Mr. Hans Grundberg

United Nations Secretary-General Special Envoy for Yemen

We, the undersigned civil society organizations in Yemen, work every day under intolerable conditions to improve the living conditions of millions of Yemenis. We represent the voices on the ground and our work across the country in the areas of emergency humanitarian response, local development, peace-building, youth and women's empowerment, and representing the interests of the poor, marginalized and vulnerable.

CSOs appreciate your efforts to move forward towards a political solution, a just and sustainable peace, and to address the troubling economic and humanitarian conditions at the same time express our regret that the international efforts to end the war in Yemen have been limited to the conflict parties, that have been overtaken by events and have proven to have failed during the past seven years of war; We, therefore, appeal the inclusion of civil society organizations in the UN-led efforts to build peace in Yemen. Without doing so, the prospects for the eventual success of any agreement will be significantly reduced.

Why is that important? Local organizations have become a real weight, an effective and influential presence on the ground, and have close relationships with local communities across Yemen, which have stood with them throughout the war years, providing them with their basic living requirements, restored many of the services destroyed by the warring parties, defended peace and stability and achieved Concrete successes in maintaining community cohesion, resolving local conflicts, delivering relief aid and reopening roads. Therefore, leaving them outside the negotiations severely reduces the prospects for achieving peace in the long term, even if the warring parties agree to a cease-fire.

What should be done? Ether the warring parties reach an agreement on a ceasefire or not. UN peacemaking efforts need to involve civil society, youth, and women's organizations that are deeply involved in peace-building at the local level. The United Nations can achieve more inclusive and effective participation by:

- Impose quotas for local civil society organizations, youth, and women in the first peace track, direct and indirect political negotiations, and in all stages of the peace process before, during, and after the signature of the agreements.

-Involve civil society organizations in your advisory team, create a media platform for their voices, and coordinate between organizations' chairmen and international actors involved in peace efforts.

-Establish an operation room to support local civil society organizations in Yemen as a communication platform with the Special Envoy Office, United Nations agencies, and international organizations. Organize community dialogues and public action to link the work of the second and third tracks with the first track.

-Create pressure to remove obstacles to humanitarian and relief action and support the local organization's efforts to localize humanitarian action in Yemen.

- Institutionalize the communication and participation framework between civil society in Yemen and the envoy’s office in a way that enhances transparency and trust and contributes to the success of efforts to stop the war and build peace.

- Include civil society organizations in Yemen demands in the  UN envoy's periodic briefings submitted to the Security Council.

- Identify the CSOs' priorities and vision of local issues and the peace process.

-Support local organizations' initiatives and activities to spread the coexistence values and peace culture.

Mr. Hans Grundberg:

The active participation of civil society organizations is essential for the peace process's success. Civil society organizations can make valuable contributions to negotiations, including technical expertise, knowledge of hard-to-reach areas, and the local communities' and marginalized groups' perspectives whose voices are often not heard in negotiations. 

For this, we look forward to meeting you to listen to us and to agree on an action and cooperation mechanism to build lasting peace in Yemen. We do not only talk about issues but always provide solutions.

 Civil Society Organizations in Yemen

1. Tamdeen Youth Foundation

2. Building Foundation for Development

3. For All Foundation

4. Al-Aman Organization For Blind Women Care

5. Generations without Qat

6. Nahda Makers Foundation

7. Engaz Development Corporation

8. Gusoor for Peace and Coexistence

9. Democracy School

10. Yemen National Midwives Association

11. Yemen Peace School Organization

12. Volunteers Foundation

13. Youth Without Borders Organization  for Development 

14. Sada Foundation for Building &Development

15. Watch for Human Rights

16. Peace and Building Foundation

17. Ithraa Developmental Foundation

18. Heran Foundation for Local Development

19. Cadres Foundation for Development and Humanitarian Relief

20. Knoz Yemen for Humanitarian Development

21. Together We Rise Social Association

22. Qarar foundation for media and development

23. Wahg Al-hyat  Foundation

24. National Foundation for Development and Human Rights

25. Yemeni Development Network For NGO's

26. Abs Development Organization For Woman & Child

27. Life Makers Meeting Place Organization

28. Sustainable Development Foundation

29. Soul For Development

30. Medical Mercy Foundation

31. All Girls Foundation for Development

32. Family Counseling & Development Foundation

33. Yemen Women's Union

34. Hemmat Shabab Foundation For Development

35. Relief and Development Peer Foundation

36. Rawahel Foundation for Development

37. Wa3i Foundation

38. Benevolance Coalation For Humanitarian Relief

39. Field Medical Foundation

40. Civil Alliance for Peace

41. Afaq Shababia Foundation

42. Marib Girls Foundation

43. Alf Ba Civilian & Coexistence Foundation

44. Creative People Solutions Foundation

45. Yemeni Response Council

46. Resonate! Yemen

47. LOOK INSIDE Foundation For Development

48. Khadija Foundation for Development

49. Jeel Al Bena Association for Humanitarian Development

50. Ejad Foundation For Development

51. Ma'akum Foundation for Development

52. Deem for Development Organization

53. Musanadah Foundation for Development

54. Rowad Foundation

55. Togather for Development & Human Rights

56. YNGO's Coalition for Child Rights Care

57. Tatweer For Development and Humanitarian Response Foundation(TATWEER)

58. Yemen Alkhair for Relief and Development Foundation

59. Mysarah for Development

60. Wujoh Foundation for Media and Development

61. Sheba Youth Foundation for Development

62. Improve Your Society Organization

63. Millennium Development Foundation

64. Rasd Foundation For Human Development

65. National Prisoner Foundation

66. Change Horizon Forum 

67. Eayha'a Foundation for calm and social Peace

68. Social Development Hodeidah Girls Foundation 

69. Basma Foundation for Child Development and Woman

70. The Center for Strategic Studies to Support Women and Child

71. Social Peace Promotion & Legal Protection 

72. Yemeni Food Bank

73. Yemen Medicine Bank

74. Future Social Charity Association

75. Yemeni Psychological Association

76. Estijabah Foundation for Humanitarian Aid and Relief

77. Manarat Foundation

78. Social Solidarity Foundation for Development

79. National Organization for Health Development

80. Ghadaq for Development

81. Al-Awn Foundation for Development

82. Wogood for Human Security

83. Change Horizons Forum

84. Ethra Foundation

85. Eaha’s Foundation for calm & Social Peace

86. Aid response and development organization 

87. Free Media for Investigative Journalism

88. Wama Foundation for Development and Human Rights