields. This system also relies on the
natural occurrence of rainfall yet manipulates the flow to irrigate crops. Groundwater
extraction is water extracted from groundwater reservoirs and aquifers. 131

• Agroecological Zones & Eco-Regions: Al Bayda is in the Afrotropical realm and the
Southwestern Arabian foothills savanna biome eco-region. This eco-region covers the
Sarawat mountains and is characterized by subtropical and arid climates. Al Bayda falls
under two livelihood zones, Western and Central Highland Qat, Grain, Fodder, Livestock
Zone and Central and the Eastern Plateau Agro-pastoral Zone. The Western and Central
Highland Qat, Grain, Fodder, Livestock Zone is characterized by cultivation of sorghum,
millet, maize and qat as well as livestock rearing in highlands regions. The Central and
Eastern Plateau Agro-pastoral Zone is characterized by low rainfall making the
production of crops risky. People in this zone rely on sorghum and wheat as food and
cash crops and rear cattle sheep and goats. 132

128
https://publications.iom.int/system/files/pdf/qat_yemen.pdf
129
https://www.ircwash.org/sites/default/files/823-YEAL90-7941.pdf
130
Interview with one of the leaders of the local council, Sana’a capital city. March 2019, cited in
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/al-baydha/
131
https://www.ircwash.org/sites/default/files/823-YEAL90-7941.pdf
132
https://fews.net/sites/default/files/ye_zonedescriptions_en.pdf

54
• Biodiversity & Forests: The forests of the Southwestern Arabian foothills savanna biome
eco-region include drought-resistant deciduous woodlands, evergreen woodlands, dry
grasslands and shrublands. Acacia woodlands are also common in lower elevations. Al
Bayda’s fauna includes panthers, caracal, baboons, rock hyrax and hyenas. 133

• Protected Areas: Protected areas are not located in this governorate.

• Demographics: The governorate of Al-Bayda is 9 279 km2. Total population is 775 404 as
of 2019134 (760 000 people as of 2017 with 380 000 female and 380 001 male
residents).135 Average family size is 6 individuals. 136 As of 2019, 59 022 individual IDPs

133
https://www.worldwildlife.org/ecoregions/at1321
134
http://www.ipcinfo.org/fileadmin/user_upload/ipcinfo/docs/201224_Yemen%20IPC%20AFI%20Brief_En_Fi
nal [3].pdf
135
2017 Yemen Central Statistical Organization projections based on the 2004 census, cited in
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/al-baydha/
136
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/task_force_on_population_movement_8th_report_
-_apr_2016.pdf

55
 and 9 837 IDP households were in Al-Bayda. 100 percent of displacement in Al-Bayda
governorate occurred due to conflict, as opposed to natural disaster. 137 A decrease in
the number of IDPs within the governorate was reported in Al Bayda. 138 As of 2019, there
were 13 008 individual returnees and 2 168 returnee households in Al-Bayda.139

• Education: In Yemen, the literacy rate among the population aged 15 years and older is
54.1 percent (73.2 percent among males and 35 percent among females). Between 15
and 24 years old the literacy rate is 77 percent (92.8 percent among males and 60.6
percent among females). Among people 65 years and older the literacy rate is 13.7
percent (25.7 males and 1.5 percent among females). 4 781 367 people (1 395 248 men
and 3 386 119 women) aged 15 years and older and 958 315 people between 15 and 24
years old (150 671 male and 807 644 female residents) are illiterate. 140 Attacks on
Education in Yemen have been extensive and include attacks on schools, students and
teachers, and military use of schools for occupation and child recruitment. 141 For
example, the UN verified that on 16 December 2014, a suicide bomber detonated a car
bomb near a primary school bus close to a Houthi checkpoint in Radaa city, Al Bayda
governorate, killing at least 9 children and injuring 24. 142 The consequence of such
attacks reduced functionality of the education system and reluctance of parents to send
their children to school, or children to attend out of fear of attack. 143 According to OCHA,
fighting in Al-Baydha damaged 64 schools. 144 As it falls under control of Ansar Allah, Al
Baydha is one of the governorates where teachers have not been paid their monthly
salaries.145 This has disrupted education. There have been attempts to revive some
schools in the governorate through fees, whereby each student would make a small
monthly payment for the provision of educational services, but this has not produced
tangible results. 146 According to UNICEF, due to access restrictions, psychosocial support
and mine risk education activities were not fully implemented in Al Bayda. 147 The district
that presented the lowest school attendance rate was Maswarah in Al Bayda (0 percent,

137
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Yemen%20Area%20Assessment%20Round%2037_0
.pdf
138
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/task_force_on_population_movement_8th_report_
-_apr_2016.pdf
139
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Yemen%20Area%20Assessment%20Round%2037_0
.pdf
140
http://uis.unesco.org/en/country/ye?theme=education-and-literacy
141
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/education_cluster_-_sdr_report_yemen_2020-08-
17-.pdf
142
Information provided by a UN respondent, September 17, 2017. Ahmed Al-Haj, AP, "2 bombers kill 26
including 16 students in Yemen," San Diego Union-Tribune, December 16, 2014. AFP, "Yemen car bomb attack
kills 25, including 15 children," Ma'an News Agency, December 16, 2014. Kareem Fahim, "Car Bombs in
Yemen Kill Dozens, Including Schoolchildren," New York Times, December 16, 2014, cited in
https://www.refworld.org/docid/5be942f926.html#_ftnref2562
143
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/education_cluster_-_sdr_report_yemen_2020-08-
17-.pdf
144
OCHA, Overview of the Humanitarian Needs in Yemen 2018, cited in https://yemenlg.org/governorates/al-
baydha/
145
Economic and Social Developments Newsletter, Issue No.30, December 2017 published by the Studies and
Economic Forecast Sector of the Ministry of Planning, cited in https://yemenlg.org/governorates/al-baydha/
146
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/al-baydha/
147
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/education_cluster_-_sdr_report_yemen_2020-08-
17-.pdf

56
 together with Ad Durayhimi in al Hudaydah). 148 As for the learning environment, schools
lack textbooks In Al Bayda. 149 According to the Yemen Education Cluster there is no
International Organizations presence in the affected areas, only a few local organizations
intervened.150

• Health: Health services in hospitals and public health facilities are available at minimum
capacity and are mainly supported by international organizations. However, such
services are insufficient to meet the needs of the local population. Many, especially
those with financial means, resort to private hospitals and health centers to access
healthcare services. 151 According to UNICEF, 43 831 suspected Acute Watery Diarrhea
‘AWD’/cholera cases with 12 associated deaths 152 were recorded (case fatality rate [CFR]
0.03 percent) during the reporting period in 2019. Al Bayda (with Lahij, and Sa'ada) is
one of the most cholera affected governates. 153 78 613 cases of Cholera and 94 deaths
(CFR 0.12 percent) were also reported in Al Bayda from 27 April 2017 to the 31 August
2019.154 From 28 December 2020 to 28 March 2021, a total of 14 246 suspected cases of
AWD/Cholera were reported from northern governorates along with 2 associated deaths
in Yemen. Within the last 3 epidemiological weeks, suspected cases were reported,
nationally with 9 percent of these being reported from Al Bayda governorate. From 28
December 2020 to 28 March 2021, a total of 1 396 suspected cases of dengue fever were
reported from northern governorates along with one associated death in Yemen. Within
the last 4 epidemiological weeks, suspected cases were reported, nationally with 4
percent from Al Bayda governorate. 155 As of 31 May 2021, in Al Baydha, 142 total cases
were reported, 69 deaths and 75 recovered. 156 The Yemeni authorities have put
additional preventive measures and health screenings for people passing through ten
transit points used for public movement between southern and northern governorates,
specifically at points located in Al-Bayda (and Taiz). As of 31 May 2021, these restrictions
have been loosened and the health screenings have been removed. 157

• Poverty Profile: Financial services were the main need for most households in Al Baydha,
as opposed to shelter/housing and food. 158 Regarding the humanitarian situation, there
are nearly 500 000 people, or approximately 65 percent of the population, in need of

148
Ibid.
149
Ibid.
150
Ibid.
151
Yemen Cholera Outbreak – Interactive Dashboard(http://yemeneoc.org/bi/), data as at 30 November 2019
in https://www.unicef.org/media/77611/file/Yemen-SitRep-November-2019.pdf
152
Yemen Cholera Outbreak – Interactive Dashboard(http://yemeneoc.org/bi/), data as at 30 November 2019
in https://www.unicef.org/media/77611/file/Yemen-SitRep-November-2019.pdf
153
https://www.unicef.org/media/77611/file/Yemen-SitRep-November-2019.pdf
154
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/EMROPub_2019_cholera_August_yemen_EN.pdf
155
https://applications.emro.who.int/docs/yem/CoPub_Yem_Situation_rep_may_2019_en.pdf?ua=1&ua=1
156
https://www.humanitarianresponse.info/sites/www.humanitarianresponse.info/files/documents/files/covi
d19_update_info_sharing-27_may_2021.pdf
157
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/20210606_COVID19_DTM%20Yemen%20Mobility%
20Restrictions%20Dashboard%20DRAFT_%2325_V2.pdf
158
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Yemen%20Area%20Assessment%20Round%2037_0
.pdf

57
 assistance in Al Baydha. 20 percent of them are in dire need. 159 According the 2014
Household Budget Survey, the poverty rate in Al-Baydha was 39.2 percent. With the
economic downturn, the governorate has faced due to the war, it is likely that the
current rate is far higher. 160 As of 2017, 39.2 percent of Al-Baydha’s population, or 279
228 individuals, were in poverty. 161 Most IDPs have lost their livelihood sources, relying
on what the host community and international organizations provide to them. Some IDPs
work for daily wages but do not make enough to meet their needs. Food is available in
the markets, however, due to the high-cost food is often unaffordable. Most IDPs have
not received any humanitarian assistance. 162 As of 2017, PiN in Al-Baydha included 13
494 IDPs in catastrophic need, 13 929 in extreme need, 10 802 in severe need, 8 774
stressed and 6 525 in minimal need. Regarding non-IDPs in Al-Baydha 164 535 are in
catastrophic need, 172 231 are in extreme need, 168 752 are in severe need, 139 236
are stressed and 96 830 are in minimal need. 163

• Food Security: According to the IPC Acute Food Insecurity Analysis October 2020 – June
2021, on a population of 775 404 people, 196 000 are in IPC Phase 1 (Minimal), 241 000
in IPC Phase 2 (Stressed), 245 500 in IPC Phase 3 (Crisis), 94 500 in Phase 4 (Emergency)
and none in Phase 5 (Catastrophe). 44 percent of the population (340 500 people) are in
IPC Phase 3 or higher. 164

• Instances of Child and Youth Labour: The prevalence of child labour is rising as qat
production becomes more popular. Children often work in qat fields as agricultural
labourers and can be exposed to dangerous pesticides, dangerous agricultural
equipment and be made to carry heavy loads. 165

• Social Protection: WB/UNICEF ECT program for SWF beneficiary households and WFP in-
kind assistance have the highest number of recipients in Al Baydha’s governorates
(slightly more than 50 000 and slightly less than 50 000 respectively). 166

AL DHALE’E:

• Topography & Geology: The governorate of Al-Dhale'e is one of the Yemeni

governorates established after Yemeni unification in 1990. It is located between Ibb and
Lahij in the south-central part of the Republic of Yemen and is 250 kilometers from the
capital Sana’a. The governorate is divided into nine administrative districts, and the city

159
OCHA Humanitarian Response Plan for Yemen 2018, cited in https://yemenlg.org/governorates/al-
baydha/
160
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/al-baydha/
161
https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/147231509378508387/pdf/Yemen-Poverty-Notes-Revised-
0612.pdf
162
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/education_cluster_-_sdr_report_yemen_2020-08-
17-.pdf
163
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Yemen_HNO_2021_Final.pdf
164
https://www.refworld.org/pdfid/4d4a68190.pdf
165
https://www.refworld.org/pdfid/4d4a68190.pdf
166
https://documents.worldbank.org/en/publication/documents-
reports/documentdetail/606011617773513363/insights-from-yemen

58
 of Al-Dhale’e is the governorate capital. 167 Al Dhale’e governorate is located in the
Sarawat mountain highlands and has relatively low elevations compared with other
areas of the mountain range. The basement rocks of the Arabian Peninsula, the
Precambrian Shield, are directly visible in parts of Al Dhale’e due to extreme weathering
and erosion of mountain tops, which has led to both decreased elevation and exposed
Precambrian Shield in the region. Minerals such as talc are prolific in Al Dhale’e and are
used in industrial production. Hot springs are also found in the governorate. 168

• Climate & Meteorology: Al Dhale’e governorate has three main climates including hot
semi-arid climate, hot desert climate and cold semi-arid climate. Average temperatures
range from 17.5°C in January and 25.9°C in July. Average annual rainfall measures 469
mm with the lowest amount of rainfall occurring in November and December measuring
7 mm each and the highest amount of rainfall occurring in August with 136 mm. Humidity
ranges from 47 percent in June and 66 percent in January. Average annual rainy days are
81 days with 1 day occurring in November and December each and 19 days in August. 169

• Soil Quality: Al Dhale’e’s soils are heavy in uranium and natural radioactive components,
specifically around Juban District. These soils may not influence plant growth but could
be harmful to humans and livestock. 170

• Land Use: Agriculture is the main economic activity for most of the population in the
governorate with coffee the most important crop. The governorate also holds some
mineral deposits such as talc, which is used to manufacture paper, paints, beauty
products, and pesticides, among other things. 171

• Water Resources: Nearly 70 percent of households did not have access to clean drinking
water as of 2016/17 — a number that has likely increased. 172 Al-Hajer Water Project
supplies water to the residents of the town of Al-Dhalea, but this project has seen long
delays, even from the pre-war days. Water supply has been cut and residents are now
relying on water tankers for their supply. Recently, a number of wells, pumps, and main
lines in the city have been rehabilitated, and the local authority is trying to complete the
rehabilitation of the distribution network. This effort is being supported by Oxfam and
Kuwaiti Relief. As for the sanitation network in the city, it only covers 65% of the
residents. Sewage water is collected in a treatment plant. Recently, a plot of land was
leased for drainage of surplus flows from the treatment plant. Coordination is ongoing
with Mercy Corps in an attempt to address this problem.173

167
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/al-dhalea/
168
https://edepot.wur.nl/493427
169
https://en.climate-data.org/asia/yemen/ad-dali-governorate-2047/r/july-7/
170
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/al-dhalea/
171
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/al-dhalea/
172
OCHA: An Overview of the Humanitarian Needs in Yemen 2018, cited in
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/al-dhalea/
173
Interview with one of the leaders of the executive bureau, Dhamar. March 2019 cited in
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/al-dhalea/

59
• Irrigation System: Groundwater extraction and runoff irrigation are common in Al
Dhale’e. However, water scarcity, falling water tables and increasing fuel costs have
impacted the ability of Al Dhale’e’s people to access water for irrigation. 174

• Agroecological Zones & Eco-Regions: Al Dhale’e falls within the Afrotropical realm and
the Southwestern Arabian foothills savanna biome as well as the Desert and Xeric Shrub
eco-region. Many habitats in this region are ephemeral, meaning that habitats come-
and-go with seasons and weather patterns. For example, water running through wadis
can be considered ephemeral and the water is only present when it rains. Communities
of animals and plants can also be ephemeral in this region, disappearing when conditions
are dry and appearing and thriving when the rain comes. 175 Al Dhale’e is characterized
as Western and Central Highland Qat Grain, Fodder, Livestock Zone and the Western and
Central Highland Wheat, Sorghum, Qat and Livestock livelihood zones. In these zones’
sorghum, millet and maize are grown as staple crops while qat is grown as a cash crop
and some grains are grown for fodder. Livestock such as sheep, goats and cattle are an
important source of livelihoods. Qat is sold locally to traders who distribute it to larger
trading centers nationally and in Saudi Arabia. 176

174
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Humanitarian%20Update%20%2310_FINAL%2031
%20July.pdf
175
https://web.archive.org/web/20120425205057/http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/ecoregions/about
/habitat_types/selecting_terrestrial_ecoregions/habitat13.cfm
176
https://fews.net/sites/default/files/ye_zonedescriptions_en.pdf

60
• Biodiversity & Forests: Forests of the Southwestern Arabian foothills’ savanna biome as
well as the Desert and Xeric Shrub eco-region are drought-resistant deciduous
woodlands and evergreen woodlands. Drought-resistant deciduous shrublands and
grasslands are also common. Fauna includes panthers, caracal, baboons, rock hyrax and
hyenas. The largest threat to forests and biodiversity of Al Dhale’e is overgrazing by
livestock.177

• Protected Areas: Protected areas could not be found for this governorate.

• Demographics: The governorate of Al Dhale’e is 4 098 km 2. Total population is 779 656

as of 2019178 (720 000 people as of 2017 with 344 001 female and 376 001 male
residents).179 Average family size is 6 individuals. 180 As of 2019, 33 306 individual IDPs
and 5 551 IDP households were located in Al Dhale’e. Almost 100 percent of
displacement in Al Dhale’e governorate occurred due to conflict, as opposed to natural
disaster.181 An increase in the number of IDPs within the governorate was reported in Al
Dhale‘e.182 As of 2019, there were 33 792 individual returnees and 5 632 returnee
households in Al Dhale’e. 183

• Education: In Yemen, the literacy rate among the population aged 15 years and older is
54.1 percent (73.2 percent among males and 35 percent among females). Between 15
and 24 years old the literacy rate is 77 percent (92.8 percent among males and 60.6
percent among females). Among people 65 years and older the literacy rate is 13.7
percent (25.7 males and 1.5 percent among females). 4 781 367 people (1 395 248 men
and 3 386 119 women) aged 15 years and older and 958 315 people between 15 and 24
years old (150 671 male and 807 644 female residents) are illiterate. 184

• Education is generally stable and continuing in schools left intact by fighting but has been
disrupted by displacement and destruction elsewhere. 83 schools have been damaged
by war.185 Several schools damaged by fighting have been rehabilitated, yet overall, the
governorate is experiencing over-crowding in classrooms caused by the loss of facilities
coupled with ongoing displacement. 186

177
https://www.worldwildlife.org/ecoregions/at1321
178
http://www.ipcinfo.org/fileadmin/user_upload/ipcinfo/docs/201224_Yemen%20IPC%20AFI%20Brief_En_Fi
nal [3].pdf
179
2017 Yemen Central Statistical Organization projections based on the 2004 census cited in
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/al-dhalea/
180
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/task_force_on_population_movement_8th_report_
-_apr_2016.pdf
181
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Yemen%20Area%20Assessment%20Round%2037_0
.pdf
182
Ibid.
183
Ibid.
184
http://uis.unesco.org/en/country/ye?theme=education-and-literacy
185
OCHA An Overview of the Humanitarian Needs in Yemen 2018 cited in
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/al-dhalea/
186
Interview with one of the leaders of executive bureau, Al-Dhalea. March 2019, cited in
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/al-dhalea/

61
• Health: There have been attempts to provide basic services in Al Dhale’e, but this has
succeeded at best in providing the bare minimum due to lack of funds, destruction of
infrastructure, and ongoing fighting. Health services, for example, are provided by the
main public hospital in the city of Al Dhale’e and several hospitals and health centers in
the districts supported by the central government, the local authority, and some
international donors. However, the services provided do not meet the increasing needs
of the population considering internal displacement and associated crowding and
malnutrition. Recently, the government built a new hospital in the governorate and
efforts are ongoing to furnish and operate it in cooperation with donors. 187 60 058 cases
of Cholera and 112 deaths (CFR 0.19 percent) were reported in Al Dhale’e, from 27 April
2017 to 31 August 2019. 188 As of 31 May 2021, in Al Dhale’e, 217 COVID-19 total cases
were reported, 43 deaths and 29 recovered. 189

• Poverty Profile: According to the 2014 Household Budget Survey, the poverty rate in Al
Dhale’e was 59.8 percent. In light of economic decline, large-scale displacement, and the
conflict frontline running through the governorate, this rate has doubtlessly increased
significantly during the past few years. 190 According to OCHA’s 2018 Humanitarian
Response Plan for Yemen, there are nearly 500 000 people, or about 70 percent of the
governorate’s population, in need of assistance; 53 percent of them are in dire need. 191
As of 2017, 59.8 percent of Al-Dhale’e’s population, or 391 412 individuals, were in
poverty.192 As of 2017, PiN in Al-Dhale'e included 54 792 IDPs in catastrophic need, 45
229 in extreme need, 28 901 in severe need, 17 858 stressed and 15 199 in minimal need.
Regarding non-IDPs in Al-Dhale'e 82 124 are in catastrophic need, 222 192 are in extreme
need, 156 238 are in severe need, 107 027 are stressed and 88 949 are in minimal
need.193

• Food Security: Al Dhake’s had “very high” (≥40 percent) prevalence of inadequate food
consumption during March 2021 (57%). 194 Food was the main need for the greatest
proportion of households in Al-Dhale'e, as opposed to shelter/housing and financial
services.195 According to the IPC Acute Food Insecurity Analysis October 2020 – June
2021, in a population of 779 656 people, 180 00 are in IPC Phase 1 (Minimal), 211 500 in
IPC Phase 2 (Stressed), 253 000 in IPC Phase 3 (Crisis), 134 000 in Phase 4 (Emergency)

187
Interview with one of the leaders of executive bureau, Al-Dhalea. March 2019, cited in
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/al-dhalea/
188
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/EMROPub_2019_cholera_August_yemen_EN.pdf
189
https://www.humanitarianresponse.info/sites/www.humanitarianresponse.info/files/documents/files/covi
d19_update_info_sharing-27_may_2021.pdf
190
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/al-dhalea/
191
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/al-dhalea/
192
https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/147231509378508387/pdf/Yemen-Poverty-Notes-Revised-
0612.pdf
193
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Yemen_HNO_2021_Final.pdf
194
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/WFP-0000130243.pdf
195
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Yemen%20Area%20Assessment%20Round%2037_0
.pdf

62
 and none in Phase 5 (Catastrophe). 50 percent of the population (387 000 people) are in
IPC Phase 3 or higher. 196

• Instances of Child and Youth Labour: Child labour related to qat also occurs in Al Dhale’e.
Qat production is becoming increasingly popular in Yemen due to high market value. This
means that a labour force is needed to work in qat fields which sometimes ends up being
children. Children working in qat fields can be exposed to dangerous agricultural
equipment and pesticides and can form a habit of consuming qat themselves. 197,198

• Social Protection: The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Social

Protection for Community Resilience Project (SPCRP) is implemented in partnership with
the Social Fund for Development (SFD) with funding from the European Union (EU) to
strengthen community resilience in 13 of Yemen’s most vulnerable governorates,
including Al-Dhale’e.199 The WB/UNICEF ECT program for SWF beneficiary households
and the WFP in-kind assistance program have the highest number of recipients in Al
Dhale’e’s governorates (slightly less than 50 000 and slightly more than 50 000
respectively).200

AL HUDAYDAH:

• Topography & Geology: The Governorate of Al Hudaydah is located in the far west of
the Republic of Yemen, along the Red Sea coast. It is 226 kilometers west of the capital
city of Sana’a. The governorate is divided into 26 districts, and the city of Al-Hudaydah is
the governorate’s capital. 201 Al Hudaydah is part of the Tihamah region, the coastal plain
running down the west coast of Yemen and Saudi Arabia, along the Red Sea. 202 The
topography of this governorate is mostly flat and consist of plains. Al Hudaydah’s geology
consists of alluvial fans and alluvial plains deposits. Alluvial fans are found at the bottom
of mountains and are caused by water flowing down mountain slopes and depositing
sediments at the bottom; alluvial fans are found in the east of Al Hudaydah at the base
of the Sarawat mountains. Alluvial plains form in broad, flat areas and are formed when
sediments from the highlands are deposited through water flows. Dunes are also found
in Al Hudaydah where the ground is flat and level. It is believed that the sand to form
dunes comes from wadi beds. 203

• Climate & Meteorology: Al Hudaydah has a hot and aridic climate. Average
temperatures in January, the coldest month of the year, have a high of 30° C and a low
of 18° C. Average temperatures in July, the hottest month of the year, measure a high of

196
http://www.ipcinfo.org/fileadmin/user_upload/ipcinfo/docs/201224_Yemen%20IPC%20AFI%20Brief_En_Fi
nal [3].pdf
197
https://www.refworld.org/pdfid/4d4a68190.pdf
198
https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/ILAB/pdf_override/Yemen_ACCESSPLUS_CLOSED_0.pdf
199
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/SPCRP%20June%202019%20Factsheet-%20Eng.pdf
200
https://documents.worldbank.org/en/publication/documents-
reports/documentdetail/606011617773513363/insights-from-yemen
201
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/al-hodeidah/
202
https://www.britannica.com/place/Tihamat-al-Yaman
203
https://edepot.wur.nl/493427

63
 39° C and a low of 27° C. Precipitation in Al Hudaydah is slow with an average of about
11 days a year, with 0 precipitation days in December and 4.9 days in July. 204

• Soil Quality: Al Hudaydah’s soils are isohyperthermic and aridic. 205 Isohyperthermic soils
are the hottest soils on Earth and measure above 22° C. 206 Aridic soils are hot and dry
and occur in aridic climates. Irrigation is required in aridic soils in order to produce
crops.207,208

• Land Use: Agriculture constitutes the main economic activity in the Governorate of Al
Hudaydah. The governorate is the biggest agricultural producer in the country,
accounting for more than one quarter of total agricultural production. The most
important crops produced in Al Hudaydah are vegetables, fruits, and fodder. Al
Hudaydah port, alongside Aden port, is one of the main commercial ports of the country.
The most important minerals found in the governorate are granite, black sand, dyes,
ceramics, rock salt, gypsum, and some other clay minerals. 209

• Water Resources: Like much of Yemen, Al Hudaydah is water scarce. Most water in the
governorate comes from groundwater supplies and is accessed through boreholes, dug
wells, artisan wells, handmade protected wells, handmade unprotected wells,
unprotected springs and piped water networks. Major barriers to water access include
depletion of water sources, damage of water infrastructure due to conflict, increase in
population due to influx of IDPs, absence of water allocation rights and laws and
contamination of water resources which can lead to disease. Al Hudaydah’s water quality
ranges from clean to salty and/or turbid as a result of high calcite content. 210 As for
drinking water, 88 percent of households in Al Hudaydah governorate had access to
potable water in the year 2016/2017.211 This percentage declined sharply due to the
military escalation during 2018. Donors are working with local corporations to support
sewage treatment, rehabilitation of wastewater collection, transportation of water by
tankers, installation of water tanks for public access, building emergency latrines, and
distributing hygiene supplies and water purification to IDP households in Al Hudaydah. 212
According to UNICEF, emergency WASH services were provided to 120,000 IDPs in
Hajjah, Al Hudaydah, Ibb, Dhamar and Amran Governorates, with the installation of solar
pumping units in 56 locations. From this assistance, 120,000 people in rural areas have
improved access to water supply, without dependence on fuel. 213

204
https://www.meteoblue.com/en/weather/historyclimate/climatemodelled/al-hudaydah_yemen_79415
205
https://edepot.wur.nl/493427
206
https://passel2.unl.edu/view/lesson/69c7561e50b3/11
207
https://lawr.ucdavis.edu/classes/ssc120/acrobats/smr.pdf
208
http://www.soilinfo.psu.edu/index.cgi?soil_clim&information&general&taxonomy_defs&soil_moist_regim
es&classes&aridic
209
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/al-hodeidah/
210
https://www.humanitarianresponse.info/sites/www.humanitarianresponse.info/files/assessments/WASH%
20cluster_Needs_Assessment_Amran_Hajjah_Hudaydah_Raymah_Oct2012.pdf
211
OCHA: An Overview of the Humanitarian Needs in Yemen 2018, cited in
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/al-hodeidah/
212
UNICEF, A report on the humanitarian situation in Yemen, October 2018, p. 5 & 7, cited in
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/al-hodeidah/
213
https://www.unicef.org/media/77611/file/Yemen-SitRep-November-2019.pdf

64
• Irrigation System: Al Hudaydah relies on wadi irrigation as well as groundwater
extraction to irrigate crops. Agriculture puts a lot of pressure on already precarious Al
Hudaydah’s water supply and can take up to 90 percent of utilized water. 214

• Agroecological Zones & Eco-Regions: Al Hudaydah is located in the Afrotropical realm

and the Arabian Peninsula coastal fog desert biome eco-region. This biome eco-region is
found along the western and southern coast of the Arabian Peninsula and is
characterized by high humidity in the summer, a result of the Khareef monsoon. 215 The
governorate is characterized under the Greater Yemen Coastal and Island Fishing, the
Western Coastal Plain Sorghum Millet and Livestock Zone and Western and Central Wadi
Sorghum, Millet, Vegetable, Fruit and Livestock livelihood zones. The Greater Yemen
Coastal and Island Fishing Zone includes all of Yemen’s coastline. Under this zone,
livelihoods rely on fishing to meet food and cash needs. Livestock keeping, to
supplement fishing, is also common in this zone. Communities within the Western and
Central Wadi Sorghum, Millet, Vegetable, Fruit and Livestock Zone rely on sorghum,
maize, millet and vegetables both as sustenance and cash crops. Crops in this region rely
on wadi irrigation. Livestock rearing is essential to supplement crop production. In the
Western Coastal Plain Sorghum Millet and Livestock Zone, sorghum and millet are grown
as food and cash crops while cotton is also produced as a cash crop. 216

214
https://web.archive.org/web/20100308064354/http://www.nationalgeographic.com/wildworld/profiles/t
errestrial/at/at1302.html
215
https://web.archive.org/web/20100308064354/http://www.nationalgeographic.com/wildworld/profiles/t
errestrial/at/at1302.html
216
https://fews.net/sites/default/files/ye_zonedescriptions_en.pdf

65
• Biodiversity & Forests: The Arabian Peninsula coastal fog desert biome’s forests consist
of acacia thick woodlands in areas of fog. Even though rain is minimal in this governorate,
fog serve to provide moisture and support a thriving plant community. Grasslands and
shrublands are also common in this region. Arabian oryx, Nubian ibex, Arabian wolf,
striped hyena, Arabian gazelle and goat antelope can be found in Al Hudaydah. 217

• Protected Areas: Al Hudaydah is home to the Bura’a UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve.

The reserve is named after the granite cliff massif, Jabal Bura’a. The reserve is located in
a mountainous region home to rare and vulnerable endemic plant species. A large
number of bird species and reptiles such as freshwater turtles and the Yemeni monitor
lizard can be found here. Traditional agro-forestry systems are still practices in this

217
https://web.archive.org/web/20100308064354/http://www.nationalgeographic.com/wildworld/profiles/t
errestrial/at/at1302.html

66
 region.218,219,220 Al Hudaydah is also home to the Ras Isa marine park, located near Ras
Isa port and the Ras Isa oil pipeline. 221,222

• Demographics: The governorate of Al Hudaydah is 13 249 km2. Total population is 2 985

122 people as of 2019 223 (3 189 000 people as of 2017 with 1 549 000 female and 1 640
000 male residents). 224 Average family size is 6 individuals. 225 Between June and
December 2018, Al Hudaydah (511 314 individuals) (as well as HaJjah, 157 122
individuals) experienced high levels of displacement due to conflict along the Western
coast. Fighting in Al Hudaydah exacerbated the humanitarian situation in the
governorate and led to mass displacement. Between June and October 2018, nearly
425 000 people were forced to flee their homes. Since the beginning of the war, almost
10 000 people have been killed in Al Hudaydah, 226 and in January 2019 the number of
displaced persons reached close to one million people. 227 As of 2019, 362 292 individual
IDPs and 60 382 IDP households were located in Al Hudaydah. 100 percent of
displacement in Al Hudaydah governorate occurred due to conflict, as opposed to
natural disaster. 228 An increase in the number of IDPs within the governorate was
reported.229 As of 2019, there were 24 660 individual returnees and 4 110 returnee
households in Al Hudaydah. 230

• Education: In Al Hudaydah one third of all schools are closed due to fighting 231 and in the
worst areas only one in three students can continue attending school while less than one

218
http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/environment/ecological-sciences/biosphere-
reserves/arab-states/yemen/bura-a/
219
https://en.unesco.org/silkroad/silk-road-themes/biosphere-reserve/buraa
220
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Jabal+Bura/@14.9562857,43.1093446,9z/data=!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s
0x160525d93392cd3b:0x73878d34a668b264!2sAl+Hudaydah+Governorate,+Yemen!3b1!8m2!3d15.3053072
!4d43.0194897!3m4!1s0x16048cc73a954cb9:0xa00b7fc74d6922eb!8m2!3d14.9510873!4d43.497448
221
https://www.protectedplanet.net/17188
222
https://www.findaport.com/port-of-ras-isa-marine-terminal
223
http://www.ipcinfo.org/fileadmin/user_upload/ipcinfo/docs/201224_Yemen%20IPC%20AFI%20Brief_En_Fi
nal[3].pdf
224
2017 Yemen Central Statistical Organization projections based on the 2004 census cited in
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/al-hodeidah/
225

https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/task_force_on_population_movement_8th_report_-
_apr_2016.pdf
226
https://www.acleddata.com/2019/06/18/yemen-snapshots-2015-2019/, cited in
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/al-hodeidah/
227
World Health Organization, Situation Report: December 2018 & January 2019, Yemen Conflict, p. 2., cited
in https://yemenlg.org/governorates/al-hodeidah/
228
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Yemen%20Area%20Assessment%20Round%2037_0
.pdf
229

https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/task_force_on_population_movement_8th_report_-
_apr_2016.pdf
230
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Yemen%20Area%20Assessment%20Round%2037_0
.pdf
231
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/education_cluster_-_sdr_report_yemen_2020-08-
17-.pdf

67
 quarter of teachers are present in school. 232 The district that presented the lowest school
attendance rate in Yemen was Ad Durayhimi in Al Hudaydah (0 percent, together with
Maswarah in al Bayda). 233 The primary education challenge in Al Hudaydah is the non-
payment of salaries to teachers, as 51 percent of teachers have not been paid since
2016234 though some salary payments resumed in 2019. 235 Support for teacher
incentives is the most critical and urgent need for the upcoming school year. Access to
education for children is at stake due to non- payment of salaries for more than two
years. This is having a serious impact on schools, teacher performance and access to
education. UNICEF continued the provision of cash incentives to teachers who are not in
receipt of salary. In addition, at least 21 schools have been damaged by the war. 236 This
has disrupted education. Many households fear sending their children to school for
security reasons, and the displacement of many teachers from the city to other areas
has led to staff shortages. 237 Since the Stockholm Agreement, a de-escalation of the
military situation and the resumption of salary payments to teachers in the governorate
by the Hadi government has contributed to a gradual return to normal operations.238

• Health: Eleven health facilities in the governorate have closed, and large numbers of
doctors have left the governorate due to lack of salary payments and the deteriorating
security situation. Even nominally functioning health facilities were working at minimum
capacity.239 Health services provided in hospitals and health centers rely mainly on
support by donor organizations. 240

• Roughly 58 639 children under one year of age were vaccinated against major childhood
diseases while 21 523 women aged 14-59 years have been vaccinated against Tetanus
and Diphtheria through the third round of Integrated Outreach Activities that was
conducted in Al Hudaydah. 241 295 001 cases of Cholera and associated 380 deaths (CFR
0.13 percent) were reported in Al Hudaydah from 27 April 2017 to 31 August 2019. 242
From 28 December 2020 to 28 March 2021, a total of 14 246 suspected cases of
AWD/Cholera were reported from northern governorates along with 2 associated deaths
in Yemen. Within the last 3 epidemiological weeks, suspected cases were reported

232
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/education_cluster_-_sdr_report_yemen_2020-08-
17-.pdf
233
Ibid.
234
Ibid.
235
Economic Studies and Forecast Sector in the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation, Economic
and Social Development In Yemen Newsletter, Issue No.30, December 2017, cited in
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/al-hodeidah/
236
OCHA (An Overview of the Humanitarian Needs in Yemen 2018), cited in
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/al-hodeidah/
237
OCHA, Yemen: An update on the Governorate of Hodeidah, situation report No. 13, 2-15 October 2018, p.
1., cited in https://yemenlg.org/governorates/al-hodeidah/
238
Interview with one of the leaders of the executive bureau, Hodeidah. March 2019, cited in
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/al-hodeidah/
239
OCHA, Yemen: An update on the Governorate of Hodeidah, situation report No. 13, 2-15 October 2018, p.
1. cited in https://yemenlg.org/governorates/al-hodeidah/
240
Interview with senior executive bureau official in Hodeidah. March 2019, cited in
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/al-hodeidah/
241
https://www.unicef.org/media/77611/file/Yemen-SitRep-November-2019.pdf
242
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/EMROPub_2019_cholera_August_yemen_EN.pdf

68
 nationally, with 17 percent of these being reported from Al Hudaydah governorate.
According to UNICEF, between 20 October - 10 November 2019, 26 deaths associated
with dengue fever were reported from Al Hudaydah (as well as Taiz and Hajjah). 243 From
28 December 2020 to 28 March 2021, a total of 1 396 suspected cases of dengue fever
were reported from northern governorates along with one associated death in Yemen. 244
Additionally, the percentage of adults and children suffering from nervous disorders and
depression is extremely high: 100 percent for both adults and children in the
Ad Duraydah district, 96 percent and 98 percent respectively in the Az Zaydiyah
district.245 As of 24 May 2021, Al Hudaydah had not been affected by the COVID-19
pandemic. 246

• Poverty Profile: According to the 2014 Households Budget Survey, 58.1 percent of
residents of the governorate were under the poverty threshold. Since Al Hudaydah has
been a site of active fighting with hundreds of thousands displaced, this rate has
dramatically increased during the past few years of the war. Current estimates suggest
that the poverty rate may well have reached 80-90 percent in the governorate. 247 The
Interim Food Security Classification for 2019 ranks Al Hudaydah as the governorate with
the highest levels of poverty in Yemen. 248 According to OCHA, 2.65 million people
needed assistance in Al Hudaydah in 2019, or nearly 70 percent of the population. 249

• In May 2020, UNICEF, with UNFPA and WFP, provided Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM)
kits to 28 880 IDPs in Al Hudaydah (as well as Sana'a, Aden, Sa'ada and Ibb). RRM kits
intend to meet the most critical and immediate needs of displaced families, which
include food, family basic hygiene kits, and female dignity kits – as IDP are often
uprooted suddenly from their homes without time to take anything with them. UNICEF
partners also provided other life-saving interventions for IDPs, to complement the
provision of RRM kits. Although the supply movement remains challenging due to long
pre-approval processes and delays in receiving required clearances and permissions, in
May 2020 supplies worth $2.3 million including PPE, AWD kits, pharmaceuticals, medical
supplies, hospital equipment, education materials, and ready-to-use therapeutic food
arrived from Djibouti and Oman to Sana'a and Al Hudaydah. 250

• People’s lives remain impacted every day by fighting, and thousands are being displaced
from their homes and displacement sites. 251 As of 2017, 58.1 percent of Al Hudaydah’s
population, or 1 685 621 individuals, were in poverty. PiN in Al Hudaydah include 171

243
https://www.unicef.org/media/77611/file/Yemen-SitRep-November-2019.pdf
244
https://applications.emro.who.int/docs/yem/CoPub_Yem_Situation_rep_may_2019_en.pdf?ua=1&ua=1
245
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/task_force_on_population_movement_8th_report_
-_apr_2016.pdf
246
https://www.humanitarianresponse.info/sites/www.humanitarianresponse.info/files/documents/files/covi
d19_update_info_sharing-27_may_2021.pdf
247
Interview with senior executive bureau official in Hodeidah. March 2019, cited in
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/al-hodeidah/
248
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/al-hodeidah/
249
OCHA, 2019 Humanitarian Needs Overview: Yemen, December 2018, cited in
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/al-hodeidah/
250
https://www.unicef.org/media/77581/file/Yemen-SitRep-May-2020.pdf
251
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Yemen_HNO_2021_Final.pdf

69
 749 IDPs in catastrophic need, 122 556 in extreme need, 60 355 in severe need, 41 158
stressed and 29 241 in minimal need. Regarding non-IDPs in Al Hudaydah 1 007 668 are
in catastrophic need, 749 005 are in extreme need, 380 285 are in severe need, 251 824
are stressed and 182 493 are in minimal need. 252

• Food Security: Six governorates in Yemen have acute malnutrition rates that exceed the
15 percent WHO emergency threshold, including Al Hudaydah. 253 Food was the main
need for the greatest proportion of households in Al Hudaydah, as opposed to
shelter/housing and financial services. 254 Acute Wasting by Mid-Upper Arm
Circumference (MUAC) was detected in 21 percent of children aged 6 -59 months
screened in March 2021, with the highest rates recorded in Al Hudaydah (as well as
Taiz).255 According to the IPC Acute Food Insecurity Analysis October 2020 – June 2021,
on a population of 2 985 122 people, 667 500 are in IPC Phase 1 (Minimal), 950 500 in
IPC Phase 2 (Stressed), 924 000 in IPC Phase 3 (Crisis), 446 000 in Phase 4 (Emergency)
and none in Phase 5 (Catastrophe). 46 percent of the population (1 370 000 people) are
in IPC Phase 3 or higher. 256

• Instances of Child and Youth Labour: In Al Hudaydah, child labour can take the form of
dangerous work in welding and glass shops and can have serious consequences for
health due to ingestion of toxic particles. Children working in welding and glass shops,
as well as those working in quarries and as stone-cutters, are particularly susceptible to
exploitation by gangs and exposure to habits such as smoking and chewing qat. 257

• Social Protection: The total number of beneficiary households in the Hudaydah’s

governorate is around 525 000, the third highest after Hajjah and Taiz. The WB/UNICEF
ECT program for SWF beneficiary households and WFP in-kind assistance have the
highest number of recipients in Al Hudaydah’s governorate (more than 100 000 the
former, around 100 000 the latter), and the WFP Food vouchers have approximately
100 000 recipients. 258

AL JAWF:

• Topography & Geology: The Governorate of Al-Jawf is located 143 kilometers to the
northeast of the capital Sana’a along the Yemeni-Saudi border. Al-Jawf is divided into 12

252
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Yemen_HNO_2021_Final.pdf
253
https://www.humanitarianresponse.info/sites/www.humanitarianresponse.info/files/documents/files/yem
en_hno_2021_final_version_1.pdf
254
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Yemen%20Area%20Assessment%20Round%2037_0
.pdf
255
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/WHO%20March%202021%20Situation%20Report_
English.pdf
256
http://www.ipcinfo.org/fileadmin/user_upload/ipcinfo/docs/201224_Yemen%20IPC%20AFI%20Brief_En_Fi
nal [3].pdf
257
https://www.refworld.org/pdfid/4d4a68190.pdf
258
https://documents.worldbank.org/en/publication/documents-
reports/documentdetail/606011617773513363/insights-from-yemen

70
 administrative districts, and the city of Al-Hazm is the governorate’s capital.259 Al Jawf is
partially located in the Rub al Khali (the largest area of continuous sand in the world), or
Empty Quarter, and the eastern reaches of the Sarawat Mountain Range. To the west,
the governorate is comprised of low-elevation highlands while the eastern portion of the
governorate is desert. Rub al Khali is a sedimentary basin covering a large portion of the
Arabian shelf. The sands of the desert are orange in color due to feldspar, a group of
minerals containing alumina and silica. Quartz sands are also present. Dunes are
common and range from large dune mountains to solitary barchan dunes and
longitudinal dunes. Calcium, carbonate and clays can be found in certain areas of the
desert region and are relics of ancient lake beds. 260

• Climate & Meteorology: The governorate has a largely arid climate and is characterized
into hot desert climate and cold desert climate. 261 Average temperatures range from
18.5° C in December to 29.3° C in June. Average annual rainfall is 45 mm with 0 mm in
September, November and December and 16 mm in August. Precipitation falls over an
average of 10 days a year with 0 days in September, October, November, December and
January and 4 days in August, which has the highest number of rainy days in the year.
Average humidity ranges from 20 percent in October to 39 percent in August. 262

• Soil Quality: Al Jawf’s soils are considered fertile. Terracing in this region is common and
serves to conserve soil and water content from erosion and runoff. The soils are derived
from crystalline rocks and have a high mineral content, making them good for crop
production. 263

• Land Use: Agriculture and livestock breeding are the main economic activities in Al-Jawf.
The governorate is the sixth largest producer of crops in Yemen, accounting for 5.8
percent of total agricultural production, with cereals, vegetables, fruits, coffee and
fodder being the most important crops. It hosts several tourist sites, including important
historic sites. 264 The Al-Jabali mine in Al-Jawf exploits the governorate’s silver and zinc
deposits.

