Yemen Field Visit
Kimmo Kiljunen, (middle) MP, Finland and PNoWB Board member and Raquel Teixeira, MP, Brazil and former PNoWB Board member
A delegation of seven members of parliament visited Yemen from April 5 to April 8, 2004 to learn from the country’s experience with respect to the PRSP.
The group found that in a difficult context, Yemen managed to articulate a realistic and achievable agenda to fight poverty, but recommended that donor aid be increased substantially. Despite laudable government efforts, the PNoWB members regretted the absence of parliamentarians, in consultations held to draft the PRSP.
Gender inequality appeared as another key area of concern, since the gender gap remains one of the widest in the world; MPs found that despite government efforts, a more detailed study of female poverty would help better address poverty reduction strategies aimed at women.
Another key finding concerned the healthcare spending levels; the PNoWB delegation encouraged parliamentarians, the donor community and the government to focus on health care delivery and increase health expenditure in the coming budget cycle.