推进也门妇女经济机构：解决性别规范问题

© 2025 International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / The World Bank 1818 H Street NW Washington DC 20433 Telephone: 202-473-1000 Internet: www.worldbank.org This work is a product of the staff of The World Bank with external contributions. The findings,interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this work do not necessarily reflect the views ofThe World Bank, its Board of Executive Directors, or the governments they represent. The World Bank does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or currency of the data includedin this work and does not assume responsibility for any errors, omissions, or discrepancies in theinformation, or liability with respect to the use of or failure to use the information, methods,processes, or conclusions set forth. The boundaries, colors, denominations, and other informationshown on any map in this work do not imply any judgment on the part of The World Bank con-cerning the legal status of any territory or the endorsement or acceptance of such boundaries. Nothing herein shall constitute or be construed or considered to be a limitation upon or waiverof the privileges and immunities of The World Bank, all of which are specifically reserved. Rights and Permissions The material in this work is subject to copyright. Because The World Bank encourages dissem-ination of its knowledge, this work may be reproduced, in whole or in part, for noncommercialpurposes as long as full attribution to this work is given. Any queries on rights and licenses, including subsidiary rights, should be addressed to WorldBank Publications. The World Bank, 1818 H Street NW. Washington, DC 20433, USA: fax:202-522-2625; e-mail: pubrights@worldbank.org. Graphic Design:Antoine Marinot Cover illustration:Shaumiaa Vector @ Getty Image Photos credits:Dana Smillie / Foad Al Harazi © World Bank, Mohammed Hamoud © GettyImage Suggested Citation:World Bank (2025).Advancing Women’s Economic Agency in Yemen:Addressing Gender Norms. Washington, DC. © World Bank. Executive Summary Findings from this assessment illustrate the importance of addressing gender norms (both bar-riers and positive levers) and gender-based violence (GBV) to achieve sustainable developmentoutcomes in areas of Yemen controlled by the Internationally Recognized Government (IRG). Gender norms can both facilitate or limit access to economic opportunities and/or resources,and, in practice, gender norms have been observed as sustaining unequal power relationsbetween women and men. These practices are important to consider in the context of develop-ment outcomes – interventions that do not address harmful gender norms and leverage positivenorms will be significantly limited in their reach and potential to address critical gender gaps. In Yemen, the protracted conflict has exacerbated existing harmful gender norms that narrowwomen’s access to employment and increase their risk of GBV. At the same time, the conflicthas also opened positive shifts in the existing system of gender norms that could be leveragedand further supported by World Bank operations. Commissioned by the World Bank and implemented in partnership with ACAPS and the YemeniWomen Union (YWU) in six governorates under IRG control, this initiative draws on evidencefrom focus group discussions (FGDs), key informant interviews (KIIs), and secondary research.The primary audience for this assessment is World Bank colleagues and United Nations (UN)agencies and experts implementing Bank-financed projects. Additional actors that can benefitfrom the findings include development partners, as well as national and local nongovernmentalorganizations (NGOs) working in Yemen1. Female and male participants from selected activitieswithin Bank-financed projects in Yemen engaged in the analysis,which was guided by two aims2: Identify gender norms that affect women’s safe participation in economicactivities and access to services (including GBV services) in components ofWorld Bank operations in IRG-controlled areas of Yemen across four sectors:health, education, social protection and jobs (SPJ), and transport; and Identify and analyze strategic pathways to leverage existing equitable gendernorms andhelp address harmful ones, including norms that perpetuate GBV,within projects implemented in the four sectors above. Bank-financed projects provide an enabling environment to more intentionally address gendernorms and GBV. The four projects of focus for this assessment have been addressing variousgender-related issues through select activities. This assessment and its recommendationsprovide additional information on how to more systematically advance positive outcomesthat both support the advancement of gender equality and GBV prevention, subsequently alsocontributing to sectoral and project outcomes of interest. Findings reveal that restrictive gender norms continue to undermine women’s ability to movefreely, take part in public life, safely pursue paid employment opportunities, a