Funded by a grant from IDA, the World Bank's fund for the world's poorest countries, the new project will target issues like uncollected trash and untreated sewage water, both of which are contributing directly to the current cholera epidemic. In addition, the project will address access to electricity for critical services and urgent needs for road repair to improve mobility and access.

Dr. Asad Alam, the World Bank Group Country Director for Yemen, Egypt, and Djibouti, Ms. Grete Faremo, Under-Secretary-General and UNOPS Executive Director, and Ms. Bana Kaloti, UNOPS Regional Director, participated in the signing ceremony of the agreement for the Yemen Integrated Urban Services Emergency Project.

UNOPS will implement the project in partnership with three long-standing Yemeni entities that have continued working despite the conflict: the Public Works Project, the Road Maintenance Fund, and the Urban Water Project Management Unit. The partnership with these entities will help preserve and strengthen local service delivery capacities.  

The Yemen Integrated Urban Services Emergency Project aims to support 1.4 million Yemenis - around half of them women - and will include 19 cities from across the country: Aden, Al-Dhale'e, Al-Hodeida, Al-Mukalla, Amran, Bajil, Bayhan, Bayt Al-Faqih, Dhamar, Ibb, Lahj, Rida, Saadah, Sana'a, Say'oun, Shihr, Taiz, Yarim, and Zinjibar.

"Through this project, we are beginning to help restore water, electricity, roads and municipal services in urban areas," said Dr. Asad Alam, World Bank Group Country Director for Yemen, Egypt, and Djibouti. "This will help bring direct benefits to more than 1.4 million Yemenis over time." 

"To be able to help Yemeni population through this project is a privilege. Helping countries restore critical services is one of UNOPS specialties, in particular in conflict-affected settings. With our expertise alongside that of the World Bank and local partners, we are dedicated to supporting all stakeholders to make this project a success," said Ms. Grete Faremo, Under-Secretary-General and UNOPS Executive Director.

Working across several sectors, the project aims to provide 600,000 Yemenis with access to rehabilitated water and sanitation services, rehabilitate 400 kilometers of urban roads, restore 60,000 megawatt hours of energy generation, and create 1.5 million days of skilled and non-skilled employment. Decisions on the most pressing needs that the project will address, will be made at the community level. Citizens, especially women, will have a voice in identifying priority subprojects. In addition, the project will promote transparency by publicly sharing critical information on the project.

 "We are pleased to support the World Bank on this project, which is critical to the Yemeni population. It will be the first project to be implemented in an integrated manner providing comprehensive solutions to the multifaceted problems Yemen is facing today," said Ms. Bana Kaloti, UNOPS Regional Director.