LocationsYouth are driving climate action in Yemen, advancing lasting solutions
August 13, 2025
Two young farmers carry their mango harvest.
The current environmental crisis in Yemen severely threatens the future of young people. Its repercussions are extensive, affecting health, education and livelihoods. However, young Yemenis possess significant creativity, digital literacy and a deep awareness of environmental challenges. They are key contributors to climate, environmental, and disaster risk reduction efforts.
Recognising this potential, equipping young people with green skills - defined as the knowledge, abilities, values and attitudes for a sustainable, resource-efficient society- is critical. These skills are fundamental to building climate resilience and enabling communities to adapt to and mitigate environmental impacts.
Haitham, a young farmer attends to his land.
Beyond resilience, green skills play a key role in economic recovery by creating new livelihood opportunities. Simultaneously, they foster sustainable development by encouraging practices that protect the environment and support long-term well-being.
As part of its support to climate resilience and sustainable development in Yemen, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is contributing to youth-focused capacity building through targeted green skills initiatives.
Under the Integrated Water Resources Management to Enhance Resilience of Agriculture and Food Security Project (IWRM-ERA), funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW), young people are actively involved in rehabilitating water infrastructure, restoring agricultural terraces, and improving rural roads. They also contribute to hydrological assessments and help establish water user associations. In addition, youth are trained in micro food processing and value chain development, enhancing their access to sustainable livelihood opportunities.
Haitham at his farm.
Haitham, a farmer from Taiz Governorate, described how access to water directly affects his ability to earn a living: “We depend entirely on rain and floodwater. When drought hits, there’s simply no water - and no harvest means no income.”
His participation in constructing flood barriers provided not only short-term employment but also longer-term benefits for his land: “Since the retaining walls were built, the land is better protected, and crop yields have improved. Even this year, with limited rainfall, we have seen more stability.”
Haitham also highlights the ongoing impact of water scarcity on women in the community: “Women still have to walk long distances to fetch water. It’s exhausting and time-consuming. Sometimes conflicts arise when they collect water from sources shared with other villages.”
Rana packages her mango harvest.
Rana, a farmer from Taiz, shared a similar perspective on how improving access to water can support both food security and income generation: “By collecting floodwater, we have been able to irrigate more crops. This has improved yields, and families are starting to sell surplus produce.”
She highlights that women are central to agricultural work but continue to face challenges, especially when it comes to water access: “Fetching water takes hours. It affects our education and health. Some girls and young women have dropped out of school just to help with water collection.”
Rana harvests mangoes.
Rana stressed the importance of youth and women participating in planning and local decision-making: “We help identify our community’s needs, and we appreciate training that helps reduce the workload, especially for women. With more support, we could do even more.”
Her message to her peers is clear: “National progress depends on young people. We should engage in agriculture and help develop our communities.”
Part of the newly constructed retaining walls under IWRM-ERA in Taiz. These walls help protect agricultural land by preventing soil erosion and improving water retention.
By combining practical infrastructure rehabilitation with skills training, the project supports climate-resilient farming while creating opportunities for young people, particularly those in rural areas, to develop competencies that strengthen their livelihoods. These local contributions are essential for building long-term resilience and advancing inclusive development in areas affected by environmental stress.
Looking specifically at Yemen’s coastal communities, young people are proving that with the right skills and support, they can transform livelihoods, protect marine resources, and inspire lasting change.
Zain, fish retailer from Aden
Through the Sustainable Fishery Development in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden (SFISH) Project, funded by the World Bank and implemented by UNDP, youth are gaining vocational and business skills that open doors to climate-resilient fisheries management, sustainable processing, and value chain innovation.
Zain and a coworker are selling fish inside his fish shop in Aden.
So far, 1,702 women and youth have been trained in fisheries-related skills — from food processing and fish by-product development to business management — and 853 women and youth have received tailored in-kind business assets to help them launch or expand small enterprises.
One of these young innovators is Zain, a fish trader from Aden. Not long ago, Zain ran a small street-side stall. Today, thanks to training and support received through the SFISH Project, he operates a fully equipped, solar-powered fish shop.
Through the program, Zain learned proper fish handling and storage, waste reduction techniques, and strategies for business continuity. These skills have helped him reduce spoilage, improve product quality, and run his business more efficiently — all while using solar energy that cuts greenhouse gas emissions and reduces dependence on unreliable electricity.
The solar energy system and safety tools inside the fish shop.
“Through the training, I learned how to keep fish fresh for longer and reduce waste,” Zain shared. “Sales have almost doubled, and now we can employ more people. This means more families in my community have stable incomes.”
Zain’s shop now supports 15 permanent workers and five temporary workers — half of them youth. Customers who once avoided street vendors due to cleanliness concerns now choose Zain’s shop, confident in the freshness of the fish.
Zain and a coworker serve customers inside his fish shop in Aden.
Zain believes youth are the future of Yemen’s fisheries sector but still face barriers to entry: “Many young people want to work in fisheries, but they lack training or the means to start. With proper skills and equipment, we can protect the environment, improve product quality, and secure better livelihoods.”
By investing in youth-led, environmentally conscious businesses, the SFISH Project is helping create green jobs, improve food safety, and strengthen climate resilience. For many young Yemenis, it’s not just about adapting to climate and economic challenges — it’s about building sustainable futures for themselves and their communities.
Zain and a coworker serve customers inside his fish shop in Aden.
Looking specifically at training on climate resilience and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, UNDP and the Ministry of Water and Environment, are preparing a targeted capacity-building programme on GHG inventories specifically for youth as part of the Fourth National Communication and Second Biennial Update Report on Climate Change, funded by the Global Environment Facility and the United Nations Environment Programme. A group of young participants will receive specialised training to equip them with the knowledge and skills needed for national GHG monitoring and reporting.
Amal engages in a briefing session in preparation for greenhouse gas inventories training.
For Amal, a computer science graduate and certified trainer in climate change, the opportunity to join the programme reflects both professional interest and personal commitment.
“We are already seeing shifts in local weather - hotter temperatures, more unpredictability. But public awareness is still limited. This training gives us a way to respond constructively,” she said.
Amal hopes to design community-level projects that reduce emissions and create economic value. “If we understand where emissions come from, we can act - whether through switching to renewables, protecting trees, or reducing waste. I want to work on proposals for projects around recycling that support both the environment and job creation for youth.”
She also believes that she has a role in advancing environmental education: “Teaching kids to grow their own food or sort waste isn’t just practical - it builds a culture of responsibility.”
Abdelhaq during a preparatory meeting ahead of greenhouse gas inventories training.
From an engineering perspective, Abdelhaq sees the programme as a timely response to one of Yemen’s pressing climate challenges: the lack of updated and reliable environmental research.
“The emissions landscape has changed, but most of our existing information doesn’t reflect that,” he explained. “Without accurate evidence, you can’t develop effective policy. If we know the sources, we can shift toward cleaner alternatives.”
He views the training as a step toward building a new generation of environmental professionals. “There’s a real need for youth who can bring fresh thinking and long-term commitment.”
Both Amal and Abdelhaq emphasise that institutional backing is essential for youth to contribute meaningfully. “We need more flexible procedures for youth-led initiatives,” said Amal. “The ideas are there; they just need space to grow.” Abdelhaq added, “If we are given access to the right information, we can contribute to building a national knowledge base. That is what will make long-term solutions possible.”
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