• Water Resources: Water is severely limited in Al Jawf. Most water comes from
groundwater extraction, which is becoming increasingly challenging due to falling water
tables and shortage of fuel. Recent projects by international organizations have focused
on implementing solar-run water pumps in this region. 265 As for drinking water, more
than 75 percent of the governorate’s population does not have access to safe drinking
water.266 The local authority does not provide water, so the population depends entirely

259
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/al-jawf/
260
https://edepot.wur.nl/493427
261
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/al-jawf/
262
https://en.climate-data.org/asia/yemen/al-jawf-governorate-2051/r/july-7/
263
https://www.britannica.com/place/Arabian-Desert/Climate
264
https://www.yemenna.com/index.php?go=guide&op=show&link=jaof, cited in
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/al-jawf/
265
https://www.unicef.org/yemen/stories/wave-innovation-brings-safe-water-communities-saada-and-al-
jawf
266
OCHA: An Overview of the Humanitarian Needs in Yemen 2018, cited in
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/al-jawf/

71
 on private suppliers, including in the capital city. Al-Hazm also does not have a sewage
network and the population relies on traditional waste disposal methods. 267

• Irrigation System: The majority of Al Jawf’s irrigation comes from groundwater, with
surface water and non-conventional irrigation methods also used. Approximately, 37
275 hectares are irrigated with groundwater, 14 178 hectares irrigated with surface
water and 404 hectares irrigated with non-conventional methods. 268

• Agroecological Zones & Eco-Regions: Al Jawf is part of the Afrotropical realm and the
desert and xeric shrubland biome eco-region. This region is characterized by an arid
climate and desert flora and fauna. 269 Al Jawf falls under the Central and Eastern Wadi
Palm, Wheat, Vegetable and Livestock; the Eastern Plateau Sorghum, Millet and
Livestock and the Northern and Eastern Desert Pastoral livelihood zones. In the Central
and Eastern Wadi Palm, Wheat, Vegetable and Livestock zone – wheat, sorghum and
dates are produced as food and cash crops. In the Eastern Plateau Sorghum, Millet and
Livestock Zone – millet, sorghum, wheat and sesame are produced as food crops while
sesame and fenugreek and produced as cash crops. In the Northern and Eastern Desert
Pastoral Zone, wheat and sorghum are the main food crops.270

267
Interview with one of the community leaders and a political activist in decentralization in the governorate
of Al-Jawf. March 2019, cited in https://yemenlg.org/governorates/al-jawf/
268
https://storage.googleapis.com/fao-aquastat.appspot.com/irrigation/docs/YEM-gmia.pdf
269
https://www.britannica.com/place/Arabian-Desert/People
270
https://fews.net/sites/default/files/ye_zonedescriptions_en.pdf

72
• Biodiversity & Forests: Most plants in Al Jawf are xerophytic, meaning that they can
survive long periods without water and are structurally adapted to limited water supply.
Sedges, tamarisk trees and plants in the caper, mustard, pea, daisy, iris and milkweed
families are also found here. A rare shrub known as rāq, or arāq, otherwise known as the
toothbrush bush, can be found in this area and was once used by humans to polish teeth.
Frankincense and myrrh are also found in Al Jawf as well as date palms. The region
supports a wide range of fauna such as dung beetles, locusts, scorpions, lizards and
geckos, vipers, eagles, peregrine falcons, gazelles and wild goat just to name a few. 271

• Protected Areas: Protected areas could not be found for this governorate.

• Demographics: The governorate of Al Jawf is 39 495 km^2. Total population is 603 816
people272 (589 000 people as of 2017 with 262 000 female and 327 000 male
residents).273 Average family size is 6 individuals. 274 As of 2019, 150 090 individual IDPs
and 25 015 IDP households were located in Al Jawf. More than 90 percent of
displacement in Al Jawf governorate occurred due to conflict, as opposed to natural

271
https://www.britannica.com/place/Arabian-Desert/Climate
272
http://www.ipcinfo.org/fileadmin/user_upload/ipcinfo/docs/201224_Yemen%20IPC%20AFI%20Brief_En_Fi
nal [3].pdf
273
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/al-jawf/
274

https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/task_force_on_population_movement_8th_report_-
_apr_2016.pdf

73
 disaster.275 A decrease in the number of IDPs within the governorate was reported. 276 As
of 2019, there were 57 066 individual returnees and 9 511 returnee households in Al
Jawf.277 In March, 30 317 IDPs were displaced, with most displacement waves coming
from Al Jawf (as well as Ma’rib, Al Hodeidah and Taiz), as internal displacement within
governorates towards safer districts increased. 278

• Education: Conflict has taken a toll on education. Forty-three schools have been
damaged as a result of the fighting in Al Jawf and teachers’ salaries are only being paid
in part. This has caused instability in the education system, especially in the early years
of the war and specifically in districts under the control of Ansar Allah. Recently, the
government made back payments for teachers in various districts of the governorate,
contributing to relative improvements in teachers’ presence in schools. 279 In Al Jawf (and
Aden Governorate), UNICEF provided psychosocial support (PSS) to 468 people. 280

• Health: There are several hospitals and health centers in Al Jawf providing health
services to the population. One of the key hospitals – Al-Hazm General Hospital –
provides free health services with funding from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In addition,
several donor organizations aid health services. However, there is no local funding for
the health sector and the current level of service is insufficient to meet the needs of the
population, especially with outbreaks of epidemics such as cholera, which require
patients either to travel to Marib or abroad to seek treatment.281 29 638 cases of cholera
and 46 related deaths (CFR 0.16 percent) were reported in Al Jawf from 27 April 2017 to
31 August 2019. 282 According to UNICEF, roughly 58 639 children under one were
vaccinated against the major childhood diseases, and 21 523 women aged 14-59 years
were vaccinated against Tetanus and Diphtheria through the third round of Integrated
Outreach Activities that was conducted in Yemen’s governorates, including Al Jawf. 283 As
of 24 May 2021, Al Jawf had not been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. 284

275
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Yemen%20Area%20Assessment%20Round%2037_0
.pdf
276

https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/task_force_on_population_movement_8th_report_-
_apr_2016.pdf
277
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Yemen%20Area%20Assessment%20Round%2037_0
.pdf
278
https://www.unicef.org/media/98951/file/Yemen-Humanitarian-SitRep-March-2021.pdf
279
Interview with one of the community leaders and a political activist in decentralization in the governorate
of Al-Jawf. March 2019, cited in https://yemenlg.org/governorates/al-jawf/
280
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/education_cluster_-_sdr_report_yemen_2020-08-
17-.pdf
281
Interview with one of the community leaders and a political activist in decentralization in the governorate
of Al-Jawf. March 2019, cited in https://yemenlg.org/governorates/al-jawf/
282
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/EMROPub_2019_cholera_August_yemen_EN.pdf
283
https://www.unicef.org/media/77611/file/Yemen-SitRep-November-2019.pdf
284
https://www.humanitarianresponse.info/sites/www.humanitarianresponse.info/files/documents/files/covi
d19_update_info_sharing-27_may_2021.pdf

74
 Poverty Profile: According to the 2014 Households Budget Survey, the poverty rate in
Al-Jawf was 55.4 percent of Al-Jawf population, or 305,807 individuals, were in
poverty.285 .
• Food Security: Al Jawf had “very high” (≥40 percent) prevalence of inadequate food
consumption during March 2021 (56%). 286 Food was the main need for the greatest
proportion of households in Al Jawf, as opposed to shelter/housing and financial
services.287 The caseload in Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5) is mainly found in Al Jawf (as well
as Hajjah and Amran). In Al Jawf and Hajjah, conflict, displacement and limited
humanitarian access are the main drivers. 288 Food insecurity is more severe in areas with
active fighting or bordering areas with limited access and is particularly affecting IDPs
and marginalized groups. Conflict is the principal driver of food insecurity in Yemen
leading to widespread displacement, humanitarian access constraints, disruption of
public services, ports blockade and restrictions, fuel crisis and economic disruption.
Without a permanent solution, it is unlikely that all other mitigation measures will have
long-lasting effects. According to the IPC Acute Food Insecurity Analysis October 2020 –
June 2021, on a population of 603 816 people, 77 000 are in IPC Phase 1 (Minimal), 149
500 in IPC Phase 2 (Stressed), 242 500 in IPC Phase 3 (Crisis), 126 000 in Phase 4
(Emergency) and 10 000 in Phase 5 (Catastrophe). 63 percent of the population (378 500
people) is in IPC Phase 3 or higher. 289

• Instances of Child and Youth Labour: Human trafficking of children occurs in

governorates bordering Saudi Arabia. Children are stolen from homes and communities
and taken across the border to Saudi Arabia to be sold for forced labour and forced
prostitution. Criminal organizations also use trafficked children to carry out illegal
activities in both Yemen and Saudi Arabia. 290

• Social Protection: The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Social

Protection for Community Resilience Project (SPCRP) is implemented in partnership with
the Social Fund for Development (SFD) with funding from the European Union (EU) to
strengthen community resilience in 13 of Yemen’s most vulnerable governorates,
including Al Jawf. 291 The WB/UNICEF ECT program for SWF beneficiary households and
WFP in-kind assistance have the highest number of recipients in Al Jawf’s governorate
(around 50 000 the former, around 25 000 the latter). Also, WFP Food vouchers have
almost 100 000 recipients. 292

285
https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/147231509378508387/pdf/Yemen-Poverty-Notes-Revised-
0612.pdf
286
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/WFP-0000130243.pdf
287
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Yemen%20Area%20Assessment%20Round%2037_0
.pdf
288
http://www.ipcinfo.org/fileadmin/user_upload/ipcinfo/docs/IPC_Yemen_Acute_Food_Insecurity_2020Oct2
021June_Snapshot.pdf
289
http://www.ipcinfo.org/fileadmin/user_upload/ipcinfo/docs/201224_Yemen%20IPC%20AFI%20Brief_En_Fi
nal [3].pdf
290
https://www.refworld.org/pdfid/4d4a68190.pdf
291
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/SPCRP%20June%202019%20Factsheet-%20Eng.pdf
292
https://documents.worldbank.org/en/publication/documents-
reports/documentdetail/606011617773513363/insights-from-yemen

75
 AMRAN:

• Topography & Geology: Amran governorate is located in the inland highlands in the west
of Yemen, just north of Sana’a. The governorate’s topography covers mountains, plains
and plateaus. Amran’s mountains are part of the Sarawat Mountain Range, comprised
of the Arabian-Nubian Shield – an exposure of Precambrian crystalline rock running
down the coast of the Red Sea. Volcanic rock comprises the majority of Amran’s
geology.293 The Amran geologic series dates from the Mesozoic and contains fossiliferous
blue and gray limestone, marl and calcareous shale and sandstone. 294

• Climate & Meteorology: Amran’s climate remains consistent throughout the year.
Average temperature in mid-summer is 23.4°C while mid-winter measures 15.7°C.
Rainfall in mm ranges from 1 mm in November and December to 45 mm in August, with
up to 12 rainy days in August and 36 days annually. Humidity ranges from 23 percent in
October to 59 percent in August. 295 Summer rains are caused by southwestern
monsoons which blow damp air into the highlands causing thunderstorms and
precipitation. 296

• Soil Quality: Amran’s soils are isothermic and aridic. Isothermic soils have an annual
mean temperature of 15°C to 22 °C and 5 °C mean temperature difference between
summer and winter. Soils in the aridic soil regime are present in arid climates and contain
limited moisture. As a result, aridic soils contain little water for plants. 297 Aridic soils
experience less weathering and leaching than soils in more humid climates and, as a result,
have a coarse texture, form slowly, retain soluble substances well and are commonly
shallow. These soils have low rates of erosion. 298,299

• Land Use: Agriculture is the main economic activity in Amran, with cereals and
vegetables – such as wheat, lentils, barley and sorghum – the most important crops.
Livestock breeding also contributes significantly to local livelihoods. 300 Due to
topographic features, much of Amran’s cultivation and livestock rearing takes place on
terraced slopes or in plains and plateaus. Terraced cultivation is an ancient form of
production and serves to preserve rainfall and soil on steep slopes where rain is
infrequent. Terraced farming is the most common form of subsistence farming in the
country. Crops grown on terraces are often rainfed while plains and plateau production
are irrigated by both rainwater and groundwater. 301

• Water Resources: The water supply network was cut-off in Amran City at the start of the
war. Since, international organizations have helped resume water services, yet there are
still rural areas that have not been reached. In 2017, 40 percent of Amran’s population
293
https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/pp560B
294
https://edepot.wur.nl/493427
295
https://en.climate-data.org/asia/yemen/amran-governorate-2026/r/july-7/
296
https://www.worldwildlife.org/ecoregions/at1321
297
https://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007%2F978-1-4020-3995-9_364
298
https://edepot.wur.nl/493427
299
https://passel2.unl.edu/view/lesson/69c7561e50b3/11
300
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/amran/
301
http://www.fao.org/3/ak342e/ak342e00.htm

76
 had access to potable water.302 Water in Amran commonly comes from untreated
reservoirs, water deliveries via truck or through water facilities. For those without access
to water facilities and infrastructure, accessing water can be challenging, expensive and
often involves long commutes by foot to access a minimal amount of water. However,
an increasing number of development projects in the region stand to significantly
improve water resources in parts of Amran. 303

• Irrigation System: In Amran and other Highland areas, irrigation mainly takes the form
of collected rainwater. Bunds and ridges in fields and terraces act as cisterns for water
collection as they reduce runoff and preserve the limited amount of precipitation in the
irrigation system. 304

• Agroecological Zones & Eco-Regions: Amran’s eco-region is characterized as

Afrotropical realm and spans the Arabian Highlands above 2000 meters, including most
of the Western Highlands in Yemen. To the west of this region lies the Tihamah plain
while the Empty Quarter lies to the east. Agriculture has been practiced in this eco-region
for thousands of years and landraces of crops such as wheat, sorghum and barley are
still being produced in this area. 305

302
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/amran/
303
https://reliefweb.int/report/yemen/usg-provides-support-amran
304
https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/901231468347330974/pdf/549230ESW0P1020l0land0ten
ure109June.pdf
305
https://www.worldwildlife.org/ecoregions/at1321

77
• Biodiversity & Forests: In Amran and the surrounding areas, terraced agriculture, which
has been practiced for thousands of years in this region, has eliminated much of the
forest cover and natural vegetation in mountainous areas. What vegetation has survived
is characterized based on altitude. Evergreen forest is found at 2 000 m while Afroalpine
vegetation and dwarf forest is present between 2 500 and 3 207 m. North-facing slopes
are sheltered and grow a wide variety of plants while south-facing slopes are more

78
 barren. This eco-region supports over 2 000 vascular plants while most southwest
Arabian endemic bird species live in Afrotropical habitat. Mammals such as panthers,
Hamadryas baboons, caracals, rock hyrax, striped hyena and Arabian wolf are found in
Afrotropical highlands.306

• Protected Areas: There are no protected areas in this governorate.

• Demographics: The governorate of Amran is 7 911 km^2 and consists of 20 districts.

Amran City is the capital.307 Total population was 1 205 960 people as of 2019 308 ( 1 052
000 people as of 2017 with 520 000 female and 530 000 male residents). 309 Average
family size is 6 individuals. 310 As of 2019, 252 246 individual IDPs and 42 041 IDP
households were located in Amran. Amran City has one of the highest populations of
IDPs in the country consisting of 53 226 individuals and 8 871 households. Almost 100
percent of displacement in Amran governorate occurred due to conflict, as opposed to
natural disaster. As of 2019, there were 40 068 individual returnees and 6 678 returnee
households in Amran. 311 About 23 percent of Amran’s population are IDPs. 312

• Education: Since the conflict began, at least 400 000 school aged children have been
displaced and, as of late 2017, over a million school aged children have left school.
Schools, teachers and students have all been targeted for attacks. Students are also often
targeted for recruitment on their way to and from school. 313 Schools are often used as
barracks or for weapons storage. 314 At least 32 schools in Amran have been destroyed or
damaged due to conflict. Teachers are not receiving their salaries. Education increasingly
relies on international organizations and donors, for example UNICEF has provided
classroom tents to be used for education. 315 Besides children directly in conflict zones,
Muhamasheen and disabled children face large barriers to education. 316

• Health: Public hospitals provide services to local populations, yet services are limited and
what is provided is significantly funded by international donors. In general, health
services are insufficient to meet the needs of Amran residents as well as increasing
numbers of IDPs. 317 In early 2019, Amran reported 200 cases of diphtheria with a few

306
https://www.worldwildlife.org/ecoregions/at1321
307
BerghofMappingLocalGovernanceYemeniGovernorates_EN.pdf
308
http://www.ipcinfo.org/fileadmin/user_upload/ipcinfo/docs/201224_Yemen%20IPC%20AFI%20Brief_En_Fi
nal [3].pdf
309
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/amran/
310
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/task_force_on_population_movement_8th_report_
-_apr_2016.pdf
311
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Yemen%20Area%20Assessment%20Round%2037_0
.pdf
312
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/task_force_on_population_movement_8th_report_
-_apr_2016.pdf
313
https://www.refworld.org/docid/5be942f926.html
314
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/briefing_note_humanitarian_impact_of_conflict_in
_amran_15_jul_2014.pdf
315
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/amran/
316
https://www.unicef.org/mena/media/6691/file/Yemen%20Country%20Report%20on%20OOSC_EN.pdf%20
.pdf
317
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/amran/

79
 associated deaths. 318 Cholera is also a concern in Amran with 187 069 cases and 260
related deaths reported between 2017 and 2019. 319 From December 2020 to March
2021, Amran reported 16 percent of Yemen's Measles cases and 9 percent of the
country’s severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) cases. 320 As of 24 May 2021, Amran
had not been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. 321

• Poverty Profile: Unemployment in Amran is high, in fact the third highest level of poverty
in Yemen, after Al Hudeydah and Hajjah. 322 As of 2017, 75.9 percent of Amran’s
population, or 768 438 individuals, were in poverty. 323 Today, this number is expected to
have tripled due to increasing and prolonged conflict and economic collapse. 324,325 As of
2017, PiN in Amran include 14 697 IDPs in catastrophic need, 84 352 in extreme need,
90 172 in severe need, 45 440 stressed and 19 570 in minimal need. Regarding non-IDPs
in Amran, 51 141 are in catastrophic need, 269 943 are in extreme need, 370 344 are in
severe need, 190 750 are stressed and 85 299 are in minimal need. 326

• Food Security: Amran had “very high” (≥40 percent) prevalence of inadequate food
consumption during March 2021 (59%). 327 Food was the main need for the greatest
proportion of households in Amran, as opposed to shelter/housing and financial
services.328 Food insecurity is more severe in areas with active fighting or bordering areas
with limited access and is particularly affecting IDPs and marginalized groups. The
caseload in Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5) is mainly found in Amran (as well as Al Jawf and
Hajjah). In Amran, highly vulnerable marginalized groups such as landless wage labourers
and lack of access to public services such as water, sanitation and health are the primary
causes.329 According to the IPC Acute Food Insecurity Analysis October 2020 – June 2021,
on a population of 1 205 960 people, 177 500 are in IPC Phase 1 (Minimal), 327 500 in
IPC Phase 2 (Stressed), 500 500 in IPC Phase 3 (Crisis), 197 000 in Phase 4 (Emergency)
and 3 500 in Phase 5 (Catastrophe). 58 percent of the population (701 000 people) are
in IPC Phase 3 or higher. 330

318
https://www.who.int/health-cluster/countries/yemen/Yemen-Health-Cluster-Bulletin-Feb-2019.pdf?ua=1
319
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/EMROPub_2019_cholera_August_yemen_EN.pdf
320
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/WHO%20March%202021%20Situation%20Report_
English.pdf
321
https://www.humanitarianresponse.info/sites/www.humanitarianresponse.info/files/documents/files/covi
d19_update_info_sharing-27_may_2021.pdf
322
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/amran/
323
https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/147231509378508387/pdf/Yemen-Poverty-Notes-Revised-
0612.pdf
324
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Yemen_HNO_2021_Final.pdf
325
https://resourcecentre.savethechildren.net/node/13437/pdf/yem-cx-17-_yemen_ex_sitrp_april_2018.pdf
326
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Yemen_HNO_2021_Final.pdf
327
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/WFP-0000130243.pdf
328
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Yemen%20Area%20Assessment%20Round%2037_0
.pdf
329
http://www.ipcinfo.org/fileadmin/user_upload/ipcinfo/docs/IPC_Yemen_Acute_Food_Insecurity_2020Oct2
021June_Snapshot.pdf
330
http://www.ipcinfo.org/fileadmin/user_upload/ipcinfo/docs/201224_Yemen%20IPC%20AFI%20Brief_En_Fi
nal [3].pdf

80
• Labour and Instances of Child and Youth Labour: In 2014, the labour force participation
rate of Amran was 39 percent while unemployment was 13.7 percent. 331 Amran’s
working age population (15 years of age or older) consisted of 2.6 percent of Yemen’s
total working age population including 2.7 percent of male workers, 2.5 percent of
female workers, 2.2 percent of urban workers and 2.7 percent of rural workers. 332 36 000
individuals were employed in agriculture, 13 000 in industry and 68 000 in services in
2014. Average monthly income for employees was 55 778 Rials and 185 094 Rials for
employers. 333 Child labour occurs in Amran, specifically related to qat farming and stone-
cutting work.334

• Social Protection: Approximately 80 000 beneficiary households receive assistance from

the WB/UNICEF ECT program for SWF and WFP in-kind assistance in Amran.335

DHAMAR:

• Topography & Geology: Dhamar governorate is located in the west of Yemen – south
and southeast of Sana’a governorate, north of Ibb governorate, east of Al Hudaydah
governorate and northwest of Al Bayda. Dhamar lies in the southern end of the Sarawat
Mountain Range and includes topographical features such as mountains, plains and
plateaus. The bedrock of much of Dhamar is volcanic rock and is categorized in two
groups: volcanic rock formed during the Tertiary Period (65 million to 2 million years ago)
known as the Yemen Volcanics while younger volcanic rock is known as Quaternary
Volcanics. The Yemen Volcanics are comprised of tertiary volcanic rocks (known as the
Trap Series) which are made of lava flows, basalts, porphyries and tuff. The Yemen
Volcanics also include granite laccoliths, or an igneous intrusion that has split apart
another rock formation. The Quaternary Volcanics are granites younger than the Yemen
Volcanics. They are basaltic, often encased in tuff and contain tourmaline and amphibole
crystals.336

• Climate & Meteorology: Dhamar’s climate is temperate and cold-semiarid with average
temperatures ranging from 10° C to 19° C in summer and 8° C to -1° C in winter. In winter,
the central and eastern parts of the governorate are colder while the valleys and western
slopes are warmer. Rainfall averages range from 3 mm in December to 243 mm in August
with total average rainfall of 599 mm. Rainfall spans an average of 56 days annually with
16 rainy days in August and 1 rainy day each in October, November and December.

331
https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---arabstates/---ro-
beirut/documents/publication/wcms_419016.pdf
332
https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---arabstates/---ro-
beirut/documents/publication/wcms_419016.pdf
333
https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---arabstates/---ro-
beirut/documents/publication/wcms_419016.pdf
334
https://www.refworld.org/pdfid/4d4a68190.pdf
335
https://documents.worldbank.org/en/publication/documents-
reports/documentdetail/606011617773513363/insights-from-yemen
336
https://edepot.wur.nl/493427

81
 Humidity ranges from 28 percent in June to 55 percent in August. 337 Increased rainfall in
late summer is a result of the southwestern monsoon. 338

• Soil Quality: Dhamar’s soils are isomesic and ustic. 339 Isomesic soils have a mean annual
temperature of 8° C or more and a difference between mean summer and winter
temperatures of less than 5° C. 340 Ustic soils are found in semiarid climates and have
limited water content, yet moisture is present especially during peak plant growth. 341

• Land Use: Land in Dhamar is utilized to grow food crops such as potatoes, wheat, beans
and vegetables. Potatoes, wheat and barley are grown as both food and cash crops.
Nearly 80 percent of all agriculture is irrigated in Dhamar. Sheep, goats and cattle are
the main livestock reared in the governorate and are consumed and sold as a supplement
to crop production. Almost all households have some form of production and rely on
foods they produce. Poor households are often unable to generate income from their
crops as they often do not have surplus so must find other ways of making money, such
as working as labourers. Wealthier households can generate enough income to meet
their needs by selling surplus crops. 342

• Water Resources: In Dhamar, groundwater and surface water are the primary sources
of water resources for agriculture, industrial and domestic needs. 343 Groundwater
extraction is common in Dhamar due to limited rainfall and access to other freshwater
sources. However, as a result of excessive extraction, the water table has been dropping
at a rate of 2 to 2.5 m a year over the past 40 years. The water table is estimated t o be
depleted in the next 30 years if the current rate of extraction continues. 344 Another major
concern from groundwater extraction is leakage from latrines into groundwater reserves
and aquifers which can cause serious health challenges for communities. 345

• Irrigation System: Dhamar’s irrigation systems rely heavily on use of surface water and
groundwater extraction. 95 percent of irrigation in Dhamar plain and 73 percent of
irrigation in all areas of Dhamar governorate comes from groundwater extraction. 346,347

• Agroecological Zones & Eco-Regions: Dhamar falls within the Afrotropical eco-region
realm as well as the Southwestern Arabian foothills savanna eco-region biome. The
Afrotropical eco-region covers much of Africa and areas of western Arabia surrounding

337
https://en.climate-data.org/%D8%A7%D8%B3%DB%8C%D8%A7/%DB%8C%D9%85%D9%86/dhamar-
governorate-2021/r/july-7/
338
https://www.worldwildlife.org/ecoregions/at1321
339
https://edepot.wur.nl/493427
340
https://passel2.unl.edu/view/lesson/69c7561e50b3/11
341
http://www.soilinfo.psu.edu/index.cgi?soil_clim&information&general&taxonomy_defs&soil_moist_regim
es&classes&ustic
342
https://fews.net/sites/default/files/ye_zonedescriptions_en.pdf
343
https://www.oecd.org/countries/yemen/42400796.pdf
344
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/326734857_Assessment_of_water_resources_in_Dhamar_Gov
ernorate_Yemen_Republic
345
https://www.oecd.org/countries/yemen/42400796.pdf
346
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/326734857_Assessment_of_water_resources_in_Dhamar_Gov
ernorate_Yemen_Republic
347
https://www.oecd.org/countries/yemen/42400796.pdf

82
 the Red Sea.348,349 The Southwestern Arabian foothills savanna eco-region covers
mountainous regions of Saudi Arabia, Oman and the Sarawat Mountain Region of
Yemen.350 South-facing slopes are characterized by frequent fog arising from moisture-
bearing winds from the Arabian Sea, which serve to provide moisture in an otherwise
dry environment and lowers overall air temperature. 351 Evidence of agriculture in this
biome dates to over 5 000 years ago and is characterized by terraces in mountainous
regions and irrigated agriculture in plains and plateaus. Frankincense and Myrrh,
aromatic resins, can also be found in this biome as well as many wild foods. 352,353

348
https://www.worldwildlife.org/ecoregions/at1321
349
https://ecoregions.appspot.com/
350
https://dopa-explorer.jrc.ec.europa.eu/ecoregion/31320
351
https://www.oneearth.org/ecoregions/southwest-arabian-escarpment-shrublands-and-woodlands/
352
Wilkinson, Tony (1999). “Settlement, Soil Erosion and Terraced Agriculture in Highland Yemen: a
Preliminary Statement.” Proceedings of the Seminar for Arabian Studies, vol. 29, 1999, pp. 183–191.
353
http://www.fao.org/3/i1500e/yemen.pdf

83
• Biodiversity & Forests: Forests and vegetation in Dhamar vary according to topography
and elevation. Most frequent land cover is drought-resistance deciduous woodland,
evergreen woodlands, shrublands and dry grasslands. 354 Xeric shrubland is the most
common groundcover and includes vegetation such as aromatic herbs, shrubs, acacia,
grasses and dwarf trees. It is common for plants growing in shrublands to have
developed fire resistance due to the dry nature of the environment and high potential
of fire occurrence when lightning strikes. 355 Dhamar’s fauna include panthers, caracal,
baboons, rock hyrax and hyenas. 356

• Protected Areas: Dhamar governorate is home to the Dhamar Montane Plains Mahjur
Traditional Reserve. This protected area is a traditional rangeland reserve that is often
used as a forage area by local communities during the dry season to feed sheep herds.
Traditional use of rangelands governs this reserve. 357,358

• Demographics: The governorate of Dhamar is 7 587 km2 and consists of 12 districts.

Dhamar City is the capital. Total population is 2 176 000 people as of 2019 359 (it was 1
913 000 people as of 2017 with 916 000 female and 952 000 male residents). 360 Average
family size is 6 individuals. 361 As of 2019, 186 774 individual IDPs and 31 129 IDP
households were located in Dhamar. Almost 100 percent of displacement in Dhamar

354
Kürschner H. (1998) Biogeography and Introduction to Vegetation. In: Ghazanfar S.A., Fisher M. (eds)
Vegetation of the Arabian Peninsula. Geobotany, vol 25. Springer, Dordrecht. doi:10.1007/978-94-017-3637-
4_4
355
https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/biome/bioshrubland.php
356
https://www.worldwildlife.org/ecoregions/at1321
357
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S014019630580117X
358
https://www.protectedplanet.net/30886
359
http://www.ipcinfo.org/fileadmin/user_upload/ipcinfo/docs/201224_Yemen%20IPC%20AFI%20Brief_En_Fi
nal[3].pdf
360
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/dhamar/
361
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/task_force_on_population_movement_8th_report_
-_apr_2016.pdf

84
 governorate occurred due to conflict, as opposed to natural disaster. As of 2019, there
were 9 660 individual returnees and 1 610 returnee households in Dhamar. 362

• Education: Dhamar City in Dhamar (4 percent) is the district that presents the lowest
school attendance rate in Yemen is after Maswarah in al Bayda (0 percent) and Ad
Durayhimi in al Hudaydah (0 percent). 363 An estimated 2 000 schools that have been
partially or completely destroyed due to conflict, are being used to host IDPs, or are
occupied by armed groups. This includes 256 schools that have been destroyed by air
strikes or shelling; 1 520 schools that have been damaged by the conflict; 167 schools
that are sheltering IDPs; and 23 schools that are occupied by armed groups. 364
192 schools have been damaged or destroyed in Dhamar since the start of the war. 365,366
Teachers have not been paid in this governorate since the conflict began, which poses
one of the largest barriers to education for school aged children. 367,368

• As many primary water sources have stopped functioning (which means longer distances
to travel and additional threats to safety and dignity, including GBV) children may remain
out of school so they can fetch water, which families may prioritize over education. 369
Even when at school, it is difficult for children to learn as they struggle to deal with the
psychological impact of living through war and the effects of hunger and
malnourishment. Families cope with anxiety and stress, increasing the need for mental
health and psychosocial services. The overall provision of protection services has come
under strain. About 35 percent of child protection incidents addressed by social workers
through the case management system in 2018 were related to mental health and
psychosocial support. 370

• Grave violations against children remain high, following a 51 percent increase in verified
cases of killing and maiming of children compared to the previous year. Children
continue to face grave violations and the effects of armed conflict, particularly in or near
conflict-affected areas. Children who have experienced or are at risk of such violations
need assistance and support, including mine risk education, family tracing, reunification,
interim care services and psychosocial support. Child-headed households are among the
most vulnerable. Mine-risk education remains critical as reports of child victims of mines
and unexploded ordnances increased from 119 to 227 in the last year. Support for
unaccompanied and separated children and children heading households remains

362
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Yemen%20Area%20Assessment%20Round%2037_0
.pdf
363
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/education_cluster_-_sdr_report_yemen_2020-08-
17-.pdf
364
Ibid.
365
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/dhamar/
366
https://www.unicef.org/media/77611/file/Yemen-SitRep-November-2019.pdf
367
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/dhamar/
368
https://www.unicef.org/media/77611/file/Yemen-SitRep-November-2019.pdf
369
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/education_cluster_-_sdr_report_yemen_2020-08-
17-.pdf
370
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/education_cluster_-_sdr_report_yemen_2020-08-
17-.pdf

85
 critical. An estimated 19 000 separated children, seven percent of whom are in displaced
communities, need assistance. 371

• Marginalised children, such as Muhamasheen and children with disabilities, are more
likely to be ignored when it comes to education. The quarantine measures as a result of
COVID-19 may increase the risk of gender-based violence for people living in close
quarters with higher risks of discrimination and physical and financial barriers to access
essential services. Persons with disabilities also face risks of stigmatization and loss of
access to specialized assistance services and treatment. Children are deprived not only
of education but also associated services such as school feeding and social assistance,
while being at increased risk of domestic violence. 372 8 percent of youth aged 15-24
group are not in education, work or training. 373

• Health: Public hospitals and health centers serve the population of Dhamar, yet they
only provide basic services and must rely on international donors to function. 374 In early
2021, Dhamar accounted for 11 percent of Yemen’s diphtheria cases. 375,376 Dhamar also
had one of the highest rates of cholera in Yemen with 195 421 cases and 287 deaths in
2019 (CFR 0.15 percent) 377 from 27 April 2017 to 31 August 2019. 378 From 28 December
2020 to 28 March 2021, a total of 1 263 suspected SARI cases were reported from
northern governorates, along with 46 associated deaths. Within the last 4
epidemiological weeks, suspected cases were reported nationally, with 20 percent of
these being reported from Dhamar's governorate. 379 As of 24 May 2021, Dhamar had not
been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. 380

• Poverty Profile: According to the local authorities, 2014 budget, grants and central
subsidies constituted 96 percent of the total revenue for the governorate, while local
revenues covered 4 percent. Revenues were adversely affected by the war. The
establishment of the General Zakat Authority and the transfer of zakat to a central
revenue has caused the governorate to lose an important source of income. For some
time, Dhamar was able to make up for the shortfall by taxing trade between the areas
under control of the internationally recognized government and the de facto authorities
in Sana’a. However, growing insecurity on the road through Dhamar has displaced trade
eastwards since late 2018. Nearly 400 000 people in need of assistance in Dhamar, or
just over 20 percent of the population, 48 percent of which are in dire need. 381 According
to the 2014 Household Budget Survey, the poverty rate in Dhamar was 31.1 percent. 382
371
Ibid.
372
Ibid.
373
Ibid.
374
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/dhamar/
375
https://www.who.int/health-cluster/countries/yemen/Yemen-Health-Cluster-Bulletin-Feb-2019.pdf?ua=1
376
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/WHO%20March%202021%20Situation%20Report_
English.pdf
377
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/EMROPub_2019_cholera_August_yemen_EN.pdf
378
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/EMROPub_2019_cholera_August_yemen_EN.pdf
379
https://applications.emro.who.int/docs/yem/CoPub_Yem_Situation_rep_may_2019_en.pdf?ua=1&ua=1
380
https://www.humanitarianresponse.info/sites/www.humanitarianresponse.info/files/documents/files/covi
d19_update_info_sharing-27_may_2021.pdf
381
OCHA, Humanitarian Response Plan for Yemen 2018, cited in https://yemenlg.org/governorates/dhamar/
382
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/dhamar/

86
 As of 2017, 31 percent of Dhamar’s population, or 547 049 individuals, were in
poverty.383 With the decline of economic conditions in Yemen, this number has likely
increased.384 As of 2017, PiN in Dhamar include 3 622 IDPs in catastrophic need, 62 973
in extreme need, 62 006 in severe need, 36 873 stressed and 22 728 in minimal need.
Regarding non-IDPs in Dhamar, 57 787 are in catastrophic need, 545,903 are in extreme
need, 700 956 are in severe need, 415 120 are stressed and 286 227 are in minimal
need.385

• Food Security: Food was the main need for most households in Dhamar, as opposed to
shelter/housing and financial services. 386 According to the IPC Acute Food Insecurity
Analysis October 2020 – June 2021, on a population of 2 176 000 people, 405 000 are in
IPC Phase 1 (Minimal), 696 000 in IPC Phase 2 (Stressed), 769 500 in IPC Phase 3 (Crisis),
307 000 in Phase 4 (Emergency) and none in Phase 5 (Catastrophe). 49 percent of the
population (1 076 500 people) are in IPC Phase 3 or higher. 387

• Labour, including instances of Child and Youth Labour: Agriculture is Dhamar’s main
economic activity and the 5 th largest agricultural producer in Yemen, accounting for 5.3
percent of national production. Most important crops are vegetables, cereals and fodder
for livestock. Dhamar is also one of the main sources of construction stones and mineral
in Yemen, making it a major mining center. 388 Child labour and exploitation occurs in
Dhamar – particularly related to agricultural work, mining and stone-cutting. Agricultural
work is the economic sector with the highest occurrence of child labour and is often
dangerous as children are forced to carry heavy loads and are exposed to pesticides and
potentially dangerous agricultural equipment. Children working in mines and quarries
are often at high risk of being exploited by gangs. 389

• Social Protection: The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Social

Protection for Community Resilience Project (SPCRP) is implemented in partnership with
the Social Fund for Development (SFD) with funding from the European Union (EU) to
strengthen the community resilience in 13 of Yemen’s most vulnerable governorates,
including Dhamar. 390

HAJJAH:

• Topography & Geology: Hajjah governorate is located on Yemen’s west coast in the
Tihama Plain. Saudi Arabia is directly to the north while Amran governorate is to the east,

383
https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/147231509378508387/pdf/Yemen-Poverty-Notes-Revised-
0612.pdf
384
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/dhamar/
385
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Yemen_HNO_2021_Final.pdf
386
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Yemen%20Area%20Assessment%20Round%2037_0
.pdf
387
http://www.ipcinfo.org/fileadmin/user_upload/ipcinfo/docs/201224_Yemen%20IPC%20AFI%20Brief_En_Fi
nal[3].pdf
388
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/dhamar/
389
https://www.refworld.org/pdfid/4d4a68190.pdf
390
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/SPCRP%20June%202019%20Factsheet-
%20Eng..pdf

87
 Al Hudaydah governorate is to the south and the Red Sea is to the west. Hajjah contains
31 districts with the capital city of Hajjah City. The western side of Hajjah lies within the
Tihama Plain while the eastern side of the governorate is located in the Sarawat
Mountain Range. The geology of the Tihama Plain is characterized by alluvial deposits
and dunes. Alluvial deposits are sediments deposited by water flows – in the case of the
Tihama, alluvial deposits occur as a result of water flowing from the slopes of the Sarawat
Mountain Range and from wadis and runoff from the highlands. Dunes are landforms
created by windblown or water deposited sand and/or soils. 391

• Climate & Meteorology: Hajjah contains three different climatic zones – including hot
desert climate, cold desert climate and cold semi-arid climate. Average temperatures
range from 23.3° C in January to 31.8° C in June. Average annual rainfall is 391 mm with
the lowest amount of rainfall occurring in June with 9 mm and the highest amount of
rainfall occurring in August with 63 mm. Humidity ranges from 49 percent in June to 71
percent in December. Average annual rainy days are 59 days, with the most days in
September and October (eight days each) and the least number of days in June (one
day).392

• Soil Quality: Hajjah’s soils are isohyperthermic and aridic. Isohyperthermic soils are the
hottest soils on Earth and measure above 22° C while aridic soils are hot and dry.
Irrigation is commonly needed to produce crops in these soils. 393

• Land Use: Agriculture and livestock rearing are the most common uses of land in Hajjah.
Qat is widely produced in the governorate and serves as an important source of income.
Nearly all households produce grains – such as wheat, sorghum and maize. More affluent
families with large landholdings can produce large amounts of food which are sold locally
and transported to distant markets. Poor families commonly also produce food but often
collect and sell firewood to increase income. In many parts of the governorate,
livelihoods are dependent on wadis for irrigation. While most households produce some
amount of food, families still supplement with purchased market goods. 394

• Water Resources: Hajjah’s main sources of drinking water come from tankers, artesian
wells, network water fountains, piped water connected to homes and non-protected
handmade wells. The average amount of water available per family per day is higher
than most surrounding governorates with 93.8 percent of Hajjah’s population (included
in WASH Cluster survey) having access to 105 liters a day while 4.9 percent of the
population has access to between 81 and 105 liters a day and 1.4 percent of the
population have access to between 41 and 80 liters a day. Hajjah’s water quality ranges
from clean throughout the governorate to pockets of salty and turbid water in the
central and south of the governorate and smelly water in the south. For individuals

391
https://edepot.wur.nl/493427
392
https://en.climate-data.org/asia/yemen/hajjah-governorate-2025/r/july-7/
393
https://edepot.wur.nl/493427
394
https://fews.net/sites/default/files/ye_zonedescriptions_en.pdf

88
 collecting water outside of the home, on average, it takes over 60 minutes to collect
water from the source and carry it back. 395

• Irrigation System: The majority of Hajjah’s irrigation water comes from groundwater
extraction and spate irrigation through wadis. 396,397

• Agroecological Zones & Eco-Regions: Hajjah is part of the Afrotropical realm and the
Arabian Peninsula coastal fog desert eco-region. This region is characterized by its high
humidity and aridic climate. It is located along the southern coasts of the Arabian
Peninsula, including the Red Sea coast. 398 Hajjah falls under 4 livelihood zones, namely
Western and Central Wadi Sorghum, Millet, Vegetable, Fruit and Livestock Zone; the
Western and Central Highland Wheat, Sorghum, Qat and Livestock Zone; the Western
Coastal Plain Sorghum Millet and Livestock Zone and the Greater Yemen Coastal and
Island Fishing Zone. In the Western and Central Wadi Sorghum, Millet, Vegetable, Fruit
and Livestock Zone sorghum, millet, maize and vegetables are grown as food and cash
crops. In the Western and Central Highland Wheat, Sorghum, Qat and Livestock Zone
wheat, sorghum and maize are grown as food crops while wheat, maize, sorghum and
qat are grown as cash crops. In the Western Coastal Plain Sorghum Millet and Livestock
Zone, sorghum and millet are grown as food and cash crops while cotton is also produced
as a cash crop. In the Greater Yemen Coastal and Island Fishing Zone, livelihoods heavily
rely on fishing and ocean-based employment opportunities. 399

395
https://www.humanitarianresponse.info/sites/www.humanitarianresponse.info/files/assessments/WASH%
20cluster_Needs_Assessment_Amran_Hajjah_Hudaydah_Raymah_Oct2012.pdf
396
https://fews.net/sites/default/files/ye_zonedescriptions_en.pdf
397
https://www.humanitarianresponse.info/sites/www.humanitarianresponse.info/files/assessments/WASH%
20cluster_Needs_Assessment_Amran_Hajjah_Hudaydah_Raymah_Oct2012.pdf
398
https://www.worldwildlife.org/ecoregions/at1302
399
https://fews.net/sites/default/files/ye_zonedescriptions_en.pdf

89
• Biodiversity & Forests: There are over 60 endemic plants in the Arabian Peninsula
coastal fog desert eco-region. Mangrove forests are found along the coast while acacia

90
 woodlands are prevalent inland, as well as doum palms and tamarisk trees. Arabian sand
gazelle, Arabian wolf, honey badger and sand fox are a few of the fauna found here. 400

• Protected Areas: There are no protected areas in this governorate.

