Development of human resources in Yemen [Archives:2002/36/Business & Economy]

YEMEN TIMES STAFF
For the period of 2002 to 2005, Yemen has planned to depend on external funding for the process of developing human resources. It is a task requiring availability of an amount of funding ranging between US$ 400-500 million.
This plan is intended to be in context of Yemen’s scheme for fighting poverty and achieving balanced economic and social growth. Yemen is planning to obtain financial resources for financing the scheme through getting easy loans from Arab and foreign funds. Official sources expect Yemen would obtain around US$ 80 million in form of gifts from the donor countries.
Yemeni human resources suffer from negative impact resulting from implementation of the economic reform the government has been adopting since 1995. Such impact has been reflected on declining health conditions and free of charge medication services as well as the rise in prices rates.
The plan on combating poverty during the coming five years is expected to recruit about 35 thousand employees in government sectors and providing around 9000 job opportunities. The government also hopes that there would be a recession in unemployment in general at a rate from 37% to 22% by the end of 2005, and for the partial unemployment from 25,51% to 12,5%.
The government is facing many challenges pertaining to developing human elements because of the drop in proportion of the educated and increase in proportion of illiteracy that reaches 75% in rural areas.
Social circles think that developing human resources in Yemen is one of the most serious challenges facing the second five-year plan. It is so because of its connection with the complicated environment of the society overpowered by seeking arbitration from customs and traditions that impede the woman right to work and education.
The other matter is that concentration of the population in the countryside require big public services projects covering road building, electricity and water, and schools, in addition to small enterprises securing steady income for poor families.
The government is therefore seeking in the coming five years to mitigate the negative impact of the economic reform program and working for developing human resources, as it is the most significant factor in the process of comprehensive development.

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