Ahmed Bajoaim – Women in Development and Peace
Women working in Yemen, particularly in government and economic institutions, are incredibly important for sustainable development. This workforce is steadily growing, and these women possess immense skills and experience that contribute to economic growth and community empowerment. Working women are key to achieving economic and social development. They increase productivity and improve service quality.
Women are central to promoting economic growth and achieving sustainable development. Many women working in government institutions are adept at adapting to the work environment and effectively taking on responsibilities. Their participation in the workforce strengthens the national economy, increases national income, and empowers them economically and in decision-making roles.
This report will highlight the effective contributions and positive impact of Yemeni women working in government and economic institutions. It will also emphasize the importance of empowering them within this vital sector. We will speak with women working in economic institutions to explore how they can be empowered to play a leading role in improving their institutions and bolstering the national economy.
Women and the Economy
Government economic institutions in Yemen are a cornerstone of economic development. They provide essential goods and services to citizens, stimulate economic growth, and create new jobs. These institutions are diverse, encompassing various economic sectors, such as the Ministry of Finance, responsible for developing the country’s financial plans, collecting taxes and customs duties, paying employee salaries, and financing government projects. There is also the Ministry of Oil, the government body responsible for oil and gas exploration, production, and export in Yemen, and the largest company in the country in terms of revenue. Then there are the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, Electricity, Water and Environment, Trade and Industry, and other revenue-generating entities.
Dr. Buthaina Al-Saqqaf, Dean of the College of Administrative and Banking Sciences at Lahj University, believes that Yemeni women, like men, are essential partners in the national economic development process and contribute effectively to various economic sectors, particularly in government institutions.
She added, “For women to reach their full potential and contribute to economic growth, they must be empowered in all aspects of economic work. This involves attracting qualified and specialized women to government economic institutions and providing them with internal and external training opportunities aligned with their specialties. This enhances their skills and qualifies them for leadership positions under Yemeni and international regulations and laws.”
She highlighted the importance of women’s participation in government economic institutions to achieve growth and prosperity. This is achieved by providing a pool of skilled workers, especially women in their field of expertise. This leads to increased productivity, improved institutional financial performance, and the ability to showcase their skills and experience in decision-making processes. These decisions contribute to economic improvement, the development of overall strategic policies, and the promotion of promising female role models who contribute to economic growth within both public and private economic institutions, fulfilling the aspirations associated with them.
International Reports
Despite the high gender gap in Yemen, which ranks among the top in the world according to international reports and studies, there is a strong belief that women can contribute to achieving sustainable development if properly invested.
A recent report by the European Union Delegation to Yemen in March 2024, titled “Empowering Yemeni Women Will Make a Difference,” states that Yemeni women are a driving force for development and economic resilience, which has been deteriorating rapidly since the armed conflict began nearly nine years ago. This conflict has cast a shadow over the national economy as one of the most affected sectors. The report recommended opening the door to Yemeni women’s potential and abilities, utilizing their energy to uplift all public and private sectors, especially economic institutions.
The report stressed that the European Union remains committed to achieving gender equality and reducing the gap through empowering women and promoting their integration in all fields. This represents a strategic priority for the European Union, which aims to strengthen Yemeni women and empower them economically in all programs it implements in the country. Projects focus on enhancing the economic resilience of women. The European Union places Yemeni women at the heart of the projects it implements within the country.
The Scope of Women’s Presence
We haven’t obtained accurate statistics showing the presence of women in government economic institutions. However, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) stated in its report titled “UNDP in Yemen: Gender Equality” that Yemeni women face restrictions that prevent them from moving forward, especially after the outbreak of the conflict, and also gender-based violence, including forced early marriage, which casts a shadow over the limitations of women’s roles and work within government or private institutions. The participation rate of women in the public sector among the workforce in Yemen reached around 6%. The report attributed this to the high level of the gender gap in all aspects of life.
The Tax Authority on the Coast of Hadhramaut is one of the important economic institutions that contribute to strengthening the national economy. However, while men make up the majority of employees in this institution, women make up a very small percentage. Recent statistics obtained by Women in Development and Peace newspaper showed that the number of main employees at the Tax Authority on the Coast of Hadhramaut is 150 employees, while the number of contractors is 96. It is alarming that the representation of women out of the total number of main employees and contractors does not exceed 42, which is a very small number compared to men.
The Impact of Women’s Presence
Dr. Al-Saqqaf said, “Women’s participation in government economic sectors is a cornerstone of sustainable development, one of the most important drivers of growth and progress. It has positive impacts on government institutions, including achieving gender equality in employment opportunities, which promotes social justice and ensures the utilization of women’s abilities and potential in general.”
She added, “Enabling women’s participation in work is an opportunity to obtain decent work in government institutions with fair wages and social benefits that improve their standard of living and empower them economically. In addition, it opens up a wider scope for women to access decision-making processes that improve the economic situation and contribute to increasing productivity, thanks to their skills, experience, and creativity.”
Dr. Al-Saqqaf continued, “For these reasons, reducing imbalances in gender inequality, especially in the field of work, is one of the elements of the “Sustainable Development Goals” set by the United Nations to reduce the gender gap. There is also a proposal that will contribute to empowering Yemeni women in government economic institutions by reactivating women’s departments in offices and ministries that will monitor, follow up, and assist working women in obtaining their rights, granting them necessary authority in their work, and implementing the national plan for women, peace, and security.”
Opinions of Female Employees
Samia (pseudonym) is one of the employees at the Tax Authority office in Hadhramaut Coast, she says: “Government work in economic institutions that generate financial revenues for the state is not fruitful; as these institutions face major challenges in light of the collapse of the local currency against foreign currencies. Employees in government economic institutions, both men and women, suffer from a significant decline in their salaries that no longer match the exorbitant rise in prices and the depreciation of the local currency. Despite this, government economic institutions, despite the conflict and economic crisis that the country is going through, are the only hope that the state relies on to fulfill its obligations towards the citizen.”
Samia ruled out any exceptions for employees in government economic institutions in terms of salary increases, but all sectors of the state, whether economic or service-related, face the same suffering by employees. As for the presence of women in this institution, they certainly have a prominent role in improving performance and developing it. There is great satisfaction from customers regarding the performance of female employees or contractors. As we see there is noticeable attention in all government institutions, especially in Hadhramaut, towards empowering women and their participation, whether in ordinary jobs or decision-making jobs, believing that women are capable of holding senior positions, and this is what we will see in the coming years.
The employee in the telecommunications sector, Fatima Abdul Qadir, confirmed that the status of Yemeni women in government economic institutions plays a major role in improving performance and fostering development, as women are a fundamental pillar in the work system. Empowering women will have a positive impact on the state, enhancing work efficiency and contributing to the growth of the national economy each year. She attributes this to the ability of the female staff to apply strategies effectively and adhere to their points.
Increasing the empowerment of Yemeni women in government economic institutions will contribute effectively to improving the performance of the institution and will increase its productivity, which will have positive results on the Yemeni economy and will give it a good leap towards prosperity. Women are less susceptible to corruption and favoritism than men, according to UN and international studies and reports. Before all of this, it requires the restoration of the security situation in Yemen, ending all forms of armed conflict, and returning to construction and development.