The paper examines IFAD’s Rural Livelihood Development Project and Crisis Response Initiative in Yemen, highlighting strategies to empower women within Yemen’s complex political and social context.

It shows how targeted interventions – such as livestock support and water access – can enhance resilience and participation for women-headed households. Both projects combined participatory approaches with sustainable development, surpassing gender inclusion targets through culturally sensitive outreach and strong local partnerships.

The findings stress that empowering women in Yemen requires context-specific approaches and long-term commitment, with success measured against local realities rather than rigid benchmarks.