[08/03/2026 07:23]

ADEN – SABA
The Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, the Governor of the Republic of Yemen to the World Bank Group Dr. Afrah al-Zouba chaired Sunday an expanded consultation session with the World Bank Group to discuss the new Country Partnership Framework (CPF) for the period 2026–2030.

The session was attended by the Minister of Public Health and Population Dr. Qassem Buhaibeh, the Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Fisheries Major General Salem al-Soqatri, the Minister of Water and Environment Eng. Tawfiq al-Sharjabi, the Minister of Electricity and Energy Eng. Adnan al-Kaf, the Minister of Education Dr. Adel al-Abadi, the Minister of Public Works and Roads Eng. Hussein al-Aqrabi and the Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Mukhtar al-Yafei, in addition to representatives from the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of Yemen.

Minister al-Zouba stated that the Board of the International Development Association (IDA) approved last Thursday, March 5, 2026, Yemen’s eligibility for the Remaining Engaged during Conflict Allocation (RECA).

This will allow additional financing resources of up to $400 million during the current replenishment cycle.

She added that the government hopes the Country Partnership Framework will reflect the priorities of the government program, foremost among them economic recovery, improving basic services, and strengthening institutional governance.

She emphasized the importance of gradually transitioning from humanitarian response to building the capacities of national institutions and strengthening their role in implementing development programs

Dr. Al-Zouba also addressed the reform and governance agenda, which represents a central pillar of the partnership framework. She explained that the government will incorporate all remarks presented by ministers and officials during the session and formulate them into a comprehensive document to be officially submitted to the World Bank. The document will be further discussed with the bank’s senior management to ensure these inputs are reflected in the final version before its adoption.

She also called for the establishment of a regular consultation mechanism to monitor implementation and support capacity building for the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation, as it serves as the main focal point for coordinating with donors and national-level planning.

The minister reaffirmed that the Government of the Republic of Yemen looks forward to a productive and effective partnership with the World Bank Group during 2026–2030, in a way that supports economic recovery and improves the lives of Yemeni citizens.

Participating ministers presented interventions on their sector priorities, calling for stronger support to vital sectors, including health, education, agriculture, water, energy, roads, and social protection, to support economic recovery and improve public services.

For her part, the World Bank Group Country Manager for Yemen, Dina Abu-Ghaida reviewed the proposed partnership framework. She noted that IDA commitments to Yemen during 2022–2025 reached approximately $1.6 billion contributing to results such as delivering more than 23 million health services providing water services to around 3 million beneficiaries and supporting electricity services for schools, health facilities, and water wells.

Abu-Ghaida confirmed that the World Bank will continue supporting Yemen through financing, technical studies, and knowledge transfer while also exploring partnership opportunities with international supporting entities to enhance the implementation of development programs in the coming period.

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