• Demographics: The governorate of Hajjah is 8 338 km 2 and consists of 31 districts. Hajjah

is the capital. Total population is 2 510 327 people as of 2019 401 (2 129 000 people as of
2017 with 1 034 000 female and 1 095 000 male residents). 402 Average family size is five
individuals. During the end of 2018 and early 2019, there was a sharp increase in the
number of IDPs from 203 000 to 420 000. IDPs are currently based in 300 IDP camps in
the various districts of the governorate. 403 Between June and December 2018, Hajjah
governorate experienced high levels of displacement (157 122 individuals) due to
conflict along the western coast. 404 As of 2019, 374 820 individual IDPs and 62 470 IDP
households were located in Hajjah. Almost 100 percent of displacement in Hajjah
governorate occurred due to conflict, as opposed to natural disaster. As of 2019, there
were 61 116 individual returnees and 10 186 returnee households i n Hajjah.405

• Education: There are 58 schools and 1 436 teachers in Hajjah. Teacher salaries are not
being paid in, 406 which has disrupted education. 161 schools have been damaged by the
war.407 Ongoing fighting is causing further damage to schools and other basic
infrastructure. Damage to school infrastructure is one of the top reasons why children
do not go to school in three assessed districts, as students cannot access those schools.
An estimated 21 schools have been affected in 3 districts, 7 schools are totally damaged,
3 school roads are being mined, 5 schools are occupied with military forces, 2 schools
are partially damaged, and most classrooms affected due to direct attack of airstrikes
during the war, 3 schools are near to the frontlines which have caused student to be
displaced to other areas. Other schools have been affected due to IDP hosting or non-
educational use of schools. Damage to schools leads to damage of school furniture that
makes the environment insecure for students to learn. In Hajjah Governorate, 148
classes need restoration, 157 need to add transition classes, 21 walls need to be
repaired, 18 schools need to add transition walls, 84 need to build bathrooms and 127
need bathrooms restored. The risk of attacks or recruitment at school, or general
violence and protection concerns in the vicinity, are a limiting factor on children and

400
https://www.worldwildlife.org/ecoregions/at1302
401
http://www.ipcinfo.org/fileadmin/user_upload/ipcinfo/docs/201224_Yemen%20IPC%20AFI%20Brief_En_Fi
nal [3].pdf
402
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/hajjah/
403
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/hajjah/
404
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/task_force_on_population_movement_8th_report_
-_apr_2016.pdf
405
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Yemen%20Area%20Assessment%20Round%2037_0
.pdf
406
Economic and Social Development In Yemen Newsletter, Issue No. 30, December 2017, published by the
Economic Studies and Forecast Sector in the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation, cited in
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/hajjah/
407
OCHA, An Overview of the Humanitarian Needs in Yemen 2018, cited in
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/hajjah/

91
 parents feeling safe in attending school and keeps many children, especially girls, at
home.408

• Health: According to OCHA, 71 percent of households in Hajjah did not have access to
potable water in 2016/2017.409 Water and sanitation services are still functioning in the
city of Hajjah, but at a bare minimum and largely as a result of external support. 410 Poor
water availability and a lack of sanitation services, especially for IDPs, has increased the
incidence of cholera and other diseases. International organizations are working to
address these needs. 411 Following the destruction of health infrastructure, such as
hospitals, the governorate is suffering from an absence of health services. For a time,
only one public hospital remained in service. It provided services to the population with
support from international organizations.

• Funding from the local authority is minimal. Support from donor organizations has more
recently allowed some local hospitals to reopen. Fighting, an influx of displaced people,
and the spread of infectious diseases has increased demands for health services. 412 194
119 cases of Cholera and 559 associated deaths (CFR 0.29 percent) were reported in
Hajjah during the second wave from 27 April 2017 to 31 August 2019. 413 According to
UNICEF, between 20 October - 10 November 2019, 26 deaths associated with dengue
fever were reported from Hajjah (as well as Al Hudaydah and Taiz governorates). 414 From
28 December 2020 to 28 March 2021, a total of 1 396 suspected cases of Dengue fever
were reported along with one associated death in Yemen. Within the last 4
epidemiological weeks, suspected cases were reported nationally, with 5 percent of
these being reported from Hajjah’s governorate. 415 From 1 January to 25 May 2019, a
total of 550 suspected cases of diphtheria were reported along with 32 associate deaths
in Yemen. 19 percent of these suspected cases were reported from Hajjah. 416 From 28
December 2020 to 28 March 2021, a total of 261 probable cases of diphtheria were
reported from northern governorates, along with 14 associated deaths. 11 percent of
these suspected cases were reported from Hajjah. 417 Roughly 58 639 children under one
were vaccinated against the major childhood diseases, and 21 523 women aged 14-59
years were vaccinated against Tetanus and Diphtheria through the third round of
Integrated Outreach Activities that was conducted in Hajjah, among the other

408
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/education_cluster_-_sdr_report_yemen_2020-08-
17-.pdf
409
OCHA, An Overview of the Humanitarian Needs in Yemen 2018, cited in
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/hajjah/
410
Interview with senior executive bureau official in Hajjah. March 2019, cited in
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/hajjah/
411
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/hajjah/
412
Interview with senior executive bureau official in Hajjah. March 2019, cited in
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/hajjah/
413
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/EMROPub_2019_cholera_August_yemen_EN.pdf
414
https://www.unicef.org/media/77611/file/Yemen-SitRep-November-2019.pdf
415
https://applications.emro.who.int/docs/yem/CoPub_Yem_Situation_rep_may_2019_en.pdf?ua=1&ua=1
416
https://applications.emro.who.int/docs/yem/CoPub_Yem_Situation_rep_may_2019_en.pdf?ua=1&ua=1
417
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/WHO%20March%202021%20Situation%20Report_
English.pdf

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 governorates. As of 24 May 2021, Hajjah had not been affected by the COVID-19
pandemic. 418

• Poverty Profile: In 2014, 92 percent of Hajjah’s budget was financed by grants and
central subsidies, while local revenues accounted for 8 percent. The war has reduced the
availability of local revenue (local shared revenues, particularly zakat, and taxes) due to
its impact on the economy. The establishment of the General Zakat Authority and the
transfer of zakat to a central revenue has caused the governorate to lose an important
source of income. According to the 2014 Household Budget Survey, the poverty rate in
Hajjah reached about 64 percent. As of 2017, 63.9 percent of Hajjah’s population, or 1
251 550 individuals, were in poverty. 419 More recent statistics suggest that the poverty
rate is now 83 percent. The Interim Food Security Classification for 2019 ranks Hajjah as
the governorate with the second-highest level of poverty in Yemen, after Al-Hudaydah.
Regarding the humanitarian situation and according to OCHA (Humanitarian Response
Plan for Yemen 2018), there are nearly 1.9 million people in need of assistance in Hajjah,
which constitutes nearly 90 percent of the population. 63 percent of them are in dire
need. Based on recent reports, Hajjah has been heavily damaged by fighting and
airstrikes. Active fighting occurred in several districts, with Kushar district the most
seriously affected. 420 Shelter/housing was the main need for the greatest proportion of
households in Hajjah, as opposed to food and financial services. 421 As of 2017, PiN in
Hajjah include 42 243 IDPs in catastrophic need, 303 s38 in extreme need, 131 936 in
severe need, 60 807 stressed and 25 133 in minimal need. Regarding non-IDPs in Hajjah,
288 985 are in catastrophic need, 788 044 are in extreme need, 553 273 are in severe
need, 291 751 are stressed and 145 166 are in minimal need. 422

• Food Security: Food insecurity is more severe in areas with active fighting or bordering
areas with limited access and is particularly affecting IDPs and marginalized groups. The
caseload in Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5) is mainly found in Hajjah (as well Al Jawf and
Amran). In Al Jawf and Hajjah, conflict, displacement and limited humanitarian access
are the main drivers. 423 Conflict is the principal driver of food insecurity in Yemen leading
to widespread displacement, humanitarian access constraints, disruption of public
services, ports blockade and restrictions, fuel crisis and economic disruption. Without a
permanent solution, it is unlikely that all other mitigation measures will have long-lasting
effects. According to the IPC Acute Food Insecurity Analysis October 2020 – June 2021,
on a population of 2 510 327 people, 379 500 are in IPC Phase 1 (Minimal), 704 000 in
IPC Phase 2 (Stressed), 1 014 000 in IPC Phase 3 (Crisis), 410 500 in Phase 4 (Emergency)
and 3 000 in Phase 5 (Catastrophe). 57 percent of the population (1 427 500 people) are

418
https://www.humanitarianresponse.info/sites/www.humanitarianresponse.info/files/documents/files/covi
d19_update_info_sharing-27_may_2021.pdf
419
https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/147231509378508387/pdf/Yemen-Poverty-Notes-Revised-
0612.pdf
420
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/hajjah/
421
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Yemen%20Area%20Assessment%20Round%2037_0
.pdf
422
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Yemen_HNO_2021_Final.pdf
423
http://www.ipcinfo.org/fileadmin/user_upload/ipcinfo/docs/IPC_Yemen_Acute_Food_Insecurity_2020Oct2
021June_Snapshot.pdf

93
 in IPC Phase 3 or higher.424 The district of Sha’lan grows qat as households producing qat
are twice as likely to be food secure than those not. Economic returns for growing qat
are greater than growing coffee for export. Production costs are low due to limited
labour and inputs. 425

• Instances of Child and Youth Labour: Children in northern governorates, including

Hajjah, are at particular risk of being trafficked to Saudi Arabia as forced labour, for
sexual exploitation and to carry out illegal activities for criminals. Children in Hajjah could
also be subjected to forced labour on fishing vessels which is dangerous as children risk
drowning and are often working in unsafe conditions with sometimes dangerous fishing
equipment.426

• Social Protection: The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Social

Protection for Community Resilience Project (SPCRP) is implemented in partnership with
the Social Fund for Development (SFD) with funding from the European Union (EU) to
strengthen the community resilience in 13 of Yemen’s most vulnerable governorates,
including Hajjah. 427 The total number of beneficiary households in Hajjah is more than
550 00, the highest of Yemen. WFP in-kind assistance has the highest number of
recipients in the Hajjah’s governorate (around 200 000), followed by the WB/UNICEF ECT
program for SWF beneficiary households and ICRC PSN (both more than 100 000). 428

LAHIJ:

• Topography & Geology: Lahij governorate is located on the southern coast of Yemen
with Taiz governorate to the northwest, Abyan governorate to the east, Al Dhale’e and
Al Bayda governorates to the north and northeast and Gulf of Aden to the south. Lahij
consists of 15 districts. The governorate is located in the southern most foothills of the
Sarawat Mountain Range and so has a hilly terrane toward the north and flatter plains
in the south. Identified rock types comprising Lahij’s geology include volcanic rocks such
as basalt and olivine basalt, comenditic rhyolite and pitchstone as well as quartzes such
as quartz-syenite and quartz-trachyte.429

• Climate & Meteorology: Lahij is comprised of 4 different climatic zones – including hot
desert climate, hot semi-arid climate, cold semi-arid climate and cold desert climate.
Average temperatures range from 24.3° C in January to 31.5° C in August. Average annual
rainfall is 359 mm with the rainiest month being August, 75 mm, and the driest month
being December, 12 mm. Average humidity ranges from 51 percent in April to 64 percent

424
http://www.ipcinfo.org/fileadmin/user_upload/ipcinfo/docs/201224_Yemen%20IPC%20AFI%20Brief_En_Fi
nal [3].pdf
425
https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/901231468347330974/pdf/549230ESW0P1020l0land0ten
ure109June.pdf
426
https://www.refworld.org/pdfid/4d4a68190.pdf
427
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/SPCRP%20June%202019%20Factsheet-%20Eng.pdf
428
https://documents.worldbank.org/en/publication/documents-
reports/documentdetail/606011617773513363/insights-from-yemen
429
https://www.mindat.org/loc-343042.html

94
 in September. There are 48 average annual rainy days, August and September each have
the rainiest days (7 each) while June only has 1 rainy day on average. 430

• Soil Quality: Soils in the south of Lahij are commonly sandy loams and contain gravel in
some areas and are well-drained. More broadly, Lahij’s soils are considered fertile. In the
north, soils are commonly shallow with the deepest soils found on terraced slopes and
in valleys. 431

• Land Use: Agriculture and livestock rearing are prevalent in Lahij. Grains are produced
for human consumption and as fodder for livestock. Most families produce food in Lahij,
however – poorer households must also rely on markets to supplement what they grow
as they commonly cannot produce all their food. Cotton is sometimes produced as a cash
crop.432 Quarrying and clay mining also take place in Lahij and are important economic
activities.433

• Water Resources: Wadi Tuban is one of the largest wadis in Yemen and provides water
to the Wadi Tuban Delta, located in southern Lahij. The wadi drains a catchment basin
of over 3 500 km2 and so a large amount of water runs through this area. Water from
Wadi Tuban is used both for irrigation and domestic purposes. Lahij’s water resources
have been affected by the conflict with public water infrastructure and water treatment
plants being destroyed or damaged. 434

• Irrigation System: Irrigation in Lahij commonly takes the form of groundwater

extraction, rainfall, spate irrigation, runoff and wadi-irrigation. Irrigation channels in
Lahij have been destroyed or damaged by conflict which severely impacts farmers’ ability
to grow crops. 435

• Agroecological Zones & Eco-Regions: Lahij is located in the Afrotropical realm and the
desert and xeric shrublands eco-region. Xeric shrublands are often ephemeral and
habitats are often changing with seasonality and water availability. This region can be
highly sensitive to disturbance which can pose a problem in Lahij due to livestock
grazing.436 Lahij falls under 3 livelihood zones – namely Greater Yemen Coastal and Island
Fishing Zone; Western and Central Wadi Sorghum, Millet, Vegetable, Fruit and Livestock
Zone and Western Coastal Plain Sorghum Millet and Livestock Zone. In the Greater
Yemen Coastal and Island Fishing Zone, livelihoods heavily rely on fishing and ocean-
based employment opportunities. In the Western and Central Wadi Sorghum, Millet,
Vegetable, Fruit and Livestock Zone sorghum, millet, maize and vegetables are grown as
food and cash crops. In the Western Coastal Plain Sorghum Millet and Livestock Zone,

430
https://en.climate-data.org/asia/yemen/lahij-governorate-2019/r/july-7/
431
http://www.fao.org/3/as059e/as059e.pdf
432
https://fews.net/sites/default/files/ye_zonedescriptions_en.pdf
433
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/lahj/
434
https://borgenproject.org/10-facts-about-sanitation-in-yemen/
435
http://www.fao.org/3/as059e/as059e.pdf
436
https://www.worldwildlife.org/biomes/deserts-and-xeric-shrublands

95
 sorghum and millet are grown as food and cash crops while cotton is also produced as a
cash crop.437

437
https://fews.net/sites/default/files/ye_zonedescriptions_en.pdf

96
• Biodiversity & Forests: Woody-stemmed shrubs, succulents, and seasonal wild herbs are
characteristic if the landscape. Commiphora woodlands are also common in this eco-
region. The eco-region's fauna is rich in reptiles and mammals such as honey badger and
Arabian wolf. 438,439

• Protected Areas: There are no protected areas in this governorate.

• Demographics: The governorate of Lahij is 13 036 km^2 and consists of 15 districts. Lahij
is the capital. Total population is 1 058 219 people as of 2019 440 (982 998 people as of
2017 with 485 999 female and 497 001 male residents). 441 Average family size is 6
individuals. An increase in the number of IDPs within the governorate was reported in
Lahij.442 As of 2019, 69 492 individual IDPs and 11 582 IDP households were located in
Lahij. 100 percent of displacement in Lahij governorate occurred due to conflict, as
opposed to natural disaster. As of 2019, there were 79 470 individual returnees and 13
245 returnee households in Lahij. 443

• Education: Lahij governorate’s education has been significantly disrupted by the conflict,
with 50 schools in Lahij damaged in the war. 444 Teachers, however, are being paid
regularly.445 The local authority and international organizations are supporting education
in Lahij, ensuring a measure of stability and continuity. 446

• Lahij is considered a target to house IDPs from different governorates. IDPs camps (Aisha
camp in Saber, Al Mashqafa camp in TABN, Rabat camp in Tuban, Al Sharayer camp in
Thor Al Albaha) have 1 059 school-age IDP children in need of education support. The
conflict has taken a severe toll on children’s access to education as children do not feel
safe when displaced. 230 school age children in IDP camps in Lahij governorate are
without birth certificates. 221 children already dropped out of school because of their
displacement. Most IDP children in camps are out of school, depriving them of an
education and exposing them to greater risks of recruitment to armed groups and child
marriage. Children may remain out of school so they can fetch water, which families may
prioritize over education. Even though some IDP children registered in schools close to
camps, irregular attendance and not attending exams makes schools not willing to
accept newly arriving IDP students. Schools near the IDP sites do not accept new

438
https://www.worldwildlife.org/ecoregions/at1302
439
https://www.worldwildlife.org/biomes/deserts-and-xeric-shrublands
440
http://www.ipcinfo.org/fileadmin/user_upload/ipcinfo/docs/201224_Yemen%20IPC%20AFI%20Brief_En_Fi
nal [3].pdf
441
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/lahj/
442
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/task_force_on_population_movement_8th_report_
-_apr_2016.pdf
443
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Yemen%20Area%20Assessment%20Round%2037_0
.pdf
444
OCHA, an Overview of the Humanitarian Needs in Yemen 2018, cited in
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/lahj/
445
Economic and Social Development in Yemen Newsletter (Issue No. 30, December 2017) published by the
Economic Studies and Forecast Sector in the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation, cited in.
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/lahj/
446
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/lahj/

97
 enrolment of IDP students with missing documents including previous education level
certificates.

• With regard to infrastructure, public schools near IDP hosting areas have become
overcrowded, as there are few schools available to accommodate displaced children in
hosting sites. Overcrowded public schools near IDP sites are discouraging school
administrations from enrolling more children, and parents from sending their children
to school. In addition, overcrowded classrooms reduce the quality of teaching and
learning. These public schools have become inadequate learning spaces. Moreover,
estimated inadequate availability of latrines and school cleanliness, and a lack of hand
washing facilities and clean drinking water have been reported in IDP camps in Lahij. The
lack of separate toilets or WASH facilities for girls is also reported to be a major cause of
girls dropping out of school. 447

• Health: Hospitals and health centers provide health services in the governorate, but the
services are insufficient to meet the needs of the population. The health facilities are
working on a low budget provided by the local authority and with support from
international donors. 448 30 884 Cholera cases and 46 associated deaths (CFR 0.15
percent) were reported in Lahij from 27 April 2017 to 31 August 2019. 449 From 01 January
to 25 May 2019, there were a total of 10 240 suspected cases of Dengue reported along
with 36 associated deaths (CFR 0.4 percent) in Yemen. 25 percent of these were reported
from Lahij’s governorate. The highest proportion of cases are from districts where access
is a challenge due to the security situation. 450 As of 31 May 2021, in Lahij, 334 total cases
of COVID-19 were reported as well as 79 related deaths and 189 recoveries. 451

• Poverty Profile: The poverty rate in Lahij was 69 percent in 2014. With the economic
disruptions brought on by the war, this rate has likely increased over the past years. 452
According to the 2014 local authority budget for Lahij, grants and central subsidies
constituted 98 percent of the total revenue for the governorate, while local revenues
accounted for only 2 percent. Local revenues (local shared revenues, income from the
sale of goods and services, fines and penalties, leasing land, and selling quarries) were
negatively affected by the war, and the governorate faced major economic disruption as
the site of an active front in the conflict, especially in 2015. 453 As of 2017, 69.1 percent
of Lahij’s population, or 634 004 individuals, were in poverty. 454 There are nearly 900 000
people (more than 90 percent of the population) in need of assistance in Lahij, 62
percent of whom are in dire need. 455 As of 2017, PiN in Lahij include 20 255 IDPs in

447
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/education_cluster_-_sdr_report_yemen_2020-08-
17-.pdf
448
Interview with Deputy Governor of Lahj, cited in https://yemenlg.org/governorates/lahj/
449
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/EMROPub_2019_cholera_August_yemen_EN.pdf
450
https://applications.emro.who.int/docs/yem/CoPub_Yem_Situation_rep_may_2019_en.pdf?ua=1&ua=1
451
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/20210606_COVID19_DTM%20Yemen%20Mobility%
20Restrictions%20Dashboard%20DRAFT_%2325_V2.pdf
452
Republic of Yemen, Household Budget Survey of 2014, cited in https://yemenlg.org/governorates/lahj/
453
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/lahj/
454
https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/147231509378508387/pdf/Yemen-Poverty-Notes-Revised-
0612.pdf
455
OCHA, Humanitarian Response Plan for Yemen 2018, cited in https://yemenlg.org/governorates/lahj/

98
 catastrophic need, 8 580 in extreme need, 10 436 in severe need, 14 764 stressed and
10 807 in minimal need. Regarding non-IDPs in Lahij, 111 225 are in catastrophic need,
282 253 are in extreme need, 181 088 are in severe need, 244 399 are stressed and 192
489 are in minimal need. 456

• Food Security: Among the 13 governorates having “very high” (≥40 percent) prevalence
of inadequate food consumption during March 2021, the highest was recorded in Lahij
(63%).457 Food was the main need for the greatest proportion of households in Lahij, as
opposed to shelter/housing and financial services. 458 According to the IPC Acute Food
Insecurity Analysis October 2020 – June 2021, on a population of 1 058 219 people, 348
000 are in IPC Phase 1 (Minimal), 405 500 in IPC Phase 2 (Stressed), 222 500 in IPC Phase
3 (Crisis), 79 500 in Phase 4 (Emergency) and none in Phase 5 (Catastrophe). 29 percent
of the population (302 000 people) are in IPC Phase 3 or higher. 459

• Instances of Child and Youth Labour: Yemeni children can be trafficked domestically for
forced labour, domestic service, begging, street vending, sexual exploitation and to work
as unskilled laborers – particularly to hubs such as Adan and Sana’a but also throughout
the rest of the country. Children from Somalia and Ethiopia are trafficked and sold in
Yemen as forced commercial sex workers. 460

• Social Protection: The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Social

Protection for Community Resilience Project (SPCRP) is implemented in partnership with
the Social Fund for Development (SFD) with funding from the European Union (EU) to
strengthen the community resilience in 13 of Yemen’s most vulnerable governorates,
including Lahij. 461 Another critical social protection/cash assistance intervention was the
Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM) project implemented in partnership with Field
Operation and Emergency section (the project coordinator) and Action Contre la Faim
(ACF - the project implementer). The RRM mechanism integrated a few critical first-
response activities, including the unconditional cash disbursed among the internally
displaced populations in Abyan, Lahij and Aden governorates. In total, 1 196 IDP
households (6 789 individuals), including 3 131 children under five (1 531 girls and 1 600
boys) were reached with a three- month unconditional cash assistance (USD 96 – the
amount equal to the value of a food basket) to address the displaced population’s food
and other basic needs and facilitate their access to social services. 462 The total number
of Lahij’s’s beneficiary households in Lahij’s is 250 000. Lahij have much higher
concentrations of households receiving assistance compared to the population (above
150 percent). The WB/UNICEF ECT program for SWF beneficiary households has the

456
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Yemen_HNO_2021_Final.pdf
457
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/WFP-0000130243.pdf
458
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Yemen%20Area%20Assessment%20Round%2037_0
.pdf
459
http://www.ipcinfo.org/fileadmin/user_upload/ipcinfo/docs/201224_Yemen%20IPC%20AFI%20Brief_En_Fi
nal [3].pdf
460
https://www.refworld.org/pdfid/4d4a68190.pdf
461
ihttps://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/SPCRP%20June%202019%20Factsheet-
%20Eng...pdf
462
https://socialprotection.org/connect/communities/social-protection-crisis-contexts/documents/european-
commission-span-2019-case-1

99
 highest number of recipients in the Lahij’s governorate (almost 100 000), followed by
WFP cash (around 50 000). WFP’s cash assistance program is only operational in the
Southern governorates, and accounts for a considerable share of total cash assistance
beneficiaries in Lahij (as well as Aden, and Shabwah). 463

TAIZ:

• Topography & Geology: Taiz is located on the western coast of Yemen with the Red Sea
to the west, Lahij governorate to the south and Ibb and Al Hudaydah to the north and
northeast. The governorate is comprised of 23 districts while the capital is Taiz. The
governorate is comprised of the southernmost foothills of the Sarawat Mountain range
and the lower Tihamah Plain. The geology is comprised of the Taliwah and Medj-Zir
sandstones toward the east of the governorate and alluvial deposits along the coast. The
Taliwah sandstones date from the Cretaceous period while the Medj-Zir group is from
the Tertiary. Both groups are cross-bedded and course-grained quartz sandstones.
Sandstones are sedimentary rocks composed of sand-sized grains of mineral, rock and/or
organic materials. The Taliwah sandstones also consist of conglomerate layers with red
and green shale with the Medj-Zir contains fossiliferous layers of calcareous shales. 464

• Climate & Meteorology: Taiz governorate consists of four climatic zonez – namely:
(i) hot desert climate; (ii) hot semi-arid climate; (iii) cold semi-arid climate; and
(iv) oceanic climate. Average temperature ranges from 19.2° C in January to 25.3° C in in
June. Average annual rainfall is 619 mm, with the rainiest month being September (121
mm) and the driest months being February and December (19 mm each). Average
humidity ranges from 52 percent in October to 71 percent in August. September has the
highest number of rainy days (16) while February has the fewest (three). There are 95
average rainy days a year. 465

• Soil Quality: Taiz’s soils are isohyperthermic and aridic. 466 Isohyperthermic soils are the
hottest soils on Earth and measure above 22° C. 467 Aridic soils are hot and dry and occur
in aridic climates. Irrigation is required in aridic soils in order to produce crops. 468,469

• Land Use: In the Tihamah Plain region of Taiz, land is used to grow sorghum, millet and
cotton and raise livestock. In the highland areas, sorghum, millet and maize is grown.
Qat is also produced in the highland areas and is a highly important economic and cash
crop. Qat is relatively cheap to produce and can get a high return. Qat is either consumed
locally or, in most cases, sold to traders who sell nationally or export to Saudi Arabia.
Milk and meat are produced throughout the province and consumed at the household

463
https://documents.worldbank.org/en/publication/documents-
reports/documentdetail/606011617773513363/insights-from-yemen
464
https://edepot.wur.nl/493427
465
https://en.climate-data.org/asia/yemen/ta-izz-governorate-2018/r/july-7/
466
https://edepot.wur.nl/493427
467
https://passel2.unl.edu/view/lesson/69c7561e50b3/11
468
https://lawr.ucdavis.edu/classes/ssc120/acrobats/smr.pdf
469
http://www.soilinfo.psu.edu/index.cgi?soil_clim&information&general&taxonomy_defs&soil_moist_regim
es&classes&aridic

100
 level and sold on the market. Fishing is also an important economic activity. Industries
such as cement manufacturing and stone, marble, sand and salt quarries are present.
Traditional arts such as metalworking, stonemasonry and textile and leather production
are still important livelihoods.470

• Water Resources: There has been a significant lack of clean drinking in Taiz ever since
the war began. Much of the Public water and sanitation infrastructure has been
damaged or destroyed by conflict. Water-borne infectious diseases are especially
prevalent in Taiz and threaten the lives of Taiz’s population, especially children. Since
2015 piped water has been cut off in the city of Taiz and residents rely on tanked water
for domestic needs. The cost of water has doubled, and water disputes have risen by 20
percent in the governorate since conflict began. 471

• Irrigation System: Pumped groundwater from wells and reservoirs is a large source of
irrigation in Taiz. Natural springs, rain, runoff, drip irrigation systems and spate and wadi
irrigation are also common. 472,473

• Agroecological Zones & Eco-Regions: Taiz is located in the Afrotropical realm and the
South Arabian fog woodlands, shrublands and dune eco-region. The South Arabian fog
woodlands, shrublands and dune eco-region is characterized by frequent fog and/or
humidity in the summer months arising from moisture-bearing winds from the Arabian
Sea which serve to provide moisture in an otherwise quite dry environment. Taiz falls
under four livelihood zones – namely the Greater Yemen Coastal and Island Fishing Zone;
the Western and Central Highland Qat, Grain, Fodder, Livestock Zone; the Western and
Central Wadi Sorghum, Millet, Vegetable, Fruit and Livestock Zone and the Western
Coastal Plain Sorghum Millet and Livestock Zone. In the Greater Yemen Coastal and
Island Fishing Zone, livelihoods heavily rely on fishing and ocean-based employment
opportunities. In the Western and Central Highland Qat, Grain, Fodder, Livestock Zone,
sorghum, pulses and vegetables are grown as food crops while coffee, qat and sorghum
are grown as cash crops. In the Western and Central Wadi Sorghum, Millet, Vegetable,
Fruit and Livestock Zone sorghum, millet, maize and vegetables are grown as food and
cash crops. In the Western Coastal Plain Sorghum Millet and Livestock Zone, sorghum
and millet are grown as food and cash crops while cotton is also produced as a cash
crop.474

470
https://fews.net/sites/default/files/ye_zonedescriptions_en.pdf
471
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/taiz/
472
https://www.benaye.org/en/10521/
473
https://humanaccess.org/m/news/water-project-taiz-governorate
474
https://fews.net/sites/default/files/ye_zonedescriptions_en.pdf

101
102
• Biodiversity & Forests: Acacia forests and deciduous woodlands are common in this eco-
region. Grasslands, evergreen thickets and fig trees are also prevalent. Succulent
shrubland can be found further inland. Fauna include Arabian oryx, Arabian wolf, Arabian
gazelle, honey badger, Ruppell’s sand fox and red fox. 475

• Protected Areas: There are no protected areas in the Taiz governorate.

• Demographics: The governorate of Taiz is 10 321 km2 and consists of 23 districts. The
city of Taiz is the capital. The governorate is the most populous in Yemen with a total
population of 3 065 034 people as of 2019 476 (3 182 000 people as of 2017 with 1 700
000 female and 1 482 000 male residents). 477 Average family size is 6 individuals. An
increase in the number of IDPs within the governorate was reported in Taiz. According
to the 2016 Task Force Population Movement - 8 th report, 66 percent of the IDP
population (620 934 individuals) had sought refuge in Taiz, which remains the
governorate of origin for the highest number of IDPs. Within Taiz, displacement has been
observed to primarily occur from the districts of Al Mudhaffar (343 571 individuals), Al
Qahirah (187 148 individuals) and Salh (154 428 individuals). These populations account
for 79 percent of the total population identified to have fled areas within Taiz.478 As of
2019, 411 750 individual IDPs and 68 625 IDP households were located in Taiz. Almost
100 percent of displacement in Taiz governorate occurred due to conflict, as opposed to
natural disaster. As of 2019, there were 148 326 individual returnees and 24 721
returnee households in Taiz.479 In March 2021, 30 317 IDPs were displaced, with most
displacement waves coming from Ma’rib, Al Hodeidah, Taiz and Al-Jawf, as internal
displacement within governorates towards safer districts increased. 480

475
https://www.oneearth.org/ecoregions/south-arabian-fog-woodlands-shrublands-and-dune/
476
http://www.ipcinfo.org/fileadmin/user_upload/ipcinfo/docs/201224_Yemen%20IPC%20AFI%20Brief_En_Fi
nal [3].pdf
477
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/taiz/
478
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/task_force_on_population_movement_8th_report_
-_apr_2016.pdf
479
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Yemen%20Area%20Assessment%20Round%2037_0
.pdf
480
https://www.unicef.org/media/98951/file/Yemen-Humanitarian-SitRep-March-2021.pdf

103
• Education: Taiz has seen the highest number of schools damaged by the war, with at
least 334 schools damaged. 481 Teachers were being paid regularly, albeit only in the
districts not under the control of the de facto government in Sana’a. Regular salary
payments have allowed a measure of continuity and stability in education in some of
Taiz’s districts, while the disruption has been more severe in others. According to some
estimates, 468 out of 1 624 schools in the governorate (28 percent) have had to close,
depriving nearly 250 000 students of education. Some schools have reopened in areas
where salary payments for teachers have resumed. 482 The population of Taiz’s Alwazia &
Almukha districts are suffering from malnutrition, spread of diseases, and lack of drinking
water as its sources are far from the places where people live. In addition to the
increased rate of financial insecurity.483 An estimated 23 schools are partially damaged
due to the conflict, which results in an insecure environment for studying. These schools
are unfit for use because of conflict-related damage and destruction by direct attack by
airstrikes, ground fighting, and the use of schools for military purposes or housing IDPs.
Targeted 23 schools are in instant need of furniture to continue minimum standard
education. The number of students affected is 11 274; 6 801 males and 4 473 females.
Due to conflict in both districts, at least 693 male and female students multi-displaced
to other locations in the area. They are afraid to go to school during the conflict because
the school could be attacked, which has resulted in students dropping out. These
students need psychological support, protection, and a good educational environment
to complete their studies. 484

• Health: In the health sector, the war, the disruption of salaries, and cuts to the
operational budget of the governorate have been a source of major challenges to the
provision of health services. Many healthcare centers have been closed. There are still
several hospitals and health centers in operation, but the services they provide are
insufficient and do not meet the needs of the population. Most rely on donor support.
Due to the decline in health services and a scarcity of clean drinking water, there have
been major epidemics of infectious diseases such as cholera threatening the lives of
many in the governorate. 485 11 4964 cases of Cholera and 304 deaths (CFR 0.26 percent)
were reported in Taiz from 27 April 2017 to 31 August 2019. 486 According to UNICEF,
between 20 October - 10 November 2019, 26 deaths associated with dengue fever were
reported from Al Hudaydah, Taiz, and Hajjah governorates. 487 Roughly 58 639 children
under the age of one were vaccinated against the major childhood diseases, and 21 523
women aged 14-59 years were vaccinated against Tetanus and Diphtheria through the

481
OCHA, An Overview of the Humanitarian Needs in Yemen 2018, cited in
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/taiz/
482
Amal Eldeek and others, Pathways for Peace and Stability in Taiz, Yemen: an analysis of conflict Dynamics
and Windows of Opportunity, Search for Common Ground, Yemen, 2018, p. 19-20, cited in
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/taiz/
483
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/education_cluster_-_sdr_report_yemen_2020-08-
17-.pdf
484
Ibid.
485
Amal Eldeek and others, Pathways for Peace and Stability in Taiz, Yemen: an analysis of conflict Dynamics
and Windows of Opportunity, Search for Common Ground, Yemen, 2018, p. 20-21, cited in
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/taiz/
486
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/EMROPub_2019_cholera_August_yemen_EN.pdf
487
https://www.unicef.org/media/77611/file/Yemen-SitRep-November-2019.pdf

104
 third round of Integrated Outreach Activities that was conducted in Yemen, including
Taiz.488 As of 31 May 2021, in Taiz, 1 395 total cases of COVID-19 were reported, along
with 208 deaths and 636 recoveries. 489 Taiz is the second most affected governorate
after Hadramaut. 490 The Yemeni authorities had implemented additional preventive
measures and health screenings for people passing through ten transit points used for
public movement between southern and northern governorates, specifically at points
located in Taiz (and Al-Bayda). As of 31 May 2021, these restrictions have been loosened
and the health screenings have been removed. 491

• Poverty Profile: Taiz was the most affected governorate with 67 documented
incidents.492 Taiz has been the longest running and potentially the deadliest frontline of
the armed conflict since 2015, with a blockade, regular shelling and ongoing fighting
taking a dramatic toll on a governorate that has long been Yemen’s economic heartland.
The economy of Taiz was devastated by the war and the basis for local revenue
generation has been eroded significantly. 493 According the 2014 Household Budget
Survey, the poverty rate in Taiz governorate was 41 percent. As of 2017, 41.4 percent of
Taiz’s population, or 1 236 077 individuals, were in poverty. 494 After years of ongoing
military confrontations, the poverty rate has increased sharply in the governorate. 495
People’s lives remain impacted every day by fighting, and thousands are being displaced
from their homes and displacement sites. 496 According to OCHA’s 2018 Humanitarian
Response Plan for Yemen, there were nearly 600 000 people in need of assistance in Taiz
(approximately 20 percent of the population), 65 percent who were dire need. 497 As of
2017, PiN in Taiz include 40 571 IDPs in catastrophic need, 95 835 in extreme need, 117
713 in severe need, 100 042 stressed and 43 539 in minimal need. Regarding non-IDPs
in Taiz, 273 126 are in catastrophic need, 607 966 are in extreme need, 807 435 are in
severe need, 715 092 are stressed and 303 260 are in minimal need. 498

• Food Security: Food was the main need for the greatest proportion of households in
Taiz, as opposed to shelter/housing and financial services. 499 According to the IPC Acute
Food Insecurity Analysis October 2020 – June 2021, on a population of 3 065 034 people,
611 500 are in IPC Phase 1 (Minimal), 1 199 000 in IPC Phase 2 (Stressed), 873 000 in IPC
Phase 3 (Crisis), 379 000 in Phase 4 (Emergency) and none in Phase 5 (Catastrophe). 41

488
Ibid.
489
https://www.humanitarianresponse.info/sites/www.humanitarianresponse.info/files/documents/files/covi
d19_update_info_sharing-27_may_2021.pdf
490
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/20210606_COVID19_DTM%20Yemen%20Mobility%
20Restrictions%20Dashboard%20DRAFT_%2325_V2.pdf
491
Ibid.
492
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/education_cluster_-_sdr_report_yemen_2020-08-
17-.pdf
493
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/taiz/
494
https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/147231509378508387/pdf/Yemen-Poverty-Notes-Revised-
0612.pdf
495
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/taiz/
496
https://www.unicef.org/media/98951/file/Yemen-Humanitarian-SitRep-March-2021.pdf
497
https://yemenlg.org/governorates/taiz/
498
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Yemen_HNO_2021_Final.pdf
499
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Yemen%20Area%20Assessment%20Round%2037_0
.pdf

105
 percent of the population (1 252 000 people) are in IPC Phase 3 or higher. 500 Acute
Wasting by Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) was detected in 21 percent of the
total children aged 6-59 months screened in March 2021, with the highest rates recorded
in Al Hudaydah and Taiz. 501

• Instances of Child and Youth Labour: Across the ten districts covered, children often
begin working at the age of 10. Boys are engaging in carrying goods for merchants,
begging, stone cutting, transportation and carpentry work. Girls are engaged in domestic
labour or as farming assistants. Children can also be recruited as soldiers, and it is
believed both government forces and opposition militias use child soldiers. On average,
as many as 600 children are killed or wounded annually since the conflict began. 502

• Social Protection: The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Social

Protection for Community Resilience Project (SPCRP) is implemented in partnership with
the Social Fund for Development (SFD) with the generous funding of the European Union
(EU) to strengthen the community resilience in 13 of Yemen’s most vulnerable
governorates, including Taiz. 503 UNICEF implemented its humanitarian Cash Transfers
programming (CTP) from late 2015 to early 2017, which aimed to improve purchasing
power and meet basic needs of the most vulnerable households affected by the conflict.
In Phase 1 the programme was implemented in Amanat Al-Asima (city of Sana’a) while
in Phase 2 it extended to the Taiz governorate, where armed conflict was still ongoing.
Monthly unconditional, unrestricted cash transfers were provided for six months. In Taiz,
households with children received YER 21 500 per month and others received YER 10
750 (EUR 44.50) per month. Some 20 150 households were supported in both Sana’a and
Taiz. In areas of Taiz where money exchangers did not exist, AMB leveraged other
distribution sites, such as local grocery stores. 504 The total number of beneficiary
households in Taiz governorate is around 525 000, the second highest after Hajjah. The
WB/UNICEF ECT program for SWF beneficiary households have the highest number of
recipients in the Taiz governorate (around 175.000), followed by WFP in-kind assistance
(around 125 000). 505

500
http://www.ipcinfo.org/fileadmin/user_upload/ipcinfo/docs/201224_Yemen%20IPC%20AFI%20Brief_En_Fi
nal [3].pdf
501
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/WHO%20March%202021%20Situation%20Report_
English.pdf
502
https://www.refworld.org/pdfid/4d4a68190.pdf
503
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/SPCRP%20June%202019%20Factsheet-%20Eng.pdf
504
https://socialprotection.org/connect/communities/social-protection-crisis-contexts/documents/european-
commission-span-2019-case-1
505
https://documents.worldbank.org/en/publication/documents-
reports/documentdetail/606011617773513363/insights-from-yemen

106
5. PROJECT-LEVEL ENVIRONMENT AND SOCIAL ASSESSMENT AND PROPOSED
MITIGATION MEASURES

5.1 Assessment of Potential Risks and Impacts of the updated Project including
additional financing
Social Risks & Impacts:
• Positive Impacts: The project is expected to bring significant social benefits to the target
communities. Specifically, it will create temporary employment opportunities through
the CFW Program under Component 1, helping to alleviate food security and improve
household income. Under Component 2, it will support the restoration of local food
production and increase the sales of crops and livestock. Under Component 3, the
project will promote diversified nutrient crops for households to establish gardens and
backyards production, and Component 4 would provide capacity-building for food
security management. Particular attention and efforts are given to the promotion of
youth and women participation and maximizing their benefits through dedicated
subcomponents. The proposed interventions are to restore and rehabilitate farms and
fields and are planned to take place within existing footprints.

• Adverse Impacts and Risks: The social risk rating for the project is substantial due to risks
of occupational health and safety (OHS) (including encountering unexploded ordinances
(UXOs)/explosions from remnants of war (ERW)), child and/or bonded labour,
community health and safety (including transmission of COVID-19 and other
communicable diseases), potential elite capture, and unpredictability of the ongoing
security situation. Potential, adverse social impacts related to the CFW activities under
Component 1 for rehabilitating farmlands and reconstructing irrigation networks are
expected to be small. Large-scale resettlement is not anticipated given that the
interventions will take place within existing footprints and focus on small-scale
rehabilitation/maintenance. Nonetheless, CFW interventions carry a potential for
labour-related impacts and risks (e.g. possible child and/or bonded labour;
discriminatory practices in recruitment; occupational health and safety issues),
temporary small-scale resettlement, risks to community health and safety, and possible
conflicts with local communities over investment benefits. One of the main concerns for
OHS pertains to injuries incurred due to lack of worker experience, as the project will
engage workers from within the communities. A similar project, the Smallholder
Agricultural Productivity Restoration and Enhancement Project (SAPREP), sustained a
fatal injury during similar, small-scale reconstruction activities. Whilst this prior history
of fatal injury (in this case, death due to the collapse of a portion of the channel’s earthen
side berm) in the proposed project area would normally lead to a high-risk rating, the
corrective measures implemented over 2019 and 2020 with SFD (one of the
implementing agencies of SAPREP and an implementation partner for this project as
well) resulted in high safeguards comprehension, implementation capacity, and
compliance rates across all project areas. 506 Moreover, since 2018, both SFD and PWP
have embarked on a capacity-building program on E&S aspects including OHS. Under

506
For more information, please refer to, “Annex V: Third Follow Up Report on SAPREP SCAP Implementation
to 30 June 2020”.

107
 these programs, over 4000 individuals including staff, site engineers, consultants,
contractors, and site workers have received training on E&S safeguards as relevant to
their roles. Based on the results achieved following the corrective measures and capacity
building efforts, the risk rating for this type of OHS incident is considered substantial
rather than high.

• More broadly, the project carries a social risk that elites and relatively more fortunate
individuals will capture the benefits and undermine project objectives by excluding poor
and vulnerable groups like the elderly, poor farmers, women, and individuals displaced
by the ongoing conflict. The main challenge is, thus, to ensure that services provided by
the project reach the affected population and are distributed in a transparent, equitable
manner. There are also security risks in that the adverse social impacts of the project
may give rise to a limited degree of social conflict or harm to human security. To mitigate
these social risks, FAO, UNDP, and WFP have jointly prepared a security management
plan (SMP) and are working closely with SFD, PWP and SMEPS to define key selection
criteria for target areas. ICRC’s SMP is separate but aligned with the other agencies’ SMP.
The criteria forms part of the stakeholder engagement process, including the disclosure
of public information and outreach related to the project, and is detailed in the
complementary Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP). The SEP details how appropriate
stakeholder engagement is to be conducted throughout implementation to avoid
conflicts resulting from unfair distribution of services, the inability of vulnerable groups
to access services, and/or issues related to the location of producers in remote rural
areas.

Environmental Risks & Impacts:

• Positive Impacts: The project is expected to result in the following positive
environmental impacts: (i) recommencement of agricultural production activities;
(ii) improved water use and management; (iii) increased familiarity with and
incorporation of climate smart agricultural practices; (iv) diversification of crops and
nutrition-dense foods; (v) economically-environmentally friendly and sustainable use of
hydroponics and aquaponics; and (vi) high-productivity piloted interventions which save
land and water consumption for irrigation, which may also encourage replication at a
larger scale.

