From Presence to Impact in Peace & Decision-Making
Sheba Youth Foundation for Development focuses in this track on promoting active participation of women and youth, advancing from symbolic presence to meaningful impact in peace processes, civic leadership, political advocacy, and local mediation. Through sustainable programs across Taiz and Yemen, Sheba builds capacities, organizes civic platforms, and produces grounded local knowledge supporting inclusive governance.
Implemented projects and field interventions advancing track objectives and strengthening local partnerships.
Strengthened young journalists’ capacities in conflict-sensitive reporting within a polarized war context, encouraging human-centered reporting that respects civilian dignity.
Empowered women leaders in community peacebuilding, conflict transformation, and social cohesion in war-affected Taiz through training and establishing a Women’s Community Council.
A high-impact digital safety initiative enhancing cybersecurity awareness among women and youth through accessible content on account protection, 2FA, encryption, and device security.
Transformed youth participation from passive training into local policy research, training young researchers to produce policy papers on public issues in Taiz.
Pioneered an early framework connecting Taiz’s water crisis with local dialogue and trust building, bringing together technical authorities and local actors to craft actionable policy recommendations.
A 3-season training series on youth political participation, digital advocacy, and cyber security, enabling young leaders to navigate digital civic spaces safely.
Curated policy papers, guides, field studies, and analytical research reports produced within this track.
This study aims to document and analyze local experiences with community mediation regarding water disputes in three districts of Taiz Governorate—Jabal Habashi, Al-Ma'afir, and Al-Shamayatayn—by adopting a comparative analytical case study approach. This approach goes beyond merely describing events; it seeks to deconstruct the context, understand conflict patterns, and derive intervention models that are adaptable and replicable in similar settings.
This paper examines the experience of local mediation in managing water-related conflicts across three districts in Taiz Governorate: Jabal Habashi, Al-Ma'afir, and Al-Shamayatayn. It draws on a field case study documenting how community-based mediation mechanisms—when designed with sensitivity to the local context and supported by follow-up mechanisms—contributed to containing conflicts, curbing their escalation, and preserving social cohesion in an environment characterized by resource scarcity and a limited official institutional presence.
The guide is designed primarily for practitioners and community actors—rather than as a theoretical or academic reference—focusing on learning by doing, role-testing, and direct interaction among participants through simulation.
The development of this position paper on "The Role of Yemeni Women in Local Government: Reality vs. Marginalization" is part of Sheba Youth Foundation for Development’s program to articulate its stance on the gap between women's formal representation in local government and their actual impact on governance.
Between June and August 2023, Sheba Youth Foundation for Development conducted a research study on the dynamics of gender power and women’s participation, with funding from Oxfam. The study aimed to gather information on the needs and risks faced by women and girls, generate findings, and develop practical, actionable recommendations to inform more gender-responsive programming and strengthen interventions that enhance the resilience of vulnerable displaced people and conflict- and disaster-affected host communities in the targeted areas. It also sought to improve women’s participation in decision-making processes related to peace and security. The study covered rural and urban areas across five districts of Taiz Governorate: Al-Shamayatayn, Al-Ma’afer, Al-Mudhaffar, Al-Qahirah, and Salh. Its scope included an assessment of gender roles, relationships, and dynamics; capacities and vulnerabilities; protection; community governance; conflict resolution; participation; and access to services and assistance. The study’s sampling framework covered a broad range of conflict- and disaster-affected stakeholders, with a particular focus on the most vulnerable groups. A sample of 250 people was drawn from the target population, including marginalized communities and host communities living in rural, peri-urban, and urban areas across Taiz Governorate. A total of 196 interviews were conducted for data collection, comprising 85 in-depth interviews with men and women from vulnerable households, including internally displaced persons (IDPs), host communities, marginalized groups, and households with persons with disabilities; 105 interviews with key informants, including male and female community leaders and local authorities; and six focus group discussions involving 20 men and 40 women.
Visual documentation of activities, technical meetings, field workshops, and interventions across this track.
Humanitarian Aid and Resilience Project for Vulnerable Internally Displaced Persons and Host Communities Affected by Crises, Disasters, and Conflict in Yemen (Taiz – 2022)
A video summary highlighting local community mediation achievements in public services.
Sheba Youth Foundation for Development welcomes collaboration with international organizations, donors, and knowledge centers to advance civic participation and leadership.
