"This is not a failure of effort, resources, or technical knowledge. It is a failure of political economy design — a system configured, often unconsciously, to reward intermediaries rather than institutions, activity rather than persistence, and performance rather than change. The implications extend beyond Yemen. The structural dynamics described in this brief — donor fragmentation, intermediary capture, performance theatre, and the systematic marginalisation of domestic reformers — are not Yemeni peculiarities. They are endemic features of fragile-state aid architectures globally."

When discussing reforms in Yemen’s public sector, the conversation often centers on the war and its immediate effects. However, a more significant issue exists: the loss of institutional memory. This slow decline makes real reform difficult, as the history and reasons behind institutions fade. Without understanding the purpose of these entities and the problems they were meant to address, reform efforts are likely to be misguided. To truly change Yemen’s governance, rebuilding this institutional memory is crucial, ensuring that reforms are not just ambitious ideals but connected to the realities of the past and present.