Japan and FAO continue partnership to enhance the food security and nutrition of vulnerable families in Yemen

16December 2021, Sana’a- With the generous contribution of USD 7 million from the Government of Japan, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Yemen will implement “Providing Agricultural and Pastoral Livelihood Support for Responding to Immediate Needs of Internally Displaced Persons and Host Communities" project to bolster rural livelihoods and enhance the food security and nutrition of highly vulnerable households impacted by the ongoing conflict. The contribution exemplifies the continued support of the Government of Japan to FAO’s emergency and resilience-building work in the Yemen.

The project will implement activities aimed at safeguarding livelihoods and providing critical lifesaving support to 189 490 vulnerable people in the governorates of Al Dhale'e, Al Hudaydah,Dhamar, Lahj and Taizz. This will be achieved by increasing the availability and productivity of irrigation water for affected farming households through the rehabilitation of irrigation infrastructure and installation of modern water conveyance systems to increase agricultural productivity. FAO will employ local community members for much of the rehabilitation and construction work that will be implemented through the project. Livestock production will also be supported through the distribution of high quality animal feed concentrates as well as by training Community Animal Health Workers (CAHWs) to improve livestock health services. Internally displaced households will benefit from the provision of fuel-efficient stoves to enable safe cooking in their displacement sites to potect the environment.  

 “Protracted conflict and its severe consequences on the agriculture sector and livelihoods makes it incumbent upon us to react urgently to safeguard and restore remaining agricultural livelihoods which is the only lifeline of thousands of rural households in a country where more than 4 million are internally displaced and facing high levels of acute food insecurity” said Hussein Gadain, FAO Representative in Yemen.

 “Through this project and similar projects generously funded by the Government of Japan, FAO could boost the resilience of the most vulnerable households and reduce their increasing reliance on humanitarian food assistance” he added.

This ongoing FAO-Japan partnership will support highly vulnerable Yemeni families to continue their livelihoods and earn a living in light of the persistent challenges posed by the ongoing crisis. In 2021, over 16.2 million Yemenis were acutely food insecure. Without additional support towards the protection of rural livelihoods, this figure is expected to rise further in 2022.