Designing Sustainable Climate Mitigation and Adaptation Programmes in Yemen

In this month’s Development Dialogue, we ask Hannah Porter, Yemen specialist and Senior Research Officer at ARK:

“How does climate change impact Yemen’s environment, agriculture, and livelihoods, and what are the best approaches that development programming could take to ensure that climate-related interventions are effective and sustainable?”

Here’s what she had to say…

Yemen’s warring parties have taken steps in recent months to halt the eight-year conflict between the Houthis and the Saudis. Despite relative progress on the diplomatic front, Yemenis are facing a range of serious threats to their livelihoods and wellbeing. Perhaps at the forefront of such threats is the issue of climate change and associated environmental concerns, including localised conflicts over land and water resources, and diminished agricultural production, all of which undermine Yemen’s stability and community cohesion. 

According to recent research conducted by ARK in five southern governorates, Yemenis are acutely aware of the effects of climate change. Around 57% of survey respondents reported that extreme weather events were either a “significant problem” or “one of the greatest threats facing society,” and 45% of all respondents said that they have been personally affected by extreme weather in the past five years. Despite Yemen’s very low rate of carbon emissions, Yemenis are likely to suffer disproportionately from the global effects of climate change. Like many aspects of Yemen’s current crisis, its environment is subject to international forces outside of its control.

Yemen’s extreme weather events include alternating cycles of droughts and flash floods, as well as high temperatures and tropical cyclones that may create favourable breeding conditions for locusts. The impact of these natural disasters includes death and displacement, damage to infrastructure, the spread of sewage and disease, increased incidences of land and water disputes, soil degradation, and reduced crop output. Half of all survey respondents in Lahj said that desertification alone was either “a major problem” or “one of the greatest threats facing society.”

Although these challenges may appear insurmountable, local experts believe that the effects of climate change in Yemen would be manageable if only there were functioning government institutions in place to mitigate its effects. Equitable distribution of water resources, the provision of farming subsidies, and infrastructure repairs have largely disappeared at the onset of Yemen’s war and have had disastrous consequences for rural communities.

As one Yemeni environmental researcher told ARK, climate crises “are exacerbated by an absence of effective governance. A lot of the challenges that Yemenis are facing when it comes to the environment and agriculture…are much more pronounced and unmanageable because of the lack of governance and regulation.” Fatalities and destruction from flooding have become more frequent as unmaintained bridges and dams are collapsing across of the country, and internally displaced populations (IDPs) are forced to reside on flood plains.

Government dysfunction at the local and national levels has adversely affected Yemeni agriculture and has undermined communities’ confidence in their local officials. Yemen’s failing economy and fuel crisis has forced many farmers to abandon their fields to seek out other sources of income, which has led to widespread desertification of once fertile agricultural areas. Soil degradation leaves parts of the country vulnerable to flooding, and reduced farming increases Yemen’s dependence on imported produce. High temperatures are more dangerous due to Yemenis’ reduced access to electricity and the scarcity of water, which in turn leads to disputes that are usually left unresolved by an overburdened judiciary. Even when disputes over water or land are addressed by the courts, local security services are ill equipped to enforce their rulings.

As one young farmer in Abyan told ARK, “There are disputes and fighting over water and land because there is no security and no state.” Yemenis in some areas feel that they must personally defend their property, which can lead to the escalation of disputes and prolonged cycles of violence and retribution.

Despite some recent diplomatic progress in Yemen, it is unlikely that the country’s governmental institutions will soon be able to offer necessary support to locals suffering from climate-related crises, such as farmers, IDPs, and rural populations. To address this gap, development programs must work closely with Yemeni community-based organisations to design interventions that can effectively and sustainably tackle environmental concerns. Local authorities (both formal and informal) who have the trust and confidence of local populations should be empowered to assess their communities’ needs and resolve disputes. These authorities may include tribal sheikhs, elders, neighbourhood liaisons (aqils), or civil society leaders.

Recent qualitative research conducted by ARK, including interviews with key informants and subject matter experts, concluded that activities such as awareness campaigns and training in natural resource management will be essential components of climate programming in Yemen. However, these initiatives must be paired with financial support and the provision of equipment or supplies for grantees, whenever possible, given the lack of resources available to rural communities and farmers. 

Effective programming to address Yemen’s growing environmental concerns has the potential to bolster community resilience, increase local food production and economic growth, and minimise the risk of local conflicts. These efforts are a worthy investment for all Yemenis, and for development organisations hoping to tackle current and future climate challenges.

Development Dialogues: Quick Answers to Critical Questions

Development Dialogues is ARK’s monthly blog series that features subject matter experts from both ARK and the wider development industry. In each post, our expert guest will answer a short but critical question related to a specific issue or challenge facing them or the industry. These quick and insightful answers will provide you with valuable insights and ideas to help navigate the complex world of international development programming. Whether you're a seasoned practitioner or new to the field, Development Dialogues will provide a forum for knowledge sharing, and the provision of practical, sustainable solutions to pressing issues.