Yemen largely depends on the underground water due to the scarcity of precipitation amount. The recent rapid population growth and increase of water consumption for agriculture sector (especially, qat cultivation) cause the overuse of groundwater. In consequence, many regions are facing the depletion of water resources recently. In 2005 Yemen Government approved the National Water Sector Strategy and Investment Programme (NWSSIP) 2005-2009,which proposes a set of measures addressing issues in water sector and promotes the conservation and better management of water resources.
Japan conducted a Development Study "Water Resource Management and Rural Water Supply Improvement in the Republic of Yemen" from 2005 to 2007, which formulated the plan for introducing rural water supply projects and formulated the action plan for water resource management for Sana'a Basin which is at the risk of water depletion.
Based on the result of the Development Study mentioned above, JICA is preparing to start rural water supply projects of new construction and rehabilitatation in 19 sites in five governorates, namely Sana'a, Ibb, Taiz, Almahwet and Dhamar. The number of beneficiaries for this project will be about 150,000 people living in rural areas.
The training targets technicians from public organizations working in water supply. It covers excavation method for ground water development, environment conservation, water quality control, and community-based water resource management.
A JOCV as a rural extension worker is going be dispatched to Taiz governorate to support the management of water-user group association.