Yemen Communities Stronger Together (YCST) Monthly Program Update – August 2021

The program aims to mitigate conflict, strengthen social cohesion, and promote peaceful resolution of differences in Yemen. YCST is being implemented by Global Communities in partnership with the Field Medical Foundation, Build Up, and Partners for Good. The program has four main objectives: engaging communities, building capacity, promoting peace, and enhancing outcomes. Objective 1, engaging communities, focuses on identifying and implementing service delivery and conflict mitigation projects. In August 2021, YCST implemented three projects in Phase 1 communities, with seven completed projects reported on in previous monthly updates. The program also engaged eight communities in Phase 2, with community entry activities taking place in the governorates of Abyan, Aden, and Lahj. Objective 2, building capacity, aims to build the capacity of formal and informal local leaders, organizations, and networks to serve as neutral arbitrators and peace builders. In August 2021, 22 initiatives were underway, with six events organized during the month attracting 662 participants. The program also completed scoring of applications submitted under the Peacebuilding Grants Fund for Phase 1 communities, identifying three potential grantees to implement grants in five communities. Objective 3, promoting peace, supports local authorities' efforts to identify and pilot projects that can peaceably manage conflicts and prevent a resurgence of violence. In August 2021, the Al-Azaez Schools Rehabilitation Project was completed, reaching 19,349 people. A new tender process was initiated for the Al-Obar Sanitary Drainage Cleaning Project, and the Al Mansoora Health Center Rehabilitation Project was canceled due to a lack of collaboration from the local authority. Objective 4, enhancing outcomes, focuses on regular and action-oriented learning and contextual analysis to support adaptive management for enhanced outcomes. In August 2021, YCST analyzed baseline survey data from 1,171 households, conducted perception surveys with 798 households, and prioritized five projects for third-party monitoring and verification. The program also monitored one project for compliance and carried out several related activities to enhance program outcomes. In August 2021, YCST implemented community entry activities in eight communities, with site visits conducted by the engineering team and CEC meetings taking place. The program also submitted a database of trainings planned in all targeted communities to USAID's Vetting Support Unit (VSU) and received feedback that vetting was not required for any submitted trainings unless participation exceeded 40 hours during the lifetime of a project. As a result, YCST lifted the suspension of all trainings, except the training of CEC members, and prepared the data of CEC members to be submitted to VSU for vetting.