During the first half of June 2023, Studies & Economic Media Center (SEMC) conducted two training courses to qualify and train teams of Local Economic Development Ambassadors in the governorates of Aden and Marib. The objective was to build their capacities and equip them with knowledge in the field of local economic development and its indicators. Additionally, the training aimed to promote their understanding of the challenges facing the local economy and the necessary tools for its analysis and evaluation, and the development, implementation, and review of local economic development strategies.
The implementation of these training courses is part of the Strengthening Institutional and Economic Resilience in Yemen (SIERY) project, funded by the European Union and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in coordination with the Studies & Economic Media Center (SEMC) and the Ministry of Local Administration.
Starting with Aden, the training course targeted 12 participants (7 males and 5 females) who are members of the Local Economic Development Ambassador team in the governorate. The team is composed of executives from the local authority, the private sector, and civil society organizations.
The opening ceremony of the training course was attended by Mustafa Al-Baraihi, the Assistant Undersecretary for Local Development Affairs at the Ministry of Local Administration, who emphasized the importance of the training course in strengthening the capacities of the LED Ambassadors’ Team in the governorate. He highlighted that the course encompasses the three fundamental pillars for achieving development in the public sector, private sector, and civil society.
At the end of the training course, the participants expressed their appreciation for the knowledge they had gained, which could positively impact their work performance. Wafa Hussein, Head of the Examination Department at the Planning Office and a member of the LED-Ambassadors’ Team, who is representing the local authorities, said, “The course was excellent in terms of its content. The training expanded my economic knowledge and helped me understand concepts that were previously unfamiliar to me, such as economic indicators, evaluating the local economy, preparing a strategic plan for local economic development, partnership building, and understanding the preparation of the general budget by matching revenues with expenditures. Through what we have acquired, we hope to bring about real change and make Aden a leading economic environment.”
On her part, Nabeela Daadaa, a participant and a representative of the private sector, confirmed that the training course was very useful and opened up perspectives for her and her colleagues, through which they can develop strategic plans and implement developmental projects.
Daadaa added, “I have gained skills and knowledge that empower me to conduct developmental studies or research, particularly regarding women’s empowerment, the education sector, the environment, and other sectors.
Meanwhile, Saham Omar, a participant in the training course and the representative of civil society organizations, said, “It was a valuable training course that introduced wide range of concepts and fostered collaboration among team members from divers sectors. We gained skills and tools to comprehend and analyze the economic landscape, economic development indicators, how to develop, implement, and review local economic development plans, local revenue sources. We have also learnt the importance of partnership between different sectors to achieve economic growth and come up with a strategic plan to advance the local economy in the governorate of Aden.”
In Marib, another training course concluded in the governorate of Marib, lasting for 8 days, aimed at training and equipping the team of Local Economic Development Ambassadors. The course targeted all members of the team, which consisted of 11 individuals (7 males and 4 females) representing executive offices in the local authority, private sector, and civil society organizations.
The training course garnered the attention of the local authority in the governorate, with the opening ceremony being attended by Abdo Rabeh Miftah, the Deputy Governor of Marib. He emphasized the importance of forming the team of Local Economic Development Ambassadors in the governorate as an economic support team for the local authority’s efforts in generating local economic development. He affirmed the local authority’s support for the team in the upcoming phase and stressed the significance of the team’s preparation of realistic economic plans that leverage the available resources optimally for the benefit of the governorate and its residents.
At the conclusion of the training course, the participants expressed the importance of the course in developing their capacities, which will directly impact their practical performance. Socatra Al-Baqma’a, the director of the Women’s Development Center in Marib and a participant representing the public sector, said, “The training course was valuable, and we gained significant knowledge regarding local economic development concepts, knowing about and measuring economic indicators, as well as familiarizing ourselves with methods and tools to identify community needs and priorities. Additionally, we acquired an understanding of strategic planning concepts and methodologies, including how to develop strategic plans and needs matrices”.
On his part, Aref Al-Jaradi, the Director of the Supervision and Inspection Department in the Ministry of Finance and a member of the team of Local Economic Development Ambassadors, expressed his perspective on the training course. He described it as an engaging and enlightening journey that provided them with a wealth of valuable knowledge and practical experiences. The insights gained from the course are expected to have a direct impact on their field work.
Al-Jaradi highlighted the significance of understanding the partnerships between the government sector, private sector, and civil society organizations, emphasizing these collaborations play a crucial role in strategic planning processes and priority matrix for projects urgently needed in governorate. Additionally, they received comprehensive training on budget preparation in accordance with local authority regulations.
On his part, Shadi Al-Qabbati, a member of the Local Economic Development Ambassadors’ Team and the representative of the private sector in the governorate, stated, “This training course has broadened our perceptions and provided us with extensive insights, and the benefits derived from it have been significant in terms of how to deal with, plan, and think strategically about projects. It has highlighted the importance of collaboration among all sectors to derive economic development and growth in the province.”
These training courses were part of a capacity-building initiative targeting local authorities, the private sector, and community components in local economic development. They are one of the activities under the Strengthening Institutional and Economic Resilience in Yemen (SIERY) project, implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in collaboration with Studies & Economic Media Center (SEMC), and in coordination with the Ministry of Local Administration. The project is funded by the European Union
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