Despite decades of development efforts in rural areas of Yemen, there is little systematic
reporting on conditions in these areas. In this report, which draws on a new survey that we
conducted as a baseline for the evaluation of the Rainfed Agriculture and Livestock Project
(RALP), we examine seven issues that are important for both understanding these areas
and designing effective development programs: (1) development program targeting, (2) food
security, (3) agricultural production, (4) community cooperation, (5) gender equity, (6) qat
and health expenditures, and (7) inequality. We intend for this report to be a tool for future
projects aiming to improve rural livelihoods in Yemen.