Public works projects combat poverty

from the Yemen Observer

Cabinet approved during its weekly meeting the loan agreement signed in September of this year between the government of the Republic of Yemen and the OPEC Fund for International Development for financing the Public Works Project, third phase, in the order of $11 million.

The total cost of the third phase is $197 million, and is aimed at implementing the government’s policy to raise the standard of living in the community.

This policy will create job opportunities and infrastructure development projects as well as implement various service projects in all governorates. In addition, it would support small local contractors and consultants to encourage participation of the private sector and local authorities and communities in designingand implementing these projects.

The cabinet referred the draft loan agreement to the parliament to complete the necessary constitutional procedures for approval. The Public Works Project, a government project, has implemented around 3480 projects at a total cost of $278 million.These projects have created more than 500,000 temporary jobs across Yemen, according to Saeed Abdo Ahmed, Project Director.

Around 12.6 million people benefited from those projects in different governorates of the republic. The projects have been implemented in many sectors, including public health, education, water, sanitation, roads, agriculture and social affairs.

Saeed said that the PWP’s main objectives are to create job opportunities for both skilled and unskilled workers, to provide infrastructure service projects for deprived communities, to enhance community participation in the development process and to improve economical and environmental conditions of the poor.

The PWP has also managed to increase education enrollment rates by 140 percent in general, 181 percent for females and 113 percent for males, as well as increasing the number of classrooms by 124 percent. This has led to a reduction in the number of students per classroom by 17 percent.

The PWP was honored for its work in 2006 by an award from the Independent Evaluation Group of the World Bank, acknowledging that its entire project is one of the best in the world. The Public Works Project, which began activities in 1997, focuses on implementing small projects so that people are able to find employment. The goal is to reduce the unemployment rate and offer basic services for citizens, particularly in remote areas. The project has already achieved success in reducing the percentage of underprivileged people who are living in poverty.