The Delegation of the European Union to Yemen (EU) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Yemen have signed a €9 (US $10.4) million agreement to strengthen local governance and advance area-based development and recovery in Yemen. Building on the achievements and lessons of the EU-UNDP “Strengthening Institutional and Economic Resilience in Yemen” (SIERY) Project, the new “Mobilizing Area Solutions for Action and Recovery” MASAR Project will take forward a locally led approach to development, helping local authorities turn priorities identified by communities into practical investments, stronger services and opportunities for sustainable local economic growth.

Over recent years, SIERY has helped lay important foundations for locally led development in Yemen. The project strengthened the capacity of local authorities to plan and prioritize basic service delivery, supported 177 local public service projects, and reached more than 7 million people. SIERY also introduced and strengthened an area-based development approach, bringing together local authorities, communities, and other stakeholders around shared priorities and solutions.

MASAR builds on this foundation and takes it a step further. The project will support local authorities’ move from identifying priorities to mobilizing resources and delivering investments that respond to local needs. It will strengthen planning, budgeting, resource mobilization, and service delivery. It will also promote greater transparency and efficiency in public financial management and procurement, while creating mechanisms that can attract and coordinate additional financing for priority investments.

Covering seven governorates and more than 25 districts, MASAR will work closely with governorate offices, the Ministry of Local Administration, and the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation. Through this approach, the project will support local institutions to plan, manage resources more effectively and deliver investments that can strengthen communities and local economies.

“The EU is proud to build on the strong partnership and results achieved through SIERY. MASAR represents the next step in our support for locally led development in Yemen, the institutions, partnerships and financing mechanisms that can turn local priorities into tangible investments. Local authorities are at the heart of Yemen’s development and recovery, and strengthening their capacity is essential to sustaining services, unlocking local potential and building more resilient communities”, said Patrick Simonnet, EU Ambassador to the Republic of Yemen.