For years, Yemen’s economic downturn and crippling unemployment have made survival an uphill battle – especially for women, who face immense barriers to financial security. With limited access to capital, training, and employment opportunities, many are left with few options.

Yet, despite these challenges, Yemeni women are not just surviving, they’re leading economic recovery from the ground up. Across the country, young women entrepreneurs are proving that local businesses are more than just sources of income; they are lifelines for families and communities.

Through our Emergency Social Protection Enhancement and COVID-19 Response Project (ESPECRP), funded and supported by the World Bank and  implemented with the Small and Micro Enterprise Promotion Service (SMEPS), young women entrepreneurs are receiving training, mentorship, and financial assistance to start and transform their ideas into sustainable businesses.

For International Women’s Day 2025, we celebrate the resilience of young Yemeni women – women who are not only creating sustainable incomes but benefiting their communities in the process.                                                      

From ideas to thriving businesses

For many women, entrepreneurship is not only an ambition, it is also a necessity. But having an idea is just the first step. Without financial literacy, business management skills, or access to the market, even the most promising businesses struggle to take off.

Our ESPECRP is changing that by investing in human capital, i.e., equipping women with the training, mentorship, and the strategic support they need to succeed. For some, this support meant learning how to formalize and expand their business operations; for others, it was the key to turning a passion into a viable livelihood.

Consider Jana, who started making dairy products in her home kitchen. Although she was already producing high-quality, preservative-free yogurt, cheese, and ghee, she lacked the business structure to scale up and reach more customers.

“Before the training, I never did a proper feasibility study or documented my expenses,” Jana says. “Now, I know how to plan for long-term growth.”

With expert mentorship, Jana learned to streamline production, strengthen her financial records, and expand her sales points. Today, her business is thriving, and she envisions transforming it into a full-fledged food enterprise that employs other women.

For Ruqaya, who turned her love of perfume-making into the brand ‘Durr Al-Bakhor,’ training gave her the tools to refine her formulas, secure reliable suppliers, and maintain consistency in her products.

“Before, I was just experimenting,” Ruqaya shares. “Now, I have quality control processes in place, and the prospect of expanding into international markets feels real.”

And for Maha, who launched a skincare and wellness center, mentorship helped her to navigate supply chain challenges and introduce sustainable business practices.

“When one woman thrives, it lifts up entire families. True stability is founded on knowledge and local resources,” Maha explains.

Strengthening local markets

Since imports are costly and unreliable, locally produced alternatives are essential for Yemen’s economic recovery. Yemeni entrepreneurs are filling this gap by creating high-quality, affordable products that strengthen supply chains and generate jobs.

Maha, for instance, noticed that Yemen’s fragile supply chains made it difficult for women to access reliable skincare and health products. Rather than depend on expensive imports, she developed locally sourced, effective skincare solutions tailored to Yemeni consumers.

Similarly, Jana sources her milk from nearby dairy farms to ensure her products remain 100% natural while supporting local farmers.

Ruqaya’s success is tied to farmers in Lahj, Taiz, and Yafi, where she sources high-quality aromatic plants for her perfumes. By establishing direct relationships with suppliers, she not only ensures consistency but also strengthens local agricultural markets.

Even Mona, who created a chemical-free toothpaste using traditional Yemeni clove remedies, sees her business as a bridge between heritage and modern commerce.

“People trust local products when they see a piece of their heritage reflected in them,” Mona explains.

As these women scale up their businesses, the benefits ripple outward. They create jobs, stabilize prices, and provide their communities with locally made, affordable goods.

Driving community growth

More than financial security, women-led businesses are driving economic and social transformation.

“We don’t just build businesses. We build confidence and hope for the next generation of Yemeni women,” Mona points out.

For Jana, expansion means hiring other women to help process and package her dairy products. For Ruqaya, it means creating jobs at her perfume workshop. For Maha, it means offering employment to skincare specialists and administrative staff at her growing wellness center.

“Entrepreneurship is more than having an income. It is about dignity, purpose, and showing the world what Yemeni women can achieve,” Maha explains.

With 60% of Yemen’s population under 25, empowering young women not only creates financial stability but also provides a model for the next generation. These impact stories show that entrepreneurship is not only possible; it is transformative.

Investing in Yemen’s future

As Yemen continues to grapple with economic instability, disrupted supply chains, and inflation, investing in entrepreneurship remains one of the most effective ways to drive long-term progress.

Through ESPECRP, Yemeni women are proving that, with the right support, their businesses can change not only their own lives but entire communities. These initiatives equip women with the skills, knowledge, and resources to build enduring businesses.

By continuing to invest in Yemeni women, we ensure that their businesses flourish, their voices are heard, and their leadership paves the way for a stronger, more inclusive economy.

The Emergency Social Protection Enhancement and COVID-19 Response Project (ESPECRP) supports geographically bundled interventions of nutrition-sensitive cash transfers and temporary employment, while also improving access to sustainable livelihoods, key services, and economic opportunities for areas affected by hunger, malnutrition, and climate related shocks. The project is in line with the World Bank’s integrated approach to improve food security resilience for Yemenis. 

Funded and supported by the World Bank’s IDA, the US$ 232.9 million ESPECRP is implemented by the Social Fund for Development (SFD), the Public Works Project (PWP), and the Small and Micro Enterprise Promotion Service (SMEPS) in partnership with UNDP Yemen.