Amman, Jordan – December 05, 2024 – Last week, the Sana’a Center for Strategic Studies concluded a two-day workshop on Climate Finance in Yemen, held on November 25-26, 2024, in Amman. Part of the Rethinking Yemen’s Economy (RYE) initiative, the workshop focused on Yemen’s difficulties in accessing climate funds and explored ways to improve the country’s ability to manage and benefit from such funding.

The event brought together government officials, development champions, representatives of civil society organizations, climate experts, and international donors to discuss Yemen’s pressing needs as one of the countries most affected by climate change. Despite contributing minimally to global emissions, Yemen faces increasing climate-related disasters, such as severe flooding, which has displaced thousands and damaged vital infrastructure.

Key discussions during the workshop included:

• Barriers to Accessing Climate Funds: Yemen’s limited institutional capacity, lack of accredited financial institutions, and weak governance systems were identified as major obstacles.

• Opportunities for Improvement: Participants discussed the ongoing efforts, including the newly established country program for climate finance. And highlighted how stronger local institutions, private sector involvement, and better global engagement could help Yemen gain more access to international climate funds.
• Recommendations: The importance of climate finance diplomacy, updating Yemen’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and creating clear plans to address climate-related challenges was emphasized.

The workshop concluded with possible solutions to help Yemen address these barriers. Participants stressed the need for better cooperation among local and international groups, building skills within Yemeni institutions, and raising awareness of Yemen’s climate issues on a global level.

This event marked an important effort to bring attention to Yemen’s climate challenges and to find ways for the country to better cope with these growing problems.