RANIA ABDULLAH

Yemen-At a time when Yemen's ongoing conflict—persisting since 2014—continues to heavily burden infrastructure and daily living standards amidst soaring prices and severe job scarcity, the "Bazra" Businesswomen Forum has emerged in the southwestern Yemeni city of Taiz as an exceptional model of female resilience and leadership.

Founded through the collective efforts of businesswomen who have navigated harsh market conditions and suffered the direct repercussions of the crisis, the forum brings together more than 200 women managing active or struggling enterprises. By providing comprehensive support, funding, and targeted training, the forum positions itself as a powerful new economic voice dedicated to reviving the local economy and expanding its footprint across various Yemeni cities.

Electing leaders

To solidify its foundational phase, the forum held transparent, highly participatory elections to establish its core leadership team. This team is tasked with guiding the upcoming phase of development and overseeing the execution of the forum’s vision and strategic objectives. Members of the leadership team officially signed the foundational and regulatory charters—a milestone reflecting a deep commitment to building a robust institutional entity grounded in the principles of governance, accountability, collaborative practice, and long-term sustainability.

Reflecting on the forum's inception and significance, members emphasized that its establishment is the culmination of joint efforts designed to create a sustainable institutional framework uniting Taiz's businesswomen. It fosters mutual cooperation, broadens opportunities for knowledge exchange, builds strategic partnerships, and cultivates an empowering business environment that elevates women's participation in socio-economic development.

Abrar Al-Azazi, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer at the "Wasel" organization, noted that the concept for the "Bazra" Forum grew out of a vital need identified during the first phase of the project, which saw the launch of the region's first digital platform connecting businesswomen in Taiz.

She pointed out that the platform required a dedicated institutional entity capable of addressing the real-world obstacles faced by female entrepreneurs. Consequently, the forum was conceptualized as a core group of 15 businesswomen serving as the voice for an initial cohort of 200 women, with a long-term vision to represent all female entrepreneurs and project owners throughout Taiz.

Al-Azazi stressed that the forum is the first initiative of its kind in the city, with future aspirations to serve as the preeminent representative voice for businesswomen across all regions of Yemen.

A Comprehensive Suite of Services

Businesswoman Safaa Abdul-Wali described the "Bazra" Forum as an essential incubator and foundational system dedicated to supporting and scaling both startup and struggling ventures led by women in Taiz. She highlighted that the forum has successfully empowered over 200 affiliated businesswomen through business incubation, financial empowerment, and specialized workshops and training programs.

Abdul-Wali noted that the forum's unique value lies in being the inaugural initiative of its scale in Taiz—and Yemen at large—to unite such a large body of female founders, propelling them toward accelerated growth and market integration.

Echoing this, forum member Aya Mahmoud explained that "Bazra" delivers an extensive suite of high-quality services, including expert consultancy, professional training, funding allocations, and grants, with a strategic emphasis on reviving stalled or struggling projects.

Mahmoud added that the forum functions as an integrated support ecosystem addressing women's economic, psychological, and social needs, thereby catalyzing a qualitative shift for female entrepreneurs and strengthening Taiz’s local economy despite the hardships of ongoing conflict. She also noted that the forum’s strategic roadmap includes regional expansion to cover all major cities.

Meanwhile, Sahar Ahmed, founder of "Pebro Cafe," stated that "Bazra" was established as a sustainable corporate entity aimed at empowering businesswomen by forging effective partnerships and refining the innovative and cognitive skills necessary to scale their enterprises.

She observed that the forum’s true distinction stems from its creation by businesswomen who have personally weathered the local market's toughest challenges, making them uniquely qualified to understand the precise needs of active women and formulate actionable solutions.

Ahmed affirmed that the forum is fully equipped to deliver comprehensive support and services to more than 200 women, empowering them economically and streamlining their access to vital funding networks and professional opportunities.