LocationsWomen leading water management
March 16, 2026
A woman farmer tending to her land in Muraib.
In the sub-district of Muraib, located in the Al-Mosaymer district of Lahj, the daily schedule for women farmers is largely dictated by the logistics of traditional irrigation. Through the Integrated Water Resources Management to Enhance Resilience of Agriculture (ERA) Project, the construction of a 1.5 km irrigation canal entrance -contributing to a total canal network of 28 km – is reducing reliance on manual irrigation and enabling more structured and efficient water resource management.
The primary technical focus in Muraib is the construction of durable irrigation canals that minimize water loss and ensure consistent flow to the plots without requiring constant manual intervention or clearing of mud and debris.
Managing time and missing out on education
Fatima and other women farmers work among their crops in Muraib.
The implemented infrastructure alleviates the "time poverty" burden on women. Fatima, a mother of five, previously spent over half her day managing the irrigation on her farm, limiting time for her children's education. She is now able to dedicate more time to support their education.
In these traditional systems, women must stand in mud for hours manually digging, unblocking and reinforcing earthen trenches that frequently collapse or absorb the water before it reaches the crops. The ERA Project’s stone masonry canals eliminate this struggle, allowing water to flow cleanly and directly. For Fatima, moving away from the mud means she can manage her land from stable ground, protecting her health and giving her back the time she needs as a mother.
“The long hours of irrigation take me away from enjoying time with my children,” Fatima says. “The canal will give me back my time as a mother. We are looking for a system where clean water arrives without the need for us to work in the mud.”
Physical labour and productivity
Latifa cares for her crops in Muraib.
Latifa, a farmer in her fifties, manages her farm independently. The physical effort required to manually direct water across uneven terrain is a significant barrier to her productivity. The new infrastructure allows Latifa to shift her labour from water management to crop care, such as growing fodder for her livestock.
“When irrigation becomes easier, I will care for my land more instead of just struggling to get water to it,” she explains. “The project means we can plant with certainty.”
Household stability
Nidal works her farmland in Muraib.
In communal farming areas, the ‘random’ opening and closing of water channels often leads to disputes between neighbours. Nidal, a mother of six and a member of a local agricultural organisation, notes that hours are often spent managing these channels with minimal success.
The new canal system introduces a regulated schedule, which Nidal expects will reduce these disputes. For her personally, a more predictable water schedule means she can ensure her infant daughter is cared for and her older children attend school on time. “The canal will ease the exhaustion that was affecting our bodies and our relationships with our neighbours,” she notes.
Increased water access
Mareen works the soil on her land in Muraib.
For Mareen, a mother of three, her farm currently operates without any formal irrigation infrastructure. This absence of a reliable water source has limited her crop yields and her ability to support her family. The extension of the canal system to her land provides the essential water supply needed for consistent crop production.
“Without a canal, we were at the mercy of the terrain. Now, seeing the water reach my land through a proper channel changes everything. It means I can finally provide for my three children with the certainty that my crops will grow,” says Mareen.
Project summary
The ERA Project, implemented by UNDP Yemen and funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through the German Development Bank (KfW), focuses on practical, infrastructure-based solutions. By securing water access for women like Mareen, Fatima, Latifa and Nidal, the project supports the community’s transition from emergency survival to a managed, resilient agricultural system.
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