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

The program is being implemented by Global Communities in partnership with the Field Medical Foundation, Build Up, and Partners for Good, with funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). YCST's primary objective is to engage communities in an inclusive approach to identify and implement service delivery and conflict mitigation projects. The program has identified ten projects under Phase 1 for implementation in the governorates of Aden, Abyan, and Lahj. As of March 31, 2021, six projects were completed, and four projects were being implemented. These projects aim to improve the lives of local communities by providing essential services such as sanitation, electricity, and water supply. In addition to Phase 1 projects, YCST has also implemented sensitization workshops in Phase 2, which aim to introduce district-level stakeholders to the program and the PACE approach. During March 2021, 116 district-level stakeholders participated in four sensitization workshops, with the goal of obtaining their buy-in. To mitigate COVID-19 transmission, YCST staff wore masks and practiced social distancing during workshops, and participants were encouraged to do likewise. YCST has also been working on building the capacity of formal and informal local leaders, organizations, and networks to serve as neutral arbitrators and peace builders. During March 2021, 138 participants took part in capacity-building activities organized by initiatives supported through grants under Objective 2. These initiatives aim to build the capacity of local leaders and organizations to meet community and constituent needs. The program has also been implementing pilot stabilization activities to identify effective models to create where credible and local authorities and systems can peaceably manage conflicts and prevent a resurgence of violence. Since YCST was launched in 2018, ten projects have been identified under Objective 3 for implementation in the governorates of Abyan and Taiz. As of March 31, 2021, five of these projects were completed, and five projects were being implemented. YCST has also been working on enhancing outcomes through regular and action-oriented learning and contextual analysis across YCST interventions. In March 2021, the program coordinated third-party monitoring and verification efforts for the Haydera Football Field Rehabilitation Project, conducted routine monitoring of six projects, finalized collection of perception data on PACE and Stabilization projects in two communities, and finalized recruitment of baseline study enumerators. However, the program has faced challenges due to the second wave of COVID-19 infections in Yemen. By the end of March, the number of new infections had peaked, and the Yemeni government declared a health emergency. Local hospitals reported a dramatic rise in critically ill COVID-19 patients, and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that COVID-19 is at the highest level (Level 4: Very High) in Yemen. The US State Department's travel advisory remains unchanged, advising travelers to avoid all travel to Yemen. The impact of the first wave of COVID-19 infections on the implementation of YCST programs has led to anticipated completion delays of 8-12 weeks for Phase 1 and Phase 2 initiatives, activities, and projects.