[06/05/2025 05:48]

AMMAN - SABA
Minister of Water and Environment Eng. Tawfiq al-Sharjabi discussed Tuesday here with the World Bank Country Director in Yemen Dina Abu Ghaida ways to enhance cooperation and evaluate the progress of projects currently funded by the World Bank in Yemen.

The meeting discussed ways to strengthen coordination between the bank, the ministry, and local water institutions, and to expand the participation of official entities, including the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Fisheries, in all stages of planning and implementing projects.
They also discussed the importance of updating the National Water Strategy to include challenges related to climate change and cooperation to access climate funding.

Additionally, they discussed mechanisms to improve the management of desalination projects and ways to support the establishment of an institutional center of excellence in the water sector, focusing on building capacities and enhancing institutional performance.
Al-Sharjabi praised the special partnership between the Ministry of Water and Environment and the World Bank, valuing the support provided by the bank to the water sector over the past years. He emphasized the importance of gradually transitioning towards empowering government institutions to implement projects directly, rather than relying on intermediary organizations, to enhance efficiency and support long-term sustainability.

He pointed out the challenges facing the water sector due to the war and the effects of climate change on various sectors in Yemen, which is one of the most affected countries in the world. He stressed the importance of coordination between the ministry, the World Bank and implementing partners at different stages of planning and implementing projects to ensure the preservation of water and environmental resources and the continuity of projects.

The World Bank Country Director emphasized the importance of continued coordination with the Yemeni government and confirmed the bank's continued support for the water and environmental sanitation sector in Yemen, helping it overcome the challenges posed by the current situation.

They agreed to launch a pilot project in the Aden Water Corporation as a first model to strengthen local institutions and activate their role in providing services efficiently and with financial independence.

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