Taiz – Leaked documents and field reports have exposed a major administrative and developmental scandal within the Planning and International Cooperation Office in Taiz, following the recent announcement of the province’s “Economic and Social Development Plan 2024–2026.”

The plan, introduced by office director Nabil Jamel, has come under fire for lacking realistic objectives, measurable indicators, and strategic alignment with the province’s urgent needs. 

According to the documents, over 50% of allocated funding was diverted to operational expenses unrelated to field development, while several projects were approved without feasibility studies or technical oversight.

Investigations suggest that the plan served as a vehicle for personal enrichment and political patronage, with projects repurposed as quick-profit contracts and tools for extortion under the guise of international cooperation. The absence of monitoring mechanisms and repeated recycling of superficial plans have further undermined public trust.

Local activists and civil society groups are calling for an independent national committee to investigate the office’s conduct and hold those responsible accountable. Critics have also accused the local authority of shielding corruption and obstructing transparency.

In response, Governor Nabil Shamsan convened a preparatory meeting to review the plan and pledged to revise its framework to better reflect donor priorities and the province’s developmental realities.

The scandal comes amid worsening public services and economic hardship in Taiz, raising urgent questions about the integrity of local governance and the future of international aid coordination.