• Adverse Impacts & Risks: The environmental risk is considered substantial as the
implementation agencies’ ESF capacity remains limited (albeit i mproving through
various capacity building efforts of prior projects) and the project will support several
interventions which carry risks of: (i) waste generation, noise, dust, and pollution
(including those linked to labour/OHS); and (ii) use of pesticides and/or fertilizers.
Environmental risks and impacts are expected to be site-specific, reversible, and
generally of low magnitude that can be mitigated following appropriate measures. Some
risks are specific to the construction activities/implementation phase, while others
pertain to the use of equipment during operations phase.

• Minor, localized, and mitigatable negative impacts linked with construction activities
include noise, generation of dust and solid wastes, water use increase, and energy

108
 demand increase. These impacts might be caused during rehabilitation works under the
CFW programme of Component 1, which supports the rehabilitation and maintenance
of:
• Terraces;
• On-farm water harvesting facilities (e.g. underground cisterns and open wadi pits);
• Watershed management/rainwater harvesting structures in mountainous area,
including but not limited to check dikes and gabions/retaining walls in wadi beds;
• Spate irrigation works in lower mountains and foothills, such as small spate
diversion canals, shallow wells, and springs;
• Irrigation canals and farm-level conveyance systems;
• Small rural access roads to isolated villages/communities.

• Interventions to be supported under Component 4 may also carry similar, minor,

localized, and mitigatable impacts such as the generation of noise, dust, and solid wastes
during the construction phase of the hydroponics and aquaponics systems, rehabilitation
of apiary training centers/cooperatives. During operations, risks pertaining to OHS,
emergency preparedness, fire safety, etc. apply. This is also pertinent for processing
facilities utilized under Component 2 of the project. Operational risks are addressed
through training on OHS and the adequate use of PPE, safe operations of facilities, etc.,
and are listed in Table 8 (risks specific to project activities). In addition, project
interventions which rehabilitate terraces and develop hydroponics could increase the
use of pesticides (though the project will not finance the procurement of pesticides) and
fertilizers due to increased agricultural production. The pesticides and fertilizers would
need to be applied and disposed of adequately and in a controlled manner, based on the
guidance in the supporting Pest and Pesticide Management Plan (PMP).

• Labour and OHS-related environmental risks include improper use of protective

equipment; movement and management of hazardous waste; and risks to community
health and safety due to generation of dust, air pollutants, sewage, and transmission of
disease. Civil works increase the inherent risk of transmission of infectious diseases, like
covid-19 and/or HIV-AIDS, due to proximity to people and/or waste materials. Transport
of materials and construction activities may affect traffic safety and housing structures
along the roadside.

• It is not expected that this project will have a negative impact on natural habitats, since
most civil works will be done on existing infrastructure. In instances where impact does
occur (e.g. expansion of irrigation infrastructure or an access road), then these will be
small to moderate, localized, temporary, and can be mitigated through effective control
and management of the contracted workers, as well as ensuring effective
communication with local communities and local authorities. To mitigate potential
impacts on protected areas and biodiversity, no subproject activities will be allowed in
the sensitive areas and these measures have been incorporated in the negative list in
the annexes.

• Any adverse impacts from the project will be identified and addressed during proj ect
implementation which are potentially related to (i) construction and CFW activities;

109
 (ii) operations of project-supported infrastructure; and (iii) primary production and
support activities.

4 5.2 Proposed Mitigation Measures

• Table 7 provides an overview of cross-cutting risks which the project must consider.
Table 8 provides an overview of the identified environmental and social risks/impacts by
project activities, along with proposed mitigation measures and reference tools for
further guidance/action. A narrative summary of the mitigation measures can also be
found below. The tables serve to highlight the initial risks and impacts which may be
found in subproject areas, based on the project component/activities under
implementation. They are not meant to be exhaustive, as the subproject-level screening
will identify the site-specific risks.

• Social risk & impact mitigation measures for the project are predominantly focused on:
(i) communication, stakeholder engagement, and grievance redress with affected
communities; (ii) ensuring effective engagement with vulnerable persons and
communities where they are present (e.g. women, elderly, disabled, youth, and ethnic
minorities); (iii) mitigating social tensions through community involvement and
engagement; (iv) addressing gender dimensions of the operation including GBV; and
(v) labour aspects including worker safety. Negative impacts related to Occupational
Health and Safety (OHS) as a result of engaging communities in CFW and small-scale
infrastructural works will be addressed through: (i) strict compliance with the Labour
Management Plan; (ii) applying and following a construction-focused ESMP (C-ESMP),
which includes measures to address OHS on-site; (iii) continuous stakeholders’ training
and awareness; and (iv) ensuring the use of PPE and security/safety equipment.

• Environmental risk & impact mitigation measures for the project are focused
predominantly on avoiding ecological harm and minimizing disturbances from
construction (e.g. dust, noise, waste generation) and/or agricultural production activities
(e.g. increased use of pesticides and fertilizers). Risk to ecologically sensitive areas will
be mitigated by identifying and mapping out sensitive ecological and agronomical areas
within the subproject site (reference can be made to the Environmental Baseline in this
ESMF, which identifies protected areas). The project will respect the Exclusion
List (Annex 3) and ensure that no banned pesticides are utilized in the project areas
(Annex 2 contains a full list of prohibited pesticides). Rather, the project will focus on
climate smart agriculture approaches and use of biopesticides (in instances where
pesticides are required) to ensure sustainable and ecologically sensitive production
practices. The project will adopt an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach.

110
TABLE 7: Cross-Cutting Project Risks

Impact and risk Reference

ESS Potential Risk or Impact level (H/M/L) Proposed Mitigation Measures Tools Responsible Entity
ESS2 Existing risk of Unexploded Ordinances High but with Subproject FAO / UNDP/
▪ Liaise with Government of Yemen
ESS4 (UXOs) /landmines if the activities are mitigation Low (as ESMPs WFP/ICRC
conducted in previously most activities will ▪ Prior to commencement of activities in a new
unexplored/unutilized areas occur in areas area, FAO must consult the latest reports from
already United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS)
explored/known)
to determine likelihood of UXOs in the area,
and contact both UNMAS and the government
agency responsible for UXO clearance to assess
the risk and provide confirmation on UXO
safety before any work is conducted (this
involves conducting a UXO risk assessment and
obtaining UXO clearance). The ICRC has its own
internal Weapons and Explosive Ordinance
(WEC) team that is part of its field operations.
▪ Avoid areas with UXOs / landmines and, if
needed, only proceed in an area only when
UNMAS confirms safe removal.
ESS1 Possible increase of spreading COVID-19 M LMP FAO/ UNDP/
▪ Follow the WB guidance and regulations on
ESS4 and emerging pandemic SMP WFP/ICRC
Covid-19, as the (i) WHO guidance on Subproject
prevention of the spread of the COVID-19 ESMPs
virus, (ii) the Governmental instruction; (iii) the
UN Inter-Agency Guidance Note on Indigenous
Peoples and COVID-19 507 while (iv) seeking
also international good-practice on
consultations under COVID-19 and innovative

507 https://www.un.org/development/desa/indigenouspeoples/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2020/04/Indigenous-peoples-and-COVID_IASG_23.04.2020-EN.pdf

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 Impact and risk Reference
ESS Potential Risk or Impact level (H/M/L) Proposed Mitigation Measures Tools Responsible Entity
approaches established by World Bank, UN,
ICRC, and other development agencies.
▪ Continuous Good practices consideration, as
Talking Books, radio programs combined with
call-in-feedback, small-group discussions once
allowed with provision of PPE, etc. as
appropriate.
▪ Ensure COVID-19 mitigation measure within
ESMP and especially regarding Health and
Safety issues raised
▪ For FFA and resilience and Livelihood project
follow WFP COVID-19 SOPs in programme
design and implementation.
ESS10 Conflict over selection of beneficiaries, M GRM FAO/ UNDP /
▪ Ensure that the selection of beneficiary
resource allocation, distribution of Subprojects WFP/ICRC
benefits. households is highly inclusive and covers a ESMPs & SEPs
broad array of vulnerable peoples. Vulnerable
groups and criteria analysis would be set up in
POM and SEP guidelines.
▪ Ensure that women, particularly female heads
of households, are included in the
identification of beneficiaries and locations
▪ Ensure that the selection of beneficiary
locations, modes of selection, and decision
making are publicly disseminated
▪ Ensure that households benefiting already
from another component or project are not
disproportionately benefiting from FSRRP

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 Impact and risk Reference
ESS Potential Risk or Impact level (H/M/L) Proposed Mitigation Measures Tools Responsible Entity
activities – the benefits must be shared across
the project area, with a focus on those not
receiving assistance.
▪ Implement Grievance Redress Mechanism
(GRM)
▪ Conduct proper consultation with the
communities prior to commencement of
subprojects as per the SEP
ESS10 Elite capture and/or manipulation of L Subproject
▪ Conduct gender inclusive local consultations FAO/ UNDP/
subprojects by political, ethnic, or military ESMPs & SEPs
factions. This may include inequitable and political economy analysis as part of the WFP/ICRC
sharing of subproject benefits due to overall contextual analysis done before
domination by some political/ethnic entering new project locations to understand
groups or leaders. and avoid possible elite capture
▪ Ensure that selection of beneficiary locations
and beneficiaries, modes of selection and
decision making are widely disseminated
among the public – as per Stakeholder
Engagement Plan (SEP). Beneficiary selection
criteria should be transparent and well
communicated as per the POM and
subproject’s SEP.
▪ More in-depth monitoring, evaluation, and
management arrangements for areas deemed
to be highest risk, based on the subproject
ESMP.

▪ Public disclosure of information and setting

functional GRMs

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 Impact and risk Reference
ESS Potential Risk or Impact level (H/M/L) Proposed Mitigation Measures Tools Responsible Entity
▪ Communicate and implement the GRM
▪ Have a communication plan
ESS4 Resurgence of violence that places inputs, M SMP, SEP FAO/ UNDP/
▪ Conduct in-depth contextual analysis,
equipment and structures at risk of WFP/ICRC
damage or complete destruction incorporating feedback from separate
consultations with men and women, before
entering new communities with project
investments, including a detailed analysis of
potential conflict lines
▪ Only implement activities in communities
which are predictably stable, or receive prior
agreement from potential conflict groups
expressing the joined interest in a subproject
and committing to implement / maintain the
outcomes jointly
▪ Continuously monitor the situation in project
areas to enable early detection, as much as
possible, of conflict to enable necessary
adjustments
ESS2 Security and health risks for local staff M SMP FAO/ WFP /
▪ Implement the Security Management Plan,
UNDP/ICRC
considering local conditions the district level,
including the mapping of local staff, their
potential security risks and means of
protection
ESS2 Conflicts over provision of employment or M SEP FAO / ICRC/
▪ Ensure that the selection of local staff,
ESS4 contracts LMP Implementing
ESS7 contractors and other service providers or Partners/
ESS10 local implementers is highly inclusive and Contractors

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 Impact and risk Reference
ESS Potential Risk or Impact level (H/M/L) Proposed Mitigation Measures Tools Responsible Entity
covers a broad array of ethnic groups,
pastoralists (if applicable), agriculturalists and
IDPs and develop a map demonstrating
inclusiveness per district, including specific
measures to ensure non-discrimination in
recruitment and employment, in particular in
relation to women and persons with
disabilities
▪ Ensure that job advertisements and calls for
proposals are widely disseminated, including in
local languages (and minority languages, if
applicable), and selection processes are made
as public as possible
▪ Communicate and implement the general
GRM for the project and the GRM established
for project workers under ESS2
ESS10 Cancellation of programming due to M SEP FAO / ICRC/
▪ Ensure that changes to project processes and
escalated conflict and insecurity can GRM Implementing
reduce the trust of beneficiaries possible cancellations of project activities are Partners
adequately communicated to the beneficiaries
and the public, as per the Stakeholder
Engagement Plan (SEP)
▪ Ensure the general GRM is easy to access and
use so that complaints can be received and
responded to in a timely fashion.
ESS10 Conflict resulting from attraction of L SEP FAO /
▪ Communicate and Implement SEP to enable
returnee/IDP populations to communities GRM Implementing
that have improved production systems the integration of new concerns into project Partners
and social infrastructure implementation

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 Impact and risk Reference
ESS Potential Risk or Impact level (H/M/L) Proposed Mitigation Measures Tools Responsible Entity
▪ Communicate and Implement the general
GRM
ESS5 Disputes over use of land and property for L ESMF & FAO /
▪ Carry out due diligence to get a
ESS6 project activities where ownership and exclusion list Implementing
ESS10 access rights are contested (for both comprehensive picture of local perceptions of (Annex 3) Partners
public and private property, as well as legitimate housing, land and property rights SEP;
protected areas), based on historical and when identifying beneficiary areas – including GRM;
current large-scale displacement and perceptions of current, previous (IDP) and Coherence of
seasonal migration due to conflict, ethnic seasonal occupants (e.g. pastoralists), as well ES documents
/ political affiliations, or cultural norms as local authorities, in order to establish the with the FAO
and land tenure laws (which may VGGT
viability of those locations.
discriminate against women)
▪ Conduct a complementary in-depth contextual
analysis, when previous and recent context
analysis are not enough relevant, before
entering new communities with activities
investments, including a detailed analysis of
customary land tenure systems and potential
conflict lines
▪ Ensure that selection of beneficiary locations,
modes of selection and decision making are
widely disseminated among the public – as per
SEP – and follow, to the best extent possible,
the FAO Voluntary Guidelines on the
Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land,
Fisheries, and Forests in the Context of
National Food Security (VGGT)508

508 www.fao.org/3/i2801e/i2801e.pdf

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 Impact and risk Reference
ESS Potential Risk or Impact level (H/M/L) Proposed Mitigation Measures Tools Responsible Entity
▪ Implement the GRM and the GBV-SEA Action
Plan for instances related to gender-
discrimination within the land tenure
arrangements.
▪ Avoid implementation of the activities in
protected areas and/or their buffer zones, as
per the exclusion list (see Annex 3)
▪ Consider involuntary resettlement to be
excluded from activities as referred in the
subproject exclusion list.
ESS1 Inadequate implementation of E&S H ESMF; FAO & IPs;
▪ Training of the staff within the PCU and
safeguards tools due to lack of capacity Subproject Independent Third
amongst the implementing partners (IPs) relevant implementing agencies/stakeholders ESMPs; Party Monitoring
on World Bank ESS and development and use TPM company (as
of safeguards tools needed)
▪ Dedicated Environmental, Social, and Gender
risk management specialists in the
PCU/implementation agencies to ensure the
implementation and monitoring of E&S tools
▪ Dedicated gender specialist in the PCU for the
implementation and monitoring of Gender-
related safeguards tools
▪ Third Party Monitoring (TPM)
ESS1 Loss of relevancy of safeguard tools due M All FAO
▪ Annual review and update of safeguard tools,
to changing context(s)
if necessary

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TABLE 8: Mitigation Measures for E&S Risks and Impacts by Project Activity

Impact
and risk
WB Potential Risks level Reference
ESS Project Activities /Impacts (H/M/L) Proposed Mitigation Measures Tools Responsible Entity
ESS2, Construction/rehabilitation Child and/or L ▪ Identification of risk during the subproject ESMF; ICRC/Implementing
ESS4 of irrigation and agricultural bonded labour screening; LMP; partners/
production infrastructure ▪ Sensitization training for communities re: age- SEP. contractors
under Component 1, and/or
appropriate work;
construction of
▪ Adherence to the LMP and ESMP, with no persons
hydroponic/aquaponic
systems/small-scale under the age of 18 and/or in bonded-labour
rehabilitation work under situations engaged with construction activities in the
Component 4. project;
ESS3 Localised and short- M ▪ Only clear areas earmarked for small and medium ESMF Implementing
term soil erosion, scale construction, and which would not Subprojects Partners/
resulting in gullies, dramatically change the hydrology of the area ESMPs & Contractors
washing away soil, C-ESMP with
(determined by the site-specific EIA); moreover,
bare rock/soils, Waste
clearing will be limited to the excavation area
silting, blocking Management
channels ▪ Reuse or Dispose of the excavated soils immediately Plan (WMP)
after excavation completion based on the waste
management plan (WMP) and avoiding protected
areas/sites of ecological importance
▪ Integrate the World Soil Charter guiding principles as
appropriate, to ensure sustainable soil management
and to restore degraded soils
▪ Consider the use of temporary storm water control
devices and associated cut-off drains/bunds to
minimize sediment transport into watercourses
ESS2 Localized and short- M ▪ Restrict activities that create lots of noise—e.g., LMP Implementing
ESS4 term dust emission vibrations, heavy equipment moving earth, Subprojects Partners/
and noise pollution excavations, to normal working hours (7h00-17h00) C-ESMP Contractor

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 Impact
and risk
WB Potential Risks level Reference
ESS Project Activities /Impacts (H/M/L) Proposed Mitigation Measures Tools Responsible Entity
from earth moving ▪ Require community workers/contractor(s) to use
activities by equipment and automobiles that are in good
excavators and working condition to reduce noise or exhaust fumes.
trucks plus other
▪ Require community workers/contractor(s) to spray
machinery such as
water regularly when clearing land to reduce the
mixers, dumpers,
etc. Noise from dust. Further suppress dust on construction roads
workers is also during use.
anticipated. ▪ Encourage use of silencers on generators.
▪ Require contractors to keep construction
machinery, generators and vehicles in good working
condition
▪ Carry out community consultations well in advance
of commencing construction activities, informing
the nearby population regarding the construction
activities and possible impacts of noise and dust
▪ GRM will be established in the area to address the
public complaints regarding issues such as noise
from the construction sites
▪ Provide workers and visitors with the right noise and
dust personal protection (i.e. dust masks and
earmuffs/buds for workers exposed to noisy
environments)
ESS3 Localized loss of L ESMF FAO /
▪ Screen out proposed site in protected areas or sites
ESS6 biodiversity and Subprojects Implementing
of natural/cultural importance within the broader
associated benefits ESMPs & Partners/
region or landscape;
during site clearing C-ESMP Contractors
▪ Limit clearing of trees or grass to the construction
prior to
construction. site.

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 Impact
and risk
WB Potential Risks level Reference
ESS Project Activities /Impacts (H/M/L) Proposed Mitigation Measures Tools Responsible Entity
▪ Plan for biodiversity offset by planting of trees or
grass to replace lost plant species, if relevant.
ESS3 Solid and liquid M Subprojects Implementing
▪ WMP shall be developed as part of the C-ESMP
wastes generated C-ESMP with Partners/
before construction works begin to guide both solid
from the influx of WMP Contractors
and liquid waste management.
community workers
▪ Collection, treatment, and disposal of solid and
liquid wastes based on the WMP.
ESS2 Safety and nuisance M ▪ Prepare a traffic management plan (TMP) as part of SEP; Implementing
ESS4 hazards such as the C-ESMP depending on the traffic volume and Subproject- Partner /
noise, congestion the condition/nature of local routes level Contractor
and increased SEP/LMP/C-
▪ Carry out community consultations before public
accidents and ESMP
works commence (as per SEF and future SEPs)
incidents from
higher vehicular ▪ Carry out sensitization on road safety within the
traffic around communities to ensure safe use of the road(s) and
construction sites avoidance of accidents
▪ Erect safety signage at appropriate places
▪ Promote safe driving practices among drivers
▪ Implement GRM
ESS2 Increased M ▪ Use of explosives is prohibited within the project and LMP Implementing
occupational any/all subprojects. Partners/
accidents and ▪ Hire an ESHS Specialist in subprojects with Contractors
incidents, including construction activities;
injuries and ▪ Prior to construction, ensure EHS risk assessment is
illnesses caused by conducted, all hazards are identified, management
eminent controls are documented in the C-ESMP or
construction and Occupational Health and Safety Management Plan;
mechanized ▪ Ensure the OHS plan or the C-ESMP is implemented
processing hazards by all implementing parties;
(e.g. handling of

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 Impact
and risk
WB Potential Risks level Reference
ESS Project Activities /Impacts (H/M/L) Proposed Mitigation Measures Tools Responsible Entity
construction or ▪ Take all safety precautions to address hazards for
farm equipment; workers and visitors and the nearby community
stepping on or using including safety/warning signage, safety barrier
sharp objects; spills
around the construction site and safe driving
and leakage of
practices;
hazardous materials
as a result increased ▪ Provide personal protective equipment (PPE) to
labour; etc.) workers (helmets, boots, masks, etc.) as well as
training on Occupational Health and Safety
measures and adequate use of PPE, as detailed in
the Labour Management Procedure (LMP)
▪ Ensure integrity of workplace structures,
workspace, fire precautions, potable water supply,
clean eating area, lighting, safe access, lavatories,
showers (if applicable), first aid, etc.
▪ Implement GRM for workers as per ESS2
ESS2 Increased L ▪ Provide proper sanitation and waste disposal LMP; Implementing
ESS4 incidences of facilities based on a site-specific Waste Subprojects Partners/
communicable Management Plan (WMP) C-ESMP with Contractor
diseases like WMP
▪ Carry out training/awareness campaigns for the
tuberculosis,
prevention of communicable diseases
malaria, diarrhea,
Covid-19, etc. due ▪ Empty/drain all areas that may hold standing water
to an influx of ▪ Ensure use of PPE and, where possible, social
workers at distancing to reduce risk of disease transmission
construction sites (particularly for COVID-19)
ESS2 Increased incidence M ▪ Enforce total adherence to ethical code of conduct LMP Implementing
ESS4 of GBV-SEA due to ▪ Training and strong communication of zero ESMF with Partners/
an influx of workers tolerance to sexual violence GBV action Contractor
at construction sites plan

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 Impact
and risk
WB Potential Risks level Reference
ESS Project Activities /Impacts (H/M/L) Proposed Mitigation Measures Tools Responsible Entity
and as it is ▪ Implementation of the Framework for Addressing
anticipated in case Gender-Based and Child Violence, Sexual
women receive Exploitation and Harassment against Women and
money during cash
Children and related GBV Action Plans
for work activities.
▪ Communication and implementation of GRM with
specific inclusion of anonymous reporting
ESS5 Obstruction of L ▪ Ensure tenure rights are respected and that those LMP Implementing
ESS10 installations by receiving improvements to their land clearly SEP Partners/
persons, or understand their responsibilities and benefits Contractors
commandeering of
accrued through the project.
installations for
▪ Communication and implementation of GRM with
uses not foreseen in
the project specific inclusion of anonymous reporting
document
ESS10 Food production activities & Crop and cultivation L ▪ Conduct culturally-, gender-, and ethnically SEP FAO
rebuilding of the natural techniques may not sensitive, context-specific consultations in all
resource base for crops and be suited to the project areas to ensure participation and ownership
livestock needs and
of the suggested resilient agricultural practices,
constraints of the
target communities tailoring the activities interventions to the specific
district
ESS3 Increased pest and L ▪ Incorporate IPM approaches PMP FAO /
ESS6 disease resistance ▪ Involve rotational and intercropping practices Implementing
and dissemination which preserve greater diversity in habitat thus Partner /
of crop diseases Contractor
reducing impact of pest and diseases
▪ Crop varieties used should carefully be selected and
tested in order to avoid new diseases and pests
ESS3 Greenhouse gas L ▪ Application of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) IPMP; FAO /
(GHG) emissions and the Pest Management Framework Plan (PMP) ESMP Implementing
and water and soil to provide guidance on the use of organic manure

122
 Impact
and risk
WB Potential Risks level Reference
ESS Project Activities /Impacts (H/M/L) Proposed Mitigation Measures Tools Responsible Entity
quality pollution and reduced use of fertilizers (this may include Partner /
and degradation integration of livestock with crops when Contractor
from overuse of feasible/beneficial)
fertilizer and/or
▪ Training for farmers on IPM, as well as the correct
pesticides
techniques of agrochemical application in instances
where it cannot be avoided (e.g. correct handling,
use of personal protective equipment (PPE),
labelling, application, and disposal of agro-
chemicals under field conditions)
▪ This ESMF and site ESIA/ESMP will provide
guidance on the proper management of fertilizers
ESS3; Air pollution and L ▪ Use IPM practices to control pests PMP; FAO /
ESS4 potential health ▪ Monitor the weather when applying pesticides and ESMP; Implementing
risks due to avoid very hot or windy days SMP Partners/
inappropriate Contractor
▪ Follow label directions when using pesticides
pesticides
▪ Consider staying inside with doors and windows
application
closed when pesticides are being applied near
houses/ settlements
▪ Wear adequate personal protective equipment
when applying pesticides or nearby application
zones of pesticides
ESS3; OHS risks L ▪ Training on adequate OHS and related safety ESMP FAO/IPs
ESS4; associated with requirements for operations of processing facilities
ESS6; operating and related project-supported infrastructure
processing facilities
and other project-
related
infrastructure for
production

123
 Impact
and risk
WB Potential Risks level Reference
ESS Project Activities /Impacts (H/M/L) Proposed Mitigation Measures Tools Responsible Entity
ESS3; Misuse of treated L ▪ Mark treated seeds as “Not for Consumption” SEP FAO/IPs
ESS4; seeds ▪ Provide training to beneficiaries so that agricultural ESMP
ESS6 inputs are used safely and correctly
ESS2; Cash-for-Work and Labour risks M ▪ Adhere strictly to the SMP, including additional SMP, LMP FAO / ICRC
ESS10 Unconditional Cash associated with the security provisions during the moment of cash /Implementing
Transfers for those in need cash-for-work transfers; Partner /
(CFW) projects Contractor

ESS10 Risk of exclusion of L ▪ Clear and transparent targeting of beneficiaries as PAD & POM; FAO / ICRC /
vulnerable people per the ESMF, PAD and POM with eligibility criteria; ESMF; Implementing
and groups in most ▪ Consistent and iterative community consultations SEP; Partners
need of assistance ESMP
to ensure understanding and reduce tensions over
benefits distribution

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6. PROCEDURES FOR REVIEW, CLEARANCE, AND IMPLEMENTATION OF
SUBPROJECT E&S INSTRUMENTS
6.1 Objective and Approach

• Since some of the project activities and subprojects will be identified during
implementation, this update with additional financing for the ESMF was prepared to
apply to all subprojects and investment activities. The main objective of the updated
ESMF process is to ensure that the subprojects and activities financed by the project will
not create adverse impacts on the local environment and communities, and the residual
and/or unavoidable impacts are mitigated in line with the E&S policies of the World Bank
and implementing agencies. That said, this updated ESMF is not being used solely as a
compliance process: it goes beyond compliance and takes a proactive approach in
design. Similarly, the grievance redress mechanism (GRM) included in this document is
not just about being a last-resort mechanism; rather, the GRM is about creating a project
culture of transparency with built-in feedback systems. As such, the ESMF is taken as a
positive tool to help the PCU in identifying and developing activities for greater
environmental and social co-benefits. To ensure that the social and environmental issues
are addressed properly (i.e. in accordance and compliance with the WB ESF, FAO, UN
agencies’ and ICRC’s safeguards standards and frameworks, as well as national
legislation), all project activities shall systematically undergo a thorough screening,
assessment, review, and clearance process before the physical execution of project
activities.

• During implementation, identified activities/subprojects and TA support will be screened

for and given a risk classification (as per Annex 5 of this updated ESMF) based on their
E&S issues and applicable safeguards standards (ESSs), after which any necessary ESA
and other E&S instruments will be prepared based on the requirements laid out in this
updated ESMF. The assessments, instruments, and mitigation measures should be
proportionate to the nature and scale and the potential risks and impacts of the project
and consistent with the requirements of the Bank Environmental and Social Framework
(ESF). The safeguards plans prepared for subprojects may include but are not limited to:
Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), Environmental and Social
Management Plans (ESMPs); SEPs; LMPs; and ECOPs, including health and worker-
related issues pertaining to sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA). In addition, relevant
Resettlement Action Plans (RAPs) will also be prepared in line with the requirements of the
updated RF, if resettlement is required. Terms of reference, work plans, and documents
defining the scope and outputs of any TA activities will be drafted so that the advice and
support provided is also consistent with the Environmental and Social Standards (ESS 1-
10). Based on the initial screening, any subsequent ESA would cover the requirements
established under the relevant ESSs for that subproject and identify the environmental
and social risks and impacts including direct, indirect, cumulative, and residual impacts.

5 6.2 Key Steps

• The ESA process described in this updated ESMF is comprised of five steps, as depicted
in Figure 3. This section briefly describes key steps.

125
 • STEP 1: Screening for eligibility and E&S issues including risks and impacts using
screening criteria, application of ESSs, and identification of and needs for preparation
and implemenation of E&S documents/instruments.
• STEP 2: Sub-project Categorization.
• STEP 3: Preparaton of E&S documents as required including the development of
mitigation measures, Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP), Labor Management
Procedures (LMP), related grevience redress mechanisms, and the finalization of the
Environmental Codes of Practice (ECOP) to be incorporated into bidding and
contractual documents and subjected to close monitoring of the contractor
performance. ECOPs clearly identify mitigation measures for potential negative
impacts during site clearance and construction, including the management of
contractors, chance finds, EHSG application, and COC on SEA, see annex (7).
• STEP 4: Clearance and disclosure of of E&S documents; and
• STEP 5: Implementation, monitoring, and reporting.

• The risk analysis, impact assessment, and preparation of E&S documents for all
subprojects will be carried out during implementation. At this point in time, most
activities are substantial risk but should not require a full ESIA; however, if this
assessment changes during a screening, then a follow-on ESIA must be conducted.
Preparation of a subproject ESMP and ESAP occurs when the subproject activities have
been clearly identified and locations are known. During the preparation of the ESMP,
due attention will be given to address the issues of labor and working conditions (ESS2),
resource efficiency and pollution prevention and management (ESS3), community health
and safety (ESS4), land Acquisition/restrictions on land use and involuntary resettlement
(ESS5), biodiversity conservation and sustainable management of living natural
resources (ESS6), and stakeholder engagement and information disclosure (ESS10).

126
 Figure 3. Flowchart for Safeguard Actions for Subprojects
Legend: “PO” is project owner; “SPO” is subproject owner

Safeguards actions to be taken for subprojects during project

implementation [included in the Exclusion List?]
YES
NO

Eligible: SPO to conduct sub-project E& S screening (i) identifies potential Not eligible:
negative impacts (environment and social), mitigation measures and/or The Project will
next actions using the checklist forms; and (ii) discusses results with the not fund the
local government and/or communities (apply criteria listed in the annexes) proposed
activities

Activities and civil works that could generate Involve relocation, land
Small activities or
“substantial” or “moderate” risks/ impacts per WB’s ESS1, acquisition, compensation,
civil works with
2, 3, 4, 6, (see annexes) and EIA is required by or limited to natural
small impacts and
government regulations resources access as
no EIA is required
defined by WB ESS5

SPO includes the SPO prepares an ESIA and/or ESMP, which may SPO prepares a RAP in
simplified ECOP in include a PMP, (see annexes) including consultation line with the RF, including
the bidding and and inclusion of ECOP/etc. in bidding and contract consultations with
contract documents documents, ensuring that contractor are committed affected population. RAP
and ensuring that to the obligations; ESMPs and ESIAs will be submitted will be submitted to WB
contractor is to the WB for clearance and publicly disclosed. for clearance and publicly
committed to the disclosed.
obligations.

The SPO monitors and supervises the contractors’ performance and report the results periodically to the lead
implementing agencies (FAO, WFP, UNDP) and the WB via the project progress reports/surveys. Information
disclosure should also be conducted periodically.

PO and the World Bank will periodically review and monitor implementation of safeguards requirements
(through implementation support mission and reports)

127
• Key safeguards actions can be highlighted as follows:
• Small works to be carried out under Components 1 will incorporate the simplified
ECOP into the bidding documents and consultant contracts, with contractor
performance closely monitored by the responsible persons of the implementing
agencies.
• If screening highlights the need for land acquisition, restricted land use, and/or
involuntary resettlement, Resettlement Plans (RPs) will be made in line with the
ESS5 and the guidelines found in the Resettlement Framework.
• All the E&S documents of a given subproject will be submitted to the PCU, and
subsequently checked by FAO and submitted to the WB for clearance prior to the
subproject’s respective approval/implementation.

STEP 1: E&S Risk and Impact Assessment

• This step (Step 1) aims to confirm the eligibility of subproject and/or activities to be
financed by the Project as well as identify the potential E&S issues and assess potential
impacts of the subprojects/activities including needs for preparation of E&S documents
as required by the ten safeguards standards using an E&S screening checklist. The
agencies responsible for implementing the subproject/activity will be responsible for
undertaking and signing the screening forms and may refer to Annex 5 of this ESMF for
the applicable forms. Consultation with the World Bank safeguards specialists will be
made as needed, depending on subproject complexity.

STEP 2: Sub-Project Categorization

• This step (Step 2) takes all of the potential E&S issues and impacts of the
subproject/activities assessed under Step 1, and categorizes the subproject based on the
cumulative risk rating (utilize Annex 5, as needed, for guidance), based on: low risk,
moderate risk, substantial risk, and high risk.

STEP 3: Development of E&S Documents

• This step (Step 3) is focused on preparing safeguards documents in relation to the issues
identified in Step 1 and the categorization from Step 2. Guidelines for the preparation
of an ESMP are provided in Annex 6, whereas an initial SEP and LMP have been
developed separately. Separate guidelines for development of Resettlement Action
Plans (RAPs) are provided in the RF; likewise, guidelines for the development of sub-
project PMPs are provided in the project-level PMP (a separate document). The
implementing agency which presides over a given subproject will be responsible for
developing the respective safeguards documents for that subproject. The documents
should be submitted to the PCU (in particular, the FAO safeguards specialist) prior to
submission to the World Bank. The ICRC will discuss its E&S submissions with the PCU
before submitting to the WB. Consultation with a WB safeguard specialist for complex
subprojects may be made as needed.

128
• It is also necessary that the implementing agencies of the subprojects and activities are
responsible for preparation of E&S documents which may be required by the
Government of Yemen, based on the national legislation509 and secure approval of
responsible agencies.

STEP 4: Review, Approval, and Disclosure of E&S Documents

• PCU and WB review and clearance: Before approval and commencement of subproject
works, the Subproject Officer (SPO) will submit all E&S documents to the PCU. After the
PCU confirms that the documents are ready for submission, the PCU will submit the
documents to the World Bank for review, clearance, and public disclosure. The World
Bank will conduct reviews of all ESMPs and ESAPs prepared. Any move towards a more
ad-hoc review is dependent upon built E&S capacity of the implementing agencies (IA)
with the support of the E&S capacity-building training under the project.

• All E&S documents will be posted on the official websites of the implementing agencies
(FAO, UNDP, WFP, ICRC and implementing partners), as well as the Government
websites of MAI/MOPIC, and hardcopies in the local language will be available at the
PCU and subproject sites. The PCU must publish a notification of disclosure of
information and solicit comments within the month following that disclosure date,
ensuring that all relevant communities have been reached. The English version of the
ESMPs will be disclosed on the WB website.

• Government approval: The WB also strongly recommends and encourages that the
responsible government agencies approve the ESIA documents if/when required by
national legislation. Any of these documents, as well as the approval conditions (if any),
will be provided to the lead UN agencies and the WB for information and will be disclosed
to the public.

STEP 5: Implementation, Supervision, Monitoring, and Reporting

• FAO, UNDP, ICRC and WFP will be responsible for coordinating project monitoring
activities for their respective components and sub-components. This includes ESMF
implementation, supervision, monitoring, and reporting as an integral part of project and
subproject implementation. Each E&S staff hired for the project is responsible for their
specific activities. World Bank E&S specialists may also supervise and monitor the
implementation of E&S activities during the WB implementation support missions.
Detailed reporting requirements for E&S are indicated in section 7.2 of this ESMF and in
the ESCP.

• Incident Reporting: The PCU is responsible for notifying the World Bank within a
maximum of 48 hours after learning of an incident or accident.

509
Please refer to Annex 1 (Legal Gaps Analysis) for an overview of the national requirements.

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• Results Monitoring and Evaluation: The four organizations will be responsible for
coordinating project monitoring activities for their respective Components and Sub-
components. The objectives of the Agency M&E system are to measure input, output,
and outcome indicators to provide project staff and stakeholders with regular
information on project implementation and outputs, identify potential problems, and
determine to what extent the project is achieving its development objectives. The M&E
methodology will be aligned with the definitions and collection methodologies of the
project to enable data aggregation and consolidation at the project-wide level. The four
organizations will utilize their existing M&E systems as outlined in the PAD and
confirmed in the Financial Agreement (FA).

• Monitoring and evaluation will be based on the collection and reporting of data on the
PDO and intermediate indicators (see the Results Framework (RF) in the PAD for a full
description of these indicators). The results will be presented to the Bank in semi-annual
progress reports as well as the Mid-Term Review (MTR) and final independent evaluation
reports. A baseline survey will be conducted in the project areas. Additional surveys will
be held at the MTR stage and project completion. For their respective activities, the UN
agencies and National Institutions will use the detailed data collected through the
standard reporting formats for different levels and other relevant documentation,
including formats for mobile team reporting and integrated outreach reporting on all
interventions based on Agency M&E systems. At each organization or National
Institution hub office data will be collected and reviewed before it is consolidated at the
central level by the relevant team.

• In addition to regular M&E activities, each organization will use an independent TPM
Agency (TPMA) to assess quarterly performance and field monitoring of project
implementation. The TPMA will be expected to: (1) track performance through the
collection of appropriate and credible data and other evidence; (2) analyze evidence to
inform decision-making by World Bank and organization management; (3) recommend
improvements in effectiveness and efficiency as necessary; and (4) report on
performance and lessons to facilitate learning and support accountability, including
learning from beneficiaries’ experience. Data collection, analysis and reporting will be
carried out in a sex-disaggregated way. The terms of reference (TORs) for the TPMAs will
be agreeable to the Association as per the FA. Where existing TMP arrangements are in
place (such as all UN agencies have existing TPMAs already), the existing arrangements
will be adopted for use under the project. After review by each organization, the TPM
reports will be shared with the Bank, no later than three (3) business days after its
receipt, to enable concurrent supervision and timely assessment of project
implementation.

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7. IMPLEMENTATION ARRANGEMENTS
7.1 Responsibility for Updated ESMF Implementation

• In line with the project’s implementation arrangement discussed in Chapter II (please

refer to Section 2.3 of this updated ESMF for details on hiring arrangements), the
implementing agencies are also responsible for ESMF implementation. FAO will be the
lead agency for coordinating application of and adherence to the ESMF, with each UN
agency (and subsequent implementing agency) responsible for hiring relevant
safeguards staff and reporting on a regular basis to the FAO safeguards specialist for the
project to facilitate coordinated reporting to the World Bank. The ICRC will participate in
the various coordination bodies of the FSRRP-AF and keep the FAO informed on a regular
basis. The responsibility of the four lead organizations (FAO, UNDP, WFP, ICRC) includes
overall planning and supervision of E&S activities, including the mobilization or hiring of
qualified E&S capacity building staff/consultants – individuals 510 or a firm – to provide
E&S training and TA including supervision, monitoring, and reporting of E&S
implementation to the WB every six months.

• When feasible, the PCU will also ensure training and coordination with MAI and MOPIC
to build national safeguards capacity. Though resettlement is not envisaged, if land
acquisition and resettlement is found to be involved, the PCU will also ensure that
arrangements comply with ESS5 and the RF.

• The implementing agencies are responsible for: (i) mobilizing or hiring qualified staff
to prepare E&S documents (e.g. subproject level ESMPs, SEPs, and LMPs, etc.), including
finalization of ESMPs, ECOPs and Code of Conduct on GBV and VAC; (ii) securing WB
clearance of E&S documents and approval of the government; and (iii) implementing the
ESMPs, SEPs, RAPs, and LMPs as needed. The safeguards staff – or firm, if applicable –
should assist during the implementation of the ESMP, SEP, and LMP, including
monitoring of environmental quality and preparation of E&S monitoring reports for the
PCU. Subproject owners must ensure that the (i) final subproject design has incorporated
measures to mitigate potential negative impacts during construction and operations; (ii)
final ESMP, ECOP and COC on Workers’ behavior and SEA are incorporated into bidding
and contract documents; and (iii) contractors are aware and committed to complying
with these obligations, with E&S actions built into the contract cost. Contractors must
hire an Environmental, Social, Health and Safety (ESHS) Specialist as part of their key
personnel on-site for any construction activities. After approval of subproject-level
safeguards documents, the subproject owner is responsible for ensuring that the ESMP,
SEP, LMP, ECOP, and COC on SEA (if applicable) are effectively implemented and
monitored. Before construction, the subproject owner will assign the ESHS specialist to
be responsible for day-to-day supervision of contractor performance on E&S and report
the results in the subproject progress report.

• Incident Reporting: In case of accidents/incidents, the four organizations and their

implementing partners will promptly notify the World Bank of any incident or accident

510
These could be specialists from within the agencies themselves, for example, safeguards specialists from
their regional or headquarters offices.

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 related to the project which has, or is likely to have, a significant adverse effect on the
environment, communities, or workers, including: (i) exploitation or abuse of vulnerable
groups; (ii) sexual exploitation and abuse and sexual harassment (SEA/SH); (iii) child
labor; (iv) bonded/forced labor; (v) injuries to workers that require off-site medical
attention; (vi) misuse or spills of pesticides; and/or (vii) fatalities, among others. The four
organizations & implementing partners will provide sufficient detail regarding the
incident or accident, indicating immediate measures taken or that are planned to be
taken to address the concern. Subsequently, the four organizations will prepare an Initial
Investigation Report within 48 hours, once confirmed, and Detailed Report within ten
days of the initial report indicating possible root causes analysis and proposing corrective
actions to prevent its recurrence.

7.2 Reporting Arrangements

• The E&S performance will be included in the subproject and overall project progress
reports. Implementation teams at the governorate level, with assistance from the
district/field-level subproject teams (e.g. ESHS specialists hired by contractors,
subproject owners, etc.), will submit E&S performance surveys concerning subprojects
to the PCU safeguards specialists on a monthly basis. At the central level, FAO will
prepare the formal E&S monitoring report twice per year for submission to the World
Bank – with timely inputs from WFP, ICRC and local implementation partners –
describing the project’s progress and compliance with the ESMF and other requirements.
In terms of UNDP, the E&S report will be prepared independently and submitted to the
WB ESF team directly. The reporting requirement is described in Table 9 below.

• The progress surveys and/or reports submitted to the PCU must include sufficient
information on subproject implementation progress and E&S issues related to ESMF
implementation. The overall progress report from PCU to be submitted to the World
Bank must include adequate information regarding: (i) preparation and disclosure of the
E&S instruments for subprojects; (ii) implementation progress of the ESMP, including
incorporation of the ECOP/COC on SEA/other ESMP requirements pertaining to the
contractor in the bidding and contractual documents; (iii) monitoring and supervision on
implementation performance of contractors, ESHS specialists, and subproject &
governorate-level teams, according to the ESMP, ECOP, and COC on SEA; (iv) updates on
capacity building activities, implemented at site-level and PCU-levels; and (v) any
challenges, solutions, and lessons learned during E&S/ESMF implementation.
Table 9. Reporting Procedures

Report or Survey
Submitted to Frequency of Reporting
Prepared by
1 Contractor to the Subproject owners Once before construction commences and
Employer monthly thereafter
2 ESHS Specialist Subproject owners Monthly
3 Subproject owners PCU When the community has any complaint
(implementing about the subproject E&S/ESMF
agencies) on GRM implementation

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 4 Subproject owners PCU Approximately every two months (utilizing
reports from the contractors/ESHS
Specialists, etc.), but no less than four
times per year (every 3 months) in order
to facilitate reporting of the lead UN
agencies (FAO, UNDP, WFP) to the World
Bank through the main PCU
5 PCU WB Once every six-months, in accordance
with the ESCP and legal agreement.

7.3 Incorporation of Updated ESMF into Project Operational Manual

• The ESMF process and requirements will be incorporated into the Updated Project
Operation Manual (POM).and the PCU will provide training to ensure that the subproject
owners understand the process and will supervise and monitor ESMF implementation
periodically. The E&S section in the POM will refer to the ESMF annexes, such as the
screening templates (Annex 5 of this ESMF), as needed.

8. CAPACITY BUILDING, TRAINING, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

8.1 Institutional Capacity Assessment

• The lead organizations, FAO, UNDP, ICRC and WFP, are discussed here with regard to
their capacity for implementing and managing safeguards, and requirements for national
implementation partners are discussed at the end of the section.

