Aden, February 5, 2025 – In a significant step towards empowering Yemeni women and fostering sustainable development, the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) has partnered with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to launch an innovative renewable energy initiative in Aden. The project, designed to support women in Yemen, aims to provide long-term solutions to energy challenges while enhancing their economic opportunities.
The initiative focuses on empowering 375 women through the establishment of small-scale programs that produce and market solar-powered household devices such as lanterns, stoves, and traditional ovens. Alongside hands-on training in solar energy technology, the women will gain vital life skills, business management expertise, and specialized knowledge to operate solar lanterns and ovens. The goal is to equip these women with the skills needed to run successful businesses that support both their families and their communities.
With a focus on alternative, clean energy sources, the initiative will also provide solar-powered solutions such as basic lighting and cooking devices to women-led businesses in Yemen's Hadramout and Lahij regions. In total, the program is expected to impact over 21,000 women, improving their access to essential energy sources and empowering them to become leaders in the renewable energy sector.
Alaa Ali, the UNDP project manager, emphasized the project’s dual focus on addressing energy needs in vulnerable communities while also creating sustainable livelihoods for women. Ali further noted that the initiative would increase women's participation in the solar energy industry, thereby improving their socioeconomic standing and expanding their business opportunities. The project will not only assist women in developing market-driven businesses but also help enhance the quality of life for their families and contribute to local economic growth.
This project represents a key part of Saudi Arabia's broader humanitarian efforts through KSrelief to support women in Yemen. By equipping them with the necessary tools to generate income and build sustainable careers, KSrelief is strengthening the role of women in Yemeni society and promoting long-term social and economic development in the region.
