Grameen Yemen invests over $6m in 12,000 women-owned microenterprises in six years
The Grameen Yemen Foundation (GYF) has invested more than $6 million in over 12,000 women-owned microenterprises across conflict-hit Yemen since launching its operations in July 2020, helping thousands of women, the organisation said.
The GYF, established in 2018 based on the microcredit and social business model pioneered by Professor Muhammad Yunus, helped thousands of women build sustainable livelihoods despite prolonged instability and economic hardship, a press statement said on Wednesday as the representatives of GYF met Yunus on the sidelines of Social Business Day 2026.
"These investments have also generated approximately 5,000 additional jobs, strengthening household incomes and local economies”.
Expressing his appreciation for the foundation's progress, Yunus said, "Even in one of the world's most fragile environments, Grameen Yemen continues to demonstrate that combining financial inclusion with social innovation can transform lives and help build more resilient, sustainable communities."
The GYF is in the final stages of securing a licence from the Central Bank of Yemen to operate as a formal microcredit bank. Once approved, it will become the first Grameen-model microcredit bank in Yemen and the first such institution established outside Bangladesh under Grameen Trust's international replication programme.
Looking ahead, the foundation aims to reach 1,063,116 women members through a network of 350 branches by 2050, with the goal of building an inclusive financial system that empowers women entrepreneurs, creates employment and supports Yemen's long-term recovery.
With technical support from Grameen Trust, GYF has adapted the globally recognised Grameen model to meet the needs of Yemeni communities affected by years of conflict.
Recognising that poverty extends beyond financial exclusion, GYF has combined microfinance with a wide range of social business initiatives. To date, it has provided 7,588 solar home systems, facilitated 1,063 cleft lip and palate surgeries and 9,161 cataract surgeries.
The foundation has also supplied 4,562 household water tanks, 5,000 home beds and constructed 725 sanitary household toilets. In addition, it has distributed 9,200 national identity cards to citizens.
Its programmes further include the establishment of eight kidney care centres, administration of 73,504 livestock vaccinations and construction of 1,031 animal shelters. GYF has also distributed more than 123,000 books to primary school children and established over 20 Mass Education Centres for senior citizens.
To support implementation of the Grameen model, Grameen Trust has deployed six resource persons to Yemen. Two are currently serving as Project Director and Branch Manager, while four more are expected to join within the next three months.