Strategic Planning in Fragile and Conflict Setting (II)

This program falls within the framework of technical cooperation signed between the Yemeni government and ESCWA, which aims to strengthen and develop the roles, resources and capabilities of Yemeni public institutions, central and decentralized, to get out of conflict, and leading to launching the wheel of recovery and reconstruction. This is done by raising the capabilities of workers in the field of strategic planning to plan related to conditions of fragility through an approach that combines emergency aid (urgent humanitarian aid), on the one hand, and laying the foundations for development programs in the phase of exit from conflict and recovery, on the other hand.

This topic dealt with the most prominent approaches and methodologies adopted in the field of understanding and assessing fragility and how to conduct the strategic planning process in light of fragile contexts, through a critical review of the most prominent recent trends of public administration and the techniques adopted by specialized international organizations. Through this briefing of the most prominent and recent conclusions in the field of fragility diagnosis, planning workers at the Yemeni governorates level, specifically planning managers, were provided with accurate knowledge of the issue of fragility and the challenges it entails, the reasons for success and their pivotal role in the overall planning process.

An applied exercise was also conducted on defining the nature and elements of fragility with its political, economic, social, security and environmental dimensions at the local level by the participants.

This theme focused on studying the issue of planning in the context of fragility, from background analysis (conflict, etc.) to self-assessment of institutional gaps, and to identifying the types of planning and its components.

An applied exercise was also conducted with the participants on determining what methodologies can be adopted in the case of portfolio planning in Yemen and what suits the specific state of fragility in each governorate, and how this methodology can contribute to policy coherence and the localization of development plans between the central and decentralized levels.

This axis worked on developing the capacities of planning workers in the Yemeni governorates to adopt and apply the methodology of needs assessment at the local level, prepared by ESCWA, which combines background analysis (conflict, the nature of fragility and its causes...), and a survey of local needs and how to reach the conclusions to determine priorities and develop plans based on them, taking into account major variables such as epidemics (Corona is a current model), and demographic changes, such as displacement.

In this axis, work was done with the participants on approaching the issue of planning in fragile contexts from the perspective of gender equality, and on evaluating the effects on women and men of any action intended to be taken in all fields and at all levels, specifically within the reconstruction and state-building efforts.

An applied exercise was conducted with the participants on local planning in fragile contexts, gender equality, and mechanisms for involving women in the overall process of recovery and rehabilitation.

The last axis also focused on the role of digital transformation and open government in strengthening the resilience of public institutions and societies against slipping into conflicts, on the one hand, and on the role of digital technology in the recovery and reconstruction process, and on strengthening multilateral partnership, on the other hand.

A practical exercise was conducted with the participants on the use of technology in local planning in light of fragility.