Project Description

The objective of this project is to assist the UN Special Adviser in the exercise of the Secretary-General’s good offices and implementation of the UN Security Council mandate by providing the resources required to initiate a range of special mediation initiatives in support of Yemen’s political transition, including, if required, off site dialogues between parties.

As the country enters a critical, and extremely fragile, stage of its transition with the launch of the National Dialogue, it is essential for the UN to have the resources to seize opportunities to enhance participation and consensus building, and respond to political crises and avert disengagement or conflict through special mediation initiatives.

These mediation initiatives could cover the full range of current or future potential fault lines that may derail the National Dialogue conference and the ensuing constitution making process, including dissensions between the Hiraak movement and the leadership in Sana’a and/or tensions within the Hiraak movement, and/or conflicts involving the Houthis. Examples of special mediation initiatives could include off site dialogue amongst the Hiraak leadership (in Turkey and other neighboring countries) at a critical moment in the National Dialogue, and/or bilateral facilitation support to the formulation of grievances and proposals by specific participants in the National Dialogue and/or the ensuing constitution making process.

 The concept for the project is similar to the PBF support provided to the SRSG in Cote d’Ivoire and to the ERSG in Burundi to support mediation efforts at a critical moment in their respective countries 

Key Project Activities

The outputs of the project are:

• Up to date information and analysis generated by the UN on positions, claims and interests of relevant actors
• Timely and targeted mediation initiatives (bilateral dialogue, multi-stakeholder facilitation events, in country and/or out of country etc.) undertaken to secure and/or sustain participation in the National Dialogue and the constitution making process and facilitate the development of consensus on sensitive National Dialogue and transition issues

Examples of key activities include:

• Media monitoring and interviews with key actors
• Generation of analytical reports and information sharing with other sources of analysis
• 3-4 day meetings with key delegates or other actors outside of Yemen, supported by facilitators
• Deployment of experts within Yemen to anlyze conflict and/or organize track II discussions with key stakeholders