"When the conflict broke out in Aden city,” says Fatima, “I realized right away that my work and my simple dreams were gone.”

Large businesses sustained heavy losses due to the conflict, but smaller ones like Fatima’s felt the impact most acutely.  “People were thinking about food and basic needs and refrained from buying my goods,” she explains.  “Many families left their houses and the city became a terrifying place to live in.”

With the escalation of clashes in Aden, Fatima endured a second shock. One of her sons was killed.  The other became permanently incapacitated. 

"I didn't want to live any longer after the death of my son. My situation deteriorated and I spent all my savings to meet the basic needs of my children… Everything had gone," said Fatima. 

UNDP’s Yemen Emergency Crisis Response Project assists those like Fatima – whose businesses have suffered as a consequence of conflict.  The project supports microfinance institutions, who then provide services to small- and medium-sized business; and provides grants to business owners, who would otherwise be overwhelmed by their debt.  Not only does this help entrepreneurs to get back on their feet, it stimulates economic activity at large.

Fatima is now focused on her business and determined to remain financially independent. 

"I know that nothing can make up for the loss of my son but still, I will work hard to compensate for my financial losses and provide a decent living for my kids." 

The benefits are not purely financial, and Fatima is more optimistic about her prospects: “I'm very happy that my dreams are back again."

To date, the project has given grants to 3,819 owners of small- and microenterprises – the majority of whom (53 per cent) are women.  It has also funded nine microfinance institutions, enabling them to provide financial services to 83,705 clients.

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Funded by the World Bank, the Yemen Emergency Crisis Response Project (YECRP) is implemented by UNDP in partnership with the Social Fund for Development (SFD) and the Public Works Project (PWP). The US$300 million project provides economic stimuli in the form of large cash-for-work projects, support to small businesses, and labor-intensive repairs of socio-economic assets, benefiting vulnerable local households and communities across Yemen.