Yemen’s situation is regarded as one of the most severe crises globally. According to the UN Refugee Agency, nearly 14% of the population has been displaced, with two-thirds requiring humanitarian aid.
The continuous conflicts and economic struggles over the past years have exposed Yemenis to numerous challenges, but they’re also affected by natural disasters or events related to climate change, such as drought and flooding.
While the conflict is minimal at the moment, the effects of ongoing troubles have a major impact on the job market. The effects on infrastructure, such as factories and transportation, led to massive disruptions in jobs like manufacturing and construction. However, opportunities arise from the private investment sector. Here’s what it’s about.
Yemen and the UN’s 2030 Sustainability Agenda
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development consists of guidelines for achieving worldwide prosperity, peace, and partnership. There are 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that worldwide countries approach with the help of the United Nations. The final target is to complete them by 2030, which is challenging even for developed countries.
For example, when it comes to the labour market, we’ve seen how difficult it can be for young people to get a decent job that is safe and pays well. The global employment industry suffers from a lack of investments and work opportunities, which is why people are faced with misleading job openings, endless interviews and the need to fill employment skills gaps. Even when they get hired, people also encounter the sad truth of employers who are not really interested in their well-being and breach their duty of care. When this happens, employees experience accidents or get injured. Unfortunately, the medical system is not thoroughly supported, so they experience inaccurate diagnoses. Therefore, they seek compensation with the help of advisors. Of course, it would be helpful for all employees to understand everything about medical negligence: what it is and how it occurs before filing a complaint.
However, in Yemen, things are much deeper than in other countries. The inadequate funding for education directly affects the labour market, but there are chances for the social and political landscape to change. Services, agriculture, and industry sectors have shown progress in terms of development.
Yemen’s Private Sector Contribution to Development
The HSA (Hayel Saeed Anam) Yemen family business is working towards bringing change to the employment industry and targeting SDG goals. With more than welcome investments in infrastructure, tackling food security challenges and work opportunities, Yemen is closer to a better future.
Working with multinational corporations like Unilever and Hyundai, the World Health Organisation (WHO), and the International Medical Corps (IMC), HSA Yemen offered employment to about 20,000 Yemenis. In addition to the salary, people also receive private medical insurance for themselves and their families.
The workforce also receives training to expand their capabilities and skills. Small steps for a better future include building or repairing schools and offering full scholarships for male and female students. Besides working on SGD eight for decent work and economic growth, HAS Yemen also prioritised SDG Two to combat hunger and SDG Nine concerning innovation and infrastructure.
Small Businesses Show Resilience in Challenging Times
According to the World Bank Economic Monitor, Yemen’s GDP is slowly but steadily surging, mostly supported by youth self-employment and entrepreneurs. Small businesses also contribute to economic growth, advancing job creation and human capital development.
However, people face numerous challenges regarding inflation and high operating costs. As the banking sector lacks support and development, entrepreneurs relied on informal practices, such as WhatsApp-based transactions, to support their small businesses.
Digital banking is increasing in popularity as it helps entrepreneurs face the endless challenges of opening a business. Blockchain technology could potentially benefit Yemeni entrepreneurs, but the use of cryptocurrency has yet to become fully accessible.
Climate Change Contributes to Difficulties as well
Climate change is a global matter that governments are trying to tackle. With enough awareness and policies implemented, we may be able to slow down the effects of the climate crisis, but some countries are more affected than others.
Yemen is one of these places, and heavy rainfall, rising temperatures, and droughts have intensified in the past years. The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) expects temperatures in Yemen to continue growing through 2050, with spring rains to decline, affecting crop yields.
Groundwater also decreases, and the available fresh water is contaminated with saltwater, making it unusable. Deforestation and desertification also intensify, triggering unprecedented socio-economic impacts.
The Climate Situation in the Middle East isn’t Improving
Although the Middle East has made various improvements regarding economic and societal issues, it is facing the same climate crisis as Yemen. The maximum heat and humidity are expected to become intolerable to humans in the near future, meaning people will have difficulties adapting to the new situation.
But this happens only in some parts of the Middle East, as others suffer from heat and drought that trigger dust storms and accelerate desertification. Children’s health is primarily impacted, but nature will be difficult to recover from.
On the vulnerable MENA region
The MENA region includes the parts of the Middle East and North Africa that are most affected by climate change. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) found that the region’s arid environment contributed to its vulnerability to extreme weather events and shifting precipitation patterns.
The issue is in the energy sector, which emits billions of tonnes of carbon dioxide in the regions, even though greenhouse gas emissions are low globally. Experts found that a continuous lack of investment and proper regulations could make the regions inhabitable before 2100.
There are attempts to solve the issue, with plans to use renewable energy more. For example, the Ouarzazate Solar Power Station, located in Morocco, is the largest power plant in the world and is expected to contribute to clean energy.
What will Yemen’s Future Look Like?
The troubling geopolitical conflicts in Yemen contributed to growing concerns about the country’s social, economic, and environmental aspects. However, small steps are being made by private organisations to offer people a safe place to work. Rebuilding the country will take some time, especially with climate change impacting agriculture and human health, but progress is present.