Case: Yemen
TENURE TYPE: LAND TENANT
INTERVENTION: TRANSITIONAL SHELTER CONSTRUCTION
TENURE DURATION: MEDIUM TERM
In Yemen, host communities are one of primary providers of land or shelter for IDPs not living in IDP sites. Due to ongoing conflict and recurring natural disasters, the average displacement duration for IDPs is 8 years, however, securing long-term housing solutions with landlords is difficult as many do not allow permanent structures to be built on their land. For an interim solution the shelter project aimed to construct transitional shelters with permission from individual landlords.
In 2022, CCCM Cluster Yemen supported the relocation of IDPs from informal sites where eviction threats were high.
Key actions
Site and Landowner assessment:
- An initial assessment was conducted identifying target sites where conditions for landowner support and verification were feasible
- .Verified land ownership documents before planning relocations.
Door-to-Door Awareness raising:
Displaced communities and host communities were informed on proposed project activities, donor selection criteria and feedback mechanisms to raise HLP questions or concerns.
Coordination with CCCM:
- Shelter project team coordinated with CCCM teams who had been working in the area to support sensitization efforts and obtain landowner approvals for shelter activities.
- Coordinated with local authorities to confirm that proposed relocation sites were legally available and safe from eviction risks.
- Ensured that IDPs received documentation confirming their right to reside at the new site.
Outcome
Outcome
The CCCM actions reduced eviction risks for over 1,500 households and strengthened land tenure security in relocation areas.
Lessons
Identify HLP expertise needs early on:
Unexpected rejections from landowners on sites with multiple owners despite providing approval documents required more HLP technical expertise and support from technical working groups than project timeline and capacity accounted for.
Establish understandings of natural resource rights:
Despite obtaining permissions for shelter construction, tensions grew between IDP and host communities over disputes about use of water resources.