Cash for Work Project. (UNESCO)
The success of the PWP in the implementation of the emergency interventions project following the floods in the Old City of Sana’a, has prompted UNESCO to implement the cash-for-work project to improve livelihood opportunities for young people in urban areas of Yemen. This project is being implemented in the Old City of Sana’a, Shibam-Hadramout, Zabid and the City of Aden - in partnership with PWP and funding from the European Union. The project is expected to cost $1.3 million. Studies have been conducted and prepared and implementation have begun in the Old City of Sana’a, Aden, Zabid, and Shibam-Hadramout to restore a number of houses and squares. This project aims to rehabilitate 30 houses in the Old City of Sana’ addition to the rehabilitation of two squares.
Some emergency sanitation and water interventions in Shibam- Hadramaut, restoration of 10 houses, and the rehabilitation of urban landscapes and two squares have also been initiated.
In addition to that, the project will carry out the rehabilitation of 20 houses in Crater, Aden, Al-Ful Square, as well as the rehabilitation and restoration of 20 houses in Zabid in the Governorate of Hodeidah and the paving of areas around Bab Siham.
2018
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In 2018, the PWP continued implementation of (YECRP), a project funded by the World Bank and administered by the UNDP, achieving outputs and indicators much higher than planned for the end of the project (June 2019). This goes to confirm that the PWP-pmu’s has achieved cost-efficiency in utilizing the US$85 million fund allocated to cover the implementation timeframe from August 2016-June 2019. And, at the same time, succeeding in maximizing benefits from community assets built.
The PWP has succeeded in achieving the pdo for (YECRP) which calls for generation of short-term income employment opportunities, provision of selected basic services for the most vulnerable, the poorest groups of society, and those heavily affected by the current situation, as well as improvement of the nutrition situation and food security- by targeting more districts and increasing the amounts allocated to each district to enable them to meet demands of local communities for subprojects - and sustaining activities of the PWP in the face of challenges and difficulties caused by the current situation.
By implementing (YECRP) subproject, the PWP has contributed to current international community efforts for supporting livelihoods and basic services for the population who are suffering from the impacts of the current crises. It will also contribute to improving households and local communities’ resilience to lead a life of dignity. It will also assist host communities for IDPS to deal with the economic and social pressures on the already scarce local resources. In addition to the contribution to support the local economy through the development of local communities, the PWP is lending support to private sector contractors, and contributing to the qualification of engineers and consultancy services.
The impressive results achieved by the PWP in (YECRP) implementation encouraged the islamic bank for development to resume funding for projects suspended due to the current situation in Yemen. In addition, the PWP attracted new finances from USAID, and was selected by the World Bank to partner in the implementation of the Yemen integrated urban services project (YIUSEP) financed by the wb through the UNOPS.
Community assets
Under the (YECRP), Islamic Bank’s rural development and YOUTH employment support projects, USAID projects, and the Yemen integrated urban services project, the PWP is building community assets, improving community infrastructure, and at the same time, is generating short-term employment opportunities by implementing labor-intensive small infrastructure projects. This is done through a partnership with private sector local contractors. Subprojects include, for example: rain-water harvesting, agriculture land and irrigation, stone-paving of access roads, water supply and sanitation, and rehabilitation of schools…etc. On the basis of priority needs as identified by targeted local communities.
In selecting subprojects, considerations are given to local communities’ capacities for operation and maintenance of the supported subproject, without the need for any additional outside expertise.
Optimum utilization of funds:
The PWP has presented living and practical proofs to donors that it has the capacity to successfully work and deliver under exceptional circumstances. This is evident in the indicators from the field showing successful implementation of (YECRP) subprojects.
The PWPs success, under the current conditions, is serving as an incentive to donors. The (wb) recently selected the PWP to partner in the implementation of yet a new project - the Yemen integrated urban services project. The Islamic Bank has also been encouraged to resume suspended funding for the rural development, and YOUTH employment support projects, while the USAID provided new funding for additional activities.By the End of December 2018: 3 million People Benefit from Completed Sub-Projects
The Public Works Project (PWP) is continuing its active role in creating job opportunities, overcoming major difficulties and challenges in the way, especially important under the current conditions in the country.
All indicators and results from the field are confirming that the PWP is succeeding in achieving the main objectives of the YECRP – a program funded by the World Bank (WB) and administered by the UNDP, especially in short-term job creation and service provision to the most vulnerable, impoverished and most affected groups under the current circumstances.
Through the implementation of subprojects under the YECRP, the PWP is contributing to the support of current efforts by the international community to strengthen livelihoods and basic services for the population who are suffering from current conditions caused by the crises. It’s also contributing to the improvement of resilience of households and local communities to enable them to lead a life of dignity. At the same time, the PWP is helping local communities hosting IDPs to deal with the economic and social pressure on already scarce resources. In addition, the PWP is contributing to supporting the local economy through the development of local communities and supporting the local private sector through local contractors.
Support for IDPs
The resumption of the PWP’s development activities is a revival of hopes for millions of Yemenis, especially the IDPs communities, women, and children who are the most affected groups of society. Implemented projects by the PWP have, by the end of 2018, created more than 2,1 million temporary work opportunity (work/day) benefitting 3 million people.
Indirect beneficiaries
In addition to direct wage labor beneficiaries hired by contractors, there are indirect benefits to people working in construction activities and paid by others, including those who work for building material suppliers, stone quarries, cement block production, catering and small cafeterias…etc.
