Yemen Monitor / Newsroom:
The temporary capital, Aden, witnessed a series of meetings today, Monday, between Yemeni officials and a high-level delegation from the World Bank, led by Ousmane Dione, Vice President for the Middle East and North Africa, to discuss development trajectories and Yemen’s return to “Article IV,” which grants member states several economic advantages.
Yemeni officials in Aden held three separate meetings with the World Bank delegation; these included a meeting with Presidential Leadership Council member Lieutenant General Mahmoud al-Subaihi, and Prime Minister Dr. Shaya al-Zindani, while the third meeting included a government team headed by the Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Afrah al-Zouba.
The meetings focused on the magnitude of challenges resulting from the war and infrastructure destruction, emphasizing the importance of directing support toward liberated areas and activating oversight and accountability mechanisms to ensure aid reaches those who deserve it.
Presidential Council member Mahmoud al-Subaihi stressed the necessity of a gradual transition from emergency humanitarian interventions to sustainable development focusing on the health, education, and energy sectors, and creating job opportunities for youth and women.
The Prime Minister also discussed with the World Bank delegation enhancing trust-building with international financing institutions, noting that the reforms approved by the government aim to strengthen stability and improve service conditions.
For his part, the Vice President of the World Bank confirmed that the Bank’s upcoming strategy in Yemen will prioritize nutrition, electricity, and the development of the agricultural and fisheries sectors, while incorporating government observations within the Country Strategic Framework discussions scheduled for next May.
In the context of Yemeni talks with the World Bank, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Dr. Afrah al-Zouba chaired an expanded meeting that included the ministers of Finance, Electricity, Water, Health, Education, and Civil Service.
The government team reviewed projects with the World Bank that contribute to improving financial management and developing human resource systems. The Minister confirmed that the government has implemented a package of comprehensive economic reforms based on the national development plan aimed at achieving tangible growth.
Economic journalist Wafiq Saleh commented on the arrival of the World Bank delegation in Aden, speaking about the International Monetary Fund’s resumption of Article IV consultations with the Yemeni government. He explained the importance of Yemen’s return to Article IV in evaluating the economic and financial policies of member states and providing technical and institutional recommendations for reform, emphasizing that while it does not mean providing direct loans, it represents an essential mechanism for placing the Yemeni economy back under international supervision and building a solid foundation for future recovery.
Article IV of the IMF’s Articles of Agreement is one of the most fundamental articles regulating the Fund’s relationship with each member state, forming the backbone of the international economic monitoring and supervision mechanism.
According to this article, the Fund is obliged to hold periodic consultations, usually annually, with each member state to assess its economic and financial policies; these consultations are known as Article IV consultations.
