IDDRR
Yemen: Building livelihoods and strengthening resilience
In Yemen’s flood-prone valleys, farmers are losing fertile land to repeated erosion. Through the construction of retaining walls, one project is helping them protect their soil, safeguard their livelihoods and build resilience for the future.
ORGANISATION
Building Foundation for Development (BFD)
LOCATION
Kadan Al-Malaha, Yemen
The challenge: floods eroding farmland and hope
In the Kadan Al-Malaha area, the agricultural lands of Joulas Al-Awarish and Al-Sanabis were under constant threat from flooding. Seasonal floods washed away fertile topsoil and crops, jeopardising the livelihoods of smallholder farmers who relied entirely on this land for income and food.
Among them was 70-year-old farmer Hassan Abdul-Nasser, who lived with his wife and seven children. His land lay at the edge of the floodplain, where every rainy season brought anxiety and loss.
“Every time the floods come, they take a piece of my land with them,” he said. “It’s like watching your own lifeline disappear bit by bit.”
Years of repeated flooding had reduced the size and fertility of his land, pushing his family further into economic insecurity.
The project: retaining walls as a defence against erosion
In response, the Building Foundation for Development (BFD), with funding from BMZ through Vision Hope International (VHI), launched the retaining wall construction project under the Improving Livelihoods and Strengthening Resilience for Vulnerable Populations (LDCP) programme.
The initiative aimed to protect productive farmland in flood-affected areas by building retaining walls that act as physical barriers, trapping soil and slowing water flow.
The project constructed 650 metres of retaining walls, ranging in height from 1.3 to 1.8 metres, along the valley’s most exposed areas. Made from concrete and stone, the structures stabilise the soil, prevent further erosion and help maintain the land’s fertility.
Impact: restoring land, livelihoods and resilience
Once the walls were completed, Hassan’s fields began to recover. The land retained moisture and nutrients, crops grew stronger and more diverse, and he was able to plant new varieties of trees and vegetables.
The project has benefitted more than 50 small farming families, helping to preserve over five hectares of agricultural land. Farmers are now cultivating corn, legumes, tomatoes, peas, okra and other crops, improving both food security and household income.
Beyond protecting farmland, the project has revitalised community spirit. Farmers now work together to maintain the walls and support each other during harvest seasons.
Looking ahead: a harvest of hope
Standing among his restored crops, Hassan reflects on what the project has meant for his community:
“This project has been a beacon of hope in our lives. It not only protects the land – it brings life back to the farmers and gives us the strength to live with dignity.”
Thanks to the retaining wall initiative, families in Kadan Al-Malaha are now more resilient to floods, better able to sustain their livelihoods and more hopeful about the future.
This International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, GNDR calls for governments, donors, the private sector and financial institutions to prioritise funding for resilience, not just funding for disasters when they strike.
All photos: Building Foundation for Development