A high-level meeting was held today, bringing together prominent women leaders and a World Bank mission to discuss ways to enhance joint cooperation in the coming phase. The meeting included Her Excellency Dr. Ahad Jassous, Minister of State for Women’s Affairs, and Dr. Al-Rumaisa Yaqoub, Chairperson of the National Advocacy Network. Representing the World Bank were Mr. Ousmane Dione, Vice President for the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan; Mr. Stephane Guimbert, Country Director for Egypt, Yemen, and Djibouti; and Ms. Dina Abu-Ghaida, Country Manager for the World Bank Group in Yemen.
The meeting addressed various issues and challenges raised by the attending women leaders across several fields. Notably, Dr. Al-Rumaisa Yaqoub, Chairperson of the National Advocacy Network, focused exclusively on the file of persons with disabilities and vulnerable groups. She presented a clear vision on how to integrate these groups into the World Bank’s upcoming five-year plan for Yemen, in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).
In her presentation, Dr. Al-Rumaisa emphasized the necessity of aligning international projects with the diverse physical and specific needs of these groups. She called for the adoption of an inclusion strategy that matches the World Bank’s vision while designing projects tailored to the nature of the country’s special needs. This approach aims to ensure fair and comprehensive economic and social participation for all, without exception.