IOM and Japan Launch Project to Support Vocational Training and Youth Empowerment in Yemen

Yemen Monitor/Newsroom:

The International Organization for Migration (IOM), in collaboration with the Government of Japan, has launched a new development project in Yemen valued at $2.49 million. The initiative aims to support technical and vocational training for youth and internally displaced persons (IDPs), amidst the ongoing economic and livelihood challenges the country has faced for over a decade.

According to a statement from IOM, the project involves the rehabilitation and equipping of six training centers in the governorates of Aden, Lahj, and Taiz. This includes the renovation or construction of 48 classrooms, 31 workshops, 10 laboratories, and 13 administrative offices. This step addresses the fact that over 37% of vocational programs have ceased due to deteriorating infrastructure.

Approximately 3,000 young men and women are expected to benefit from the vocational training, including over 700 IDPs. Additionally, 220 students will receive specialized courses in livelihood skills and small business management, along with comprehensive vocational kits to help them start their own projects.

Abdulsattar Esoev, IOM Yemen Chief of Mission, affirmed that the project is a “significant step towards restoring dignity and hope” by empowering youth with practical skills that contribute to economic independence and strengthen community cohesion.

The project also includes additional components such as training for instructors from the Public Corporation for Vocational Training, the installation of solar power systems in five centers, and the establishment of water and sanitation facilities that cater to the needs of people with disabilities.

IOM anticipates that the project will indirectly contribute to improving the livelihoods of over 1.7 million people by stimulating local economic activity and supporting affected communities, at a time when approximately 17.1 million Yemenis suffer from food insecurity.

This project represents an extension of the effective partnership between IOM and Japan, which previously funded an $800,000 project to improve health, water, and sanitation services in Mokha, Al-Khawkhah, and Taiz, benefiting over 33,000 people.