H.E. Mukhtar Al-Yafaei, Minister of Social Affairs and Labor and Deputy Chairman of the Board of the Social Fund for Development (SFD), held a virtual meeting today with the European Union Ambassador to Yemen, Patrick Simonnet; the World Bank Country Director for Yemen, Dina Abu-Ghaida; the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Country Director for Yemen, Tawfiq Al-Zubairi; and Winnie van der Wal, First Secretary for Water, Food Security, and Private Sector Development at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Yemen.

The meeting reviewed the current status of the Social Fund for Development, explored ways to strengthen its national role, and discussed mechanisms to ensure the continuity of cash assistance programs targeting eligible households.

Discussions underscored the importance of maintaining the operations of the Social Fund for Development as a key national institution responsible for implementing social and development programs. Participants highlighted the Fund's vital role in serving the country's most vulnerable populations across all governorates, thereby advancing social protection and local development. They also examined ways to enable the Fund to continue its interventions through transparent institutional mechanisms and internationally recognized standards that ensure program effectiveness, sound resource management, and the timely delivery of assistance to those most in need.

Minister Al-Yafaei reaffirmed the Government's commitment to keeping international partners informed of its approach to managing social protection programs. He stressed the importance of ensuring that the Government serves as the supervisory authority for all assistance and grants provided across the country, thereby guaranteeing that such support is directed within its intended humanitarian and development framework and preventing its use for purposes beyond those for which it was designated.

"The Social Fund for Development is a cornerstone of Yemen's social protection and local development framework. Preserving its role and institutional independence is a shared responsibility that will enable it to continue its interventions from the interim capital, Aden, with nationwide coverage across all governorates, serving eligible families and vulnerable groups without discrimination," Minister Al-Yafaei stated. He further affirmed that all observations and recommendations raised during the meeting are receiving the full attention of both the Government and the Fund's Board of Directors and will be carefully considered in a manner that strengthens the Fund's performance while safeguarding its national role and institutional independence.

For their part, the international partners reaffirmed their commitment to continuing cooperation with the Government in support of the Yemeni people and the advancement of social protection and development programs. They emphasized the importance of aligning efforts with identified national priorities and needs, while working in close partnership with the relevant government institutions to ensure effective support reaches eligible beneficiaries across the social and development sectors.