From a stalled service to a path of trust and a roadmap in Taiz Governorate
Sheba Youth Foundation for Development developed a local path in water mediation and governance in Taiz, contributing to understanding the crisis dimensions, opening channels of trust, and building spaces for cooperation over basic public services.
Before the war, the water system in Taiz City operated as a relatively integrated service, linking water sources, wells, reservoirs, and distribution networks. However, the conflict did not only affect the infrastructure; it also disrupted service management, technical team movements, facility access, and trust among actors.
Over time, various components of the water system fell under different areas of influence, frontlines, or administrative and security arrangements. Accessing certain wells, fields, pipelines, and facilities became difficult, and some assets required communication channels and safety guarantees for technical teams to evaluate, operate, or maintain them.
Consequently, water in Taiz appeared as a single service in terms of public need, but functioned within a deeply divided and complex reality. Reservoirs cannot be separated from wells, the service from the public corporation, technical access from trust, nor the residents' need from the actors' coordination capacity.
The water crisis in Taiz Governorate is not merely a technical one; it is a public service crisis deeply tied to trust, access, assets, and governance.
In conflict settings, basic services transform into more than just utilities or networks. They expose the community's relationship with public institutions, the fairness of resource allocation, and local actors' capacity to cooperate around shared needs.
In Taiz Governorate, the challenge was not merely: "How do we fix a pump or restart a pipeline?" It was also: How do we protect public assets? How can technical teams arrive safely? How do we neutralize water as a shared humanitarian necessity? And how do we restore the public corporation's role in service management within a divided reality?
Hence, mediation around water became an intrinsic part of addressing the service itself. Without a baseline of trust and coordination, transforming technical rehabilitation into a sustainable service is impossible. And without clear governance, any operational progress remains temporary or vulnerable to collapse.
An interconnected pipeline transforming public utility from conflict friction to durable governance
Shared Humanitarian Need
Opening Channels & Communication
Technical Team Mobility
Insulating Assets from Conflict
Restoring Governance & Institutions
An iterative, conflict-sensitive methodology to build sustainable solutions: from diagnosing problems and building trust to mediation, supporting governance, documentation, and impact.
Understanding service disruptions and analyzing local conflict dynamics.
Opening spaces for dialogue and community mediation to bridge gaps and build consensus.
Restoring confidence and mutual cooperation between local communities and authorities.
Supporting institutions to implement joint solutions and improve service delivery.
Documenting case studies and establishing a sustainable operational roadmap.
Achieving sustainable local transformation and public asset protection.
A cumulative 7-stage pathway showcasing the evolution of Sheba Youth Foundation's water mediation in Taiz, from initial conflict diagnosis to a strategic institutional roadmap.
A comprehensive strategic framework (2025–2028) linking mediation, institutional governance, and technical rehabilitation to ensure a sustainable pathway for Taiz's water sector.
Focuses on strengthening the Water Corporation from within.
Focuses on neutralizing the water file from active conflict.
Focuses on technical requirements for wells.
Includes full analysis of challenges, corporate recommendations, and executive programs linking mediation to public service.
Curated policy papers, guides, field studies, and analytical research reports produced within this track.
This case study documents local mediation around the water issue in Taiz, highlighting women’s roles, trust-building, neutrality, and conflict-sensitive practice in a critical public service issue.
The water crisis in Taiz Governorate is not merely a technical one; it is a public service crisis deeply tied to trust, access, assets, and governance.