• FAO has prior experience in supporting the implementation of Bank-financed projects

on the ground in Yemen. Since 2017, it has led the implementation of SAPREP toward
satisfactory achievement of results and, more recently, became the implementing
agency for the Desert Locust Response Project (P174170). SAPREP, which was
implemented in collaboration with SFD, supported a set of similar activities, including
CFW and support to agricultural production by providing input kits and ensuring access
to associated services (such as animal health services). The project’s implementation
performance rating is Satisfactory. Given their prior experience in implementing SAPREP,
FAO is fully aware of the Bank’s fiduciary and environmental and social requirements.
FAO has put in place enhanced M&E mechanisms to supervise local implementation
partners and has also been using TPM. Moreover, it has conducted extensive training
and capacity building efforts since 2018 to ensure comprehension and compliance of
safeguards in all subproject areas with the local implementation partner, SFD.

• UNDP has built a successful partnership with the World Bank in implementing the CFW
activities of the Emergency Crisis Response Project (ECRP) since 2016 and current
Emergency Social Protection Enhanced COVID19 Response Project (ESPECRP). UNDP is
partnering with the SFD and PWP and their community networks to deliver services.
Given their prior experience in implementing the ECRP and ESPECRP, the UNDP is fully

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 aware of the Bank’s fiduciary and environmental and social requirements. UNDP
established an M&E system and a robust safeguard framework to ensure proper project
management, assuring stakeholders and providing accountability and is also using a TPM
mechanism to monitor project implementation. UNDP communicates with the World
Bank monthly on project implementation and to address emerging challenges. UNDP has
also had good collaboration with FAO on water resource management, aimed at
enhancing access to water in agriculture and improving the effective use and
management of scarce water resources in Yemen.

• WFP is the world’s largest humanitarian organization focused on emergency food crisis
response, and the largest provider of school meals. In Yemen, in addition to food and
nutrition interventions, such as school feeding programs, WFP is also engaged in
livelihoods development activities through a range of instruments, including Food-for-
Assets and Food-for-Training in close cooperation with FAO. WFP’s vulnerability mapping
and assessment (VAM) expertise is the basis for joint, nation-wide food security and
livelihood assessments which inform the IPC for Yemen, as well as regular food security
and price monitoring and analysis. WFP is an implementing agency under the World
Bank-financed Restoring Education and Learning Project (P175036), where it contributes
to the school feeding activities, and it has prior exposure to the Bank’s fiduciary and
environmental and social requirements.

• ICRC, owing to its principles of neutrality, impartiality and independence, has unparalleled
access to the people in greatest need, including communities in hard-to-reach areas, such as
places where fighting is intense. The ICRC has been working in Yemen since the civil war in
1962. The ICRC structures in Yemen consists of five sub-delegations in Aden, Hodeida,
Sa’ada, Sana’a and Taiz, and a main delegation (headquarters) in Sana’a. All of these
structures support ICRC operations in Yemen, which also counts with a total of 796
personnel. For the ICRC, the implementation will fall under direct supervision and
implementation of the ICRC’s Delegation in Yemen based in Sanaa as well as the ICRC
sub-delegation in Sa’ada, Sana’a, Marib, Bajil, Hodeida, Ibb, Taiz, Al mukha and Aden.
The resident Economic Security teams will remain the direct implementers of programs.
Efforts to build the capacity and skills of the ICRC and Yemen Red Crescent Society staff
and volunteers will be enhanced through trainings and coaching. Technical exchanges
will also take place between ICRC and the other implementing agencies in Sanaa, as well
as between the ICRC and the Country Management Office.

• The ICRC Economic Security (EcoSec) Team that will oversees the implementation of the
activities at country level includes a Economic Security Coordinator, directly managing a
team of ten international ‘delegates’, and 50 national officers. The ICRC Yemen
delegation also has a transversal Analysis and Evidence team comprising of 15 staff that
oversee the Grievance Redress Mechanism, the Monitoring and Evaluation (and Third-
Party Monitoring) and Accountability to Affected Populations best practices

• For national implementation partners like SFD, SMEPS, and PWP, training and capacity
building on the application of the ESF and ESSs will be required. The three leading UN
agencies, under the overall guidance of FAO, will be responsible for providing refresher
training and sensitization training to increase familiarity with the World Bank’s new ESF.

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 Some of the works to be completed are of substantial risk (e.g. CFW infrastructural
rehabilitation), thus the training on how to screen for small-to-medium scale
infrastructure and ensure follow-up assessments (if the screening deems necessary)
prior to sub-project implementation is also of particular importance.

6 8.2 Training and Technical Assistance

• Training and capacity building on the ESF should focus on familiarity with and
understanding the concepts of proportionality and adaptive management. It must also
cover the requirements of the SEP and LMP, particularly as they relate to (i) contractor
management and monitoring of E&S issues concerning labour and OHS; (ii) community
health and safety; (iii) environmental health and safety; and (iv) requirements for
systematic stakeholder engagement. The targeted training programs focused on E&S
risk management could also help strengthening inter-agency coordination and
cooperation which is critical for ensuring effective management. Given the project
structure and the plan to implement a number of subprojects in each governorate,
significant inputs from qualified national consultants will be required, along with on-the-
job training on assessing risks and impacts management during preparation and
implementation. Specifically, and as indicated within the project’s updated ESCP, focus
will be given to:

• Training of FAO, UNDP, ICRC, WFP and implementing partners’ staff on ESS
procedures, including implementation, management of contractors, and monitoring
and evaluation;
• Training of Trainers (TOT) training on environmental and social assessment and
management (for UNDP, FAO, WFP and implementation partners’ professional staff);
• Training on the GRMs (project level, ESS2, and handling of GBV/SEA/SH reports
when received through those GRMs);
• Code of Conduct (COC) to prevent SEA/SH;
• TOT on gender, GBV, and community response and protection;
• Training of contracted parties on labour management and monitoring/reporting
requirements;
• Training of field staff/workers on community management of acute malnutrition,
awareness on the prevention of the spread of infectious diseases and health
practices;
• Training of field staff/workers on OHS measures; and
• Training of technicians on pesticide management, application techniques, and
necessary personal protective equipment (PPE).

• During implementation of the updated parent including the additional financing Project,
E&S training and TA will be provided to the implementing agencies both at the Project
and subproject level. An overview of this training can be found in Table 10. During the
first two years, the PCU will conduct at least two safeguard training workshops per year
(one on environment and one on social) to the subproject owners regarding the ESMF
process and needs for preparation of safeguard documents at the subproject level

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 (ESMP, SEP, LMP, RAP, PMP, GBV Action Plan etc.) as needed. An international safeguard
specialist will participate in these training workshops as much as possible 511. Safeguards
technical training for any other specific issues and related aspects should also occur at
least once per year for the following years.

• Priority for training should include, but is not limited to, the following:

(i) The ESMF process and guidelines for preparation, implementation, and
supervision of E&S instruments (ESMP, SEP, LMP, ECOP/COC on Workers
behavior and SEA) designed FSRRP and its subprojects;
(ii) Specific training on the SEP and LMP with regard to planning and
implementation, including the application of differentiated GRMs to more
effectively respond to local complaints;
(iii) Specific training on supervision and monitoring of contractor performance,
including forms and reporting processes; basic knowledge on health and safety;
good construction practices for reducing potential impacts on local environment
and local peoples; COC on SEA; and communication and GRM procedures and
other social issues related to communicable diseases (including covid-19), etc.;
(iv) For labour-related works under Component 1, site-specific ESMPs shall include
weekly toolbox meetings at the work sites with a focus on the following themes:
child labor; forced labour; gender-based violence, including the mechanism for
submitting GBV/SEA complaints; health and safety; compliance with codes of
conduct; etc. Site engineers will provide a weekly or ad-hoc (if and when
required) toolbox talks and/or meetings with the construction workers on ESHS
risks associated with the construction activities, which have been executed
during the past week and for those which are foreseen to be carried out during
the next week.
(v) Specific training on IPM; safe use and disposal of pesticides/herbicides/chemical
fertilizers being used in primary production;
(vi) Specific training on waste management, including hazardous and bio-hazardous
waste;
(vii) Specific training on the use of PPE and safety equipment – for both agricultural
activities and labour/construction activities.

• When possible and relevant, representatives from the Government of Yemen (MAI,
MOPIC) are encouraged to be involved with the trainings so that national capacity and
sensitization to the ESF requirements is built over time. Specific target groups for the
key training for a beginning program are indicated in Table 10.

511
It is also advisable to have, when possible, a World Bank Safeguards Specialist present at some of the
trainings.

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 Table 10: Safeguard training at the beginning of Project implementation

No Contents Target Groups for Training

1 RF and SEP including subproject-level PCU, governorate-level
RAP and SEP preparation implementation teams.
2 Concept of the ESF and ESSs (including PCU, implementation partners at the
related documents like the ESMP, SEP, governorate and district levels, and
LMP, and ECOP/COC on SEA (if needed)) Government of Yemen staff from
plus an overview of the process, MAI/MOPIC when/where relevant.
implementation, monitoring and
reporting needed for the ESMF
3 ESMP, SEP, LMP preparation and PCU, implementation partners at the
monitoring, including (i) contract governorate and district levels, and
management and capacity improvement contractors.
and (ii) finalizing of ECOPs and codes of
conduct to meet SEA requirements (if
deemed necessary)
4 Environmental and social safeguards PCU, safeguards specialists of the
monitoring skills improvement implementation partners,
contractors/relevant local authorities.
5 Training on ECOP and COC for SEA Field-level implementation partners
compliance and environmental health and/or contractors for
and occupational safety measures, construction/CFW-related subprojects.
prevention of communicable and
infectious diseases
6 Best practices for (i) waste management; PCU, safeguards specialists of the
(ii) safety equipment/use of PPE; (iii) OHS implementation partners,
contractors/relevant local authorities.
7 Safe use of pesticides and agro- Farmers, local communities involved
chemicals; safe management of with the project’s agricultural
biohazardous waste. production activities.

7 8.3 Technical Assistance on E&S Capacity Building

• The UN implementing agencies (FAO, UNDP, WFP), with the support of their respective
regional offices and headquarters (when needed/applicable), will be responsible for
providing E&S training to the PMU and partner implementation agencies (e.g. SFD,
SMEPS, PWP). The ICRC will be responsible to provide E&S training to its staff and project
activities’ stakeholders. The training will cover safeguards implementation, supervision,
monitoring, and reporting requirements and will build on prior training conducted under
prior and contemporary projects; specifically: SAPREP and the Yemen Desert Locust
Response Project. If required by the World Bank, the PMU will also mobilize an
independent, third-party monitoring agency to monitor implementation, in addition to
other E&S consultants to assist in the preparation and/or monitoring of various E&S
activities during implementation. At the governorate level, the implementing agencies
will also mobilize E&S consultants (either individual or hired through a firm) to assist in

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 the implementation of ESMF, preparation of E&S documents, and mitigation measures
of the subprojects under their responsibility, as needed.

9. ESMF IMPLEMENTATION BUDGET

• The updated ESMF implementation budget includes: (a) costs for preparation of E&S
documents of subprojects, including consultation with local authorities and
communities; (b) costs for supervision, monitoring, and training workshops on E&S
issues (including independent monitoring for subproject-specific updated LMPs, etc., if
requested by the World Bank); (c) costs for the qualified national (individual or firm)
consultants for capacity building and training on ESMF implementation and the concepts
of the ESF and ESSs; (d) implementation and monitoring costs for the ESMPs, SEPs, and
LMPs; (e) implementation costs for ECOP and Codes of Conduct for GBV/SEA (if identified
during screening), and any site-specific measures; and (f) compensation costs. The
World Bank and implementing agencies will co-finance the ESMF implementation
budget, with the exception of compensation costs, which should be provided by the
Government of Yemen. The ICRC’s costs of implementing its ESMF obligations will be
covered by the ICRC.

• Indicative costs for items (a), (b), and (c) across the three UN implementing agencies
amount to approximately USD 1.18 million512 and will be allocated for implementation
of the ESMF (see Table 11), with the central PMU responsible for budget management,
and subject to availability of funds under the project. Other costs are already covered in
subproject costs directly, and any compensatory payments (e.g. resettlement, etc., as
stipulated in the RF) will be covered by the Government of Yemen (either central or at
the governorate level).

Table 11. Estimated ESMF implementation cost

E&S Activities Estimated cost (USD) Remarks
UNDP: USD 250,000
(150K from PF & 100K
(a) Cost for preparation of E&S documents
from AF
(LMPs, PMPs, ESMPs, etc.) of subprojects
including consultation with local
WFP: USD 60,000 The PCU will be
authorities and communities;
responsible for
FAO: 78,000 513 management of
UNDP: USD 120,000 this budget 514.
(b) Cost for supervision, monitoring, and
(60 K from PF & 60 K
training workshops on E&S issues,
from AF)
including independent monitoring for
LMPs, ESMPs, etc. (if requested by WB);
WFP: USD 50,000

512
Exact amount is USD 1,179,102
513
FAO’s estimate for (a) is based on safeguards document formulation, including related consultations, with
support from an international safeguard specialist.
514
The respective estimates for each agency are for PF and AF: (i) USD 510,000 for UNDP; (ii) USD 145,000 for
WFP; and (iii) USD 754,102 for FAO.

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 Table 11. Estimated ESMF implementation cost
E&S Activities Estimated cost (USD) Remarks

FAO: 338,051 515

UNDP: USD 140,000
(c) Cost for the qualified (individual or (70 K from PF & 0 K70
firm) staff/consultants for capacity from AF)
building and training on ESMF
implementation support and the concept WFP: USD 35,000
of ESF and ESSs application.
FAO: 338,051 516

10. GRIEVANCE MECHANISM (GM)

• In line with the ESS10, the project/subproject owner is required to establish and
implement a GM to respond to concerns and grievances of project-affected parties
related to the E&S performance of the project/subproject in a timely manner. The GM
may include: (a) different ways in which users can submit their grievances, including
submission in person, by phone, text messages, mail, email or via a web site; (b) a log
where grievances are registered in writing and maintained in a database; (c) publicly
advertised procedures, setting out the length of time users can expected to wait for
acknowledgement, response, and resolution of their grievances; (d) transparency about
the grievance procedures, governing structure, and decision makers; and (e) an appeals
process (including the natural judiciary) to which unsatisfied grievances may be referred
when resolution of grievance has not been achieved. The project/subject owner may
provide mediation as an option where users are not satisfied with the project’s
resolution. Project/subproject owner must establish and implement a GM to receive and
facilitate resolution of such concerns and grievances. Based on ESS 2,517 there must also
be a separate GM for direct and contract workers 518, separate from the main GRM, for
those workers to raise workplace related concerns. Those workers will be informed of
the GRM upon their recruitment, as well as the measures put in place to protect them
against any reprisal for its use.

515
FAO’s estimate for both (b) and (c) are based on a breakdown of approximately: (i) USD 146,510 for a
National Gender (GBV) Specialist; (ii) USD 201,592 for national ESM Specialists; (iii) USD 228,000 for an
International ESM Specialist; and (iv) approximately USD 100,000 for travel-related costs and operating
expenses related to M&E, trainings, supervision, etc. The overall amount was divided between both budget
lines for simplicity and coherence with the breakdown provided by other UN partners.
516
Idem.
517
Scope of the ESS2 application depends on the type of employment relationship between the project/
subproject owner and the “project workers” which include the “direct workers”, the “contracted workers”, the
“primary supply workers”, the “community workers” including full-time, part-time, temporary, seasonal, and
migrant workers.
518
Direct workers are defined as people employed or engaged directly by the project/subproject owners to
work specifically in relations to the project/subproject while the contracted workers are people employed or
engaged through third parties to perform work related to core functions of the project, regardless of location.

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• It is noted that ESS2 prohibits the employment of forced labour and child labour with an
age of less than 14 year (the project will not engage anyone under the age of 18) and
also requires the application of occupational health and safety (OHS) measures to be
designed and implemented to address (a) identification of potential hazards to protect
worker, particularly those that may be life threatening; (b) provision of preventive and
protective measure, including modification, substitution, or elimination of hazardous
conditions or substances; (c) training of project workers and maintenance of training
records; (d) documentation and reporting of occupation accidents, diseases and
incidents; (e) emergency prevention and preparedness and response arrangement to
emergency situation; and (f) remedies for adverse impact such as occupational injuries,
death, disabilities, and disease.

• The full overview of the project-level GM can be found in the SEP, and the labour-related
GM within the LMP. The GM for sexual exploitation, abuse, sexual harassment, and/or
gender-based violence (GBV) is available within the GBV Action Plan (see Annex 4).

Project-Level Grievance Mechanism (GM)

• GM Types: Four Grievance Mechanisms (GMs) (one per organization) are available so
that project affected persons and other interested persons, local communities, and the
public are able to raise issues concerning the project activities. The main GM addresses
the overall project and is detailed below, as well as further explained in the SEP. The
other two GMs include: (i) a GM specific to labour management to be established by
contractors as detailed in the Labour Management Plan; and (ii) a GM for issues
pertaining gender-based violence, to sexual exploitation and abuse/sexual harassment
(see Annex 4: GBV Action Plan for further details). All GMs guarantee: (i) privacy and
confidentiality on the part of the aggrieved party; and (ii) a timely and respectful
response from project implementers.

• Awareness: As the main purpose of a GM is to identify and resolve complaints in a timely,

effective, and efficient manner, project-level GMs are an effective way for people to raise
their issues and concerns regarding project activities which affect them either directly or
indirectly. The project-level GM will be culturally appropriate, effective, accessible and
should be understood and familiar for the affected populations. Given high illiteracy
rates, accessibility will include clear images/pictures when needed to convey the
process, as well as regular dissemination through consultations/vocal public
announcements. The FAO, WFP, ICRC, UNDP and implementing partners (SFD, PWP)
have developed the project-level GM based on (i) inputs and recommendations
obtained during project design consultations; and (ii) building on the existing systems
already in place (e.g. hotlines, risk management systems). Moreover, prior to and
throughout project implementation, they will conduct awareness raising for the affected
communities about the presence of the respective GMs and inform them of their rights
to file any concerns, complaints and/or issues they may have related to the project. In
addition to providing a transparent and credible process for fair, effective, and lasting
outcomes/conflict resolution, the GM also builds trust and cooperation as an integral
component of broader community consultations which facilitate corrective actions.

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• Management of the GM: A grievance redress committee will be established at the
district level and governorate level to ensure accessibility and transparency of the
project’s GM. If an effective and functional grievance redress committee already exists
at the district or governorate level, then the existing GM will serve as a location point for
addressing grievances related to this project; however, this must be accompanied by the
provision of appropriate training for the committee members on the project’s unique
requirements. For reporting purposes, FAO will lead to ensure that complaints receiv ed
in other governorates/districts (e.g. those under the support of other UN partners or
local implementing agencies) are aggregated at the central level, depending upon close
collaboration of all implementing partners. In terms of UNDP, the received complaints
will be managed independently in close coordination with its local implementing
partner.

• FAO, WFP, UNDP, ICRC and its implementing partners may utilize this ESMF chapter as a
guideline for the procedure, timing, and actions required by grievance redress
committee members. Resources will be allocated to ensure that the GM is fully
functioning. Complaints will be recorded and either resolved or referred to the next level
up. Quarterly and annual reporting on the GM will occur via the environmental and social
implementation performance reports.

• Existing Systems the project builds upon:

• WFP actively seeks feedback from beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries throughout its
programming cycle. A toll-free hotline number (08002020) accessible from
telecommunication networks across the country is staffed by both male and female
operators that speak the local language. The hotline is operational from Sunday to
Thursday between 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Calls are logged directly into a database and
each case is given an automated unique reference code that conceals the caller's
personal information. There is daily escalation of calls to the responsible units.
Cooperating partners inform the community about the toll-free line (08002020) and
posters advertising the toll-free lines are displayed within communities with
information written in Arabic.

• The call centre is physically based in the Country Office and reports to the internal
Compliance Unit. The call centre/hotline number has been extensively publicized and
hence, as per monitoring data, 79% of beneficiaries have knowledge of one or more
of WFP's feedback mechanisms. Calls are being followed up systematically by the
Area Offices and by the technical team in the Country Office. Outreach is ensured
through the distribution of hotline posters and inclusion of the awareness on hotline
during training sessions of cooperating partners and counterpart authorities. The
follow up mechanism is established and in place in WFP to follow up any reported
cases through the hotline immediately. Standard Operating Procedures define the
coordinated actions and communication and referrals on reported cases with regards
to any WFP programmes, contributing to improved quality and efficiency of WFP's
programmes in Yemen.

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 • UNDP is planning to apply the existing system which was established under the
Emergency Crisis Response Project (ECRP) and develop a Third-Party Monitoring
(TPM) call centre facility. First, UNDP and its implementation partners will utilize the
integrated GRM system, building on the experience and systems developed under
the previous project. The SFD, PWP and SMEPS have utilized a wide variety of
communication methods for soliciting grievances, including complaint boxes, toll-
free phone calls, SMS, WhatsApp, Telegram, Fax, Online Forms, emails, letters, in-
person visits to head offices or branch offices or through face-to-face interactions
with project staff. Second, the UNDP will develop a parallel GRM system by operating
a TPM call centre facility for both inbound and outbound calls from- and to- project
beneficiaries and targeted communities via a dedicated hotline toll-free number, and
SMS/WhatsApp messages. The system will facilitate answering toll-free calls for all
three mobile operators and from fixed/land phone lines.

• To address complaints or concerns related to project activities, UNDP will be managing

complaints received under component 1. It will be critical to have good communication
on the processes of the GM system, both in terms of beneficiaries’ rights and the
boundaries of the system. Complaints received by the GM system will be registered,
tracked, investigated, and promptly resolved. The proposed project adopts the GM of
FAO, UNDP and WFP in addition to the SFD, SMEPS and PWP GM. The FAO and WFP take
overall responsibility for managing complaints received through SFD and SMEPS, under
components 2, 3, and 4. The FAO will disseminate the hotline number at regional and
local levels to increase accountability at those levels to citizens’ inquiries. This GM
system will include multiple uptake mechanisms (telephone, complaints box, website,
email, and text messaging).

• The FAO grievance mechanism (GM) for this project is already in place (in accordance
with ESS10) and will be used to capture and address specific concerns in a timely fashion.
The project follows the already established FAO, UNDP and PWP in Yemen and SFD, PWP
and SMEPS’s Grievance Mechanism (GM). All project partners will facilitate the amicable
resolution of beneficiaries’ concerns of project activities respectively regarding alleged
or potential violations of FAO’s, UNDP, WFP, PWP, SMEPS and SFD’s, but also World Bank
Group’s ethical, social, environmental, and Gender Based Violence / Sexual Exploitation
and Abuse (GBV-SEA) standards and commitments.

• Grievances under Component 1 (managed by UNDP): In cases complaints are not

resolved by SFD and PWP, they should be escalated to UNDP for further investigation,
study, and closure. An overview is provided in Table 12. Complaints Handling
Mechanisms (HCM) will be applied as follows:
• IPs GRM will apply, and will activate at three levels of compliant settlement (at
1st field, 2nd branch, 3rd Head Office levels of SFD and PWP).
• The TPM Call Center will be assigned by UNDP to verify the lists of complaints on
monthly basis and provide a report. IPs therefore will need to share GRM list bi-
weekly (perhaps through linking to the new MIS)

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 • UNDP will dedicate a number (call, SMS, WhatsApp) for complainants who might
not be satisfied with IPs’ resolution and would want to escalate to higher level
(4th level of HCM).
• IPs will ensure that the dissatisfied complainants are well-informed to the UNDP’s
dedicated number. UNDP has its safeguard compliance committee, includes
safeguard expert, M&E, project manager, gender specialist, UNDP Programme
team leaders and two members from the senior management staff, to review and
investigate any case doesn’t solve at first, 2 nd and third levels. Also, TPM may
assist in this issue, by calling all complainants and refer the dissatisfied ones to
the 4th level of UNDP)
• If still complainant is dissatisfied after UNDP’s intervention, another level will be
introduced to escalate to UNDP SRM HQ (UNDP Regional office).

Table 12: Summary of GM contacts for UNDP and its implementing partners

UNDP and partners

Address and contact
(Component 1)
Field and Branches offices should response within 5 days
At SFD and PWP
Contact person: Mr. Mohammed Al-Antari
Email: [email protected]
At SFD HQ 8009800/772045256
The complaints cases should be mitigated within 14 days
and response within 5 days.
Contact person: Mr. Abdulrahman Sarhan
Email: [email protected]
At PWP HQ 8002626/77526262
The complaints cases should be mitigated within 14 days
and response within 5 days.
Nahid Hussein
Email: [email protected]

UNDP Safeguard Specialist

Email: [email protected]
At UNDP in Yemen
UNDP M&E Specialist:
Email: [email protected]

Complaints to be handled by the safeguard compliance

committee at UNDP country office in Yemen.

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 UNDP and partners
Address and contact
(Component 1)
Call:
001 (917) 207 4285. Skype is an affordable way to place
such a call.

Email:
[email protected] and [email protected] (in
any language)

Address:
At UNDP HQ Office
Attn: SECU/SRM, OAI, UNDP
1 U.N. Plaza, 4th Floor, New York, NY USA 10017
(You may also mail any request or communication (in any
language)

Social Media:
Send message to UNDP on WhatsApp, Viber and Signal
using 001 (917) 207 4285, or through our WeChat account
@SECUSRM.

• For the components 2,3 and 4, in cases where the grievance cannot be handled at the
project level, the PMU will first explore any likely mediation stream at ministerial
and/or local administration level prior to upscaling it to the FAO Representation in the
country.

• FAO has established Grievance Mechanism (GM) for all projects to enable beneficiaries
to communicate their concerns regarding the project activities. FAO provides multiple
access points to the FAO GM for beneficiaries to voice and raise their concerns. These
access points include the GM contact information, which includes a hotline & landline
toll-free, mobile SMS, WhatsApp, website, email and offline form, as per Table 13.

Table 13: FAO GM contact details

Project
Management Must respond within 5 working days.
Unit
Any organization may receive a complaint and must provide proof of receipt,
inviting the person to have a meeting specifically to document the case. If
Project
the case is relevant, the receiver must send the information to all Technical
Coordination
Steering Committee (TSC) members and call for a meeting to deal with the
Unit
problem. The response must be sent within 5 working days after the meeting
of the steering committee.
Must respond within 5 working days, in consultation with Technical Steering
FAO
Committee TSC.
Representation
[email protected]

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 Dr. Hussein Gadain
[email protected]
Toll-free telephone number and SMS (all mobile companies & landlines):
800 19 19
WhatsApp: 776 01 30 30
Email: [email protected]
Must respond within 5 working days in consultation with FAO's
Regional FAO Representation.
Office for Near Serge Nakouzi
East and North [email protected]; [email protected];
Africa [email protected]
Tel: (202) 3331 6000 to 3331 6007
To report possible fraud and bad behavior by fax, confidential:
Office of the
(+39) 06 570 55550
Inspector
By e-mail: [email protected]
General (OIG)
By confidential hotline: (+ 39) 06 570 52333

• Accordingly, FAO has established grievance access database to register, follow-up and
take action on the complaints. An offline form was also designed to record the field
complaints or offline grievances. FAO has a person in charge of the call centre.
Grievances can be raised by affected people in case of concerns regarding: (i) beneficiary
and community selection; (ii) assistance quantity and quality; (iii) corruption or theft;
(iv) staff abuse, etc.

• Also referred to as the “Beneficiary Feedback Mechanism (BFM)”, the GRM/BFM details
the procedures which communities and/or individuals, who believe they are adversely
affected by the project or a specific sub-project, can use to submit their complaints, as
well as the procedures used by FAO to systematically register, track, investigate and
promptly resolve complaints. The timeframe for managing feedback including giving
appropriate response to the complaints raised by beneficiaries will vary based on the
nature and magnitude of the reported problem. Feedback will always be reviewed and
continuous efforts to improve program will be undertaken, including reduction or
prevention of similar occurrences of negative events. The overall procedure for FAO
handling of feedback and complaints is as follows:
• Receipt of a feedback/complaint and its registry in the system, capturing
details of the caller and the nature of the feedback;
• Sharing complaint in a generated report template to the respective staff
members for addressing, based on the classification of the complaint (please
see the Table 14);
• Resolution – within five working days. In case, the issue cannot be solved by
the closest appropriate level, the complaint will be sent further, as described
in the “Resolution” section below;
• Inform the complainant not later than seven working days after receiving the
case; and
• Closure of the complaint.

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Table 14: FAO Staff Members to Make Decisions/Take Action
Decision-Maker/
Categories Type Timeframe
Action Taker
Category A. − Inquiries; − Phone Operator Immediately
Low − Request for assistance;
− False calls.

Category B. − Operational (late delivery of inputs and − Assistant to FAOR/ Review on bi-
services, cash transfer payments, etc.); Programme; weekly basis
Moderate
− Out of beneficiaries list; − Assistant to FAOR/
Operations;
− Out of target area (not included in the
project); − Concerned project
CTA or staff in
− Distribution of less amount than envisaged; charge;
− Criteria for selection is unclear or not
− M&E Focal Point.
applied;
− Quality of items and services provided;
− Overlapping activities in the given area;
− Dissatisfaction with FAO activities.
Category C. − FAO or its IPs staff misconduct; − FAOR or Deputy Immediately
FAOR; communicated
Critical − Corruption;
to the FAOR/
− Assistant to FAOR/ Deputy FAOR
− Tax imposition on inputs and beneficiary Programme;
payments by local authorities; for decision-
− Assistant to FAOR/ making
− Sexual Exploitation and Abuse; Operations;
− Abuse of authority. − Others assigned by
the FAOR based on
the case-
sensitivity.

• Once the complaint is received, the GRM focal point needs to categorize the complaint
according to specific criteria, such as the sensitivity, relevance and urgency of the
complaint (as shown in the second column of Table 14 above, where some types of
complaints are already categorized under each category). Each complaint received is
identified and classified under the appropriate category.

• As FAO will lead the consolidated reporting for grievance management, partnering UN
agencies (WFP) and other implementing partners are required to maintain records of
grievances and complaints, including any minutes of discussions, recommendations,
and/or resolutions made. These summaries of recorded complaints must be submitted
with their progress reports. Beyond aggregate statistics, the ICRC and UNDP will not
submit any details or minutes of discussions on grievances and complaints to the FAO,
but directly to the WB.

146
Grievance Mechanism for Workers
• Rights and duties of workers and employers will be managed according to national laws
and regulations. The GRM for project workers is detailed within the LMP and reference
should be made there to the full procedure/details. The bullets, below, provide a brief
summary of the process but should not be considered the full overview – the LMP
remains the primary point of reference.
• Rights and duties of all project workers are protected by the national laws
and regulations;
• When violations occur due to the contract owner/employer, the
workers/employees may lodge their complains and/or grievance to the
project/subproject owners through the following ways: submission in person,
by phone, text messages, mail, email or via a web site. The complainants
should provide adequate information on the cases as much as possible
including identify specific regulations that are likely to be violated;
• The project/subproject owners will register the complaint/grievance (in a log
book) and respond to the complainant in writing within seven days after
receiving the complaint. The project/subproject owner will take actions
within 15 days after receiving the complaint/grievance and maintain all
information in a GRM database. Resolution should be achieved within 30 days
after receiving the complaint/grievance;
• If the two parties could not agree or the grievance could not be solved, they
have the right to file the grievance/complaint to the implementing agencies
responsible for addressing the issues and follow the implementing agencies’
settlement processes.
• The project/subproject owner will inform the WB of the complaint/grievance
through the E&S monitoring report. However, for serious cases, the issue will
be raised to the WB within 48 hours after receiving the compliant/grievance.

• The GRM is an integral project management element that intends to seek feedback from
beneficiaries and resolve of complaints on project activities and performance. The GRMs
for the project are based on World Bank and UN requirements and, most importantly,
national requirements for solving potential problems between project owners and local
residents/persons affected by the subproject(s).

11. UPDATED ESMF CONSULTATION AND DISCLOSURE

11.1 Consultation Requirements

• The WB requires that consultations be held with the project affected peoples, local
communities, and other relevant stakeholders. The consultations should provide
information on the following aspects: a) purpose of the project; b) results of the
environmental and social evaluation; and c) presentation of the complementary studies
required, in any instances where they apply. This ESMF and all the related safeguards
documents have been prepared based on a consultative process at both the central and
field levels, albeit with limitations due to COVID-19 restrictions. Given the emergency
nature of the project and the unique requirements under emergency circumstances,
initial consultations were held at central level, whilst field-level feedback relied on a

147
 blend of prior consultations done in overlapping project areas for similar activities of
ongoing projects, and post-appraisal consultations with selected communities.

• Consultation and community outreach all throughout project implementation is

considered good practice to ensure that the potential adverse impacts and concerns are
properly addressed during project construction and operations. Consultation with
affected populations is always required when the activities involve physical or economic
displacement and/or vulnerable populations (elderly, women, ethnic minorities, youth).
Consultation requirements are detailed in the project’s Stakeholder Engagement Plan.

11.2 Consultation Process Summary

• Public consultation is a key component of the project and has been pivotal in the
preparation of the following documents:
• Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP);
• Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP);
• Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF);
• Pest & Pesticide Management Plan (PMP);
• Resettlement Framework (RF); and
• Labor Management Procedures (LMP).
• Preliminary consultations were focused on:
• Obtaining baseline information to better understand potential risks/impacts;
• Informing people in the project area, including potentially affected households, of
project’s potential impacts;
• Reflecting feedback in the safeguard instruments, where necessary.
• Further public consultations with key stakeholders on this ESMF took place during the
project’s inception workshop (scheduled in late 2021) as well as another workshop for
AF in Jun 2022. The implementing agencies conducted stakeholder engagement
including: (i) conduct public consultations about this ESMF; and (ii) summarize the
results of those consultations, including participants, date, venue, discussed points, the
views of consulted groups, and the feedback of the project preparation team. As the
safeguards documents are considered “living” documents, the implementing agencies
appended the latest results and findings of those consultations to this project’s SEP.
11.3 Initial Public Consultation Results
• The results of social consultations are summarized within the Stakeholder Engagement
Plan.
11.4 Information Disclosure
• According to the World Bank’s policy on access to information and ESS10 (Stakeholder
Engagement and Information Disclosure), all draft and final safeguard instruments,
including the ESMF, ESCP, SEP, LMP, and RF (etc.) have been disclosed locally in an
accessible place and in a form and language understandable to key stakeholders.
Executive summaries of all safeguard documents are available in both Arabic and English
on the website of FAO/UNDP/implementing partners, the external government website,
and the World Bank website. The updated safeguard instruments (ESMF, ESCP, SEP, LMP,
and RF (etc.)) for AF will be disclosed once cleared by the WB.

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12. ANNEXS
ANNEX 1: FULL LEGAL REVIEW & GAPS ANALYSIS

The following legal review and gaps analysis was prepared by Dr. Fadhl Al-Nozaily in February 2021 for both this project and the Yemen Desert
Locust Project. National laws are organized in relation to the Environmental and Social Standard to which they apply.

WORLDBANK ESF REQUIREMENT Yemen Applicable National Laws Gaps/ Recommended Action
ESS1. Environmental Assessment
Identify, evaluate and manage the Yemen Constitution Actricle 35: No Gap. National requirements and
environment and social risks and Environmental protection is the collective responsibility of the state and the ESF objectives are aligned and
impacts of the project in a manner community at large. Each individual shall have a religious and national duty to complement each other. FAO will
consistent with the ESSs. protect the environment apply both the ESF and the national
requirements
EPL 26/1995: required Registration of pesticides to enforce the measures
and formalities to be adopted by the concerned authorities before granting
the approval of pesticides handling and after its inspection of its
specifications and compositions to ensure that it is harmless to human
health and that it is environmentally safe and sound in the following related
articles:
Article (15) It is not permissible to handle pesticides without a license from
the competent body and in accordance with the prevailing laws.
Article (16) The competent body shall, in coordination with the Council shall
propose the regulations that define and control the following issues: 1- The
types of pesticides for plant pests and other types of pesticides and
chemicals that it is permissible to handle and determination of its
specifications and their handling conditions. 2- Conditions and procedures
the pesticides handling licenses and their import permissions. 3-
Procedures for pesticides registration and re-registration. 4- The method of
selection samples of pesticides and its analysis and the means of
challenging and objecting results of the analysis. 5- The method of the
disposal of the expired pesticides and empty bottles and packages.

149
WORLDBANK ESF REQUIREMENT Yemen Applicable National Laws Gaps/ Recommended Action
Article (17) In cause that approval for registration of any pesticide is
granted, the period of registration of such pesticide shall be determined for
five years period and may be re-registered or cancelled as the competent
body deems it necessary.
Article (18) The competent body shall stipulate the pesticides specifications
and its handling conditions with the coordination of the council and they
shall take into consideration the specifications and conditions that are
issued by the WHO and FAO and Arab organization for industrial
development.
Article (19) 1- The warehouses and storage places of pesticides must be far
away from the populated areas or the commercial zones Environment
Protection Law 16 or animal sheds or factories and storage of food stuffs,
beverages and juices. It must be well-ventilated and satisfies the health,
safety and technical requirements and conditions or any other requirements
to be specified and determined by the competent body.
Pesticide Law no 25 for the year 1999 concerning the regulation of
handling pesticides for plant pests in Chapter two general objectives Article
(3) This law aims to:
A. Regulate the operations of handling g of pesticides for plant pests.
B. Regulate the procedures of the registration, monitoring and as well
as inspection and handling of agricultural pesticides.
C. Avoid the risks of pesticides and the poisonous effects thereof to
human and animal health as well as the environment, and to protect the
natural enemies of pests and economically beneficial insects.
To promote improved environmental Included in the Environmental Protection Law No. 26/1995. No Gap. National requirements and
and social performance, in ways ESF objectives are aligned and
which recognize and enhance complement each other. FAO will
Borrower capacity. apply both the ESF and the national
requirements
To adopt a mitigation hierarchy Law no 25 for the year 1999 – see above No Gap. National requirements and
ESF objectives are aligned and

150
 WORLDBANK ESF REQUIREMENT Yemen Applicable National Laws Gaps/ Recommended Action
approach to anticipate and avoid Law no 26 for the year 1995 Article (4): 1- Human being is an important complement each other. FAO will
risks and impacts; and influential part in the natural environment in which he lives and utilizes apply both the ESF and the national
Where avoidance is not possible, its resources. 2- Every individual has the basic right to live in a healthy and requirements
minimize or reduce risks and impacts balanced environment that concurs and complies with the human being
to acceptable levels; integrity which ensure intellectual, mental, physical and healthy growth,
whereby each person natural and juridical adheres to and abides to the -
Once risks and impacts have been
protection of the environment and its natural resources and to prevent the
minimized or reduced, mitigate;
damage to the environment and pollution control.
Where significant residual impacts
remain, compensate for or offset them,
where technically and financially
feasible.
To adopt differentiated measures so Included in the EPL (26/1995) No Gap. National requirements and
that adverse impacts do not fall ESF objectives are aligned and
disproportionately on the complement each other. FAO will
disadvantaged or vulnerable, and they apply both the ESF and the national
are not disadvantaged in sharing requirements
development benefits and opportunities
resulting from the project.
To utilize national environmental and Pesticide Law no 25 of 1999: Article 23-C: The competent authority has No Gap. National requirements and
social institutions, systems, laws, the right to adopt the following measures: Any person handling with ESF objectives are aligned and
regulations and procedures in the pesticides in the Republic is obliged to refill any leaking pesticide - complement each other. FAO will
assessment, development and container and to clean contaminated areas and to pay financial apply both the ESF and the national
implementation of projects, whenever compensation under the supervision of the competent authority. requirements
appropriate.
EPL- Article 4, 9: Anyone who damages the environment shall be
responsible for all the costs and expenses arising out of removing the
damage in addition to the compensation for it.
ESS2. Labor and Working Conditions
To promote safety and health at work. Labor Law Number 5/1995 No Gap. National requirements and
ESF objectives are aligned and
Article 113 An employer who commissions any new enterprise shall
complement each other. FAO will
ensure that it meets occupational safety and health requirements. The

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WORLDBANK ESF REQUIREMENT Yemen Applicable National Laws Gaps/ Recommended Action
competent Ministry shall ensure compliance with appropriate occupational apply both the ESF and the national
safety and health requirements and conditions. requirements

Article 114: Employers shall observe the following rules:

1. Workplace health and safety conditions shall be maintained in
conformity with occupational safety and health requirements.
2. Workplaces shall be properly ventilated and adequately lighted during
working hours in accordance with the standards established by the
authorities responsible for occupational safety and health.
3. The necessary precautions shall be taken to protect workers from such
damage to their health as may be caused by gas, dust, smoke or any
other emissions or waste likely to be discharged by the industry.
4. The necessary precautions shall be taken to protect workers against the
hazards of equipment and machinery and the hazards of conveyors and
handling, including any risks of collapse.
5. The necessary precautions shall be taken against natural hazards and
damage, including health, humidity and cold.
6. The necessary precautions shall be taken against the hazards of
excessive light, noise, harmful or dangerous radiation, vibration, variation
in atmospheric pressure inside the workplace, including any risk of
explosion.
7. Easily accessible lavatories and wash-rooms shall be provided, and
separate lavatories and wash-rooms shall be provided for women workers
if women are employed on the premises.
8. An adequate and easily accessible supply of drinking water shall be
provided for the worker's use.
9. The necessary precautions shall be taken to deal with fires and provide
fire-fighting equipment, including emergency exits, which shall be
maintained in working order at all times.

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WORLDBANK ESF REQUIREMENT Yemen Applicable National Laws Gaps/ Recommended Action
10. Industrial accidents and occupational diseases shall be recorded in a
register and notified to the competent authorities and statistics on
industrial accidents and occupational diseases shall be kept for
submission to the Ministry upon request.

Article 115: Employers shall take the necessary precautions to protect

workers and ensure their safety against such hazards as may arise from
their work and the machinery in use. The employer shall not deduct any
amount from their wages in consideration of:
(a) the provision of protective devices, equipment and clothing to protect
workers from exposure to occupational injuries and diseases;
(b) any allowances granted to workers for working in conditions harmful to
their health, or any meals provided to them in compliance with
occupational safety and health requirements.
(c) expenses incurred on account of workers' medical examinations,
regular or otherwise, as necessitated by occupational safety and health
requirements;
(d) the provision of first aid equipment at the workplace.
Article 116: The Ministry shall:
(a) give advice to employers in matters relating to occupational safety;
(b) organize and implement training and educational programme on the
prevention of accidents;
(c) organize the exchange of technical information and expertise between
enterprises' occupational safety and health departments;
(d) specify and evaluate the means of accident prevention units;
(e) assist in the design of explanatory materials relating to occupational
safety;
(f) study and analyze data and information relating to occupational safety,
monitor cases of occupational injury and disease and suggest measures to

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WORLDBANK ESF REQUIREMENT Yemen Applicable National Laws Gaps/ Recommended Action
avoid their recurrence;
(g) specify and evaluate means and equipment for protection against
industrial accidents and injuries.
Article 117:
1. A High Committee for Occupational safety and health, whose
membership shall include representatives of the parties concerned, shall
be established by order of the Council of Ministers acting on a
recommendation of the Minister. The said order shall specify its functions
and rules of procedure.
2. Subsidiary occupational safety and health committees may be
established by orders of the Minister in such governorates, sectors and
industries as he sees fit, provided that the membership of such subsidiary
committees shall include representatives of the parties concerned. Such
orders shall specify the committees' functions, competence and rules of
procedure.
Article 118:
1. The employer shall:(a) advise and inform workers, before their
engagement, on work-related and occupational hazards and on the
preventive procedures which must be observed at work;
(b) provide continuous guidance to workers and control their observance
of occupational safety and health;
(c) display in a visible place instructions, guidance and posters explaining
work-related and occupational hazards and methods of preventing them
and use all possible illustrative means to that end;
(d) increase worker's awareness of occupational safety and health
protection and make them participate in training courses and seminars on
these matters.
2. Where an employer fails to apply labour and worker protection rules and
occupational safety instructions, the inspector may obtain an order from

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WORLDBANK ESF REQUIREMENT Yemen Applicable National Laws Gaps/ Recommended Action
the Minister to stop the functioning of the machinery which is the source of
danger for one week, until the causes of danger are eliminated. Where the
danger persists and the employer fails to take remedial action and the
period of partial stoppage is extended, or if a request for total stoppage is
submitted, the Minister shall refer the matter to the competent Arbitration
Committee. Workers who are suspended as a result of this procedure shall
be entitled to their full wages
Law Number 25/2003
address Occupational Health and Safety and work environment in Articles
113 to 118. Chapter 10 covers worker’s insurance.
Employers are required to provide necessary occupational safety and
health conditions, including: protection from emissions (gas, dust, etc)
hazards; protection from machine accidents and hazards; provision of
appropriate personal protection equipment; fair compensation; access to
periodic medical examinations; availability of first aid. The competent
authority shall ensure the availability of the appropriate work environment
and conditions for occupational safety and health. The Ministry of Labor is
charged with advising employers in the field of occupational health and
safety; organize and implement accident prevention training programs;
exchange of technical information; identify and evaluate the means of
accident prevention measures; etc.
The Minister may establish sub-committees for occupational health and
safety in the governorates and in the sectors and industries, which include
the relevant bodies. The composition decision shall determine the
functions of these committees, their terms of reference and the rules
governing their work.
Where employers fail to implement labor protection and labor safety
regulations, they could receive a one week stop order from the Minister,
until the reasons for the breach are explained. The Minister must refer the
matter to the competent arbitration committee if the partial suspension is

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 WORLDBANK ESF REQUIREMENT Yemen Applicable National Laws Gaps/ Recommended Action
extended or if a total suspension is requested. If the risk is still not
removed by the employer, the workers who have stopped working are
entitled to full wages.
To promote the fair treatment, non- Yemen Labor Law Number (5/1995) Article 42: Women shall be equal with No Gap. National requirements and
discrimination and equal opportunity of men in relation to all conditions of employment and employment rights, ESF objectives are aligned and
project workers. duties and relationships, without any discrimination. Women shall also be complement each other. FAO will
equal with men in employment, promotion, wages, training and apply both the ESF and the national
rehabilitation and social insurance. The requirements of job or requirements
occupational specifications shall not be considered as discrimination.
The Labor Law regulates the rights and wages of workers, their protection,
occupational health and safety. In addition, the Social Insurance Law
regulates retirement compensation.

