LocationsFrom home cook to seafood entrepreneur: Baraka’s story
May 18, 2025
Baraka from Aden, Yemen, presents a seafood dish she prepared.
Baraka, a young woman from Aden Governorate, Yemen, has turned her passion for cooking into a thriving home-based seafood business called Al Kanz Al Bahri (Treasure of the Sea).
Supported through the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) Fishery Harbour Rehabilitation and Value Chain Development in Aden (AFH) Project—funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), through the German Development Bank (KfW) and implemented with local partner Ghadaq for Development Foundation (GHFD), Baraka’s business journeyshowcases how targeted training and mentorship can unlock economic potential in conflict-affected communities.
Women train in seafood production and cooking skills in Aden, Yemen.
Women train in seafood production and cooking skills in Aden, Yemen.
From hobby to enterprise
Before joining the AFH project, Baraka lacked the skills and resources to formalize her cooking talent.
“I loved cooking but didn’t know how to manage a business or promote myself,” she admits.
The project’s training, targeting 100 women and 100 youth, equipped her with expertise in seafood preparation, hygiene standards, and entrepreneurship. She learned to craft locally sought after dishes such as fish kofta and seafood burgers, while mastering business planning, costing, and marketing.
Baraka preparing a seafood dish in Aden, Yemen.
A recipe for success
Baraka explains that the key to her success arrived when she designed and distributed business cards, a strategy she honed during entrepreneurship training.
Orders began flowing in, particularly during Eid holidays and for large social celebrations.
“These trainings didn’t just improve my cooking skills—they taught me how to manage my business, promote it, and attract customers,” Baraka shares.
Fresh fish are vital to Baraka’s recipes.
To scale up her venture, Baraka plans to leverage local community groups on social media platforms to showcase her dishes. “I’ll keep distributing business cards and start sharing photos of my food online. Step by step, I’ll increase my orders,” she notes with confidence.
Empowering communities
Baraka’s progress aligns with the AFH Project’s phased approach: initial skills development, followed by material support for high-potential entrepreneurs. Her story has already inspired her peers.
“When other women see my business cards or taste my food, they ask how they can start too,” Baraka explains.
Seafood dishes - Al Kanz Al Bahri (Treasure of the Sea) - prepared by Baraka.
Seafood dishes prepared by Baraka.
Looking ahead
As Baraka prepares to expand Al Kanz Al Bahri, the project’s next phase will provide her with critical kitchen equipment and raw materials—key tools to meet growing demand.
“This support will help me turn my small kitchen into a real business,” Baraka says.
A partnership for prosperity
UNDP’s AFH Project underscores the importance of investing in women’s economic participation to drive recovery in Yemen. By bridging gaps in skills, resources, and market access, the initiative empowers women like Baraka to contribute to local economies while improving their livelihoods.
Learn more about the AFH Project’s impact: Fishery Harbour Rehabilitation and Value Chain Development in Aden | UNDP.
Related
content
content
