A deal has been signed to empower women in Yemen and develop their role in the economy, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The joint cooperation memorandum was signed on Sunday between the Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen (SDRPY) and the Marib Girls Foundation.

It was co-signed by the general supervisor of SDRPY, Mohammed Al-Jaber, and the foundation’s chairwoman, Yasmin Al-Qadhi.

Al-Qadhi commented on the impact achieved through cooperation in the economic field as well as through the agreement, which would motivate women to be creative and innovative in implementing and leading small projects and become entrepreneurs over time.

She said that the agreement had several aspects that strengthened the role of women in society such as supporting startups and preparing entrepreneurial women, fulfilling women’s talent, honoring female figures, and drawing the attention of decision-makers toward integrating the concept of women’s economic empowerment into the educational system.

Al-Qadhi hailed the important and vital role led by the general supervisor of the SDRPY to support Yemeni women in the labor market. She said that this reflected the Kingdom’s desire for the recovery of Yemen and its economy, especially through establishing such a program to take on this task.

Al-Jaber said that the agreement was the first to be signed between the SDRPY and a development foundation headed by a Yemeni woman, whether in Marib or elsewhere in the country, that was responsible for the economic empowerment of women, youth empowerment, and strengthening their potential.

A business incubator that was prepared in Marib will be a model for everything that can be done to empower girls and youth in the area and it will positively reflect on the rest of Yemen’s governorates, according to Al-Jaber.

He also said that development support in Marib covered all areas, including the health sector.

“Several hospitals have been equipped by securing the clinics’ needs of devices, ambulances, and intensive care rooms, in addition to equipping many health centers in Marib with medical equipment,” he added.

Al-Jaber said that the education sector in Marib was supported by a project to build the faculties of Saba University and the School of the Gifted, in addition to launching a project for buses to transport female students from remote villages and regions to the university.