USAID is strengthening the Central Bank of Yemen and the Ministry of Finance to stabilize and create a productive macroeconomic environment given the ongoing conflict. USAID provides financial and marketing advice to Yemeni small and medium enterprises, primarily in the fishery and agriculture sectors, that generate the value needed to create jobs, increase incomes, and support sustainable livelihoods.

Fishing was once the most productive sector in Yemen’s economy, contributing 15 percent of gross domestic product (GDP). Still today, it holds the promise of being a major source of foreign exchange earnings and fiscal revenues. Moreover, for coastal Yemenis, the fisheries sector remains the main form of livelihood, and a primary source of hope for lifting people out of poverty and food insecurity. With the war, however, poor handling and preservation practices have depleted the market and nutritional value of Yemen’s fishing stocks. In response, the USAID Yemen Economic Stabilization and Success (YESS) project has delivered targeted training and technical assistance to fishermen, and all along the value chain, to revitalize the quality of fish catches and maximize returns.