Yemen amendments Labor Law No. 25 of 1997:

Makes numerous amendments to provisions of the Labor Code (No. 5 of
1995) regarding the drawing up of collective agreements, termination of
contracts, the determination of wages, disciplinary measures against
workers, and penalties. Removes from s. 33 a provision for legal
proceedings by trade unions for breaches of collective agreements.
Requires employers to remove from an employee's file any disciplinary
sanction if the worker's conduct improves (s. 95). Repeals s. 48 (hours of
work of young persons) and s. 155 (penalties).
To protect project workers, including Yemen Labor Law Number (5/1995) Article 5 Work is a natural right of No Gap. National requirements and
vulnerable workers such as women, every citizen and a duty for everyone who is capable of working, on the ESF objectives are aligned and
persons with disabilities, children (of basis of equal conditions, opportunities, guarantees and rights without complement each other. FAO will
working age, in accordance with this discrimination on grounds of sex, age, race, colour, beliefs or language. apply both the ESF and the national
ESS) and migrant workers, contracted The State shall, as far as possible, regulate the right to access to work requirements
workers, community workers and through development planning of the national economy.
primary supply workers, as appropriate.
Yemen Labor Law Number (5/1995) Article 15 Employers shall, according

156
 WORLDBANK ESF REQUIREMENT Yemen Applicable National Laws Gaps/ Recommended Action
to their resources and available opportunities, employ disabled persons
nominated by the Ministry or its branch offices up to a proportion of 5 per
cent of their total workforce in jobs and professions suited to their
capabilities and potential so as to ensure that they enjoy all the rights
provided for in this Code.
Yemen Labor Law Number (5/1995) Article 44 It shall be forbidden to
assign a woman to overtime work as from the sixth month of her
pregnancy and during the first six months following her return to work after
maternity leave.

No Gap. National requirements and

To prevent the use of all forms of Yemen Constitution, Article no 29 , Article (29):
forced labor and child labor. the ESF objectives are aligned and
minimum
Work is a right, an honor, and a necessity for society’s complement each other. FAO will
progress. Every citizen has the right to choose the appropriate apply both the ESF and the national
B17 of GN state: “the age for
work for himself within the law. No citizen can be compelled to requirements
employment or engagement in
connection with the project, which will do any work except within the law, and in which case it is
be the age of 14 unless national law to serve the common interest and be in return for a fair wage.
specifies a higher age”
The law shall regulate union activities and professional work,
and the relationship between workers and employers.

Yemen Labor Law Number 5/1995, Article 7 regarding forced labor:

Employment relationships shall conform to the provisions of this Code on
the following basis:
1. It shall be forbidden to impair or avoid any workers' rights under a
contract of employment in violation of the provisions of this Code.
2. The conditions of employment and rights specified in this Code shall
apply to workers subject to such more favourable conditions as may be
contained in their contract of employment.

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WORLDBANK ESF REQUIREMENT Yemen Applicable National Laws Gaps/ Recommended Action
3. All employment contracts in force at the time of promulgation of this
Code shall remain valid provided that they are more favourable for workers
and their renewal does not imply any deterioration of the conditions of
employment and rights of workers, even where they are not less than the
minimum standard of conditions of employment prescribed in this Code.
Yemen Labor Law Number 5 /1995, Article 13 regarding Child Labor
1. Any person able and willing to work may apply for registration with the
Ministry or one of its offices in the district of his residence, indicating his
age, occupation, qualifications, previous experience and address. The
authority to which the application is submitted shall register it in a special
register in numerical sequence as soon as it is received and shall issue
the applicant with a receipt indicating the date and time of the application
as well as the corresponding registration number and any other necessary
information.
2. The Ministry and its offices shall propose the candidature of persons
registered with them for jobs suited to their age and occupational skills
taking account of the sequential order of applications.
Yemen has ratified ILO Convention Number 138 on Minimum Age for
Admission to Employment (Law 7/2001).
Yemen has ratified the ILO Convention 182 on the Worst Forms of Child
Labor. It refers to child labor as work that is mentally, physically, socially
or morally dangerous and harmful to children; and interferes with their
schooling by depriving them of the opportunity to attend school, by obliging
them to leave school prematurely; or by requiring them to attempt to
combine school attendance with excessively long and heavy work.
Drawing a line between “acceptable” forms of work by children and child labor
can prove difficult, as it depends on the child’s age, the types of work
performed, the conditions under which it is performed.

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 WORLDBANK ESF REQUIREMENT Yemen Applicable National Laws Gaps/ Recommended Action
To support the principles of freedom of Constitution Article (58): No Gap. National requirements and
association and collective bargaining of In as much as it is not contrary to the Constitution, the citizens may organize ESF objectives are aligned and
project workers in a manner consistent themselves along political, professional and union lines. They have the right to complement each other. FAO will
with national law. form associations in scientific, cultural, social and national unions in a way that apply both the ESF and the national
serves the goals of the Constitution. The state shall guarantee these rights and requirements
shall take the necessary measures to enable citizens to exercise them. The state
shall guarantee freedom for the political, trade, cultural, scientific and social
organizations.
Yemen Labor Law (5/1995):
Article 151
1. Workers and employers shall have the right freely to establish and join
organizations with the aim of protecting their interests, defending their
rights and representing them on bodies, councils and meetings and in all
matters concerning them.
2. Trade unions and employers' organizations shall have the right to carry
on their activity in total freedom, without any interference in their affairs or
outside influences.
Article 152,
Subject to the provisions of article 35 of this Code, workers'
representatives on a trade union committee shall not be dismissed or
otherwise disciplined for carrying out their trade union activities in
accordance with this Code, the Trade Unions Act and the rules and
regulations made thereunder.
Law for the Organization of Workers’ Unions (35/2002) Article 3:
This article aims to achieve the following:
(a) Defending the rights and earnings of workers and their trade union
movement and taking care of their common interests, working to raise their
social, economic, cultural and health levels.
(b) To ensure full and complete expression and freedom of trade union
activity without interfering in its affairs or influencing it in accordance with

159
WORLDBANK ESF REQUIREMENT Yemen Applicable National Laws Gaps/ Recommended Action
this law.
(c) Organizing trade union activities and confirming their role in building
and developing Yemeni society.
(d) Developing the relationship between members and their various trade
union organizations and between the members themselves.
(e) Establishing the spirit of respecting and adhering to labor regulations
and working to achieve the actual interdependence of labor relations and
increasing production .
(f) Attention to the issues of vocational training, apprenticeship, literacy for
workers, care for the working environment and working conditions of
juveniles, and work to reduce the phenomenon of child labor and protect
their rights to work, care and care for disabled workers.
(g) Establishing and strengthening the free and direct democratic and
electoral practice of all trade union organizations and organizations and
their compositions.
(h) Strengthening cooperation and coordination between trade union
organizations and strengthening the spirit of solidarity among them.
(i) Establishing and managing cultural, scientific, social, cooperative, health,
development and recreational institutions and centers for workers.

To provide project workers with Yemen Labor Law (5/1995): No Major Gap between ESF and
accessible means to raise workplace National requirements. However,
Articles 129,
concerns. FAO will apply ESF as a
1. Both parties to a dispute or their representatives shall hold a meeting to precautionary measure with
settle the dispute amicably through negotiation with a maximum period of regards to the application of GRM.
one month. A record of the meeting to be kept secret shall be drawn up
and signed by both parties.
2. Where no amicable settlement can be reached between the two parties
to the dispute, the matter shall be referred to the Ministry or its competent
office which shall summon the parties with a view to settling the dispute

160
WORLDBANK ESF REQUIREMENT Yemen Applicable National Laws Gaps/ Recommended Action
within a period not exceeding two weeks as from the date of referral.
Article 130 Where mediation fails to resolve the subject of the dispute
finally, either party may submit it to the competent Arbitration Committee
within a maximum period of two weeks from the date of the minutes
recording the failure of mediation.
Article 132 The Arbitration Committees shall be competent to examine:
(a) such disputes and conflicts as may arise between employers and
workers in connection with the application of this Code, rules and
regulations made thereunder, contracts of employment, and collective
agreements;
(b) violations referred to them in connection with workplace inspection;
(c) any other matters in respect of which the relevant laws provide that
they fall within the competence of the Arbitration Committees.
Article 136.
1. All cases concerning labor disputes of any type shall be submitted to an
Arbitration Committee.
2. The cases submitted shall be signed by one of the parties to the dispute
or his legal representative.
3. The submission of a case and litigation procedures shall be subject to
the provisions of the Litigation Act in all matters not covered by a special
provision of this Code.
4. Cases concerned with labor matters shall be considered urgent.
5. Labor cases shall be unreceivable after the expiry of the time-limit
specified in the laws in force.
Article 97:
1. In investigating an offence, the employer shall:
(a) conduct the investigation within a period not exceeding 15 days as
from the date of his discovering the offence;

161
WORLDBANK ESF REQUIREMENT Yemen Applicable National Laws Gaps/ Recommended Action
(b) complete the investigation and where the worker's responsibility is
established, apply the penalty within a period not exceeding one month;
(c) hear the worker, his self-defense and the testimony of any witnesses
he may call upon for his defense;
(d) commit the investigation to writing and have it signed by all the parties
thereto;
(e) hear any workers who are aware of the circumstances of the offence.
2. The worker may appeal against the findings of the investigation or its
consequences before the competent Arbitration Committee within a period
not exceeding one month as from the date of his notification of the findings
of the investigation.

No equivalent in ESS2 Yemen Labor Law Number 5/1995, There is a Gap. ESF does not
To provide every employee with written particulars of employment require the employer to provide
particulates of employment. FAO
Article 27
will apply the national
A contract of employment is an agreement between an employer and a
requirements
worker to lay down terms of employment, whereby the worker undertakes to
work under the direction and supervision of the employer in consideration of
a remuneration.
Article 28
Upon signing a contract of employment a worker may be subject to a
probationary period not exceeding six months with the same employer, to
be stipulated in the contract. It shall be forbidden to employ a worker on
probation more than once for the same job.
Article 29
1. The duration of a Yemeni worker's contract shall be considered unlimited
unless otherwise specified by agreement between the two parties.
2. A contract of employment which expires shall be considered valid for the
same duration as that initially provided for if the employment relationship
between the two parties effectively continues.

162
WORLDBANK ESF REQUIREMENT Yemen Applicable National Laws Gaps/ Recommended Action
3. The service of a worker shall be considered continuous throughout the
validity of his contract of employment, without its continuity being broken by
statutory leave, with or without pay, or by any other contingency provided
for in this Code.
Article 30
1. A written individual contract of employment shall be drawn up in three
copies, the original being given to the worker, a copy to the employer and a
copy to the competent office of the Ministry. All copies shall be signed by
both parties. In the absence of a written contract, it shall be up to the worker
to establish his rights by any admissible evidence.
2. A contract of employment shall basically specify the amount of
remuneration, the type of work, the place of work and the date of
commencement and duration of employment.
3. A worker may request his employer to provide him with a receipt for any
documents, records or certificates entrusted to him.
4. Contracts relating to work in cooperatives shall be considered contracts
of employment and each worker shall receive a copy thereof as soon as he
begins work.
5. The procedures followed by an employer to apply the terms of a contract
shall be established in writing and a copy of such procedure shall be issued
to each worker.
Article 31
1. In the event of a change of employer for any reason whatsoever before
the expiry of the contract of employment, the person succeeding the original
employer shall be considered responsible for the performance of such
obligations as may arise out of the contract of employment unless otherwise
agreed.
2. Where a contract of employment is concluded by a subcontractor, the
principal employer shall be jointly liable for the performance of all such
obligations as may arise out of the contract of employment if circumstances
prevent the subcontractor from performing them.
Article 32

163
WORLDBANK ESF REQUIREMENT Yemen Applicable National Laws Gaps/ Recommended Action
1. A collective agreement (collective contract of employment) shall be
drawn up in writing in accordance with the model established by the Ministry
and shall include the basic terms related to conditions of work, undertakings
concerning wages and the procedure for their payment, hours of work and
rest, financial incentives, conditions regarding protection of employment,
specifications of the occupation covered by the agreement and any other
terms on which the employer and the trade union committee or workers'
representatives agree in accordance with the legislation in force.
2. The union committee or workers' representatives shall collectively
discuss, agree upon and sign the draft collective agreement at a general
meeting of the workers and on their behalf. Such agreement shall be
binding upon all the workers. Any collective agreement not collectively
discussed with the workers shall be invalid.
3. The provisions of a collective agreement shall apply to the workers in the
service of the employer after the entry into force of the agreement.
4.
(a) It shall be forbidden to conclude an individual contract of employment
with terms at variance with those of a collective agreement in respect of
work covered by the said collective agreement.
(b) The provisions of this article shall be without effect on individual
contracts of employment concluded while a collective agreement is in force
provided that the terms of employment provided for in such individual
contracts of employment shall not be less favourable than those provided
for in the collective agreement and provided that their duration does not
exceed that specified for the completion of work in respect of temporary
jobs not covered by the collective agreement.
5. The union committee or the workers' representatives shall submit to a
general meeting of the workers any amendments or additions which the
employer proposes to enter in or add to a collective agreement.
6. Any term of a collective agreement likely to cause a breach of security or
to damage the economic interests of the country or yet to come into conflict

164
WORLDBANK ESF REQUIREMENT Yemen Applicable National Laws Gaps/ Recommended Action
with the laws and regulations in force or with public policy or public morals
shall be invalid.
Article 33
1. Employers and the union committees or general union representing
workers in more than one workplace may conclude a common collective
agreement.
2. Employers and union committees that are not parties to such agreement
may accede to it independently on the basis of a written agreement
between the two parties requesting accession, without needing the consent
of the original contracting parties. The application for accession shall be
submitted to the competent office of the Ministry after signature by the two
parties requesting accession.
3. Any trade union organization which is a party to a collective agreement
may institute legal proceedings for a violation of the agreement on behalf of
any of its members without needing to be mandated by him for that
purpose. A union member may intervene in a suit thus filed on his behalf
and may institute proceedings independently from the trade union.
Article 34
1. A collective agreement shall be concluded in sufficient copies to provide
one for each of the contracting parties and one for the Ministry. The workers
may obtain a copy of such agreement and a copy of any documents
concerning accession thereto.
2. A collective agreement shall not be binding unless it is reviewed and
registered by the Ministry or its competent office. In the event of an
objection to the agreement, the Ministry shall notify the parties concerned of
the reasons for its objection within 30 days of the date of receipt of the
agreement. In the absence of any objection within this period, the
agreement shall be considered valid. Any of the parties to the agreement
may appeal against an objection before the competent Arbitration
Committee within 30 days of the date of the objection.

165
 WORLDBANK ESF REQUIREMENT Yemen Applicable National Laws Gaps/ Recommended Action
3. The Ministry or its competent office shall record in the register of
collective agreements, any amendment, supplement, renewal, termination
or expiry concerning collective agreements.
4. Any person shall have the right to obtain from the Ministry or its competent
office an authentic copy of a collective agreement and documents of
accession thereto against payment of the prescribed fees.

ESS3. Resource Efficiency and Pollution Prevention and Management

To promote the sustainable use of EPL 26 of 1995, Article (3) No Gap. National requirements
resources, including energy, water and and ESF objectives are aligned
This law shall aim to fulfill the following objectives:
raw materials. and complement each other.
1- The protection of the environment and the conservation of its
FAO will apply both the ESF and
safety and balance and the maintenance of its natural the national requirements
ecosystems.
2- Combating all types of pollution arid to avoid any damages or
negative impacts, direct or indirect of long term or immediate
resulting from implementation of economic, agricultural, industrial,
construction development programs or others of development programs
which aim to improve the standard of living and to increase its welfare.
3- The protection of the natural resources and its development,
and the conservation of the species and kinds of life in the
national environment and the rational utilization and
exploitation for the benefit of the present and future
generations.
4- Protection of the society and health of the human being and
other living organisms from all environmentally damaging
activities and acts or that which interfere with or. obstruct the
fair and justifiable us and enjoyment of natural environment.

166
WORLDBANK ESF REQUIREMENT Yemen Applicable National Laws Gaps/ Recommended Action
5- Protection of the national environment from the damaging
effects due to activities performed out of the national territory
and its territorial waters.
6- The implementation of the international obligations which
relate to the protection of the environment and combating
pollution and the conservation of the natural resources that
Yemen ratifies in accordance with the prevailing legislations.
7- The contribution through the measures provided for and
stipulated in the rules of this law in protecting the elements of
the international environment including the ozone layer and
the climate.
To avoid or minimize adverse Law no 25 of 1999 Article 23: The competent authority has the right to No Gap. National requirements
impacts on human health and the adopt the following measures: Any person handling with pesticides in the and ESF objectives are aligned
environment by avoiding or Republic is obliged to refill any leaking pesticide -container and to clean and complement each other.
minimizing pollution from project contaminated areas and to pay financial compensation under the FAO will apply both the ESF and
activities. supervision of the competent authority the national requirements
To avoid or minimize project-related EPL,26 of 1995
emissions of short and long-lived Article 90):
climate pollutants
Yemeni Law encourages related sectors and projects to provide
institutional capacity and training for projects to enhance their capacity and
knowledge in handling environmental issues. It also encourages research
and development in all environmental aspects
Article (3) This law shall aim to fulfill the following objectives:
1- The protection of the environment and the conservation of its safety and
balance and the maintenance of its natural ecosystems.
2- Combating all types of pollution arid to avoid any damages or
negative impacts, direct or indirect of long term or immediate resulting

167
WORLDBANK ESF REQUIREMENT Yemen Applicable National Laws Gaps/ Recommended Action
from implementation of economic, agricultural,
industrial, construction development programs or others of
development programs which aim to improve the standard of
living and to increase its welfare.
3- The protection of the natural resources and its development,
and the conservation of the species and kinds of life in the
national environment and the rational utilization and
exploitation for the benefit of the present and future
generations.
4- Protection of the society and health of the human being and
other living organisms from all environmentally damaging
activities and acts or that which interfere with or. obstruct the
fair and justifiable us and enjoyment of natural environment.
5- Protection of the national environment from the damaging
effects due to activities performed out of the national territory
and its territorial waters.
6- The implementation of the international obligations which
relate to the protection of the environment and combating
pollution and the conservation of the natural resources that
Yemen ratifies in accordance with the prevailing legislations.
7- The contribution through the measures provided for and
stipulated in the rules of this law in protecting the elements of
the international environment including the ozone layer and
the climate. and is a Yemeni commitment under the Climate Change
Convention.

168
WORLDBANK ESF REQUIREMENT Yemen Applicable National Laws Gaps/ Recommended Action
To avoid or minimize generation of EPL (26/1995), No Gap. National requirements
hazardous and non-hazardous waste. and ESF objectives are aligned
Article (44):
1- It is prohibited, without a prior permission from the competent body, to handle
and complement each other.
toxic or hazardous materials or that which may be toxic or hazardous. FAO will apply both the ESF and
the national requirements
2- The council shall, with the consultation of the concerned body and the
scientific specialized bodies, prepare a list of toxic and hazardous materials or
those material which are probable to be as such. This list shall be named the
toxic and hazardous materials list. A decree by the cabinet shall be issued to
prohibit the handling of these materials.
3- The council shall, with the consultation of the parties referred to in paragraph
(2) of this article, review the list of the proposed materials and to amend, add
or up-date the list referred to. in accordance with the scientific and technical
progress in this field. The amendments shall be issued by a decree from the
cabinet.
4- In the determination of the materials to be contained in the list, assistance of
any national or foreign experience may be sought as well as to make use and
benefit of the lists which are issued by the international governmental and
nongovernmental organizations that are related to these toxic materials.
Article (50) 1-
It is prohibited for any natural or juridical person or any other party to
dispose or discharge in the environment any toxic or hazardous materials
or products that are probable to be as such and to take all necessary
measures and precautions to prevent any risk of such disposal and
discharge or to reduce the risk arising out of it in relation to and in
connection with the environment or to human health or to the other living
organisms.
Article (53)
It shall be absolutely prohibited for any public or private party or any natural
or juridical person to import, enter, dump, bury or store toxic, radioactive and

169
 WORLDBANK ESF REQUIREMENT Yemen Applicable National Laws Gaps/ Recommended Action
hazardous wastes or the disposal of it by any means in the Yemeni
environment.

To minimize and manage the risks and Pesticide Law (25/1999), Article (3) This law aims to: Although No Gap between ESF
impacts associated with pesticide use and National Laws. National Law
A. Regulate the operations of handlin g of pesticides for plant pests.
requirements will prevail. FAO
B. Regulate the procedures of the registration,
will apply the national
monitoring and as well as inspection and requirements
handling of agricultural pesticides.
C. Avoid the risks of pesticides and the poisonous effects thereof to
human and animal health as well as the environment, and to protect the
natural enemies of pests and economically beneficial insects.
ESS4. Community Health and Safety
To anticipate and avoid adverse EPL 26 of 1995: No Gap. National requirements
impacts on the health and safety of and ESF objectives are aligned
Article 3
project-affected communities during the and complement each other.
project life cycle from both routine and This law shall aim to fulfill the following objectives:
FAO will apply both the ESF and
non-routine circumstances. 1- The protection of the environment and the conservation of its the national requirements
safety and balance and the maintenance of its natural
ecosystems.
2- Combating all types of pollution arid to avoid any damages or
negative impacts, direct or indirect of long term or immediate resulting
from implementation of economic, agricultural,
industrial, construction development programs or others of
development programs which aim to improve the standard of
living and to increase its welfare.
3- The protection of the natural resources and its development,
and the conservation of the species and kinds of life in the

170
WORLDBANK ESF REQUIREMENT Yemen Applicable National Laws Gaps/ Recommended Action
national environment and the rational utilization and
exploitation for the benefit of the present and future
generations.
4- Protection of the society and health of the human being and
other living organisms from all environmentally damaging
activities and acts or that which interfere with or. obstruct the
fair and justifiable us and enjoyment of natural environment.
5- Protection of the national environment from the damaging
effects due to activities performed out off the national territory
and its territorial waters.
6- The implementation of the international obligations which
relate to the protection of the environment and combating
pollution and the conservation of the natural resources that
Yemen ratifies in accordance with the prevailing legislations.
7- The contribution through the measures provided for and
stipulated in the rules of this law in protecting the elements of
the international environment including the ozone layer and
the climate.
Article 4:
For the purpose of fulfilling the above-mentioned objectives as
mentioned in the previous article, the concerned bodies shall
undertake its responsibilities and functions and perform its duties in
accordance with the assigned jurisdictions for the implementation in
accordance to the following basis:
1- Human being is an important and influential part in the
natural environment in which he lives and utilizes its

171
WORLDBANK ESF REQUIREMENT Yemen Applicable National Laws Gaps/ Recommended Action
resources.
2- Every individual has the basic right to live in a healthy and
balanced environment that concurs and complies with the
human being integrity which ensures intellectual, mental,
physical and healthy growth, whereby each person natural
and juridical adheres to and abides to the - protection of the environment
and its natural resources and to prevent the
damage to the environment and pollution control.
3- The official authorities, public and private institutions as well
as the individuals shall be responsible for the I protection of' -
the environment and it natural resources and pollution control
and the conservation of wildlife and marine ecosystem.
4- The Yemeni Environment Comprises the land areas and the
internal and maritime waters and its seabed and subsoil and
the atmosphere above it of the air which the Republic of
Yemen has jurisdiction in accordance with the rules of the
public international law and the UN convention on the law of
the sea of 1982, and any other international convention
which is to be ratified by the Yemen for the purpose of the
protection of the marine environment. The state authorities
shall enjoy and perform the jurisdiction provided for in the UN
convention on the law of the sea for the protection of the
marine environment under the state sovereignty as well as
the areas within the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
5- The official authorities and public and private institutions,
whether national or foreign as well as individuals shall

172
WORLDBANK ESF REQUIREMENT Yemen Applicable National Laws Gaps/ Recommended Action
comply and abide when performing any activity or action of
whatever nature to give the priority and preference to the
principle of the protection of the environment from pollution
and not just to the meet of the removal of damages after its
occurrence or to compensate for it.
6- The official authorities, especially those who perform and
practice the preparation of the economic development plans
shall ·take the environmental considerations in the economic
development plans in all levels and stages of planning and to
ensure that the environmental planning is an essential part of
the comprehensive development planning in all aspects,
industrial, agricultural, construction and tourism and others to
avoid the negative effects to the environment in future.
7- The Official authorities and its public, private and cooperative
institutions especially those authorized to issue licenses for
new or existing projects as well as the foreign companies,
that practice -and carry out their activities within Yemen's
borders, shall take into consideration the principle of
environmental assessment of projects so that the performance of the
environmental assessment studies shall
not contradict with that of the economic feasibility studies.
(1) It shall not be permissible to issue the license for new
projects and establishments that damage or pollute the
environment or cause its deterioration.
(2) All new projects and establishments shall adhere and
oblige to comply to use the best available technologies to

173
 WORLDBANK ESF REQUIREMENT Yemen Applicable National Laws Gaps/ Recommended Action
protect the environment and to control pollution. As to the
existing projects and establishments shall comply with the
standards and norms of the protection of the environment to
be issued by the Environment Protection Council or any other
concerned body, or to be supplied with equipment and
technologies that prevent the occurrence of any substantial
damage to the environment.
9- Anyone who damages the environment shall be responsible
for all the costs and expenses arising out of removing the
damage in addition to the compensation for it.
10- All state organs which have responsibility for information,
education and culture shall adhere and abide to undertake
the task of enhancing raising the level of awareness of the
individual and society in relation to the issues of environment
and the importance of its protection as including the
environmental protection sciences within the school
syllabuses and courses for the different education levels.
To promote quality and safety, and EPL 26 of 1995 Article 3 There is a Gap. EPL did not
considerations relating to climate specify climate change as it was
This law shall aim to fulfill the following objectives:
change, in the design and construction old. However, Since Yemen has
of infrastructure, including dams. 7- The contribution through the measures provided for and
ratified the UN framework
stipulated in the rules of this law in protecting the elements of convention on climate change in
the international environment including the ozone layer and 1996. And the Kyoto protocol in
the climate. 2008. FAO will apply ESF
requirements
To avoid or minimize community EPL 26 of 1995 Article 3 No Gap. National requirements
exposure to project-related traffic and and ESF objectives are aligned
This law shall aim to fulfill the following objectives:

174
 WORLDBANK ESF REQUIREMENT Yemen Applicable National Laws Gaps/ Recommended Action
road safety risks, diseases and 1- The protection of the environment and the conservation of its and complement each other.
hazardous materials. safety and balance and the maintenance of its natural FAO will apply both the ESF and
the national requirements
ecosystems.
2- Combating all types of pollution arid to avoid any damages or
negative impacts, direct or indirect of long term or immediate
4- Protection of the society and health of the human being and other living
organisms from all environmentally damaging activities and acts or that which
interfere with or. obstruct the fair and justifiable us and enjoyment of natural
environment.

To have in place effective measures to Yemen Labor Law Number 5 for 1995, There is a Gap in the national
address emergency events law. It did not require the
Articles 119
employer to put in place effective
1. Employers shall protect their workers' health, notably by:
measures to address emergency
(a) conducting a medical examination of workers prior to their employment; events. However, the national law
(b) transferring a worker to a job suited to his health condition as impose the employer to bear the
determined by a report of the competent medical authorities, whenever cost of medical treatment and
possible; related requirements.
(c) providing a worker with suitable work according to the Therefore, FAO will apply ESF
recommendations of the competent medical authorities and depending on requirements
circumstances and job opportunities pursuant to the provisions of the
Social Insurance Act, if he has contracted an occupational disease or
sustained an injury at work or as a result thereof;
(d) bearing the cost of medical treatment and related requirements in
respect of any number of workers in accordance with employers' medical
regulations as approved by the Ministry;
(e) employing a qualified nurse at the workplace or in its vicinity if the
number of their workers exceeds 50;
(f) entrusting the medical treatment of their workers to a doctor or a

175
 WORLDBANK ESF REQUIREMENT Yemen Applicable National Laws Gaps/ Recommended Action
medical establishment if the number of workers employed at the workplace
or in its vicinity exceeds 100;
(g) keeping such documents on their workers' medical treatment as may
be transmitted to them. Workers may obtain copies of certificates and
documents relating to their condition which are transmitted to the employer
by the competent medical authorities.
2. Employers whose workforce is below the threshold provided for in this
article may entrust the medical treatment of their workers to a doctor or a
medical establishment.

3. The Minister may, in respect of dangerous or arduous industries and

occupations, require employers whose workforce is below the threshold
provided for in this article, to employ a qualified nurse or to entrust their
workers' medical treatment to a doctor.
Articles 121
Unless the employer is ensured for material responsibility, he shall, in
accordance with this Code and the Social Insurance Act, bear responsibility
for any occupational diseases or injuries which a worker might contract or
sustain during the performance of his work or as a result thereof.

To ensure that the safeguarding of Yemen Constitution Article 7, c. No Major Gap between National
personnel and property is carried out in requirements and ESF. National
Protection and respect for private ownership, which cannot be confiscated
a manner that avoids or minimizes risks law address measures to ensure
unless necessary in the public interest, in lieu of fair consideration and in
to the project-affected communities. that the safeguarding of
accordance with Law
community properties. However,
it does not consider safeguarding
community -affected personnel
FAO will apply ESF regarding the
community-affected personnel.

176
WORLDBANK ESF REQUIREMENT Yemen Applicable National Laws Gaps/ Recommended Action
ESS5. Land Acquisition, Restrictions on Land Use and Involuntary Resettlement
- To avoid involuntary resettlement Yemeni Constitution: article 7, c: No Gap. National requirements
or, when unavoidable, minimize and ESF objectives are aligned,
. Protection and respect for private ownership, which cannot be
involuntary resettlement by and complement each other.
exploring project design
confiscated unless necessary in the public interest, in lieu of fair FAO will apply both the ESF and
alternatives consideration and in accordance with Law. the national requirements.
- To avoid forced eviction
- To mitigate unavoidable adverse Yemeni Constitution: article 7, c: No Gap. National requirements
social and economic impacts and ESF objectives are aligned
from land acquisition or
. Protection and respect for private ownership, which cannot be
and complement each other.
restrictions on land use by: (a) confiscated unless necessary in the public interest, in lieu of fair FAO will apply both the ESF and
providing timely compensation consideration and in accordance with Law. the national requirements.
for loss of assets at replacement
cost and (b) assisting displaced
persons in their efforts to
improve, or at least restore, their
livelihoods and living standards,
in real terms, to pre-
displacement levels or to levels
prevailing prior to the beginning
of project implementation,
whichever is higher

- To improve living conditions of This part will not be probably triggered by this project Not applicable
poor or vulnerable persons who
are physically displaced, through
provision of adequate housing,
access to services and facilities,
and security of tenure.

177
WORLDBANK ESF REQUIREMENT Yemen Applicable National Laws Gaps/ Recommended Action
- To conceive and execute This part will not be probably triggered by this project Not applicable
resettlement activities as
sustainable development
programs, providing sufficient
investment resources to enable
displaced persons to benefit
directly from the project, as the
nature of the project may
warrant.

- To ensure that resettlement Pesticide Law no 25 of 1999: Article 23-C: The competent authority has the No Gap. National requirements
activities are planned and right to adopt the following measures: Any person handling with pesticides in and ESF objectives are aligned
implemented with appropriate the Republic is obliged to refill any leaking pesticide -container and to clean and complement each other.
disclosure of information, contaminated areas and to pay financial compensation under the supervision FAO will apply both the ESF and
meaningful consultation, and the of the competent authority. the national requirements.
informed participation of those
affected.

ESS6. Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Management of Living Natural Resources

- To protect and conserve Included in the Environmental Protection Law No. 26/1995 and Yemen is a No major gap between national,
biodiversity and habitats. party in the Conservation of Biodiversity Convention. international requirements and
ESF objectives. Both will be
applied.
- To apply the mitigation hierarchy Included in the Environmental Protection Law No. 26/1995 and Yemen is a No major gap between national,
and the precautionary approach party in the Conservation of Biodiversity Convention. international requirements and
in the design and implementation ESF objectives. Both will be
of projects that could have an applied.
impact on biodiversity.

178
 WORLDBANK ESF REQUIREMENT Yemen Applicable National Laws Gaps/ Recommended Action
- To promote the sustainable Included in the Environmental Protection Law No. 26/1995 and Yemen is a No major gap between national,
management of living natural party in the Conservation of Biodiversity Convention. international requirements and
resources. ESF objectives. Both will be
applied.
- To support livelihoods of local Included in the Environmental Protection Law No. 26/1995 and Yemen is a No major gap between national,
communities, including party in the Conservation of Biodiversity Convention. international requirements and
Indigenous Peoples, and ESF objectives. Both will be
inclusive economic applied.
development, through the
adoption of practices that
integrate conservation needs
and development priorities.

ESS7. Indigenous Peoples/Sub-Saharan African Historically Underserved Traditional Local Communities

- Not Relevant

ESS8. Cultural Heritage

- Not Relevant

ESS9. Financial Intermediaries

- Not Relevant

ESS10. Stakeholder Engagement and Information Disclosure

- To establish a systematic Yemen constitution Article 35: FAO will follow ESF requirements
approach to stakeholder
Environment protection is the responsibility of the state and the community
engagement that will help
and that it is a duty for every citizen.
Borrowers identify stakeholders
and build and maintain a EPA LAW:
Community and NGO participation are considered an essential part of

179
WORLDBANK ESF REQUIREMENT Yemen Applicable National Laws Gaps/ Recommended Action
constructive relationship with consultation while planning proposed projects, and is a continuous
them, in particular project- process before, during and after project implementation
affected parties. (EPL Article 4, para 4 and Article 82).
Furthermore, NGOs and individuals can directly sue any person or entity who
causes harm to the environment and natural resources or participate in its
deterioration and pollution

- To assess the level of Local Administration Law no 4 of 2000 FAO will follow ESF requirements
stakeholder interest and support
Article 19:
for the project and to enable
stakeholders’ views to be taken 8. Consider and approve fundamentals and rules organizing citizens'
into account in project design contributions to the funding, founding and maintenance of essential
and environmental and social services projects funded by them or with their participation.
performance. 9. Discuss and approve fundamentals and rules of simplifying and
improving dealings of the executive organs with citizens in all
spheres.
10. Consider public affairs that concern citizens at the level of the
governorate and issue the necessary resolutions and
recommendations in this respect.

- To promote and provide means Included in the Local Administration Law no 4 of 2000 FAO will follow both national and
for effective and inclusive ESF requirements
Article 19:
engagement with project-
affected parties throughout the 8. Consider and approve fundamentals and rules organizing citizens'
project life cycle on issues that contributions to the funding, founding and maintenance of essential
could potentially affect them. services projects funded by them or with their participation.
9. Discuss and approve fundamentals and rules of simplifying and
improving dealings of the executive organs with citizens in all
spheres.

180
WORLDBANK ESF REQUIREMENT Yemen Applicable National Laws Gaps/ Recommended Action
10. Consider public affairs that concern citizens at the level of the
governorate and issue the necessary resolutions and
recommendations in this respect.

- To ensure that appropriate Included in Yemen Labour Law Number 5 for 1995, Article 118 National requirements and ESF
project information on objectives are aligned, and no
1. The employer shall:
environmental and social risks significant gaps are noted.
and impacts is disclosed to (a) advise and inform workers, before their engagement, on work-related
and occupational hazards and on the preventive procedures which must Both World Bank ESF objectives
stakeholders in a timely,
be observed at work; and National requirements will
understandable, accessible and
apply to the Project.
appropriate manner and format. (b) provide continuous guidance to workers and control their observance
of occupational safety and health;
(c) display in a visible place instructions, guidance and posters explaining
work-related and occupational hazards and methods of preventing them
and use all possible illustrative means to that end;
(d) increase worker's awareness of occupational safety and health
protection and make them participate in training courses and seminars on
these matters.
2. Where an employer fails to apply labour and worker protection rules and
occupational safety instructions, the inspector may obtain an order from
the Minister to stop the functioning of the machinery which is the source of
danger for one week, until the causes of danger are eliminated. Where the
danger persists and the employer fails to take remedial action and the
period of partial stoppage is extended, or if a request for total stoppage is
submitted, the Minister shall refer the matter to the competent Arbitration
Committee. Workers who are suspended as a result of this procedure shall
be entitled to their full wages.
ESIAs should include a reference list and a non-technical summary for
public use and disclosure in a form and language understandable to
general public (EPA EIA guideline).

181
WORLDBANK ESF REQUIREMENT Yemen Applicable National Laws Gaps/ Recommended Action
- To provide project-affected Article 51 of the Constitution States: Citizens have the right of recourse to Both World Bank ESF objectives
parties with accessible and the courts to protect their rights and lawful interests. They also have the and National requirements will
inclusive means to raise issues right to submit their complaints, criticisms, and suggestions to the various apply to the Project.
and grievances, and allow government bodies directly or indirectly.
Borrowers to respond to and
manage such grievances

182
ANNEX 2: PROHIBITED PESTICIDES

183
ANNEX 3: EXCLUSION LIST

The following activities are prohibited under the Project (ineligible as part of the “exclusion list”) in
order to avoid adverse irreversible impacts on the environment and people:

• Relocation and/or demolition of any permanent houses or business.

• Use of the project as an incentive and/or a tool to support and/or implement involuntary
resettlement of local people and village consolidation.
• Land appropriation
• Land acquisition using eminent domain without FAO-mandated consultation and
agreement of the owner.
• Land acquisition/use under a subproject which results in permanent or temporary loss of
granaries, outside toilets and/or kitchens.
• New settlements or expansion of existing settlements.
• Activities that would directly or indirectly support conflicts such as explosive inputs,
weapons supply, etc.
• Activities that would likely create adverse impacts on ethnic groups/indigenous peoples
within the village and/or in neighboring villages, or activities unacceptable to ethnic groups
living in an ethnic homogenous village or a village of mixed ethnic composition.
• Activities that would likely have negative impacts on vulnerable (women and child)
• Damage or loss to cultural property, including sites having archeological (prehistoric),
paleontological, historical, religious, cultural and unique natural values.
• Resources access restriction (e.g. restricted access to farming land) that could not be
mitigated and will result in adverse impacts on the livelihoods of ethnic groups and
disadvantage peoples.
• Activities of any kind within natural habitats and existing or proposed protected areas.
• Purchase of banned pesticides, insecticides, herbicides and other unbanned pesticides,
unbanned insecticides and unbanned herbicides and dangerous chemicals exceeding the
amount required to treat efficiently the infected area. However, if pest invasion occurs, the
use of small amounts of eligible and registered pesticides in Yemen will be allowed if
supplemented by additional training of farmers to ensure pesticide safe uses in line with
FAO/IFC policies and procedures (FAO clearance is needed). And no pesticides, insecticides
and herbicides will be allowed in the buffer zone of protected area, protected forest and
natural habitats. Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHP) will not be used by the project.
• Purchase of destructive farming gear and other investments detrimental to the
environment.
• Unsustainable exploitation of natural resources (including forestry operations like logging,
harvesting or processing of timber and non-timber products (NTFP)).
• Introduction of non-native species, unless these are already present in the vicinity or known
from similar settings to be non-invasive.
• Significant conversion or degradation of natural habitat or where the conservation and/or
environmental gains do not clearly outweigh any potential losses.

184
 • Production or trade in any product or activity deemed illegal under Yemen’s laws or
regulations or international conventions and agreements, or subject to international bans,
including trade in any products with businesses engaged in exploitative environmental
and/or social behaviour.
• Labor and working conditions involving harmful, exploitative, involuntary or compulsory
forms of labor, forced labor, child labour or significant occupational health and safety issues.
• Sub-activities that require full EIA, including any sub-projects involving: (i) production or
trade in products containing Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs); (ii) production or trade in
ozone depleting substances; (iii) in alcoholic beverages including country made liquor; (iv)
processing of products involving tobacco; (v) production or trade in or use of unbounded
asbestos fibres.
• .

Preference list
• Promotion of climate resilient agriculture practices;
• Promotion of sustainable and climate-smart management of water resources;
• Promotion of Integrated Pest Management (IPM), as well as the use of natural/organic
pesticides from herbs (biopesticides), rather than chemical pesticides, in instances where
pesticides must be used;
• Promotion of skills development to increase food security, nutritional/dietary awareness,
and climate resiliency of beneficiary households; and
• Promotion of an improved enabling environment (financial opportunities, governing
institutions, agricultural extension, policies and/or acts) to facilitate food security, nutrition,
and resiliency.

185
ANNEX 4: GBV ACTION PLAN

The GBV Action Plan for the FAO and UNDP updated and attached below:

PROJECT RELATED GBV/SEA RISKS:

GBV/SEA/SH incidents in UN-implemented projects have been extremely limited and related to
cases associated with distribution of humanitarian aid within Internally Displaced Persons (IDP)
camps. For the FSRRP, the overall project related GBV/SEA/SH risks would be low and mostly
pertain to potential labour influx, which is expected to be minimal, given that construction activities
are small-scale, and the unskilled labour would be supplied locally with only the occasional skilled
labourer coming from outside the local community. That said, due to inherent GBV/SEA/SH risk
associated with ongoing conflict (not specific to the project, but rather the Yemen context more
broadly), the GBV/SEA/SH risk category is considered medium.

GUIDING PRINCIPLES:

As part of its measures to protect staff and beneficiaries of assistance and the populations of
Yemen, FAO adheres to the IASC Accountability to Affected Population Commitments which aims
to translate aspirations into action and results among humanitarian and development actors:
leadership; participation and partnership; information, Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and
Abuse, feedback and action; and results. FAO is already acting to address Gender Based
Violence (GBV) and Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) and pursues a ‘’zero tolerance’’ policy
towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA).

FAO SOP on Prevention of sexual exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) defines guiding principles:

▪ The principles of integrity, professionalism, respect for human rights and the dignity of all
peoples underpin FAO’s commitment to preventing and addressing acts of SEA. These
principles are enshrined in the FAO Staff Regulations and Rules, as well as in the Standards
of Conduct for the International Civil Service 519, which require the highest standards of
integrity from all employees.

