HSA Group and the European Union Announce Strategic Partnership to Drive Youth Job Creation and Economic Opportunities Through Innovation in Yemen
Social Innovation Lab: Education Challenge kicks off as a flagship initiative under the new partnership
15 May 2025 - HSA Group’s Economic Development Initiatives (EDI) unit is proud to announce a new strategic partnership with the European Union (EU), focused on powering job creation and economic opportunity for youth through innovation as a pathway to stability and security in Yemen.
This long-term collaboration reflects a shared commitment to support the critical role of Yemen’s private sector in empowering communities through innovation and employment. Working together, HSA Group and the European Union aim to invest in local potential, stimulate Yemen’s innovation ecosystem, and create economic opportunities for youth that are essential to Yemen’s future.
As a first step in this exciting new chapter, the two parties are launching the Social Innovation Lab (SIL): Education Challenge, building on the success of the inaugural SIL pilot launched in early 2024. Developed by HSA Group in collaboration with the ROWAD Foundation, the SIL pilot demonstrated the power of local innovation in addressing economic development challenges – especially in the agriculture sector. Over a 12-month period, it engaged more than 300,000 youth, crowdsourced 400 ideas, hosted a national hackathon, and incubated 11 promising projects.
Social Innovation Lab: Education Challenge kicks off as a flagship initiative under the new partnership
The upcoming SIL: Education Challenge will apply the same model to the education sector, encouraging effective, community-rooted solutions to put Yemen’s youth on a path to opportunity and good jobs. The new five-year phase of the SIL, co-funded by the EU, will enable the program to hold five Social Innovation Labs over the next five years, expanding its reach to different sectors, deepening its impact, and promoting long-term innovation capacity, economic security and stability across the country.
The Lab will focus on:
- Promoting Innovation and Job Creation: Empowering entrepreneurs to launch scalable solutions that create livelihoods and unlock economic opportunities.
- Supporting Private Sector Development: Strengthening high-potential startups and SMEs that can drive sustainable growth and economic resilience.
- Fostering Inclusivity and Social Cohesion: Ensuring the active participation of women and youth, and supporting broad-based economic recovery.
- Driving Sector-Level Change: Targeting key areas like education to generate solutions with deep and lasting impact.
The launch of the SIL: Education Challenge comes as a key component of the broader Wathba initiative – a flagship EU-funded programme aimed at scaling up Yemen’s entrepreneurial ecosystems. Implemented by ROWAD Foundation and DeepRoot Consulting, Wathba leverages private capital and grant funding to foster sustainable, peace-positive investments. It includes four main components: the Social Innovation Lab, the Wathba Accelerator, the Yemen Angel Investment Network, and the Wathba Impact Investment Fund. Together, these pillars aim to unlock economic opportunities, empower women and youth, and promote long-term stability by supporting high-potential startups and innovation across vital sectors such as agriculture, education, and energy.
Nabil Hayel Saeed Anam, Managing Director of HSA Group, Yemen Region, said:
"Yemen’s private sector is the lifeblood of employment, innovation, and prosperity in the country. This strategic partnership with the European Union will harness HSA’s local presence and community reach together with the EU’s global development leadership to unlock job creation and opportunity in Yemen. By creating homegrown solutions that respond directly to the needs of our communities, we are empowering workers and businesses to bring about a more secure, stable, and prosperous Yemen. Together, we are not just investing in ideas – we are investing in Yemen’s future."
Ambassador Gabriel Munuera Viñals, Head of the European Union Mission to Yemen, said:
“The EU’s partnership with HSA represents a new era of collaboration for Yemen. By empowering youth and driving innovation, we are helping to unlock the country’s vast potential. The European Union is proud to stand with HSA Group in fostering a future where Yemeni entrepreneurs lead the way in rebuilding their communities, creating innovative solutions, promoting inclusiveness for men and women, and contributing to long-term stability and peace."
The SIL invites innovators, educators, and partners across sectors to engage with the Education Challenge and contribute to shaping a more inclusive, resilient, and innovative Yemen.
