EMPHNET's work in Yemen started with supporting the establishment of Yemen Field Epidemiology Training Program and then expanded to routine immunization strengthening and other priority areas. 

EMPHNET also expanded its presence in the country by opening an office in Aden, enabling closer coordination, stronger technical support, and more effective implementation of activities on the ground.

In 2009, EMPHNET began supporting the establishment of the Yemen Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP) in its advanced modality. Residents and graduates have played an important role in strengthening the national health system in surveillance, research, outbreak investigation, and emergency response. EMPHNET continues to mobilize residents and graduates to scale up alert and response activities during outbreaks.

In 2022, to expand field epidemiology capacities, the basic FETP modality was launched as the Public Health Empowerment Program–Basic Field Epidemiology (PHEP-BFE).

Yemen is also part of EMPHNET’s regional FETP network, benefiting from regional scientific writing workshops, case study development, and cross-country learning exchanges.

Read more about the program here.

EMPHNET's work in Yemen has expanded beyond FETP-related activities to supporting the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) in strengthening the national immunization program. EMPHNET worked with the MOPH to empower workers within the Expanded Program on Immunization through various means. 

In 2017, EMPHNET and the Ministry launched the Public Health Empowerment Program-Surveillance for Polio Officers (PHEP-SPO) with support from EMPHNET- an in-service training program designed to strengthen the capacities of governorate-level surveillance officers in the areas of surveillance and outbreak response and management. The success of introducing PHEP training in Yemen
was acknowledged during the previous years in an independent evaluation and by senior health officials. 

EMPHNET also supported national investments in supportive supervision as a means to empower frontline immunization workers through informal training by experienced mentors. Supportive supervision missions have covered Aden and Sana'a governorates. 

With technical support from EMPHNET, the ministry worked to equip immunization workers with the skills needed to prepare and implement microplans- detailed planning used to reach hard-to-access communities, continuously and efficiently, became more urgent.

To harness the force of the community in combatting poliovirus outbreaks in war-torn Yemen, the MOPH and EMPHNET launched the Polio Village Volunteers project (PVV) in 2017, under which volunteers from high-risk districts of the country were trained to boost community-based surveillance (CBS) on acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) and other vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) in Yemen. An evaluation showed the non-polio AFP rate in children ≤15 years and the Adequacy Rate have increased in Yemeni districts where the PVVs were trained. EMPHNET will continue supporting the MOPH to expand this training to additional 30 priority districts in Yemen of low-performing and high-risk areas. Investments in CBS through the PVV continued up until 2023. 

Yemen is also one of the countries supported by EMPHNET in strengthening National Immunization Technical Advisory Groups (NITAGs), helping advance evidence-based immunization policies.

EMPHNET also worked closely with MOPH to support the National Center of Public Health Laboratory in strengthening their institutional biosafety program in line with recognized international standards and in building a national network of biosafety experts in Yemen.

During cholera outbreaks, EMPHNET adapted the Rapid Response Team (RRT) training curriculum to Yemen’s emergency context and integrated Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) components. A WASH training of trainers was conducted in collaboration with the Ministry of Water and Environment.

During COVID-19, EMPHNET supported intensive training for RRTs and assisted in their field deployment.

Yemen is included in EMPHNET’s support for strengthening ILI/SARI (influenza-like illness and severe acute respiratory infection) surveillance systems. To support data-driven decision-making, EMPHNET also assists national partners in emergency operations and epidemic intelligence.

In 2019, EMPHNET, in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration, supported the MoPHP’s National Malaria Control Program (NMCP) through conducting an assessment survey on the retention of long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLNs) in selected districts in Ibb, Lahj, and Taiz. The survey provided guidance for more effective utilization of LLNs to contribute to improving district-level malaria control and to managing relevant capacity.

Working with the World Health Organization with support from the World Bank and END Fund, EMPHNET and the MOPH to eliminate Onchocerciasis in Yemen by supporting the Ministry in conducting one round of Mass Drug Administration campaign to eliminate Onchocerciasis in 29 high endemic districts across 8 governorates.

EMPHNET’s collaboration with Yemen was formalized with an MoU signed with the MOPH in 2017 and renewed in 2019, marking a sustained commitment to strengthening public health systems despite the country’s challenging context.