▪ As stated in Director-General’s Bulletin No.2012/70, FAO has a zero-tolerance policy

towards acts of SEA that are committed by its employees or any other personnel associated
with the work of FAO 520 Such acts constitute serious misconduct and may therefore provide
grounds for disciplinary measures, including summary dismissal, or termination of contract.

519
Standards of Conduct for international civil servant (Manual Section 304).
520
This includes acts committed by FAO contractors’ employees, or any other person engaged and controlled by the
contractor to perform any services agreed upon with FAO. It also includes any entity financed by FAO or involved in the
execution of FAO activities, including suppliers and service providers bidding for or contracted in commercial

186
 o According to FAO, “Employee” refers to all those holding an employment contract
with FAO, including Consultants, PSA holders, as well as those performing non-
remunerated services such as Volunteers. It also includes Government provided
staff.

o This also includes acts committed by FAO contractors’ employees, or any other
person engaged and controlled by the contractor to perform any services agreed
upon with FAO. It also includes any entity financed by FAO or involved in the
execution of FAO activities, including suppliers and service providers bidding for or
contracted in commercial relationships with FAO, or partner organizations receiving,
under Letters of Agreement (LoAs), financial or other resources from FAO in respect
of its programs and operations.

▪ Whilst the emphasis of FAO activities in the area of PSEA will be on prevention and
protection from SEA, the SOP establishes responsibilities and a formal reporting mechanism
for SEA complaints, as well as related procedures for their investigation and subsequent
follow-up521

▪ Safety: To avoid any additional harm, the safety of SEA victims will be ensured at all times,
and the safety of all parties involved in PSEA must be fully considered.

▪ Confidentiality: The confidentiality of complainants, victims and other relevant parties must
be respected at all times.

▪ Transparency: The functioning of reporting mechanisms will remain transparent.

▪ Accessibility: SEA reporting mechanisms are available to anyone who may have reason to
allege a SEA incident, including local populations and staff and non-beneficiaries.
Establishing women quotas at community-level grievance management to facilitate woman
to woman reporting

▪ Accountability: FAO Yemen is held accountable for their PSEA actions through regular
reporting to the FAO Ethics office.

ADDRESSAL OF GBV/SEA CASES:

relationships with FAO, or partner organizations receiving, under LoAs, financial or other resources from FAO in respect
of its programs and operations.
521
In instances where persons are not subject to the FAO Staff Regulations and Rules, investigation and follow-up
actions will be dealt with in accordance with specific procedures in place for the investigation of third parties involved
in programs and operations of the Organization. In addition, specific PSEA clauses have been inserted into all LoAs and
procurement of goods and services contracts, allowing FAO to immediately terminate any such LoA or contract in cases
of SEA committed by this category (see Manual Sections 502 and 507).
187
Building on Existing Systems: Consultations with stakeholders, especially women, during the
preparation of the contemporaneous Yemen Desert Locust Project, highlighted that victims of GBV
always prefer to remain silent and not discuss the violence experienced given the socio-cultural
constraints on these issues. Following on the approach used in the Yemen DLRP, the
complaints/grievance redress mechanism for this project will utilize the same process. Namely, in
the event of GBV, the complaint is lodged at the level of an NGO (or the UN implementing agency)
which intervenes in the field of assistance to GBV, making use of the National Police and/or the
Social Services on duty, if needed, depending on the level of violence suffered by the victim. The
victim can also directly contact the Social Services of the locality to explain her/his situation rather
than going through an implementing partner (UN, NGO, or MAI). The rest of the process would then
remain the same. Once reported, the national police initiate legal proceedings into matters where
the violence is proven by a medical certificate. If the victim has suffered trauma, they will be
referred to the local Social Center for care. In caring for the victim, one of the most important points
concerns is their social reintegration.

Further options: Cases of GBV/SEA can be reported through the toll free numbers provided by the
implementing agencies, ideally one specifically dedicated for PSEA, or through the general Project
GRM, both of which will be made available prior to implementation. The GBV survivor has the
freedom and right to report an incident to anyone: community member, project staff, GBV case
manager, etc 522.

Training: All relevant staff of the PMU, PIU, FAO and contractors will receive training on receiving
GBV complaints and referral systems including World Bank Good Practice Note on ‘Addressing
Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Sexual Harassment (SEA/SH) in Investment Project Financing’,
ideally during the project initiation phase and as part of the staff welcome package. The GRM
operators will be trained to receive those cases in an appropriate manner and immediately forward
them to the GBV/SEA referral system. The GRM operator will ensure appropriate response by
i) providing a safe and caring environment and respecting the confidentiality and wishes of the
survivor; ii) if the survivor agrees, obtaining informed consent and making referrals; and
iii) providing reliable and comprehensive information on the available services and support for
survivors of GBV.

Guidelines: Beneficiaries and communities should generally be encouraged to report all GBV/SEA
cases through the dedicated GBV/SEA referral system and complaints resolution mechanism. This
will be made explicit in all community awareness sessions and be a part of the publicly disclosed

522
If the survivor is a child, the consent of parents or guardians should be sought if in the best interest of the child and
if they are not the perpetrators. If parents/guardians refuse to pursue the case in the court of law on the child’s behalf,
with clear evidence, the relevant government representative should take up the role and pursue the case on the child’s
behalf to ensure that she/he is protected. Parents/guardians should be first counselled first and, thereafter, taken to
task by filing a case against them for denying the child her/his rights. All service provider interventions to child survivors
must be undertaken with staff trained in child-friendly procedures regarding the handling of cases. A child survivor
should continue to go to school while procedures are ongoing, and all efforts should be done to ensure her/his
protection. In addition to this, all the above reporting and referral procedures should be applied.
188
information. The GBV/SEA referral system will guarantee that survivors receive all necessary
services, including medical, legal and counselling, and cases will be reported to the police where
applicable.

If such cases are reported through the project GRM, the GRM Operator needs to report the case
within 24 hours to the PCU, as the PCU is obliged to report any cases of GBV/SEA to the World Bank
within 48 hours (provided there is informed agreement from the survivor). Furthermore, cases
need to be reported to the respective agency if it concerns a direct worker or a worker from a sub-
contractor, NGO partner, or even a community worker, following a survivor-centered approach.
FAO has its organizational PSEA systems in place through which violations by staff will be handled.
This may be in addition to criminal prosecution to ensure that sanctions for the violation of Codes
of Conduct are implemented. FAO oversees that the courses for contractors regarding the Code of
Conduct obligations and awareness raising activities to the community are in place. The information
gathered should be monitored and reported to the FSRRP PCU and the World Bank. All reporting
will limit information to the survivor’s wishes regarding confidentiality and in case the survivor
agrees on further reporting, information will be shared only on a need-to-know-basis, avoiding all
information which may lead to the identification of the survivor and any potential risk of retribution

189
ANNEX 5: ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL SCREENING FORM/CHECKLIST
FORM A: ENVIRONMENTAL & SOCIAL SCREENING FORM (ALL SUBPROJECTS)
GENERAL INFORMATION

Social and Environmental Screening Report – FSRRP

It is important to screen each subproject to see if they will create social and environmental risks to the community. Even if there is a plan to lessen the risk to
the community to people within the community, those risks should be listed, regardless of planned mitigation and management measures. It is necessary to
identify potential inherent risks if mitigation measures are not implemented or fail. This means that risks should be identified as if no mitigation or management
measures were to be put in place.

SECTION A: General Information

Date of screening:
Name of sub-project:
Main project component (to which sub-project relates):
Name of applicant (implementing agency):
Proposed sub-project budget:
Proposed sub-project duration:
ES Screening Team Leader and Contact Details:
ES Screening Team Members:
Program/Site/Activity location
Sub-project Description.
Briefly describe the sub-project activities, particularly as
they interact with the environment and social context
Categorize sub-project activities into high, substantial,
moderate, and low risk activities.

190
CHECKLIST FOR EXCLUSION ACTIVITIES

I don't If yes, provide more

Exclusion activities Yes No know information
Relocation and/or demolition of any permanent houses or business.
Use of the project as an incentive and/or a tool to support and/or implement involuntary
resettlement of local people and village consolidation
Land appropriation
Land acquisition using eminent domain without FAO-mandated consultation and agreement
of the owner
New settlements or expansion of existing settlements
Activities that would directly or indirectly support conflicts such as explosive inputs,
weapons supply, etc.
Activities that would likely create adverse increase ethnic groups people’s conflicts.
Activities that would likely have negative impacts on vulnerable (women and child)
Damage or loss to cultural property, including sites having archaeological (prehistoric),
paleontological, historical, religious, cultural and unique natural values
Resources access restriction (e.g. restricted access to farming land) that could not be
mitigated and will result in adverse impacts on the livelihoods of ethnic groups and
disadvantage peoples.
Activities of any kind within natural habitats and existing or proposed protected areas
Purchase of banned pesticides, insecticides, herbicides and other unbanned pesticides,
unbanned insecticides and unbanned herbicides and dangerous chemicals expired or
exceeding the amount required to treat efficiently the infected area. Highly Hazardous
Pesticides (HHP) will not be used by the project.
Purchase of destructive farming gear and other investments detrimental to the
environment.
Unsustainable exploitation of natural resources
Introduction of non-native species, unless these are already present in the vicinity or known
from similar settings to be non-invasive
Significant conversion or degradation of natural habitat or where the conservation and/or
environmental gains do not clearly outweigh any potential losses
Trade in wildlife or wildlife products regulated under Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species (CITES)

191
 I don't If yes, provide more
Exclusion activities Yes No know information
Production or trade in any product or activity deemed illegal under Yemen’s laws or
regulations or international conventions and agreements, or subject to international bans
Labor and working conditions involving harmful, exploitative, involuntary or compulsory
forms of labor, forced labor, child labor or significant occupational health and safety issues
Subproject considering: (i) Production or trade in products containing Polychlorinated
biphenyls (PCBs); (ii) production or trade in ozone depleting substances; (iii) in alcoholic
beverages including country made liquor; (iv) processing of products involving tobacco; (v)
production or trade in or use of unbounded asbestos fibres

192
CHECKLIST TO IDENTIFY POTENTIAL E&S RISKS AND IMPACTS OF ACTIVITIES
Risk Category
(Please check each line appropriately. At this stage, questions are answered without
I don't If these risks (‘yes’) are present,
considering magnitude of impact – only yes, no or I don’t know are applicable answers)
Yes No know please refer to: Comments
ESS 1: Assessment and Management of Environmental and Social Risks and Impacts
Is a full Environmental and/or Social Impact Assessment required for the sub-
project based on:
(i) its risk rating (e.g. high or substantial risk sub-projects – see ESMF
Appendix A for categorization guidance); and/or
(ii) national legislation within Yemen?
ESMF
Have there been any complaints raised by local affected peoples or groups or
Stakeholder Engagement
NGOs regarding conditions of the sub-project area or, if relevant, facility to be
Framework (SEF)
used?
Grievance Redress Mechanisms
If so, will project financing be used to remedy these complaints?
(GRM)
Stakeholder Engagement
Framework (SEF)
Is there a risk of diversion of sub-project benefits?
Grievance Redress Mechanisms
(GRM)
Is there a risk of lack of monitoring of sub-project activities due to remoteness of
Security Management Plan (SMP)
location and insecurity?
Stakeholder Engagement
Framework (SEF), Framework for
Is there a risk that sub-project benefits may not reach truly vulnerable Addressing Gender-Based and
populations? Child Violence, Sexual Exploitation
and Harassment against Women
and Children (FGBCV-SEH-WC)
Stakeholder Engagement
Framework (SEF)
Is there a risk that sub-projects may be manipulated by different factions?
Grievance Redress Mechanisms
(GRM)
Security Management Plan (SMP)
Is there a risk that the selection of the activity location or beneficiaries will lead
Grievance Redress Mechanisms
to conflict?
(GRM)

193
Risk Category
(Please check each line appropriately. At this stage, questions are answered without
I don't If these risks (‘yes’) are present,
considering magnitude of impact – only yes, no or I don’t know are applicable answers)
Yes No know please refer to: Comments
Security Management Plan (SMP)
Does the activity pose a security risk for local staff?

Stakeholder Engagement
Is there a risk that the activity firms up contested local authority structures? Framework (SEF)

Does the sub-project area include land previously unutilized or underutilized? ESMF guidance on UXOs and land
If yes, is there are risk of unexploded ordinances (UXOs) / landmines? use (ESS5)

ESS 2: Labour and Working Conditions

Labor Management Procedures
(LMP)
Framework for Addressing Gender-
Does the activity include any of the known labour rights / ESS 2 non-compliance
Based and Child Violence, Sexual
risks in Yemen (child and forced labor)?
Exploitation and Harassment
against Women and Children
(covers child labour)
Will works financed include construction, reconstruction, or demolition works? ESMF guidance on C-ESMPs and
If yes, an C-ESMP needs to be prepared Waste Management Plan (WMP)
Does the implementing agency or subcontractor have valid operating permits, ESMF guidance on national
licenses, approvals, etc.? If not, please explain. Permits to screen for include: legislation
construction permits, operational/use permits, waste management permits,
environmental permits, land permits, water management permits…

If not, will financing be used to obtain the required permit(s)?

Does the IA or subcontractor have any significant outstanding environmental ESMF guidance on procurement
fees, fines or penalties or any other environmental liabilities (e.g. pending legal and procedures for managing
proceedings involving environmental issues etc.)? contractors
If yes, will the financing be used to correct this condition and please explain?
Labour Management Plan (LMP)
ESMF
Does the activity include labour-intensive production/manufacturing?
Occupational Health and Safety
Guidelines (OHSG)

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Risk Category
(Please check each line appropriately. At this stage, questions are answered without
I don't If these risks (‘yes’) are present,
considering magnitude of impact – only yes, no or I don’t know are applicable answers)
Yes No know please refer to: Comments
Labour Management Plan (LMP)
ESMF
Does the activity include primary agricultural activities?
Occupational Health and Safety
Guidelines (OHSG)
Is there a security risk for (sub) Project Workers? Security Management Plan (SMP)
Is there a risk that the operation and maintenance of sub-project facilities cause OHSG
OHS issues? ESMF
Develop an Occupational Health
Is there a risk of lacking OHS for workers at the construction site or site of DL
and Safety Plan (OHSP) based on
control spraying activities?
the OHSG
Labor Management Procedures
Is there a risk of delayed payment of workers?
(LMP)
Labor Management Procedures
Is there a risk that workers are underpaid?
(LMP)
Labor Management Procedures
(LMP)
Is there a risk that women will be excluded and/or not included in equitable Framework for Addressing Gender-
numbers? Based and Child Violence, Sexual
Exploitation and Harassment
against Women and Children
Security Management Plan (SMP)
Is there a risk that provision of employment or contracts sparks conflicts? Grievance Redress Mechanisms
(GRM)
ESS 3: Resource Efficiency and Pollution Prevention Management
Will the activity result in the production of solid waste? (directly by the sub- Waste Management Plan, based on
project or by workforce) the ESMF and World Bank Group’s
Environmental, Health, and Safety
Will the activity result in the production of toxic or hazardous/biohazardous
General Guidelines
waste? (e.g. used oils, inflammable products, pesticides, solvents, industrial
Integrated Pest Management
chemicals, ozone depleting substances, animal remains, blood from slaughter,
Framework (IPMF)
etc.)
C-ESMP
Will the activity result in the generation of dust and noise? C-ESMP

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Risk Category
(Please check each line appropriately. At this stage, questions are answered without
I don't If these risks (‘yes’) are present,
considering magnitude of impact – only yes, no or I don’t know are applicable answers)
Yes No know please refer to: Comments
C-ESMP / ESMP (depending on
Will the activity result in soil erosion?
context)
C-ESMP
Will the activity produce effluents (wastewater)?
Waste Management Plan
Will the activity result in increased levels of vibration from construction C-ESMP
machinery?
Will the sub-project produce air pollution? (e.g. significant greenhouse gas C-ESMP / ESMP (depending on
emissions, dust emissions and other sources) context)
ESMP
Will the activity disturb any fauna and flora?
IPMF
Will the activity result in irrigation water with high Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) C-ESMP / ESMP (depending on
with more than 1,500 ppm? context)
Can the sub-project affect the surface or groundwater in quantity or quality? Waste Management Plan (WMP)
(e.g. discharges, leaking, leaching, boreholes, etc.) IPMF
Will the sub-project activities require use of chemicals (e.g. fertilizers, pesticides,
paints, etc.), and/or might they prompt others to increase their use of chemicals?
Is there any risk of accidental spill or leakage of material?
ESS 4: Community Health and Safety
Framework for Addressing Gender-
Based and Child Violence, Sexual
Is there a risk of increased GBV/SEA cases due to labour influx? Exploitation and Harassment
against Women and Children Labor
Management Procedures (LMP)
Labor Management Procedures
Is there a risk of spread of communal diseases due to labour influx? (LMP)
C-ESMP
Is there a security risk to the community triggered by project activities? Security Management Plan (SMP)
Stakeholder Engagement
Framework (SEF)
Does the activity have the potential to upset community dynamics?
Grievance Redress Mechanisms
(GRM)

196
Risk Category
(Please check each line appropriately. At this stage, questions are answered without
I don't If these risks (‘yes’) are present,
considering magnitude of impact – only yes, no or I don’t know are applicable answers)
Yes No know please refer to: Comments
C-ESMP or ESMP (depending on
Will the activity expose community members to physical hazards on the sub- context)
project site? IPMF (if physical hazards are due to
pesticide use)
C-ESMP or ESMP (depending on
Will the activity pose traffic and road safety hazards?
context)
Waste Management Plan
Is there a possibility that the activity contaminates open wells, potable water
C-ESMP or ESMP (depending on
sources, and/or water used for agricultural activities?
context)
Waste Management Plan
Is there a possibility that the activity spreads pathogens and other pollutants
C-ESMP or ESMP (depending on
(e.g. latrines)?
context)
Can the activity contribute to the spread of disease (e.g. community centres ESMP
during pandemic situation)? Waste Management Plan
ESS 5: Land Acquisition, Restrictions on Land Use and Involuntary Resettlement
Will the proposed activity/sub-project require acquisition of land, e.g.: ESMF exclusion list and Voluntary
• Encroachment on private property land donation Framework
• Relocation of project affected persons
• Loss of private lands or assets
• Impacts on livelihood incomes
This includes displacement of a population, either physically or economically (e.g.
relocation for construction purposes, temporary or permanent; activities which
may lead to loss of income, assets or means of livelihoods).
If yes, a site-specific Resettlement/Livelihood Restoration Action Plan must be
prepared
Stakeholder Engagement
Framework (SEF)
Is the project located in a conflict area, or has the potential to cause social
Grievance Redress Mechanisms
problems and exacerbate conflicts, for instance, related to land tenure and
(GRM)
access to resources (e.g. a new road providing unequal access to a disputed
ESMF
land)?
Voluntary land donation
Framework

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Risk Category
(Please check each line appropriately. At this stage, questions are answered without
I don't If these risks (‘yes’) are present,
considering magnitude of impact – only yes, no or I don’t know are applicable answers)
Yes No know please refer to: Comments
ESMF and Voluntary land donation
Framework
Stakeholder Engagement
Will the activity lead to disputes over land ownership?
Framework (SEF)
Grievance Redress Mechanisms
(GRM)
Stakeholder Engagement
Would the project potentially discriminate against women and girls based on
Framework (SEF)
gender, especially regarding participation in design and implementation or
Grievance Redress Mechanisms
access to opportunities and benefits?
(GRM)
ESS 6: Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Management of Living Natural Resources
Will the activity impact sensitive and/or protected areas? ESMF
Is there a risk that the sub-project causes ecological disturbances? ESMF
Is there a risk that the sub-project will cause (i) changes to landscapes and
habitat; (ii) habitat fragmentation; (iii) blockages to migration routes; ESMF
(iv) increased water consumption; and/or (v) contamination of natural habitats?
Is there a risk that the activity causes loss of precious ecological assets? ESMF
ESS 8: Cultural Heritage
Will the subproject be located in or close to a site of natural or cultural value?
Is the subproject site known to have the potential for the presence of cultural Chance Find Procedures (ESMF)
and natural heritage remains?
ESS 10: Stakeholder Engagement and Information Disclosure
Is there a risk that the activity fails to incorporate measures to allow meaningful,
Stakeholder Engagement
effective and informed consultation of stakeholders, such as community
Framework (SEF)
engagement activities?
Stakeholder Engagement
Has their been historical exclusion of disabled persons or other marginalized
Framework (SEF)
groups (women, children, ethnic minorities, elderly) in the area?

Is there a lack of social baseline data? ESMF

198
Risk Category
(Please check each line appropriately. At this stage, questions are answered without
I don't If these risks (‘yes’) are present,
considering magnitude of impact – only yes, no or I don’t know are applicable answers)
Yes No know please refer to: Comments
Stakeholder Engagement
Are women likely to participate in decision-making processes regarding the
Framework (SEF)
activity?
Stakeholder Engagement
Framework (SEF)
Is there a risk that exclusion of beneficiaries will lead to grievances?
Grievance Redress Mechanisms
(GRM)
Stakeholder Engagement
Framework (SEF)
Is there a risk that the activity will have poor access to beneficiaries?
Grievance Redress Mechanisms
(GRM)
See FAO, and World Bank guidance
Will the Covid-19 outbreak hamper proper stakeholder engagement?
and regulations on Covid-19

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SUMMARY OF THE SCREENING PROCESS: RESULTS
E&S Screening Results and Recommendation
Screening Results: What is the potential Individual Risk/ Impact Rating Mitigation
Summary of Critical Risks risk/impact (Low, Medium, Substantial, At the end of the screen process, tabulate the mitigation measures in an
and Impacts Identified High) ESMP Format (Appendix C)
e.g. Increased use of e.g. Medium e.g. Pest management plan, along with training on OHS (e.g. how to use
pesticides due to personal protective equipment (PPE), etc.)
increased production

Is Additional Assessment Screening Result Summary of Screening Result Justification

Necessary? (Evaluate the 1. No further ES Assessment required. e.g. “low risk sub-project”
Risks/Impacts and reflect
2. No further ES Assessment required but e.g. “low to medium risk sub-project”
on options)
requires simple ESMP.
3. Detailed ESMP. Done internally or by the sub- e.g. “medium risk sub-project, without need for ESIA, and implemented
project implementing agency/partner. directly by FAO or an implementation partner”
4. Detailed ESMP. Contracted to a third party. e.g. “substantial risk sub-project, without need for ESIA, but with the
need for a third party consulting firm in order to avoid conflict of
interest”
5. YES 2. ESIA required. Contracted to a third e.g. “substantial/high risk sub-project”
party.
Is the activity excluded
under the project (does yes no
appear in the exclusion list
of the ESMF)?

ES Screening Conducted by: ______________________________________ ____________________________________ _____/ _____/ ______

Printed Name(s) Signature(s) DD/ MM/ YYYY

Recommended by Sub-project Manager: _______________________________ _____________________________________ _____/ _____/ ______

Printed Name Signature DD/ MM/ YYYY

Approved by PMU (circle one): YES NO Date (DD/MM/YYYY): _____ / _____ / _________

200
APPENDIX A: PROJECT CATEGORIZATION
SECTION B: Is the level of Social/Environmental risk already known?

To which category does the project belong?

Please select the relevant risk level; if the sub-project type is not listed, please specify. The lists are indicative and provide examples of projects that are normally falling
into low, moderate, substantial, and high-risk categories.

MODERATE RISK: SUBSTANTIAL RISK:

LOW RISK: HIGH RISK:
Moderate or unknown adverse Substantial adverse
Minimal or no adverse environmental High adverse environmental or social risks and/or
environmental or social risks and/or environmental or social risks
or social risks and/or impacts impacts
impacts and/or impacts
- Communication and translations - Small and medium-scale infrastructure Subprojects which involve: - Large infrastructure projects
- Small training and workshops projects (e.g. community centres, rural -medium-to-substantial scale - Long distance roads, rail, transmission lines
- Management of funds and grants roads, housing, buildings, etc.) that do not resettlement (unless the risks or (water, power)
under proven supervision/good track require resettlement or that only involve impacts of such resettlement are - Waste treatment and disposal installations
record minor risks/impacts associated with minor); - Projects involving significant quantities of
- Management of social protection resettlement; -projects with adverse risks or hazardous substances
activities -energy provision for small-scale impacts on Indigenous Peoples - Activities leading to large-scale resettlement, land
development works; and/or marginalized acquisition and restrictions to land use
-small works for water supply and ethnic/tribal peoples (though - Power stations
sanitation; not as extensively as a high-risk - Industrial installations (refineries, chemical
-management of non-hazardous waste; project) installations)
-small scale agriculture and on-farm -Significant risks or impacts on - River basin or land development
irrigation; the environment, community - Large-scale irrigation
-technical assistance, support and advice health and safety, labor and - Subprojects proposed in critical habitats and
(depending on topic) working conditions, biodiversity protect areas
and/or cultural heritage, but
that are not as extensive as a
high-risk project
-cumulative moderate risks
which, together, create
substantial risk due to
interaction

APPENDIX B: POSSIBLE SCREENING OUTCOMES AND REQUIRED ACTIONS

201
E&S Screening Results and Recommendation
Screening Results: Risk/Impact Mitigation
Summary of Critical Risks
and Impacts Identified E.g. Temporary displacement (physical or e.g. Resettlement Action Plan (and/or livelihoods restoration plan)
economical) of community members near
construction site of community centre
E.g. Occupational Safety and Health e.g. Use of appropriate PPE. Training on appropriate workplace conduct.

e.g. Increased use of pesticides due to increased e.g. Pest management plan, along with training on OHS (e.g. how to use
production OR specific control-spraying activities personal protective equipment (PPE), etc.)
Is Additional Assessment Screening Result Summary of Screening Result Justification
Necessary? 6. No 1. No further ES Assessment required.
7. No 2. No further ES Assessment required
but requires simple ESMP (See Appendix C)
8. Yes 1. Detailed ESMP. Done internally or by
the sub-project implementing
agency/partner.
9. Yes 2. Detailed ESMP. Contracted to a third
party.
10. YES 2. ESIA required. Contracted to a third
party.
Next Steps Screening Result Action. Select applicable action consistent with the Summary of Risks. All
end results of the screening and follow up tools should be disclosed at the
appropriate level.
1. No1. No further ES Assessment required. Proceed to project implementation in compliance with ESMF.
2. No 2. No further ES Assessment required 1. Produce the ESMP and submit it with Screening Form for review and
but requires simple ESMP. approval by FAO Project Management Team.
2. Proceed to project implementation in compliance with ESMF.
3. Yes 1. Detailed ESMP. Done internally or by 1. Submit the Screening form with the TORs for the ESMP for review and
the sub-project implementing approval by FAO Project Management Team.
agency/partner. 2. Produce the ESMP and submit to FAO for review and approval.
3. Ensure the detailed ESMP mainstreams the ESMF.
4. Do not implement works until approval of the ESMP is received by the
FAO and World Bank

202
E&S Screening Results and Recommendation
5. Yes 2. Detailed ESMP. Contracted to Third 1. Submit the Screening form with the TORs for the ESMP for review and
Party Consultancy. approval by FAO.
2. Engage a Registered ESIA Consultant to produce ESMP and submit to
FAO first for initial review, then to World Bank for review and
approval.
3. Ensure the ESMP mainstreams the ESMF.
4. Do not implement works until approval of the ESMP by the FAO and
World Bank.
5. YES 2. ESIA required. Contracted to 1. Submit the Screening form with the TORs for the ESIA for review and
Registered Third Party Consultancy approval by FAO.
(recognized by national government). 2. Engage a Registered ESIA consultant to produce ESIA and ESMP and
submit to FAO first for initial review, then to World Bank and South
Sudan’s Ministry of Environment (MoE) for review and approval.
3. Ensure the detailed ESMP mainstreams the ESMF.
4. Do not implement works until approval of the detailed ESIA and ESMP
by PCU, World Bank and Government of Yemen.

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APPENDIX C: TEMPLATE FOR SIMPLE ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL MANAGEMENT AND MONITORING PLAN
Associated E&S Risks and Mitigation Measures Responsibility Timing for Monitoring Mitigation Monitoring Monitoring
Project Impact for mitigation Indicators Budget Responsibility Frequency
Activity implementation
Gravel Land degradation Rehabilitate all borrow Contractor Project Borrow areas Contractor’s Sub-project Ongoing.
borrow area areas implementation rehabilitated Bid implementing
for agency (FAO or
community partner); FAO
centre Project Team
construction

204
8 FORM B: FOR SUBPROJECTS WITH CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES.
This form/checklist is to be used for subprojects and completed by FAO/UNDP/Implementing
Partners in consultation with the participating/affected communities. It can be used to
complement the main screening checklist (Form A).

Title of the subproject: ………………………………………………………………………………………………….………………….

Type of subproject (activities): ………………………………………………………………………..…………….………………….

Department implementing subproject: ………………………………………………………………………….………………….

Governorate and District where subproject is to be implemented: ………………………………………..………

Number of villages/settlements/households who will benefit from the subproject: …………………………..

Estimated cost of subproject: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Screening Checklist Completed By (Name and Title): ………………………………………………………………………..

Date: …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Category of subproject assigned by FAO/SFD (low, moderate, substantial, high risk): ..…………………….

Name of Approving Authority (if functioning): …………………………………………………………………………………

1. Brief Description of Subproject (activities)

Please provide information on the type and scale of subproject (subproject area, area of required land,
approximate size of total building floor areas, etc.)

2. The Natural Environment

(a) Describe the land formation, topography, vegetation in/adjacent to the subproject area (e.g. is it a
low lying land, water logged, rocky, swampy or wetland, etc.)

(b) Estimate and indicate whether vegetation might need to be cleared.

205
(c) Are there any environmentally sensitive areas or threatened species that could be adversely affected
by the subproject (specify below)?
(i) Intact natural forests Yes No
(ii) Riverine forest Yes No
(iii) Wetlands (lakes, rivers, seasonally inundated [flooded] areas) Yes No

(iv) If yes, how far are the nearest wetlands (lakes, rivers, seasonally inundated [flooded] areas)?
_km

(v) Habitats of endangered species for which protection is required under Yemeni laws and/or
international agreements Yes No
(vi) Others (describe) (e.g. cultural sites, burial places, etc.) Yes No

3. Fauna and Flora

- Will subproject involve the disturbance or modification of existing drainage channels (rivers, canals) or
surface water bodies (wetlands, marshes)? Yes No

- Will the subproject lead to the destruction or damage of terrestrial or aquatic ecosystems or
endangered species directly or by induced development? Yes No

- Will the subproject lead to the disruption/destruction of wildlife through interruption of migratory
routes, disturbance of wildlife habitats, and noise-related problems? Yes No

4. Destruction/Disruption of Land and Vegetation

- Will the subproject lead to unplanned use of the infrastructure being developed?

Yes No
- Will the subproject lead to long-term or semi-permanent destruction of soils in cleared areas not
suited for agriculture? Yes No
- Will the subproject lead to the interruption of subsoil and overland drainage patterns (in areas of cuts
and fills)? Yes No

- Will the subproject lead to landslides, slumps, slips and other mass movements in road cuts?
Yes No
- Will the subproject lead to erosion of lands below the roadbed receiving concentrated outflow carried
by covered or open drains? Yes No

- Will the subproject lead to health hazards and interference of plant growth adjacent to roads by dust
raised and blown by vehicles? Yes No

5. Protected Areas

206
- Does subproject area (or components of the project) occur within/adjacent to any protected areas
designated by government (national park, national reserve, world heritage site, etc.)
Yes No

- If subproject is outside of, but close to, any protected area, is it likely to adversely affect the ecology
within the protected area (e.g. interference with the migration routes of mammals or birds)
Yes No
6. Geology and Soils

- Based upon visual inspection or available literature, are there areas of possible geologic or soil
instability (erosion prone, landslide prone, etc.)? Yes No

- Based upon visual inspection or available literature, are there areas that have risks of large-scale
increase in soil salinity? Yes No

7. Historical, archaeological or cultural heritage

Based on available sources, consultation with local authorities, local knowledge and/or observations,
could the subproject alter any historical, archaeological or cultural heritage site or require excavation
nearby? Yes No

8. Resettlement and/or Land Acquisition and/or Economic Displacement

- Will the subproject require land acquisition? Yes No

- If so, will this land acquisition be involuntary? (If the donation is voluntary (i.e. “No” to this question),
then the process should follow those laid out in the project’s Resettlement Framework) Yes No _
- If so, will this involuntary land acquisition lead to relocation or loss of shelter, loss of assets, or access
to assets? Yes No

- If so, will this involuntary land acquisition lead to loss of income sources or means of livelihood (whether
or not affected persons must move to another location)? Yes No

-If so, will this involuntary land acquisition lead to loss of income sources of vulnerable groups such
elderly people, women headed family, etc.)? Yes No

- Will subproject lead to involuntary restriction of access to legally designated parks and protected areas
resulting in adverse impacts on livelihoods of displaced persons? Yes No

9. Loss of Household Infrastructure

- Will subproject result in permanent or temporary loss of household infrastructure (such as granaries,
outside toilets and kitchens, etc.)? Yes No

-If these impacts on granaries, outside toilets and kitchens are lost due to acquisition of land they are
ineligible for project financing.

10. Child and/or Bonded Labour

207
-Will the subproject lead to child labour (under the age of 18) or forced labor? Yes No
-If yes, then this subproject will be ineligible for financing.

11. Noise pollution during Construction and Operations

-Will the operating noise level exceed the allowable (ambient) noise limits? Yes No

-The subproject must abide by national laws and regulations pertaining to noise limits, and must include a
plan to manage noise throughout construction and operations within the allowable level.
12. Solid or Liquid Wastes, including Medical Waste

- Will subproject generate large amounts of residual wastes (solid or liquid wastes), including medical
waste? Yes No
- If “Yes”, does subproject include a plan for collection/disposal? Yes No

13. Pesticides, Insecticides, Herbicides or any other Poisonous toxic or Hazardous Chemicals.
- Will the subproject require the use of such chemicals? Yes No

- If, “Yes”, does subproject include a plan for safe handling, use and disposal? Yes No
- If the subproject does not have a plan for safe handling, use, and disposal, then it is ineligible for
financing under this project.

14. Water and Soil Contamination

- Will subproject require large amounts of raw materials/construction materials? Yes __No
- Is the proposal for constructing a larger scale project (e.g. major road, public sewage treatment plant,
dams with a height of 10m or more)? If, yes, the subproject is ineligible. Yes _No

- Will subproject generate large amounts of residual wastes, construction material waste or cause soil
erosion? Yes No

- Will subproject result in soil or water contamination (e.g. from oil, grease and fuel from equipment)?
Yes No
- Will subproject lead to contamination of ground and surface water bodies by herbicides for vegetation
control and chemicals for dust control? Yes No
- Will subproject lead to an increase in suspended sediments in streams affected by road cut erosion,
decline in water quality and increased sedimentation downstream? Yes No

- Will subproject lead to the destruction of vegetation and soil in the right-of-way; borrow pits, waste
dumps, and equipment yards? Yes No

- Will subproject lead to the creation of stagnant water bodies in borrow pits, quarries, etc., encouraging
for mosquitoes? Yes No

208
Signature of community representative: Date:

Signature of FAO/UNDP/Implementing Partners’ E&S risk specialist: Date:

209
9 FORM C: FAO E&S RISK INDENTIFICATION (GENERIC)

Trigger Questions:
Question YES NO
Would this project:
• result in the degradation (biological or physical) of soils or undermine sustainable land management practices; or
• include the development of a large irrigation scheme, dam construction, use of waste water or affect the quality of
1 water; or
• reduce the adaptive capacity to climate change or increase GHG emissions significantly; or
• result in any changes to existing tenure rights523 (formal and informal524) of individuals, communities or others to land,
fishery and forest resources?
Would this project be executed in or around protected areas or natural habitats, decrease the biodiversity or alter the
2
ecosystem functionality, use alien species, or use genetic resources?
Would this project:
• Introduce crops and varieties previously not grown, and/or;
3 • Provide seeds/planting material for cultivation, and/or;
• Involve the importing or transfer of seeds and or planting material for cultivation or research and development;
• Supply or use modern biotechnologies or their products in crop production, and/or
• Establish or manage planted forests?
Would this project introduce non-native or non-locally adapted species, breeds, genotypes or other genetic material to an area
4
or production system, or modify in any way the surrounding habitat or production system used by existing genetic resources?
Would this project:
• result in the direct or indirect procurement, supply or use of pesticides525:
▪ on crops, livestock, aquaculture, forestry, household; or
▪ as seed/crop treatment in field or storage; or
▪ through input supply programmes including voucher schemes; or
5
▪ for small demonstration and research purposes; or
▪ for strategic stocks (locust) and emergencies; or
▪ causing adverse effects to health and/or environment; or
• result in an increased use of pesticides in the project area as a result of production intensification; or
• result in the management or disposal of pesticide waste and pesticide contaminated materials; or

523
Tenure rights are rights to own, use or benefit from natural resources such as land, water bodies or forests
524
Socially or traditionally recognized tenure rights that are not defined in law may still be considered to be ‘legitimate tenure rights’.
525
Pesticide means any substance, or mixture of substances of chemical or biological ingredients intended for repelling, destroying or controlling any pest, or
regulating plant growth.
210
 Question YES NO
• result in violations of the Code of Conduct?
Would this project permanently or temporarily remove people from their homes or means of production/livelihood or restrict
6
their access to their means of livelihood?
Would this project affect the current or future employment situation of the rural poor, and in particular the labour productivity,
7
employability, labour conditions and rights at work of self-employed rural producers and other rural workers?
Could this project risk overlooking existing gender inequalities in access to productive resources, goods, services, markets,
8 decent employment and decision-making? For example, by not addressing existing discrimination against women and girls, or by
not taking into account the different needs of men and women.
Would this project:
• have indigenous peoples* living outside the project area¹ where activities will take place; or
• have indigenous peoples living in the project area where activities will take place; or
• adversely or seriously affect on indigenous peoples' rights, lands, natural resources, territories, livelihoods, knowledge, social
fabric, traditions, governance systems, and culture or heritage (physical² and non-physical or intangible³) inside and/or outside
the project area; or
• be located in an area where cultural resources exist?

* FAO considers the following criteria to identify indigenous peoples: priority in time with respect to occupation and use of a
specific territory; the voluntary perpetuation of cultural distinctiveness (e.g. languages, laws and institutions); self-identification;
an experience of subjugation, marginalization, dispossession, exclusion or discrimination (whether or not these conditions
persist).
9
¹The phrase "Outside the project area" should be read taking into consideration the likelihood of project activities to influence
the livelihoods, land access and/or rights of Indigenous Peoples' irrespective of physical distance. In example: If an indigenous
community is living 100 km away from a project area where fishing activities will affect the river yield which is also accessed by
this community, then the user should answer "YES" to the question.

²Physical defined as movable or immovable objects, sites, structures, group of structures, natural features and landscapes that
have archaeological, paleontological, historical, architectural, religious, aesthetic or other cultural significance located in urban
or rural settings, ground, underground or underwater.

³Non-physical or intangible defined as "the practices, representations, expressions, knowledge and skills as well as the
instruments, objects, artifacts and cultural spaces associated therewith that communities, groups, and in some cases individuals,
recognize as part of their spiritual and/or cultural heritage"

If the answer to any of the above trigger questions is “Yes”, please utilize the further screening tool, specific to the safeguard in
question.
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FURTHER SCREENING (GUIDED BY TRIGGER QUESTIONS):

SAFEGUARD 1 NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT

Question Management of soil and land resources No Yes Comments
Would this project result in the MODERATE RISK
1.1 degradation (biological or physical) of LOW RISK Demonstrate how the project applies and adheres to
soils the principles of the World Soil Charter
HIGH RISK
Would this project undermine sustainable A full environmental and social impact assessment is
1.2 LOW RISK
land management practices? required.
Please contact the ESM unit for further guidance.

Management of water resources and

Comments
small dams No Yes
MODERATE RISK
Specify the following information:
a) implementation of appropriate efficiency
principles and options to enhance productivity,
b) technically feasible water conservation
measures,
c) alternative water supplies,
d) resource contamination mitigation or/and
Would this project develop an avoidance, CoC
irrigation scheme that is more than 20 e) potential impact on water users downstream,
1.3 LOW RISK f) water use offsets and demand management
hectares or withdraws more than
1000 m3/day of water? options to maintain total demand for water
resources within the available supply.
g) The ICID-checklist will be included, as well as
appropriate action within the project to mitigate
identified potential negative impacts.
h) Projects aiming at improving water efficiency
will carry out thorough water accounting in
order to avoid possible negative impacts such as
waterlogging, salinity or reduction of water
availability downstream.

212
 Management of water resources and
Comments
small dams No Yes
Would this project develop an HIGH RISK
irrigation scheme that is more than A full environmental and social impact assessment is
1.4 LOW RISK
100 hectares or withdraws more than required.
5000 m3/day of water? Please contact the ESM unit for further guidance.
MODERATE RISK
The ICID-checklist will be included, as well as
appropriate action within the project to mitigate
identified potential negative impacts.
Would this project aim at improving an
1.5 LOW RISK Projects aiming at improving water efficiency will
irrigation scheme (without expansion)?
carry out thorough water accounting in order to
avoid possible negative impacts such as waterlogging,
salinity or reduction of water availability
downstream.
Would this project affect the quality of HIGH RISK
water either by the release of
1.6 pollutants or by its use, thus affecting LOW RISK A full environmental and social impact assessment is
its characteristics (such as required.
temperature, pH, DO, TSS or any other? Please contact the ESM unit for further guidance.
MODERATE RISK

Would this project include the usage of Demonstrate how the project applies and adheres to
1.7 LOW RISK applicable national guidelines or, if not available, the
wastewater?
WHO/FAO/UNEP Guidelines on Safe Usage of Waste
Water in Agriculture
Would this project involve the
1.8 construction or financing of a dam that LOW RISK CANNOT PROCEED
is more than 15 m. in height?
HIGH RISK
Would this project involve the
A full environmental and social impact assessment is
1.9 construction or financing of a dam that LOW RISK
required.
is more than 5 m. in height?
Please contact the ESM unit for further guidance.

213
 Tenure No Yes Comments
Would this project permanently or
HIGH RISK
temporarily remove people from their
1.10 homes or means of LOW RISK A full environmental and social impact assessment is
production/livelihood or restrict their required.
access to their means of livelihood? Please contact the ESM unit for further guidance.
Would this project permanently or
temporarily deny or restrict access to
1.11 LOW RISK PROCEED TO NEXT Q
natural resources to which they have
rights of access or use
MODERATE RISK
Would the denial or
Demonstrate how the project applies and adheres to
restriction of access be
CANNOT the principles/framework of the Voluntary Guidelines
1.11.1 voluntary and with the
PROCEED on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land,
agreement of the affected
Fisheries and Forests in the Context of National Food
people?
Security (VGGT)
Would the project bring about
1.12 consolidation or adjustment of tenure LOW RISK PROCEED TO NEXT Q
rights?
MODERATE RISK
Would the consolidation or
Demonstrate how the project applies and adheres to
adjustment of tenure rights be
CANNOT the principles/framework of the Voluntary Guidelines
1.12.1 voluntary and with the
PROCEED on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land,
agreement of the affected
Fisheries and Forests in the Context of National Food
people?
Security (VGGT)

Climate No Yes Comments

Would this project result in a reduction HIGH RISK
of the adaptive capacity to climate A full environmental and social impact assessment is
1.13 LOW RISK
change for any stakeholders in the required.
project area? Please contact the ESM unit for further guidance.
HIGH RISK
Would this project result in a reduction
1.14 of resilience against extreme weather LOW RISK A full environmental and social impact assessment is
events? required.
Please contact the ESM unit for further guidance.

214
 Climate No Yes Comments
Would this project result in a net
1.15 increase of GHG emissions beyond those LOW RISK PROCEED TO NEXT Q
expected from increased production?
HIGH RISK
A full
environmental
Is the expected increase and social
below the level specified by impact
1.15.1 FAO guidance or national assessment is LOW RISK
policy/law (whichever is required.
more stringent)? Please contact
the ESM unit
for further
guidance.
Is the expected increase
HIGH RISK
above the level specified by
A full environmental and social impact assessment is
1.15.2 FAO guidance or national LOW RISK
required.
policy/law (whichever is
Please contact the ESM unit for further guidance.
more stringent)?

