His Excellency Mukhtar Al-Yafaei, Minister of Social Affairs and Labor, met today at the Ministry's headquarters in Aden with a delegation from the Al-Khair Humanitarian Relief Coalition to discuss ways to rehabilitate and support agricultural and fisheries associations and cooperatives, as well as align humanitarian and development programs and projects with the Government's priorities.

During the meeting, Minister Al-Yafaei was briefed on the Coalition's activities and projects in the areas of food security, livelihoods, economic empowerment, and support for the agricultural and fisheries sectors. The presentation also highlighted the Coalition's partnerships with a number of regional and international organizations, as well as its strategic shift from emergency humanitarian assistance toward early recovery and sustainable development, with a focus on strengthening the resilience of local communities.

Minister Al-Yafaei emphasized that civil society organizations constitute an integral part of society and serve as key partners to the Government in advancing development and social protection. He commended the vital role these organizations played during periods when the presence of state institutions was weakened as a result of the war. He noted that the current phase requires strengthening the Ministry's regulatory and supervisory role in overseeing projects, organizing the work of civil society organizations, realigning their interventions with national priorities, restoring confidence in their role, and addressing the negative impacts of certain uncoordinated and unregulated practices.

The Minister further stressed that rehabilitating and supporting agricultural and fisheries associations and cooperatives is a strategic priority for promoting local development and enhancing food security. He noted that these entities are best positioned to understand and respond to the needs of citizens within their communities. He underscored the importance of strengthening their administrative and technical capacities to restore their productive and service-oriented functions, enabling them to become effective instruments for achieving sustainable development, creating employment opportunities, improving livelihoods, and increasing agricultural and fisheries production.

Minister Al-Yafaei also referred to the upcoming broad consultative meeting, which will bring together government entities, the Ministry's offices, UN agencies, international and local organizations, civil society representatives, and the private sector. He explained that the meeting will provide a shared platform for harmonizing visions, defining roles and priorities, minimizing duplication of interventions, and establishing a genuine institutional partnership among all stakeholders.

For his part, Eng. Fahmi Bin Mansour, Executive Director of the Al-Khair Humanitarian Relief Coalition, expressed his appreciation for the Ministry's leadership and its demonstrated commitment to supporting the work of civil society organizations and facilitating and regulating their interventions in line with Government priorities. He reaffirmed the Coalition's readiness to strengthen coordination with the Ministry and further develop their partnership in order to transform humanitarian projects into sustainable development programs that effectively address the needs of communities.