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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

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 »