SAFEGUARD 2 BIODIVERSITY, ECOSYSTEMS AND NATURAL HABITATS

Protected areas, buffer zones or natural Comments
habitats No Yes
HIGH RISK
Would this project be implemented within a
A full environmental and social impact assessment is
2.1 legally designated protected area or its buffer LOW RISK
required.
zone?
Please contact the ESM unit for further guidance.

Biodiversity Conservation No Yes Comments

Would this project change a natural HIGH RISK
ecosystem to an
A full environmental and social impact assessment is
2.2 agricultural/aquacultural/forestry LOW RISK
required.
production unit with a reduced diversity of
Please contact the ESM unit for further guidance.
flora and fauna?

215
 Biodiversity Conservation No Yes Comments
MODERATE RISK
Would this project increase the current Demonstrate in the project document what measures
impact on the surrounding environment for will be taken to minimize adverse impacts on the
2.3 LOW RISK
example by using more water, chemicals or environment and ensure that implementation of
machinery than previously? these measures is reported in the risk log during
progress reports.

Use of alien species No Yes Comments

Would this project use an alien species which
has exhibited an invasive* behavior in the
country or in other parts of the world or a HIGH RISK
species with unknown behavior?
2.4 *An invasive alien species is defined by the LOW RISK A full environmental and social impact assessment is
Convention on Biological Diversity as “an required.
alien species whose introduction and/or Please contact the ESM unit for further guidance.
spread threaten biological diversity” (see
https://www.cbd.int/invasive/terms.shtml).

Access and benefit sharing for genetic Comments

resources No Yes
MODERATE RISK
Ensure that the following issues are considered and
appropriate action is taken. The issues identified and
the action taken to address them must be included in
Would this project involve access to genetic the project document and reported on in progress
resources for their utilization and/or access reports.
2.5 to traditional knowledge associated with LOW RISK For plant genetic resources for food and
genetic resources that is held by indigenous, agriculture (PGRFA) falling under the Multilateral
local communities and/or farmers? System of Access and Benefit-sharing (MLS) of the
International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for
Food and Agriculture (Treaty), ensure that Standard
Material Transfer Agreement (SMTA) has been signed
and comply with SMTA provisions.

216
Access and benefit sharing for genetic Comments
resources No Yes
For genetic resources, other than PGRFA falling
under the MLS of the Treaty:
1. Ensure that, subject to domestic access and
benefit-sharing legislation or other regulatory
requirements, prior informed consent has been
granted by the country providing the genetic
resources that is the country of origin of the
resources or that has acquired the resources in
accordance with the Convention on Biological
Diversity, unless otherwise determined by that
country; and
2. Ensure that benefits arising from the utilization
of the genetic resources as well as subsequent
applications and commercialization are shared in
a fair and equitable way with the country
providing the genetic resources that is the
country of origin of the resources or that has
acquired the resources in accordance with the
Convention on Biological Diversity; and
3. Ensure that, in accordance with domestic law,
prior informed consent or approval and
involvements of indigenous and local
communities is obtained for access to genetic
resources where the indigenous and local
communities have the established right to grant
such resources; and
4. Ensure that, in accordance with domestic
legislation regarding the established rights of
these indigenous and local communities over the
genetic resources, are shared in a fair and
equitable way with the communities concerned,
based on mutually agreed terms.

217
 Access and benefit sharing for genetic Comments
resources No Yes
For traditional knowledge associated with genetic
resources that is held by indigenous and local
communities:
1. Ensure, in accordance with applicable domestic
law, that knowledge is accessed with the prior and
informed consent or approval and involvement of
these indigenous and local communities, and that
mutually agreed terms have been established; and
2. Ensure that, in accordance with domestic law,
benefits arising from the utilization of traditional
knowledge associated with genetic resources are
shared, upon mutually agreed terms, in a fair and
equitable way with indigenous and local communities
holding such knowledge.
Ensure that the project is aligned with the Elements
to Facilitate Domestic Implementation of Access and
Benefit Sharing for Different Subsectors of Genetic
Resources for Food and Agriculture when it is the
case
SAFEGUARD 3 PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

Introduce new crops and varieties No Yes Comments

MODERATE RISK
• Follow appropriate phytosanitary protocols in
Would this project Introduce crops and accordance with IPPC
3.1 LOW RISK
varieties previously not grown? • Take measures to ensure that displaced varieties
and/or crops, if any, are included in the national
or international ex situ conservation programmes

Provision of seeds and Comments

planting materials No Yes

218
 Would this project provide
LOW
3.2 seeds/planting material for PROCEED TO NEXT Q
RISK
cultivation?
MODERATE RISK
• Avoid undermining local seed & planting material production and
supply systems through the use of seed voucher schemes, for
instance
• Ensure that the seeds and planting materials are from locally
adapted crops and varieties that are accepted by farmers and
consumers
Would this project • Ensure that the seeds and planting materials are free from pests
involve the and diseases according to agreed norms, especially the IPPC
importing or • Internal clearance from AGPMG is required for all procurement of
LOW seeds and planting materials. Clearance from AGPMC is required
3.2.1 transfer of seeds
RISK for chemical treatment of seeds and planting materials
and/or planting
materials for • Clarify that the seed or planting material can be legally used in the
cultivation? country to which it is being imported
• Clarify whether seed saving is permitted under the country’s
existing laws and/or regulations and advise the counterparts
accordingly.
• Ensure, according to applicable national laws and/or regulations,
that farmers’ rights to PGRFA and over associated traditional
knowledge are respected in the access to PGRFA and the sharing
of the benefits accruing from their use. Refer to ESS9: Indigenous
peoples and cultural heritage.
Would this project MODERATE RISK
involve the
Ensure compliance with Access and Benefit Sharing norms as
importing or
stipulated in the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for
transfer of seeds LOW
3.2.2 Food and Agriculture and the Nagoya Protocol of the Convention on
and/or planting RISK
Biodiversity as may be applicable. Refer also to ESS2: Biodiversity,
materials for
Ecosystems and Natural Habitats.
research and
development?

219
 Modern biotechnologies Comments
and the deployment of their
products in crop production No Yes
MODERATE RISK
• Adhere to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety of the Convention
on Biological Diversity to ensure the safe handling, transport and
Would this project supply or use of Living Modified Organisms (LMOs) resulting from modern
use modern plant LOW biotechnology that may have adverse effects on biological
3.3 diversity, taking also into account risks to human health.
biotechnologies and their RISK
products? • Adhere to biosafety requirements in the handling of Genetically
Modified Organisms (GMOs) or Living Modified Organisms
(LMOs) according to national legislation or526
• Take measures to prevent geneflow from the introduced varieties
to existing ones and/or wild relatives

Planted forests No Yes Comments

MODERATE RISK
• Adhere to existing national forest policies, forest programmes or
equivalent strategies.
• The observance of principles 9, 10, 11 and 12 of the Voluntary
Guidelines on Planted Forests suffice for indigenous forests but
must be read in full compliance with ESS 9- Indigenous People
and Cultural Heritage.
Would this project establish LOW • Planners and managers must incorporate conservation of
3.4
or manage planted forests? RISK biological diversity as fundamental in their planning,
management, utilization and monitoring of planted forest
resources.
• In order to reduce the environmental risk, incidence and impact of
abiotic and biotic damaging agents and to maintain and improve
planted forest health and productivity, FAO will work together
with stakeholders to develop and derive appropriate and efficient
response options in planted forest management.

526Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. 2011. Biosafety Resource Book. Rome,
http://www.fao.org/docrep/014/i1905e/i1905e00.htm
220
SAFEGUARD 4 ANIMAL (LIVESTOCK AND AQUATIC) GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE
Introduce new species/breeds and change in the Comments
No Yes
production system of locally adapted breeds
Would this project introduce non-native or non-locally
4.1 adapted species, breeds, genotypes or other genetic LOW RISK PROCEED TO NEXT Q
material to an area or production system?
Would this project foresee an increase in
production by at least 30% (due to the
4.1.1 introduction) relative to currently available CANNOT PROCEED LOW RISK
locally adapted breeds and can monitor
production performance?
Would this project introduce genetically
HIGH RISK
altered organisms, e.g. through selective
breeding, chromosome set manipulation, A full environmental and social impact
4.1.2 hybridization, genome editing or gene transfer LOW RISK assessment is required.
and/or introduce or use experimental genetic Please contact the ESM unit for further
technologies, e.g. genetic engineering and gene guidance.
transfer, or the products of those technologies?
MODERATE RISK
A genetic impact assessment should be
conducted prior to granting permission
to import ( cover the animal
identification, performance recording
Would this project introduce a non-native or non-locally and capacity development that allow
4.2 adapted species or breed for the first time into a country LOW RISK monitoring of the introduced species/
or production system? breeds’ productivity, health and
economic sustainability over several
production cycles)
• http://www.fao.org/docrep/0
12/i0970e/i0970e00.htm
• ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/0
12/i0970e/i0970e03.pdf
MODERATE RISK

Would this project introduce a non-native or non-locally • If the project imports or promotes
4.3 adapted species or breed, independent whether it LOW RISK species/breeds with higher
already exists in the country? performance than locally adapted
ones, ensure: feed resources, health
management, farm management
221
 Introduce new species/breeds and change in the Comments
No Yes
production system of locally adapted breeds
capacity, input supply and farmer
organization to allow the new
species/breeds to express their
genetic potential
• Follow the OIE terrestrial or
aquatic code to ensure the
introduced species/breed does not
carry different diseases than the
local ones
• Include a health risk assessment
and farmer/veterinary capacity
development in the project to
ensure the introduced
species/breed do not have different
susceptibility to local diseases
including ecto-and endo-parasites
than the locally adapted/native
species/breeds.
MODERATE RISK
Introduce a) animal
identification and
Would this project ensure there is no spread of the recording mechanism in
introduced genetic material into other production the project and b) LOW RISK
4.4
systems (i.e. indiscriminate crossbreeding with locally develop new or amend
adapted species/breeds)? existing livestock policy
and National Strategy
and Action Plan for
AnGR

Collection of wild genetic resources for farming Comment

No Yes
systems s
Would this project collect living material from the MODERATE RISK
4.5 wild, e.g. for breeding, or juveniles and eggs for LOW RISK
Guidance to be provided
ongrowing?

222
 Comment
Modification of habitats No Yes
s
Would this project modify the surrounding habitat
LOW RISK MODERATE RISK
4.6 or production system used by existing genetic
Guidance to be provided
resources?

Would this project be located in or near an

internationally recognized conservation area e.g.
LOW RISK MODERATE RISK
4.7 Ramsar or World Heritage Site, or other nationally
Guidance to be provided
important habitat, e.g. national park or high nature
value farmland?

Would this project block or create migration LOW RISK MODERATE RISK
4.8 routes for aquatic species? Guidance to be provided
AQGR

Would this project change the water quality

and quantity in the project area or areas LOW RISK MODERATE RISK
4.9
connected to it? Guidance to be provided

Would this project cause major habitat / production

system changes that promote new or unknown HIGH RISK
chances for geneflow, e.g. connecting geographically
LOW RISK A full environmental and social impact
4.10 distinct ecosystems or water bodies; or would it
assessment is required.
disrupt habitats or migration routes and the genetic
Please contact the ESM unit for further guidance.
structure of valuable or locally adapted
species/stocks/breeds?
Would this project involve the intensification of
production systems that leads to land- use changes
LOW RISK MODERATE RISK
4.11 (e.g. deforestation), higher nutrient inputs leading to
Guidance to be provided
soil or water pollution, changes of water regimes
(drainage, irrigation)?

223
SAFEGUARD 5 PEST AND PESTICIDES MANAGEMENT
Supply of pesticides by FAO No Yes Comments
MODERATE RISK
• Preference must always be given to sustainable pest management
approaches such as Integrated Pest Management (IPM), the use of
ecological pest management approaches and the use of
mechanical/cultural/physical or biological pest control tools in
favour of synthetic chemicals; and preventive measures and
monitoring,
• When no viable alternative to the use of chemical pesticides exists,
the selection and procurement of pesticides is subject to an internal
clearance procedure
Would this project procure, http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/templates/agphome/documents/Pe
supply and/or result in the use of sts_Pesticides/Code/E_SS5_pesticide_checklist.pdf
5.1 LOW RISK
pesticides on crops, livestock, • The criteria specified in FAO’s ESM Guidelines under ESS5 must be
aquaculture or forestry? adhered to and should be included or referenced in the project
document.
• If large volumes (above 1,000 litres of kg) of pesticides will be
supplied or used throughout the duration of the project, a Pest
Management Plan must be prepared to demonstrate how IPM will
be promoted to reduce reliance on pesticides, and what measures
will be taken to minimize risks of pesticide use.
• It must be clarified, which person(s) within (executing) involved
institution/s, will be responsible and liable for the proper storage,
transport, distribution and use of the products concerned in
compliance with the requirements.
MODERATE RISK
The use of chemical pesticides for seed treatment or storage of
Would this project provide seeds harvested produce is subject to an internal clearance procedure
or other materials treated with LOW [http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/templates/agphome/documents/Pests
5.2 _Pesticides/Code/E_SS5_pesticide_checklist.pdf ]. The criteria specified
pesticides (in the field and/or in RISK
storage)? in FAO’s ESM Guidelines under ESS5 for both pesticide supply and seed
treatment must be adhered to and should be included or referenced in
the project document.

224
 Supply of pesticides by FAO No Yes Comments
MODERATE RISK
• FAO projects must not be responsible for exposing people or the
environment to risks from pesticides. The types and quantities of
pesticides and the associated application and protective equipment
Would this project provide inputs that users of a voucher scheme are provided with must always
5.3 to farmers directly or through LOW RISK comply with the conditions laid out in ESS5 and be subject to the
voucher schemes? internal clearance procedure [link]. These must be included or
referenced in the project document.
• Preference must always be given to sustainable pest management
approaches such as Integrated Pest Management (IPM), the use of
ecological pest management approaches and the use of mechanical
or biological pest control tools in favour of synthetic chemicals
MODERATE RISK
Encourage stakeholders to develop a Pest Management Plan to
Would this project lead to
demonstrate how IPM will be promoted to reduce reliance on
increased use of pesticides LOW RISK
5.4 pesticides, and what measures will be taken to minimize risks of
through intensification or
pesticide use. This should be part of the sustainability plan for the
expansion of production?
project to prevent or mitigate other adverse environmental and social
impacts resulting from production intensification.
Would this project manage or HIGH RISK
dispose of waste pesticides, LOW RISK A full environmental and social impact assessment is required.
5.5
obsolete pesticides or pesticide Please contact the ESM unit for further guidance.
contaminated waste materials?

225
SAFEGUARD 6 INVOLUNTARY RESETTLEMENT AND DISPLACEMENT
No Yes Comments
Would this removal* be voluntary?
HIGH RISK
*temporary or permanent removal of people CANNOT A full environmental and social impact assessment is
6.1 PROCEED
from their homes or means of required.
production/livelihood or restrict their access Please contact the ESM unit for further guidance.
to their means of livelihoods

SAFEGUARD 7 DECENT WORK

No Yes Comments
Would this project displace jobs? HIGH RISK
(e.g. because of sectoral LOW
7.1 A full environmental and social impact assessment is required.
restructuring or occupational RISK
shifts) Please contact the ESM unit for further guidance.
MODERATE RISK
Take action to anticipate the likely risk of perpetuating poverty and
inequality in socially unsustainable agriculture and food systems. Decent
work and productive employment should appear among the priorities of
Would this project operate in the project or, alternatively, the project should establish synergies with
sectors or value chains that are specific employment and social protection programmes e.g. favouring
dominated by subsistence access to some social protection scheme or form of social insurance.
LOW
7.2 producers and other vulnerable Specific measures and mechanisms should be introduced to empower in
RISK
informal agricultural workers, particular the most vulnerable /disadvantaged categories of rural
and more generally characterized workers such as small-scale producers, contributing family workers,
by high levels “working poverty”? subsistence farmers, agricultural informal wage workers, with a special
attention to women and youth who are predominantly found in these
employment statuses. An age- and gender-sensitive social value chain
analysis or livelihoods/employment assessment is needed for large-scale
projects.
Would this project operate in MODERATE RISK
situations where youth work Take action to anticipate likely risk of unsustainably ageing agriculture
mostly as unpaid contributing and food systems by integrating specific measures to support youth
LOW
7.3 family workers, lack access to empowerment and employment in agriculture. A youth
RISK
decent jobs and are increasingly livelihoods/employment assessment is needed.
abandoning agriculture and rural Complementary measures should be included aiming at training youth,
areas? engaging them and their associations in the value chain, facilitating their
226
 No Yes Comments
access to productive resources, credit and markets, and stimulating
youth- friendly business development services.

Would this project operate in MODERATE RISK

situations where major gender Take action to anticipate likely risk of socially unsustainable agriculture
inequality in the labour market and food systems by integrating specific measures to reduce gender
prevails? (e.g. where women tend inequalities and promote rural women’s social and economic
to work predominantly as unpaid empowerment. A specific social value chain analysis or
contributing family members or livelihoods/employment assessment is needed for large-scale projects.
subsistence farmers, have lower LOW Facilitation should be provided for women of all ages to access
7.4
skills and qualifications, lower RISK productive resources (including land), credit, markets and marketing
productivity and wages, less channels, education and TVET, technology, collective action or
representation and voice in mentorship. Provisions for maternity protection, including child care
producers’ and workers’ facilities, should be foreseen to favour women participation and
organizations, more precarious anticipate potential negative effects on child labour, increased workloads
contracts and higher informality for women, and health related risks for pregnant and breastfeeding
rates, etc.) women.
Would this project operate in MODERATE RISK
areas or value chains with
LOW Take action to anticipate potential discrimination against migrant
7.5 presence of labour migrants or
RISK workers, and to ensure their rights are adequately protected, with
that could potentially attract
labour migrants? specific attention to different groups like youth, women and men.

No Yes Comments
MODERATE RISK
FAO projects will supposedly guarantee employees’ rights as per UN/FAO standards
as regards information on workers’ rights, regularity of payments, etc. Decisions
relating to the recruitment of project workers are supposed to follow standard UN
Would this project practices and therefore not be made on the basis of personal characteristics unrelated
LOW
7.6 directly employ to inherent job requirements. The employment of project workers will be based on the
RISK
workers? principle of equal opportunity and fair treatment, and there will be no discrimination
with respect to any aspects of the employment relationship, such as recruitment and
hiring, compensation (including wages and benefits), working conditions and terms
of employment, access to training, job assignment, promotion, termination of
employment or retirement, etc.

227
 MODERATE RISK
Take action to anticipate likely risk of perpetuating inequality and labour rights
Would this project violations by introducing complementary measures. FAO projects involving sub-
LOW contracting should promote, to the extent possible, subcontracting to local
7.7 involve sub-
RISK entrepreneurs – particularly to rural women and youth – to maximize employment
contracting?
creation under decent working conditions. Also, FAO should monitor and eventually
support contractors to fulfil the standards of performance and quality, taking into
account national and international social and labour standards.

No Yes Comments
MODERATE RISK
Take action to anticipate likely OSH risks by introducing complementary
provisions on OSH within the project. Project should ensure all workers’
safety and health by adopting minimum OSH measures and contributing
to improve capacities and mechanisms in place for OSH in informal
Would this project operate in a agriculture and related occupations. For example, by undertaking a
sector, area or value chain where simple health and safety risk assessment, and supporting implementation
producers and other agricultural of the identified risk control measures. Awareness raising and capacity
7.8 LOW RISK development activities on the needed gender-responsive OSH measures
workers are typically exposed to
significant occupational and safety should be included in project design to ensure workers’ safety and health,
risks527? including for informal workers. Complementary measures can include
measures to reduce risks and protect workers, as well as children
working or playing on the farm, such as alternatives to pesticides,
improved handling and storage of pesticides, etc.
Specific provisions for OSH for pregnant and breastfeeding women
should be introduced. FAO will undertake periodic inspections and a
multistakeholder mechanism for monitoring should be put in place.
Would this project provide or
promote technologies or practices HIGH RISK
that pose occupational safety and
7.9 LOW RISK A full environmental and social impact assessment is required.
health (OSH) risks for farmers, other
rural workers or rural populations in Please contact the ESM unit for further guidance.
general?

527Major OSH risks in agriculture include: dangerous machinery and tools; hazardous chemicals; toxic or allergenic agents; carcinogenic substances or agents;
parasitic diseases; transmissible animal diseases; confined spaces; ergonomic hazards; extreme temperatures; and contact with dangerous and poisonous animals,
reptiles and insects.
228
 No Yes Comments
Would this project foresee that
children below the nationally-
defined minimum employment age LOW CANNOT PROCEED
7.10
(usually 14 or 15 years old) will be RISK
involved in project-supported
activities?
MODERATE RISK
Take action to anticipate likely risk of engaging young people aged 14-
17 in child labour528 by changing design or introducing
complementary measures.
For children of 14 to 17 years, the possibility to complement education
with skills-training and work is certainly important for facilitating their
Would this project foresee that integration in the rural labour market. Yet, children under the age of 18
children above the nationally- should not be engaged in work-related activities in connection with the
LOW project in a manner that is likely to be hazardous or interfere with their
7.11 defined minimum employment age
RISK compulsory child’s education or be harmful to the child’s health, safety
(usually 14 or 15 years old), but
under the age of 18 will be involved or morals. Where children under the age of 18 may be engaged in work-
in project-supported activities? related activities in connection with the project, an appropriate risk
assessment will be conducted, together with regular monitoring of
health, working conditions and hours of work, in addition to the other
requirement of this ESS. Specific protection measures should be
undertaken to prevent any form of sexual harassment or exploitation
at work place (including on the way to and from), particularly those
more vulnerable, i.e. girls.

Would this project operate in a HIGH RISK

LOW
7.12 value chain where there have been
RISK A full environmental and social impact assessment is required.
reports of child labour?
Please contact the ESM unit for further guidance.

528 Child labour is defined as work that is inappropriate for a child’s age, affects children’s education, or is likely to harm their health, safety or morals. Child labour
refers to working children below the nationally defined minimum employment age, or children of any age engaging in hazardous work. Hazardous work is work
that is likely to harm the health, safety or morals of a child. This work is dangerous or occurs under unhealthy conditions that could result in a child being killed
or injured and/or made ill as a consequence of poor health and safety standards and working arrangements. Some injuries or ill health may result in permanent
disability. Countries that have ratified ILO Convention No.182 are obligated to develop National lists of hazardous child labour under Article 4.
229
 No Yes Comments

Would this project operate in a

HIGH RISK
value chain or sector where there LOW
7.13
have been reports of forced RISK A full environmental and social impact assessment is required.
labour529? Please contact the ESM unit for further guidance.

SAFEGUARD 8 GENDER EQUALITY

No Yes Comments
Could this project risk reinforcing MODERATE RISK
existing gender-based Take action to anticipate likely risk of perpetuating or reinforcing
LOW
8.1 discrimination, by not taking into inequality by conducting a gender analysis to identify specific measures
RISK
account the specific needs and to avoid doing harm, provide equal opportunities to men and women,
priorities of women and girls? and promote the empowerment of women and girls.
MODERATE RISK
Could this project not target the
different needs and priorities of Take action to anticipate likely risk of socially unsustainable agriculture
women and men in terms of access LOW practices and food systems by conducting a gender analysis to identify
8.2 the specific needs and priorities of men and women, and the constraints
to services, assets, resources, RISK
markets, and decent employment they may face to fully participate in or benefit from project activities,
and decision-making? and design specific measures to ensure women and men have equitable
access to productive resources and inputs.

529Forced labour is employed, consists of any work or service not voluntarily performed that is exacted from an individual under threat of force or penalty. It
includes men, women and children in situations of debt bondage, suffering slavery-like conditions or who have been trafficked. “In many countries, agricultural
work is largely informal, and legal protection of workers is weak. In South Asia, there is still evidence of bonded labour in agriculture, resulting in labour
arrangements where landless workers are trapped into exploitative and coercive working conditions in exchange for a loan. The low wages associated with high
interest rates make it quite difficult for whole families to escape this vicious circle. In Africa, the traditional forms of “vestiges of slavery” are still prevalent in some
countries, leading to situations where whole families (adults and children, men and women) are forced to work the fields of landowners in exchange for food and
housing. In Latin America, the case of workers recruited in poor areas and sent to work on plantations or in logging camps has been widely documented by national
inspection services and other actors.” (ILO, Profits and poverty: the economics of forced labour / International Labour Office. - Geneva: ILO, 2014)
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SAFEGUARD 9 INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND CULTURAL HERITAGE
No Yes Comments
Are there indigenous peoples* living outside the LOW
9.1 GO TO NEXT QUESTION
project area** where activities will take place?530? RISK
MODERATE RISK
Do the project activities influence the A Free, Prior and Informed Consent Process is required
LOW
9.1.1 Indigenous Peoples living outside the Project activities should outline actions to address and mitigate
RISK
project area? any potential impact
Please contact the ESM/OPCA unit for further guidance.
MODERATE RISK
A Free Prior and Informed Consent process is required.
If the project is for indigenous peoples, an Indigenous
Peoples' Plan is required in addition to the Free Prior and
Informed Consent process.
Please contact the ESM/OPCA unit for further guidance.
Are there indigenous peoples living in the project LOW
9.2 In cases where the project is for both, indigenous and non-
area where activities will take place? RISK
indigenous peoples, an Indigenous Peoples' Plan will be
required only if a substantial number of beneficiaries are
Indigenous Peoples. project activities should outline actions to
address and mitigate any potential impact.
Please contact ESM/OPCA unit for further guidance.
A Free, Prior and Informed Consent Process is required
Would this project adversely or seriously effect
on indigenous peoples' rights, lands, natural
resources, territories, livelihoods, knowledge,
social fabric, traditions, governance systems, and HIGH RISK
culture or heritage (physical* and non-physical or LOW
9.3 A full environmental and social impact assessment is required.
intangible**) inside and/or outside the project RISK
area? Please contact the ESM unit for further guidance.

*Physical defined as movable or immovable

objects, sites, structures, group of structures,

* FAO considers the following criteria to identify indigenous peoples: priority in time with respect to occupation and use of a specific territory; the voluntary
perpetuation of cultural distinctiveness (e.g. languages, laws and institutions); self-identification; an experience of subjugation, marginalization, dispossession,
exclusion or discrimination (whether or not these conditions persist).
** The phrase "Outside the project area" should be read taking into consideration the likelihood of project activities to influence the livelihoods, land access
and/or rights of Indigenous Peoples' irrespective of physical distance. In example: If an indigenous community is living 100 km away from a project area where
fishing activities will affect the river yield which is also accessed by this community, then the user should answer "YES" to the question
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 No Yes Comments
natural features and landscapes that have
archaeological, paleontological, historical,
architectural, religious, aesthetic or other cultural
significance located in urban or rural settings,
ground, underground or underwater.

**Non-physical or intangible defined as "the

practices, representations, expressions, knowledge
and skills as well as the instruments, objects,
artifacts and cultural spaces associated therewith
that communities, groups, and in some cases
individuals, recognize as part of their spiritual
and/or cultural heritage"
MODERATE RISK
To preserve cultural resources (when existing in the project
area) and to avoid their destruction or damage, due diligence
must be undertaken to: a) verify that provisions of the
normative framework, which is usually under the oversight of a
national institution responsible for protection of historical and
archaeological sites/intangible cultural heritage; and b) through
Would this project be located in an area where LOW
9.4 collaboration and communication with indigenous peoples’ own
cultural resources exist? RISK
governance institutions/leadership, verifying the probability of
the existence of sites/ intangible cultural heritage that are
significant to indigenous peoples.
In cases where there is a high chance of encountering physical
cultural resources, the bidding documents and contract for any
civil works must refer to the need to include recovery of “chance
findings” in line with national procedures and rules.

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10 FORM D: WFP Screening Tool

E&S Standard 1: Sustainable Natural Resources Management Level

1 Could the project alter the land cover of forests, wetlands, farming land, grazing land, or other landscapes of N/Y
ecological or economic importance?
1.1 Could the project degrade, fragment, or convert the vegetation cover in an area (contiguous or cumulative) of 1 N/Y
if 1 is yes

to 10 ha?
1.2 Could the project degrade, fragment or convert the vegetation cover in an area (contiguous or cumulative) of N/Y
more than 10 ha?
2 Could the project alter the quantity or quality of groundwater, surface water, or sea water? N/Y
2.1 Could the project include the rehabilitation or construction of dams, weirs, reservoirs, or ponds that are more N/Y
than 3m high/deep OR have a storage capacity of more than 400m 3?
2.2 Could the project include the rehabilitation or construction of irrigation schemes that cover more than 20ha OR N/Y
withdraw more than 1000m3 per day OR withdraw more than10% of the average flow of a stream or river?
2.3 Could the project include the rehabilitation or construction of dams, weirs, reservoirs, or ponds that are more N/Y
if 2 is yes

than 5m high/deep OR have a storage capacity of more than 10,000m3?

2.4 Could the project include the rehabilitation or construction of irrigation schemes that cover more than 100ha OR N/Y
withdraw more than 5000m3 per day OR withdraw more than 50% of the average flow of a stream or river?
2.5 Could the project involve groundwater extraction in arid or semi-arid areas? N/Y
2.6 Could the project contaminate water sources that are used for human consumption above national or WHO N/Y
limits?
3 Could the project degrade soils, increase soil erosion, or increase sediment load in surface water flows? N/Y
3.1 Could the project convert between 1 and 10 ha of land into agricultural land or infrastructure, without N/Y
introducing soil conservation measures appropriate to the topography of the landscape?
3.2
Could the project convert more than 10 ha of land into agricultural land or infrastructure, without introducing soil N/Y
if 3 is yes

conservation measures appropriate to the topography of the landscape?

3.3 Could the project rehabilitate or develop irrigation schemes, without introducing measures to mitigate possible N/Y
water logging and salinization?
3.4 Could the project introduce agricultural practices or agrochemical inputs that are likely to decrease soil quantity N/Y
and quality?
E&S Standard 2: Ecosystems and Biodiversity Level
4 Could the project negatively affect natural habitats, ecosystems, or biodiversity? N/Y

233
 4.1 Could the project fragment, reduce or degrade the natural habitat of autochthonous animal, plant or insect N/Y
species?
if Q4 is yes

4.2 Could the project lead to an increase in unregulated or unlicensed collecting, hunting, or fishing? N/Y
4.3 Could the project negatively affect endangered or protected animal, insect, or plant species, or their habitats? N/Y
4.4 Could the project alter the migration corridors of endangered or protected animals? N/Y
4.5 Could the project introduce species that are alien or genetically modified? N/Y
4.6 Could the project introduce alien or genetically modified species that may be invasive? N/Y
5 Could the project lead to negative impacts in protected areas? N/Y
5.1
Could activities of the project be located in the buffer zone of an area that is protected by national or N/Y
if Q5 is yes

international law or conventions?

5.2 Could the project be located within, or have impacts on, an area that is protected by national or international law N/Y
or conventions?
E&S Standard 3: Resource Efficiency and Waste and Pollution Management Level
6 Could the project increase the consumption of fuel (wood, charcoal, fossil fuel) or water? N/Y
6.1 Could the project lead to a permanent increase in the consumption of fuel (wood, charcoal, or fossil fuels) N/Y
compared to the situation before the project?
if Q6 is yes

6.2 Could the project lead to a sustained withdrawal of more than 1000m3 of freshwater per day OR the withdrawal N/Y
of more than 10% of the average flow of a stream or river?
6.3 Could the project lead to a sustained withdrawal of more than 5000m3 of freshwater per day OR the withdrawal N/Y
of more than 50% of the average flow of a stream or river?
7 Does the project involve substances or activities that could pollute the air, soil, or water? N/Y
7.1 Could the project lead to the pollution of the air, soil or water that is temporary, limited in scale, and remediable? N/Y
if Q7 is yes

7.2 Could the project lead to the pollution of the air, soil or water that is continuous OR large-scale OR irremediable? N/Y

7.3 Could the project contaminate water sources that are used for human consumption? N/Y
7.4 Could the project involve chemicals or materials that are subject to international bans? N/Y
8 Could the project generate waste (hazardous or non-hazardous) that cannot be reused, recycled, or adequately N/Y
disposed of by the beneficiaries, WFP, or partners?

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 8.1 Could the project produce non-hazardous waste that cannot be reused, recycled, or adequately disposed of by N/Y
if Q8 is yes
the beneficiaries, WFP, or partners?
8.2 Could the project generate any quantity of hazardous waste that cannot be adequately disposed of by WFP, N/Y
partners or beneficiaries?
9 Could the project lead to increased use of agrochemicals? N/Y
9.1 Could the project lead to an increase in the use of synthetic agrochemicals that could easily be substituted by N/Y
if Q9 is yes

natural products or techniques?

9.2 Could the project involve the use of pesticides that are subject to international bans? N/Y

E&S Standard 4: Climate Change Level

10 Could the project increase greenhouse gas emissions from fuel combustion, changes in land cover, or other sources?
10. Could the project lead to a permanent increase in the consumption of fuel (wood, charcoal, or fossil fuels) N/Y
1 compared to the situation before the project?
if Q10 is yes

10. Could the project degrade or convert the vegetation cover in an area (contiguous or cumulative) of 1 to 10 ha? N/Y
2
10. Could the project degrade or convert the vegetation cover in an area (contiguous or cumulative) of more than 10 N/Y
3 ha?
11 Could the project expose more people to natural hazards or make some people more vulnerable to natural hazards? N/Y
11. Will the project create infrastructure or assets that could increase the exposure of any person to natural hazards? N/Y
1
11. Could the project change people’s behaviour or livelihood strategies, increasing their exposure to natural N/Y
2 hazards?
if Q11 is yes

11. Could the project make any person more dependent on assets that would likely be damaged by natural hazards N/Y
3 in the next 5 years?
11. Could the project make any farmer more dependent on a smaller number of crops? N/Y
4
11. Could the project reduce the livelihood options of any person? N/Y
5
E&S Standard 5: Protection and Human rights Level
12 Could the project violate the rights of some people (whether beneficiaries or not)? N/Y
235
if Q12 is yes
12. Could the project violate or limit the rights of people granted to them by international rights standards and N/Y
1 national law?
12. Could the project reinforce the discrimination of individuals or groups? N/Y
2
13 Could the project create or exacerbate socio-economic inequalities or discrimination in the communities? N/Y
13. Could the targeting or implementation of the project be controlled by a subset of the target group? N/Y
1
if Q13 is yes

13. Could the project perpetuate existing socio-economic inequalities? N/Y

2
13. Could the project further limit vulnerable people’s access to assets? N/Y
3
13. Could the project change tenure arrangements in such a way that they create, reinforce, or exacerbate socio- N/Y
4 economic inequalities or conflicts?
14 Could the project lead to the involuntary resettlement (either physical or economic) of people? N/Y
if Q14 is yes

14. Could the project lead to the involuntary economic or physical resettlement of up to 20 people? N/Y
1
14. Could the project lead to the involuntary economic or physical resettlement of more than 20 people? N/Y
2
15 Could the project lead to child labour? N/Y
if Q15 is yes

15. Could the project involve the paid or unpaid employment of minors below the age of completion of compulsory N/Y
1 schooling (which should be no less than 14 years) in light or regular work?
15. Could the project involve the paid or unpaid employment of minors of less than 18 years in activities that could N/Y
2 jeopardise their health, safety or morals?
16 Could the project negatively affect any cultural heritage (either tangible or intangible)? N/Y
if Q16 is yes

16. Could the project negatively affect tangible or intangible cultural heritage in a temporary AND remediable way? N/Y
1
16. Could the project negatively affect any tangible or intangible cultural heritage with implications that are N/Y
2 permanent OR irremediable?
17 Could the project involve or affect indigenous peoples or their territories? N/Y
is yes

17. Could the project be implemented in territories managed or claimed by indigenous peoples? N/Y
Q17
if

1
E&S 6: Gender Equality Level
18 Could the project lead to gender-based inequalities, discrimination, exclusion, unwanted workload and/or violence? N/Y

236
 18. Could the project lead to increased unpaid work (including domestic and care work) for women and/or girls? N/Y
1
18. Could the project amplify gender inequities in decision-making in households and/or communities? N/Y
if Q18 is yes

2
18. Could the project amplify existing conditions for gender-based inequalities or create new conditions for N/Y
3 inequalities?
18. Could the project exacerbate or lead to gender-based violence? N/Y
4

E&S Standard 7: Community Health, Safety and Security Level

19 Could the project increase tension or conflicts within the community, with neighbouring communities, or with N/Y
workers from outside the community?
19. Could activities exacerbate existing, or create new conflicts within the community or between communities? N/Y
1
19. Could activities exacerbate existing violent conflicts or create new violent conflicts within the community or N/Y
if Q19 is yes

2 between communities?
19. Could the project decrease opportunities for income or employment without providing new alternatives for N/Y
3 income or employment?
19. Could the project lead to influx of alien workers (less than 10% of the host community)? N/Y
4
19. Could the project lead to influx of a large alien workforce (more than 10% of the host community)? N/Y
5
20 Could the work arrangements in the project violate the labour rights of the people employed by the project or pose a N/Y
risk to their health or safety?
20. Could the project disregard fundamental labour rights or principles as defined by national and international N/Y
if Q20 is yes

1 standards?
20. Could the project pose a risk to the health or safety of people through the use of heavy equipment, heavy means N/Y
2 of transportation, or hazardous materials?
20. Could the project cause permanent injury or the death of people through the use of heavy equipment, heavy N/Y
3 means of transportation, or hazardous materials?
21 Could the project facilitate the spread of diseases or introduce new diseases? N/Y
is yes

21. Could the project facilitate the spread of endogenous or existing diseases in the community? N/Y
Q21
if

237
 21. Would the project develop water infrastructure that could facilitate the spread of water-borne diseases? N/Y
2
21. Could the project introduce new diseases in the community? N/Y
3
E&S Standard 8: Accountability to Affected Populations Level
22 Is there a risk that the voice of some key stakeholders would not be heard in the design, implementation or N/Y
monitoring of the project?
22.1 Could some relevant stakeholders feel that they have not been adequately consulted? N/Y
if Q22 is yes

22.2 Could some relevant stakeholders, in particular people or groups who are already prone to marginalization, be N/Y
pressed not to participate in the consultations?
22.3 Could some relevant stakeholders, in particular people or groups who are already prone to marginalization, have N/Y
difficulties filing complaints or feedback?

238
ANNEX 6: GUIDELINES ON ESMP PREPARATION

The ESMP should be formulated in such a way that it is easy to use. References within the plan
should be clearly and readily identifiable. Also, the main text of the ESMP needs to be kept as clear
and concise as possible, with detailed information relegated to annexes. The ESMP should identify
linkages to other relevant plans relating to the project, such as plans dealing with resettlement or
indigenous peoples’/ethnic minority groups’ issues. The following aspects should typically be
addressed within ESMPs:

1. Summary of the potential impacts of the proposed project: The predicted adverse
environmental and social impacts for which mitigation is required should be identified and
briefly summarized. Cross-referencing to the ESIA report or other documentation is
recommended.

2. Description of the recommended mitigation measures: Each mitigation measure should be

briefly described with reference to the impact to which it relates and the conditions under
which it is required (for example, continuously or in the event of contingencies). These
should be accompanied by, or referenced to, project design and operating procedures that
elaborate on the technical aspects of implementing the various measures.

3. Description of monitoring and auditing program: The monitoring and auditing programs
should clearly indicate the linkages between impacts identified in the ESIA report,
measurement indicators, detection limits (where appropriate), and definition of thresholds
that will signal the need for corrective actions.

4. Institutional arrangements: Responsibilities for mitigation and monitoring should be clearly

defined, including arrangements for co-ordination between the various actors responsible
for mitigation.

5. Capacity Building and Training Programmes: To support timely, effective implementation

of the project components and mitigation measures, an assessment and evaluation of the
capability of environmental units and other institutions responsible for environmental
management is necessary.

6. Implementation schedule and reporting procedures: The timing, frequency and duration
of mitigation measure should be specified in an implementation schedule, showing links
with overall project implementation. Procedures to provide information on the progress
and results of mitigation and monitoring measures should also be clearly specified.

7. Cost estimates and sources of funds and allocation of responsibilities: These should be
specified for both the initial investment and recurring expenses for implementing all
measures contained in the ESMP, integrated into the total project costs, and factored into
loan negotiations, etc.

239
Table XX, below, provides a template for the preparation of an ESMP.

Table XX: Template for ESMP Preparation.

Subproject Potential Proposed Responsible Implementation Cost Comments
Activity E&S Mitigation Institutions Schedule for Estimates (e.g.
Impacts Measures (including Mitigation secondary
(including enforcement Measures impacts)
legislation & &
regulations) coordination)

Contents of an Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP):

This is the action-oriented part of an ESIA. The effective implementation of ESIA findings and
recommendations hinges largely on the preparation and implementation of appropriate ESMP. It
should thus include, at least, the following:

• Outline of major positive and negative impacts;

• Description of mitigation/enhancement measures;
• Schedules of implementation;
• Cost estimates;
• Assigned responsibility for implementation (by name or position of responsibility);
• Surveillance and monitoring scheme with defined performance benchmarks and
indicators;
• Contingency plans and impact management strategy & response plans, where necessary;
• Attachment of environmental contract for the implementation of ESMP, where relevant;
• Any institutional and capacity building requirements;
• Summary of the planned community environmental management project(s) where
necessary.

240
ANNEX 7: GUIDELINES ON ESAP PREPARATION
The ESAP should be formulated in such a way that it is easy to use. References within the plan
should be clearly and readily identifiable. Also, the main text of the ESAP needs to be kept as clear
and concise as possible, with simple information relegated to annexes. The following aspects should
typically be addressed within ESAPs:

1. Subproject introduction and description

This section is to provide an overall introduction to the subproject.
a. Subproject location and sector
b. Subproject implementation arrangements (institutions and responsibilities)
c. Subproject selection criteria and process
d. Subproject activities
e. Subproject cost and schedule

2. Environmental and socioeconomic profile of the subproject area

This section should describe environmental and socioeconomic conditions of the subproject
area. Information to be collected needs to enable presentation of a full picture, but its level
of details and extent depends on the need and relevance to the project.

A. Environmental profile
f. Rain, climate and weather
g. Air Quality and Noise
h. Water Resources
i. Flora and Fauna (including presence of any sensitive habitats and threatened
species)
j. Topography

B. Socio-economic profile
a. Land use
b. Demographic information, including targeted beneficiary population
c. Social economic development conditions and challenges
d. Conflict and security situation within the subproject and surrounding areas

3. Environmental, social and OHS Impacts and risks

This section is i) to briefly describe E&S impact screening and identification activities carried
out, ii) present the impacts and risks identified and iii) provide a brief assessment of such
impacts. These should cover both construction and operational phases of the subproject
investment as well as all investment activities under the subproject, including contractor
operations. The impacts and risks to be presented in a tabular format.

a. Screening and identification process and activities of E&S impacts and risks
b. Subproject environmental impacts and risks
241
 c. Subproject social impacts and risks
d. Subproject occupational health and safety risks
e. Subproject E&S&OHS risk classification

4. Environmental and social and OHS action plan (tabular format)

This section is to present mitigation actions to address the identified impacts and risks as
described above, covering both construction and operational phase. The mitigation actions
should respond to all impacts identified in the previous section. These can also be presented
in a tabular format, indicating the types of impacts and risk, the mitigation measures and
the responsible implementing bodies.

a. Environmental impact mitigation measures

b. Social impact mitigation measures
c. OHS risk mitigation measures
d. Cost estimate

5. Implementation arrangements
This section is to present the subproject arrangements for implementing this plan,
including oversight efforts.
a. Staffing and responsibilities to implement E&S&OHS measures
b. Monitoring arrangements (who, what, when and how)

6. Stakeholder engagement
This section is to briefly present consultation activities and feedback during the preparation
phase and describe its continued consultations and stakeholder engage during
implementation.
a. Consultations conducted during subproject preparation and feedback
b. Consultations to be carried out during subproject implementation (what, when,
who and how)

7. Grievance response mechanism

a. Channels where complaints can be raised and received (hotline, complaint box and
face to face, written and oral etc.)
b. Subproject grievance redressal mechanism (who, how and when)

8. Annexes
Environmental & social &OHS checklist conducted for the subproject
Agreements with communities, such as social agreement on land donation

242