The Minister of Planning and International Cooperation of Yemen, Dr. Afrah al-Zouba, led a consultation session with the World Bank Group on Sunday to discuss the new Country Partnership Framework (CPF) for the period 2026–2030. This expanded session included key ministers from various sectors, including health, agriculture, and education, as well as representatives from the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Finance, and the Central Bank of Yemen.
During the meeting, Dr. al-Zouba highlighted that the International Development Association (IDA) had recently approved Yemen’s eligibility for the Remaining Engaged during Conflict Allocation (RECA), which will provide additional financing resources of up to $400 million during the current replenishment cycle. She expressed the government’s hope that the new CPF will align with its priorities, particularly focusing on economic recovery, improving basic services, and enhancing institutional governance.
The minister emphasized the need for a gradual transition from humanitarian responses to strengthening national institutions and their capacity to implement development programs. She also outlined the importance of reform and governance as central elements of the partnership framework. Dr. al-Zouba assured that all feedback from the session would be compiled into a comprehensive document for submission to the World Bank, which will be discussed with senior management to ensure that the inputs are incorporated into the final version of the CPF.
Additionally, she called for the establishment of a regular consultation mechanism to monitor implementation and support capacity building for the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation, which plays a crucial role in coordinating with donors and national planning efforts. The government aims for a productive partnership with the World Bank Group that will support economic recovery and improve the living conditions of Yemeni citizens.
Ministers participating in the session presented their sector priorities, advocating for increased support in critical areas such as health, education, agriculture, water, energy, roads, and social protection. In response, the World Bank Group’s Country Manager for Yemen, Dina Abu-Ghaida, reviewed the proposed partnership framework, noting that IDA commitments to Yemen from 2022 to 2025 amounted to approximately $1.6 billion. These funds have facilitated the delivery of over 23 million health services and provided water services to around 3 million beneficiaries.
Abu-Ghaida reaffirmed the World Bank’s commitment to supporting Yemen through financing, technical studies, and knowledge transfer, while also seeking partnership opportunities with international entities to enhance the implementation of development programs in the upcoming years.
