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Yemen

A farmer carrying a happily harvested ripe wheat crop in Ash Shamayatayn, Taiz, with the support of the FSRRP program.

FAO in the Republic of Yemen

The Republic of Yemen became a member of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in 1990. Cooperation was earlier solidified with the opening of an FAO representation office in Sanaa in 1985. Over the years, the collaboration has focused on enhancing agricultural production, promoting rural development, and providing normative support.

Since the onset of the war in Yemen in 2015, a key priority of FAO activities has been to strengthen the resilience of farmers. This includes interventions aimed at assisting households affected by the conflict, supporting host communities across the country, and providing aid to families impacted by the war.

 

 

FAO in the Republic of Yemen is closely aligned with national development priorities, the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), and the FAO Strategic Framework. Interventions are designed in close collaboration with national authorities, development partners, and local communities to achieve:

  • Supporting local smallholders, herders, and fishers by improving crop, livestock, and fishery production through the distribution of inputs, access to services, and training in sustainable and climate-smart agriculture.
  • Restoring and sustainably managing natural resources via the rehabilitation of irrigation schemes, rangelands, forests, and fisheries, alongside the adoption of innovative technologies to enhance resilience to climate shocks.
  • Enhancing agriculture-based livelihoods by supporting inclusive value chains, empowering women and youth, and strengthening agrifood market access, employment opportunities, and community-based enterprises in rural areas.

 

FAO’s early recovery and resilience strategy 2025–2027 in Yemen is built on four strategic approaches to strengthen the self-reliance and resilience of vulnerable rural populations:

  1. Natural Resources Assessment: Conducting detailed analyses and mapping of land, water, forest and fishery resources to inform sustainable development and investment planning.
  2. Market Assessments: Identifying bottlenecks and opportunities across agricultural value chains to improve food system efficiency, boost rural incomes, and encourage private-sector engagement.
  3. Community Engagement: Ensuring inclusive and participatory planning through community consultations that inform needs, priorities, and context-specific solutions.
  4. Context Analysis: Addressing the interconnected challenges impacting the agrifood sector—including conflict, climate change, and socio-economic vulnerabilities—through conflict-sensitive and evidence-based programming.

 

Find out more: FAO Yemen Areas of Work