On 2 June 2026, a photo exhibition highlighting the partnership between the European Union, UNESCO and the UNDP in Yemen opened at the EEAS in Brussels.
Entitled “Yemeni Livelihoods: Resilience at Work”, the exhibition features powerful images and stories of hope from the ground. It showcases EU-funded initiatives, implemented by UNESCO and UNDP, that are restoring livelihoods, strengthening local institutions, and preserving cultural heritage, creating tangible opportunities that respond to the aspirations of Yemenis.
Since 2018, the partnership between UNESCO and the European Union has contributed to Yemen’s recovery and resilience by creating employment opportunities for more than 11,000 vulnerable young women and men, benefiting an estimated 80,000 people. The initiative has also provided technical and vocational training to over 350 youth and engineers, rehabilitated more than 921 historic residential buildings, carried out emergency flood stabilization works in three World Heritage sites and the Historic City of Aden, and restored over 25 public spaces, monuments, and museums across the country.
Beyond infrastructure and cultural heritage restoration, the programme has strengthened cultural governance and supported Yemen’s creative economy. It facilitated the implementation of three UNESCO conventions, assisted with 35 submissions to Yemen’s World Heritage Tentative List, and provided training and grants to cultural enterprises, civil society organizations, and cultural managers. Through seven Cultural Creative Spaces established across the country, the initiative engaged more than 2,000 artists and community members, while advocacy campaigns involving journalists and content creators reached over 13 million people, promoting culture as a driver of social cohesion and peacebuilding.
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