UNICEF Prepares to Launch “Cash Transfer” Program for Most Vulnerable Groups in Yemen

Yemen Monitor/ Aden/ Newsroom:

The Resident Representative of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Yemen, Peter Hawkins, discussed on Monday with Yemeni Prime Minister Salem bin Breik the ongoing arrangements to launch the “Musanada” social support program. This program aims to provide unconditional cash transfers to the most vulnerable and needy groups in the country.

The Yemeni News Agency (Saba) reported that Salem bin Breik received Hawkins in Aden. The UN official was quoted as saying that the program is an improved version of the unconditional cash transfer project, which UNICEF has been implementing with World Bank funding since 2017.

According to Hawkins, the program has served over 1.4 million families in Yemen, helping them meet their basic needs. He noted that the enhanced design of the Musanada social support program targets 500,000 Yemeni families, with coordination currently underway with relevant government entities to begin implementation procedures.

The program includes the most vulnerable groups across all of Yemen, including areas under the control of the armed Houthi group.

For his part, Bin Breik highlighted the existing partnership between the government and UNICEF, expressing keenness to develop it and enhance coordination to identify interventions proportionate to needs, especially in areas experiencing heavy displacement, and to avoid past shortcomings. He also expressed his anticipation of UNICEF’s support for the government’s efforts to contain fevers and epidemics and to balance humanitarian work with sustainable development efforts.