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IFES - Yemen

Yemen

The Republic of Yemen was formed in 1990 when traditional North Yemen and Marxist South Yemen united after years of conflict. A southern secessionist movement in 1994 was soon quelled. However, divisions between northern and southern interests remain in Yemen’s political system, which includes at least a dozen parties. Yemen’s leadership has limited control outside the capital Sana’a, with tribal authority being the most dominant force.

IFES has been active in Yemen since 1993, when the newly unified country held its first multiparty parliamentary elections. Since that time, IFES has gained an unusually deep knowledge of Yemen’s complex political process, electoral system and legal framework. In July 1999, IFES opened an office in Sana’a to provide continuous onsite support for the Yemeni Supreme Commission for Elections and Referendum (SCER)—the first permanent, independent election commission in the Arab world. Thus IFES has earned the trust of key stakeholders in the Government of Yemen and in Yemeni civil society.

Current Projects

Building the Capacity of the Supreme Commission for Elections and Referendum (SCER) Women's Department

This program aims to enhance the capacity of the Women's Department of the Supreme Commission for Elections and Referendum (SCER) to guarantee women equal access to all stages of the electoral process in Yemen.  IFES' will assist the Women's Unit in developing internal organizational and administrative capacity and enhance the skills of Women's Unit staff to fulfill the objectives of their mandate within the Secretariat. The program provides targeted trainings and workshops to the Women's Unit staff based upon a Baseline Assessment and will conclude with a Post-Election Lessons Learned Conference. Funded by the British Embassy in Yemen.

Yemen Electoral Assistance Program

The Yemen Electoral Assistance Program is a two year program providing technical assistance to the Supreme Commission for Elections and Referendum (SCER) to strengthen and build capacity as an effective election management body. IFES currently provides support to the SCER in areas of professional development through BRIDGE training, voter registration, media monitoring and political finance.

UNDEF Youth Civic Awareness Project in Yemen

This project aims to increase the knowledge, skills and values relevant to the practice of participatory democracy and show young citizens they can have a voice in their own development. The project raises civic awareness and provides Yemeni youth with the necessary information and tools to address issues of importance, develop solutions to problems, and engage civil society, local governments and parliament. IFES gave sub-grants to two local partners, Democracy School and Human Rights Training and Information Center, to conduct workshops on human rights, civic awareness, community action and community service for high school and university students.

Election Systems Assistance

Following the signing of a memorandum of understanding in 2002, IFES and the SCER have focused on the following priorities for Yemen: designing a new voter registration system that includes a secure voter ID card; developing a comprehensive election training plan and a permanent training center; increasing the SCER’s capacity to communicate regularly and transparently with stakeholders in the electoral process; and assessing management training needs.

Past Projects in Yemen »