Prime Minister Dr. Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak visited the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation on Wednesday, as part of his field visits to directly follow up on the level of implementation of tasks, the progress of reforms, efforts to mobilize regional and international support, and expand the horizons of cooperation and partnership with donor countries, institutions, and international organizations.

Upon his arrival, the Prime Minister was received by the Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Dr. Waed Badhib, and the ministry’s leaders. He reviewed the workflow in the ministry’s sectors and listened to explanations from officials and specialists about the efforts made, the existing challenges, and proposals to address them.

Dr. Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak directed the ministry to work on providing new headquarters and a suitable work environment for employees, commensurate with its pivotal position as Yemen’s interface with development and humanitarian partners. He stressed the importance of activating the work of the Internal Audit Department within the ministry as part of the government’s approach and directions to enhance transparency and governance.

The Prime Minister also directed the ministry to complete the organizational structure in vital sectors, based on the principle of efficiency and the ability to achieve goals and priorities. He stressed the activation of the Development Plans sector, as well as the Department of Technical, Scientific, and Cultural Cooperation, which is concerned with following up on grants and training courses with other countries and coordinating them.

Afterwards, Prime Minister Dr. Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak chaired a meeting of the leadership of the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation, devoted to discussing the level of the ministry’s performance and activities, what it has implemented during the past period, its future plans, in addition to its approach in dealing with its share of the five main priorities of the government’s directions, and aligning them with development and planning work paths.

The Prime Minister raised several observations related to coordination between the ministry and other ministries and local authorities, the relationship with donor partners from organizations, funds, and programs, as well as problems related to sub-agreements and defining interventions. He directed the ministry to find effective coordination mechanisms to work at the local, regional, and international levels, including defining a map of needs and required interventions, drawing guidelines, and presenting an integrated document of development indicators to be relied upon in any plans.

Dr. Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak directed the full activation of the planning sector in the ministry and not to focus work only on international cooperation, based on the priority of planning, especially in exceptional circumstances, leading to the ability to prioritize, allocate resources, and reallocate them according to needs.

He explained the importance of activating the principles of governance and transparency in dealing with organizations, strengthening the capacities of workers, and enhancing monitoring and follow-up of organizations’ interventions and projects, in addition to granting governorates the necessary powers to deal with organizations and determine their needs.

The Prime Minister obligated the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation to work on accelerating approvals for projects, especially grant-funded projects, following up on the implementation of agreements between organizations and government agencies, resolving implementation obstacles with ministries, and submitting quarterly reports on the percentage of completion of projects that the ministry coordinates and follows up on. He directed the ministry to propose solutions for stalled projects, especially those stopped for technical and administrative reasons, and to set controls and conditions for implementing units concerned with external funding at the central and local levels, preparing a clear strategy for dealing with organizations, in addition to identifying projects and priorities and fulfilling obligations towards donors.

The Prime Minister stressed the continuation of coordination with all Arab and foreign governmental and non-governmental organizations to transfer their offices to the temporary capital, Aden, and to give priority to local organizations, institutions, and associations in obtaining donor support to implement relief projects in Yemen, which helps build their capacities and localize humanitarian work.

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