The Yemen Support Fund (YSF)
Chemonics UK is leading a consortium of partners to implement an innovative UK government stabilisation programme, the Yemen Support Fund (YSF). YSF identifies and invests in opportunities that protect civilians, promotes political de-escalation and dialogue, and strengthens the foundations for longer-term stability in Yemen.
The YSF does this by grouping its research and activity delivery efforts into four broad thematic areas:
P1 – Protecting the means of survival.
P2 – Promoting political processes.
P3 – Preparing a foundation for longer term stability.
IC1 – Support to international community understanding and engagement on the above.
YSF is particularly focused on supporting the UN-led efforts to de-escalate the conflict and identify pathways to a durable peace, and working with partners on the ground to ensure that de-escalation and peace promotion are as inclusive and informed by local knowledge and perspectives as possible.
Approach
Yemen’s politics, conflict, socio-economic challenges and environmental needs are rapidly evolving and unpredictable. YSF is therefore designed to be a flexible fund that can quickly respond to opportunities or needs.
YSF has the capacity to delivery across a range of instruments, including:
- Rapid research and analysis to inform policymakers and programmes on peace and conflict-related issues and trends.
- Deployment of technical assistance to Yemeni and international partners working towards de-escalation and peace promotion.
- Funding and supporting in-country implementing partners to be the drivers of change in delivering important protection, peace or resilience projects—especially where they foster social inclusion and local leadership.
- Supporting international partners’ efforts to coordinate conflict reduction and peace promotion initiatives.
Our need to retain response capacity requires us to focus our funding on impactful one-off activities or those that catalyse wider efforts by partners, with a defined end point. It also requires we maintain a flexible approach to project and partner identification, and in some cases work with very new local organisations who require significant capacity support to deliver their project.
YSF’s portfolio of projects includes:
- Support to locally led de-escalation and peacebuilding efforts.
- Provide mediation design support to OSESGY through research, mediation support and technical assistance.
- Support the Internationally Recognised Government of Yemen in Economic Reform, Stabilisation, and preparation for Peace Negotiations.
Values
YSF prioritises local understanding and expertise so that our efforts are designed for and by Yemenis. We also prioritise working with Yemeni organisations for our in-country delivery, using our team’s presence across Yemen to directly engage and collaborate with Yemen’s diverse civil society and government actors.
