The Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) signed on 03/12/2024 a Grant Agreement with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), whereby the Fund will provide a grant amounting to USD 2.0 Million in Support of Enhancing Capacities of the Ports of Aden and Mukalla Project in the Republic of Yemen.

The Grant Agreement was signed on behalf of the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development by Mr. Waleed Sh. Al-Bahar, Acting Director General, and on behalf of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) by Mr. Abdallah Al Dardari, Assistant Secretary-General and Director of the Regional Bureau for Arab States of the UNDP.

The Project aims to enhance operational capacity and reduce the waiting time for ships to unload their cargo at the ports of Aden and Mukalla, thereby facilitating and accelerating the movement of commercial goods and international humanitarian aid to the Republic of Yemen. This will be achieved by replacing the electrical systems used for crane operations, lighting, and port handling equipment, supplying and installing spare parts required for maintenance; rehabilitating towing equipment; extending waterways; and training personnel. The project is expected to take approximately 24 months to complete.

This Grant represents the third contribution of its kind between the two institutions in the field of humanitarian support. Since 2021, Kuwait Fund has extended approximately $7.0 million to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to fund three projects, the latest of which was signed on 23/02/2022, to finance the "Provision of Renewable Energy for Health Centers" Project in the Republic of Yemen with a grant amounting to USD 2.5 million.