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Brief

BASIC Research Policy Briefing 17

Essential but Unseen: Women Frontline Workers in Yemen

Published on 3 November 2025

Women frontline workers in Yemen are crucial for delivering cash transfers and responding to the needs of women and girls.

They take on both substantial responsibilities and personal risk, operating in a context of enduring conflict, deep poverty and unequal norms. Many juggle paid roles with heavy domestic duties. Their pay is inadequate and unpredictable, while their contracts are short-term and insecure, with few opportunities for promotion.

Moreover, their personal well-being is largely overlooked. Improving social assistance in Yemen requires better pay, leadership opportunities, and targeted occupational safety, mental health support and training for women frontline workers.

This Briefing is available in English and Arabic.

Cite this publication

Carter, B.; Al-Absi, A. and Harvey, P. (2025) ‘Essential but Unseen: Women Frontline Workers in Yemen’, BASIC Research Policy Briefing 17, Brighton: Institute of Development Studies, DOI: 10.19088/IDS.2025.042

Authors

Becky Carter

Researcher

Partner, Humanitarian Outcomes

Publication details

published by
Institute of Development Studies
doi
10.19088/IDS.2025.042

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About this publication

Region
Yemen

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