01/09/2020 (Agence Europe) – The European Union and the United Nations Development Programme in Yemen (UNDP) on Monday 31 August signed a €69.8 million partnership agreement to improve the economic and social well-being of Yemenis. The agreement will aim to strengthen local authorities, link humanitarian work to long-term development and engage the Yemeni private sector in the fight against poverty. Launched in September, the three-year initiative 'Strengthening Institutional and Economic Resilience in Yemen - SIERY' will help increase support for the formal system of local governance to ensure access to a wide range of basic services, reduce conflict, foster social cohesion at the community level and establish a sustainable economic recovery process for communities. (CG)