Country: Yemen Source: World Bank STORY HIGHLIGHTS About 19.5 million people, including 15 million women and children, need humanitarian aid, two-thirds lack access to safe water and sanitation, and healthcare services struggle to meet immense needs. To address these challenges, the World Bank launched the Yemen Integrated Urban Services Emergency Project (YIUSEP) in November 2017, with an initial $150 million commitment. The project focused on restoring essential urban services across multiple cities. Yemen’s cities have borne the brunt of over a decade of conflict, with widespread destruction of infrastructure. Waste collection services have halted, urban roads have been destroyed, and critical facilities are without power. The consequences for Yemeni citizens are stark: About 19.5 million people, including 15 million women and children, need humanitarian aid, two-thirds lack access to safe water and sanitation, and healthcare services struggle to meet immense needs. To address these challenges, the World Bank launched the Yemen Integrated Urban Services Emergency Project (YIUSEP) in November 2017, with an initial $150 million commitment. The project focused on restoring essential urban services across multiple cities. YIUSEP’s first phase, concluded in 2020, achieved remarkable results: Supported 3 million beneficiaries to regain access to basic urban services. Generated 1.5 million person-days of work. Restored 240 km of roads. Provided 1.2 million people with access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services. Key Factors Driving Success YIUSEP’s success is rooted in its innovative and strategic approach, which has set a benchmark for urban recovery projects in conflict-affected regions: Balanced Regional Approach: Efforts were carefully distributed across Yemen’s diverse regions, ensuring equitable support to cities regardless of their geographic or political contexts. This inclusivity fostered a sense of fairness and maximized the reach of interventions