Yemen Communities Stronger Together (YCST) Quarterly Program Performance Report Y3Q3 – April 1 to June 30, 2021

Launched in 2018, YCST is supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and aims to mitigate conflict, strengthen social cohesion, and promote peaceful resolution of differences in Yemen. YCST's program objectives include engaging communities in inclusive approaches to identify and implement service delivery and conflict mitigation projects, building the capacity of formal and informal local leaders, organizations, and networks to serve as neutral arbitrators and peace builders, promoting peace through pilot stabilization activities, and enhancing outcomes through regular and action-oriented learning and contextual analysis. As of June 30, 2021, YCST anticipated benefiting 553,308 people, with 370,713 anticipated beneficiaries in Phase 1 communities and 182,595 anticipated beneficiaries in Phase 2 communities. The program has reached 35,651 people in the past three months, with 670 people reached through one project completed under Objective 1, 220 people engaged in substantive leadership roles at 26 capacity building activities under Objective 2, and 34,981 people reached through two projects completed under Objective 3. YCST's approach to building community capacity involves using the Participatory Action for Community Enhancement (PACE) approach to build the capacity of community members and local leaders to develop a vision for their community and to collaboratively identify and address issues through conflict mitigation and service delivery projects. The program also manages a Peacebuilding Grants Fund, a Women, Peace and Security Sub-fund, and an Innovation Grant Sub-fund to support initiatives that increase women's participation in peacebuilding, form youth networks for positive engagement in civic life, and use technology and creative approaches in peacebuilding. YCST's stabilization activities are implemented in areas controlled by the Republic of Yemen Government, with a focus on assisting local authorities to understand the priorities of their constituents, facilitate authorities' plans for a response to those priorities, and provide capacity building of local authorities to sustain investments, build communications with constituents, and demonstrate transparency and accountability. The program's action learning approach involves examining the effectiveness of projects, initiatives, and activities, and incorporating mapping, piloting, scenario planning, and feedback loops to test, adapt, and scale-up evidence-based programming. This approach ensures a do-no-harm approach, allows YCST to respond rapidly to changing environments, and increases the likelihood of achieving program outcomes.