This report draws on field research in Taiz to uncover the local dynamics of the Yemen war that are often lost when it is portrayed as primarily a proxy war.
Taiz, Yemen’s third most populous city, is engulfed by war, having emerged in early 2015 as the center of what many observers describe as a proxy war between the Saudi-led coalition and the Houthis, an armed Zaidi Shia revivalist movement with ties to Iran. Yet this lens can easily misrepresent the war and complicate efforts to resolve the conflict.
Other resources you may be interested in:
Local Service Provision During War: A Case Study of Yemen
This journal article analyzes how conflict has shaped local service delivery across five Yemeni governorates and shows how governance capacity, political stability, resources, and external support, in particular humanitarian aid, effect outcomes. By analyzing how these elements shape local governance capacities, the paper highlights the disparities in service delivery and the challenges faced by local […]
Strengthening Institutional and Economic Resilience in Yemen (SIERY) – Final Evaluation Report.
This final project evaluation assesses the UNDP SIERY project’s performance from 2020–2025 in strengthening local governance, public service delivery, and economic resilience across nine governorates in Yemen. Given this project has been the largest project in terms of funding volume and geographical coverage supporting local governance in Yemen, it offers interesting insights in the opportunities […]
Pathways for Reconciliation – Impact of the Conflict on Social Cohesion and Reconciliation in Yemen
This report presents findings from consultations across seven Yemeni governorates on how conflict has affected social cohesion and reconciliation, and offers community-based recommendations for peacebuilding and local resilience. It inclues a discussion of trust within communities and with local authorities, providing a district-level breakdown of perceptions.
