Despite more than a decade of crisis, Yemen’s cultural heritage continues to play a vital role in supporting communities and recovery. Through its programmes, UNESCO has already reached more than 12 million people through cultural advocacy, while over 21,000 heritage buildings have been assessed and more than 1,000 technical studies completed to guide preservation and rehabilitation efforts.
Concrete progress has also been made on the ground. More than 900 historic buildings have been rehabilitated, including sites on the UNESCO List of World Heritage in Danger: the Old City of Sana’a, the Old Walled City of Shibam, and the Historic Town of Zabid. In addition, five museums have been rehabilitated, including the restoration of the iconic Seiyun Palace Museum, with funding support from the Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen (SDRPY).
Since June 2022, UNESCO, in partnership with the European Union, has launched the “Youth Employment through Heritage and Culture in Yemen” initiative. The programme aims to address urgent needs in heritage rehabilitation and cultural programming while providing meaningful employment opportunities for Yemeni youth through cash-for-work schemes. By restoring historic sites and revitalizing cultural spaces, the initiative offers young people concrete alternatives through medium-term employment opportunities.
So far, more than 10,000 young Yemenis—12% of them women—have been trained and employed through heritage rehabilitation projects supported by UNESCO covering not only public spaces but also historic houses and commercial spaces to dignify living conditions and support income generation activities.
Among them is Hana Ebrahim, whose life changed after joining the programme. Through UNESCO’s training, she became a carpenter—an unusual profession for women in her community. A mother of three young children, Hana saw her life transformed thanks to the skills she acquired and the stable income she now earns. Beyond improving her family’s livelihood, she is also contributing directly to the restoration of her city, Aden.