project description

The European Commission’s Foreign Policy Instrument is managing a global facility, the European Resources for Mediation Support (ERMES III), mandated to provide short-term expertise and advisory services to peace processes and conflict settlement. In partnership with UNDP/OCHA, ERMES III has previously engaged expertise to shed light on the economic aspects of the Yemen conflict through a study implemented in two phases.

The first phase of the study, implemented from April to July 2020, synthesised responses from 20 interviews with interlocutors representing different constituencies within Yemen and the international community. The conversations took place in the context of the joint work that United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the European Union (EU) were undertaking in the area of the economic dimensions of the conflict in Yemen. 

The purpose was to analyse the economic drivers of the Yemeni conflict and potential opportunities for peace by researching the economic factors and interests that influence the conflict dynamics. It aimed to provide a valuable input in the process of establishing a common understanding amongst all those supporting Yemen in this very sensitive and vital sector, and to support the United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen (UNSE) with the economic aspects of the political process. 

The second phase of the study provided an update to the 2020 publication on the economic dimensions of the conflict in Yemen. It represented a preliminary stocktaking after 7 interviews with interlocutors representing different constituencies within Yemen and the international community, as well as the review of relevant documents. Interviews were conducted in the period 20 September to 12 October 2021. 

A third study was conducted in 2022 to provide a fuller understanding of the economic priorities and capacities of the conflict parties as well as propose relevant measures to promote economic de-escalation and peacebuilding.     The study informed/complemented the Conflict Analysis Screening (CAS). It also served to inform the operational implementation of the UN Economic Framework and the economic track of the UN peacebuilding strategy.