A study conducted by the PWP confirm the existence of major variables in the various sectors ranging from 25% for the wash sector to 48% for stone-paving. On average, construction activities produced 35% indirect benefits for those who work in construction activities for building community assets and are not being paid directly by the contractors.
Consultants contracted by the PWP are considered indirect beneficiaries from income opportunities, including supervision, design and quality control engineers…etc., Who have no other income or would be low-income if it wasn’t for the work obtained through these contracts.
From the Field:
Indicators achieved in 2018 by the PWP in field implementation of subprojects have by far exceeded targets and plans agreed upon with the wb and UNDP at the start of implementation of the (YECRP). According to the evaluation of the follow-up team - a third party chosen by the UNDP to evaluate implementation of the (YECRP)- show that the outputs achieved so far were of high quality and implemented through a fully transparent process.
Progress indicators: -
Overall, it can be confirmed that all output indicators show that outputs achieved thus far have by far exceeded planned output for the (YECRP).
Output results are for completed subprojects consolidated for both parent funding (pf) and additional funding (af) that have now reached 1030 subprojects.
2017
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Under the Emergency Crises Response Project: The PWP Has Generated 230,000 Work Days,900,000 Beneficiaries ,51% Women
The public works project,pwp has succeed in leaving a tangible impact in local communities,especially amongst idp’s and impoverished families who are unable to sustain themselves.
The pwp has reached out to deprived and underserved areas. Its role has been recognized by the undp,which awarded the pwp an a+ rating,the highest rating awarded by a third party audit team. The team was delegated by a consultant firm assigned by undp to monitor and evaluate the performance of the pwp in implementation of subprojects under the emergency crises response project in yemen. During the field visits,the audit team paid visits to subprojects under implementation and to completed subprojects to make its evaluation.
It can be said in all confidence that the pwp is on track to complete the yecrp on schedule- achieving the project development objectives and the key outputs of the project.
According to the periodic report by the pwp for the period from august,2016 - june,2017,the total number of beneficiaries from completed subprojects have reached 17,777, which are direct beneficiaries of wage, with idps / returnees making up 41 % of the total number of beneficiaries. 230,595 Work days have been generated until the end of june,2017,representing 93% of pf target,which is estimated at 250,000 man/day, with 47% of that for idp’s/returnees.
The figures show that the number of work days worked by idps/returnees is relatively higher than the number of idps/returnees as persons employed. This is due to efforts being made in the field by staff and contractors’ to employee idps for a longer period,i.E. Idps are employed for longer periods than local labor thus generating more work days.The report also shows that 907,683 persons have benefited from community assets with at least 51% being females and % idps / returnees.
The increase in the number of beneficiaries that have access to community assets,which has exceeded the target by almost 2.5 Folds,is attributed to increase in the number of subprojects implemented by over 33%; with 852,174 direct beneficiaries.
According to the report,the total disbursements from the parent project of yecrp is $10 million,8.4 For civil works making up 84% of the total funding,with the remaining 16% ($1.6 Million) allocated for operational expenditures,equipment and machinery,consultants wages and training for women to enhance community participation.
Racing with Time, the Project’s Management is Working to Overcome Challenges of the Current Crises. PWP is at Work to Service Development!
Development is the main objective pursued by pwp management in the ground and in all governorates of the republic of yemen. In doing so, pwp is racing with time to overcome obstacles and challenges imposed by the current crises. This pursuit has proven that pwp is truly in the service of development.
The number of projects implemented during the period from january-march, 2017 within the yecrp, funded by the world bank through the undp, has reached 33 projects in the education, pavements and improvements, water, and agriculture and irrigation. The total cost of these projects is us$1,376,490, and have created temporary employment for 24 thousand people - 13 thousands idp’s and 11 thousand unemployed living in impoverished communities. 138 Thousand people have benefitted from these projects - 113 thousand idp’s and returnees and 25 thousands local residents. The projects will also contribute to improvement of living standards in those communities by providing clean water for human consumption and improvement of educational standards, through renovations and rehabilitations of schools and pavements and improvements of roads and neighborhoods.
Joy
The implementation of services projects like these in impoverished areas, which have been overwhelmed by idp’s - under these exceptional circumstances - is an impossible feat. However, these projects have become a reality and are bringing joy to families that have previously lost all hopes
2016
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PWP provides 83 thousand temporary job opportunities:
Since its establishment the PWP has proven that it is an active element in encountering the negative impacts resulting from the application of the financial, economic and administrative adjustment program and limitation of poverty through implementation of service development subprojects nationwide where these subprojects implemented by PWP during the period 2014-2016 generated 83,767 work/months as temporary job opportunities greatly contributing to the improvement of livelihood conditions of this manpower especially in the remote needy areas.
The government depended on the PWP to contribute in filling the gap created by the economic, financial and administrative adjustment program and considering PWP as one of the important player in to the governments efforts to alleviate poverty and reduce unemployment rates and one of the most important landmarks of development in Yemen.
The PWP management unit was able to provide basic services in the fields of education, health, water, agriculture and other services targeting alleviation of poverty and improvement of the livelihood, economic and environmental conditions of the citizens.
PWP was and is still targeting poor communities in remote and needy areas that are in a critical need for these services, assisted in lift them out of severe poverty and unemployment to a new status improving their existence and position in their communities.
Despite the fact that the poor segments are randomly distributed with unequal numbers in the rural and urban areas, yet interventions by PWP reached all target categories and contributed to the improvement of their livelihood.