Since 2006, CIPE has strengthened institutions in Yemen by improving the private sector’s role in fostering democratic economic, social, and political stability. When conflict erupted in 2015, CIPE worked with its local partners to translate the success of these programs into initiatives that positively impact the welfare of citizens while raising their demand for transparent, representative, and responsible governance. By working with local partners, primarily CIPE’s Yemen Economic Reform Team (ERT), Yemenis have witnessed improved access to essential health care services; improved water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities; aspects of economic improvement and stability; strengthened financial institutions; and improvement and strengthening of local governance institutions.
The ERT is an informal coalition of 25 influential and independent Yemeni leaders in business, politics, and civil society – representing every sector of society and dedicated to fostering democracy and the rule of law. Using its self-developed Private Sector Vision, the group initially engaged in the post-revolution reform process by highlighting the top economic and political priorities for Yemen as the recognized representative of the private sector in the National Dialogue Conference and participating in the Friends of Yemen Donors’ Conferences in Saudi Arabia in 2012 and 2013. When war erupted in 2015, CIPE worked with the ERT to adjust its mission and establish local assistance coalitions in Aden, Ta’iz, Hadhramout, Hudaida, and Sana’a.
CIPE programs in Yemen are succeeding in strengthening the social fabric and solidarity within the Yemeni society by exemplifying the social responsibility of business people toward their communities and embodying the concept of corporate citizenship.