National conference in Aden to address local service delivery challenges in Yemen

Government representatives and local authorities will meet from 14 to 16 June to improve central-local coordination and public services.

Aden, Yemen, 12 June 2026 – Representatives of the governorates under the internationally recognised Government of Yemen and central ministries will convene in Aden from 14 to 16 June 2026 for the “National Conference for Partnership and Integration between Central Government and Local Authorities”, a three-day forum focused on addressing long-standing challenges to local service delivery and strengthening relations between central and local authorities.

The conference is organised by the Ministry for Local Administration of the Republic of Yemen, with support from the Political Development Forum and the Berghof Foundation and funding from the German Federal Foreign Office. It will provide a structured space for government ministries and local authorities to discuss concrete measures and recommendations to address long-standing challenges to local service delivery.

Improving the relations between the central government and local authorities is key for improving services for citizens. It is also a prerequisite for a durable peace agreement.Joshua Rogers, Senior Advisor at the Berghof Foundation

These discussions build on preparatory workshops conducted in Aden and Mukalla in May 2026, where participants identified key obstacles to service delivery. These include obstacles in coordination between central and local institutions, unclear mandates and resource allocation.

“Improving the relations between the central government and local authorities is key for improving services for citizens. It is also a prerequisite for a durable peace agreement.” said Joshua Rogers, Senior Advisor at the Berghof Foundation.

The conference comes at a critical moment, as local authorities across Yemen continue to face pressure to provide basic services amid prolonged conflict. By bringing together central and local actors, the meeting aims to support a more coordinated approach to local service delivery.

"Building on the diagnoses and recommendations developed through our work and building on the increased priority the current government has placed on improving local-central relations, we see an important opportunity to develop concrete solutions for longstanding issues dogging local service delivery and local-central relations”, says Ali Saif Hasan, the Director of the Political Development Forum.

The Berghof Foundation has worked with the Political Development Forum on political dialogue and conflict transformation in Yemen since the National Dialogue Conference in 2012. Since 2018, their work has included a strong focus on supporting more inclusive local administration and on strengthening local service delivery.

Media contact:

Nadine Francis-Pohle, Communications Manager, Berghof Foundation

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+49 177 7052758 (German, English and Arabic)

Aad Numan, MEL Coordinator, Political Development Forum

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+96 7737871000 (Arabic)

Note to the editor

About the Berghof Foundation

The Berghof Foundation is an independent, non-governmental and non-profit organisation that supports people in conflict in their efforts to achieve sustainable peace through conflict transformation, mediation and negotiation. The Berghof Foundation is currently active in more than fifteen contexts. It draws on five decades of hands-on experience in assisting war-to-peace transitions through practical peace support, peace research and peace education. The Berghof Foundation is based in Berlin, Germany.

About Political Development Forum

The Political Development Forum (PDF) is an independent, non-profit, non-governmental institution for intellectual and cultural activities, which was established for the principle 'towards safe and sustainable political development in Yemen.‘

Since 2012, the Berghof Foundation and the Political Development Forum have been working closely together on joint programming in Yemen.

Media contact

You can reach the press team at:
+49 (0) 177 7052758
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