The new health crisis poses the most acute economic risks in the world. Within the context of a devastating conflict that has set back Yemen’s human development by more than 20 years and a low-capacity health sector overwhelmed by war-related famine and disease outbreaks, the current COVID-19 crisis threatens serious damage to the country’s fragile prospects for development and effective humanitarian response. The impact of the crisis is expected to contribute to the dearth of income-generating opportunities in all sectors, including in the creative sector who has the highest level of employability of youth in MENA region. Under economic shocks to employment and incomes that create unfavorable conditions for youth and cultural entrepreneurship, the Cash for Work project is pursuing its support to youth in order to create opportunities for viable and sustainable employment and promote resilience and youth livelihoods in this sector. More specifically, the Cash-for-Work project is contributing to the preparedness and response plan at country level, through the following interventions:
Protect livelihood and incentive youth employment in time of crisis
The cash-based urban rehabilitation works are being pursued and specific preventive measures were put in place to protect the health of young workers. Awareness-raising sessions on COVID-19, hygiene, and paramedic supplies are distributed to workers on site. The cash for work activities are ensuring continuity of livelihoods for the most vulnerable youth communities, thus protecting their social and economic protection as well as their capacities to mitigate the risks of the virus within their householders.
Support income generation for cultural operators and enterprises affected by the crisis
The creative sector in Yemen is severely affected by the conflict, and this is expected to worsen with the pandemic like anywhere else in the world (cultural life and cultural productions suspended, handicrafts and small industries interrupted, artists and cultural professionals losing income, etc…). Part of the project’s response in Yemen is to mitigate the social and economic impact of the crisis by supporting young artists’ incomes, through measures that extend social protection and incentivize employment opportunities in the creative cultural industries.
- In this respect, eight selected CSOs were selected for small grants aimed at supporting youth-led cultural programming and services in the country, with the aim to generate viable business models.
- In addition, 89 young artists and cultural operators will benefit from incentives for the production of online content on cultural creative industries. This work is implemented in partnership with RNW Media.
Support policy-oriented debate and actions focusing on creative industries
A ResiliArt Yemen webinar targeting young artists from Yemen and the diaspora took place on 18 May 2020. The objective was to enable a common understanding of the immediate and long-term challenges posed by the virus to cultural industries and envisage local strategies, solidarity mechanisms between artists. More specifically, the webinar highlighted:
- Constraints artists face as a result of the current confinement measures
- The current and future financial consequences of the health crisis on creative professions
- Measures that can be put in place to support artists during and following this crisis
- How to develop cultural strategies and funding models that adequately respond to crises
Support awareness-raising materials on COVID-19
The project has supported the production of awareness-raising materials on COVID19. A video highlighting youth-led initiatives to cope with pandemic and increase prevention has been produced and disseminated via social media platforms. Link: https://youtu.be/T8pXyhq1EzE
In addition, the video is being adapted to Socotri audiences - including voice over in Socotri dialect. A communication campaign involving a network of renowned Yemeni influencers and cultural operators from Yemen and the diaspora is being conceptualized and aims at sharing of young creators’ opinions and how they are coping with quarantine, social distancing, and other preventive measures.
Cash for Work: Promoting Livelihood Opportunities for Urban Youth in Yemen
In partnership with the European Union, UNESCO has launched emergency response actions to cooperate with esteemed local partners to provide emergency relief assistance, safeguard heritage, and foster sustainable cultural development. UNESCO’s interventions focus on the protection and promotion of tangible and intangible heritage through livelihood oriented activities in four historical cities in Yemen.