Building safer communities

We work to strengthen community security in Taiz, Aden and Hadhramout, by enhancing conflict prevention systems and local governance mechanisms. With our partners, we have formed ‘strategic thinking groups’ in four governorates, whose work includes: addressing local and joint issues between the governorates; addressing peace process issues from a community perspective; and providing solutions for multiple issues such as opening roads between governorates and women prisons rehabilitation.  

Together with the National Organisation for Community Development, Peace for Sustainable Societies, the Peace and Building Foundation and Youth Without Borders, we support communities to identify their safety concerns – particularly the concerns of women, young people and marginalised groups – and build their skills and opportunities to tackle these problems. 

In the middle of conflict, community groups are rising to immense challenges and responding creatively and pragmatically to the impact of war on their lives. Community initiatives have included providing street lighting to decrease harassment; opening roads to connect isolated areas; social accountability health initiatives; resolving conflicts over water distribution; organising campaigns against gunfire; advocating for the end of the siege on Taiz; and dealing with uncollected street rubbish that spreads disease. By working together on projects like these, communities are building their long-term resilience to safety and security threats.