About HSA Group
HSA Group (HSA) was established in Yemen in 1938 by four brothers from the Saeed Anam family and is now one of the largest multinational conglomerates based in the Middle East, employing over 35,000 people across its operations. HSA Group remains a family-owned business and operates across various markets, including Yemen, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, and Africa.
As a key player in global trade networks, HSA Group is the parent organisation for over 70 operating companies. The Group’s commercial activities include producing market-leading food and beverage brands, packaging, household goods and healthcare products, importing and manufacturing essential foodstuffs and commodities.
HSA Group partners with UN agencies and humanitarian organisations to support diverse development and humanitarian initiatives in the Middle East and beyond, such as the World Food Programme’s school feeding programme, which HSA Group has supplied with over 7,300 MT of high energy biscuits.
About HSA Group’s Economic Development Initiatives (EDI) Unit
HSA Group’s Economic Development Initiatives (EDI) unit partners with stakeholders across the private, public and third sectors to seek innovative, collaborative solutions to the critical economic, social and humanitarian challenges facing Yemen. EDI also supports HSA Group’s continued evolution and diversification by identifying strategic opportunities for growth that enable Yemen’s sustainable development – channelling the entrepreneurial and philanthropic spirit of HSA Group’s founders and its commitment to doing well by doing good.
About the European Union Mission to Yemen
The European Union enjoys longstanding relations with Yemen, which date back to July 1998, when the relationship was formalised with the entry into force of a bilateral cooperation agreement focused on commercial, development and economic cooperation. The agreement laid the groundwork for a long-term partnership between the EU and Yemen in these areas and beyond.
The EU Delegation to Yemen has been operating from Amman, Jordan, since 2017. EU’s engagement with Yemen has expanded in recent years despite the challenging environment in the country. Several EU-funded projects have been launched and others scaled up to respond to the growing needs in the country.
The EU is operating in Yemen under Council Conclusions adopted in 2022, and through the EU Integrated Approach to countries in crises, by deploying tools in the fields of diplomatic support, developmental assistance and humanitarian action. The EU’s main goals in Yemen are to back peace efforts led by the UN Special Envoy to Yemen towards a nationwide ceasefire and an inclusive political process leading to a sustainable political solution, and to support the internationally-recognised Government of Yemen by mobilising political, technical and developmental instruments during the ongoing crisis.
In terms of development cooperation, EU support focuses on building an economically self-reliant, climate-resilient, food-secure Yemen by strengthening local governance, improving access to sustainable basic services, and fostering market-driven livelihoods that reduce dependence on humanitarian aid. The EU also prioritises creating better opportunities for youth and supporting women to maintain and expand their role in the public sphere. Throughout these efforts, the EU remains committed to promoting Yemen’s stability and peace, resilience, and long-term development.
About ROWAD Foundation
Founded in 2013 by Yemeni entrepreneurs, ROWAD Foundation is a leading organisation dedicated to fostering a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem in Yemen. With a focus on empowering young people, ROWAD provides training, resources, and networking opportunities to equip local entrepreneurs with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed. Through various initiatives like incubators, competitions, and workshops, ROWAD strives to support and connect Yemeni entrepreneurs, ultimately contributing to the country's economic development. The Foundation collaborates with diverse stakeholders, including government, NGOs, and the private sector, to create a supportive environment for innovation and entrepreneurship to flourish in Yemen.
About DeepRoot Consulting
DeepRoot is a sustainable development firm that blends deep local knowledge and expertise with global best practice to create impact and drive prosperity. Guided by the core values of partnership, excellence, integrity, and innovation, DeepRoot works side by side with diverse stakeholders to design and implement solutions that address complex development and sustainability challenges. DeepRoot delivers all of this through a range of comprehensive services and solutions which include advisory, programme delivery, research and analytics, enabling us to co-create lasting prosperity by mobilising people and fostering responsible development that not only meets today’s needs but also builds a resilient foundation for future generations and our planet. DeepRoot's work helps to create a future where every community can thrive and drive sustainable, transformative change.