Aden (South24)

A webinar has recommended allocating support funds for the think tanks in South Yemen to ensure their financial independence and enhance their work. The panel also discussed the several intertwined challenges that hinder these research centers that are lagging behind the Arab and international bandwagon. They included enhancing coordination between these centers and establishing a database for them.

The virtual seminar, held via Zoom, on Thursday September 28, 2024, was organized by ’South24 Center‘ to commemorate its fifth founding anniversary, observed on September 23.

The webinar saw the participation of Chairman of ’South24 Center‘ Ayad Qassem; Director of the Women Research and Training Center – Aden University, Huda Ali Alawi; Chairman of the Aden Center for Historical Studies Mahmoud Al-Salimi; Chairman of the Knowledge Center for Strategy Researches and Studies Omar Bajardana; and political researcher in the Middle East Institute Fatima Alasrar. It was moderated by researcher and human rights activist Heba Aidarous.

The panel discussed three axes:

- The role and tasks of think tanks in South Yemen.

- Challenges facing these research centers in South Yemen.

- Solutions related to supporting and developing think tanks in South Yemen.

The Role and Tasks

Dr. Mahmoud Al-Salimi believes that think tanks in South Yemen currently play an important role. He praised ’South24 Center‘ for its “pioneering and distinguished” contribution.

“We, at the Aden Center for Historical Studies, which was established in 2016, have the knowledge and experience that enables us to discuss the reality and role of think tanks in our country in general. An important role of research centers is producing and disseminating knowledge as well as furnishing advice and recommendations to decision makers. However, in South Yemen, this role is quite limited,” he said. 

Dr. Omar Bajardana believes that supporting think tanks in South Yemen is a new and positive idea that wasn’t prevalent in the political mindset and the reckoning of decision makers over the past decade. He added: “However, the remnants of false beliefs about the work of these centers continue to linger. Thus, many of these think tanks rely on self-endeavor and simple partnerships with international or local bodies.”

According to him, research centers haven’t still delivered on their desired role due to the lack of funding, support, and interest. He said that “this role is growing, but it is not adequate. Many important issues and phenomena need research centers to chronicle them and arrive at solutions.”

Dr. Huda Alawi agreed that think tanks in Yemen do a good job but their role is limited as a result of the “confused” understanding about the nature of these centers. This is in addition to the alienation or localization of their efforts. She stressed that the feminist think tanks, including her Women Research and Training Center – Aden University, are among the most affected.

She explained that “there are promising research activities being undertaken but they are far from the desired level and impact”.

Ayad Qassem pointed to a dire reality in Yemen and the region in general, which was the monopolizing of decision-making by politicians and officials who pay little attention to the readings and analyses of think tanks. This limits the role of these centers. He added that “thanks to the information and technology revolution, there is a rise in the activities of think tanks around the world, including in Yemen.”

Qassem divided think tanks into three types: the state-owned and semi-government research centers; the commercial for-profit think tanks; and the independent or semi-independent non-profit organizations. He elaborated: “There is a deficiency at the level of state-owned research centers in South Yemen, Yemen, and the region in general. It is the independent think tanks that play a noteworthy role in highlighting many situations and studying various issues.”

US-based researcher Fatima Alasrar said that since most research centers in Yemen are in the Arabic language, the international audience is unable to peruse their work. However, there are exceptions which provide an English version too, top of which is ’South24 Center’.

She continued: “Living outside Yemen, we seek to obtain information and analyses from research centers operating inside the country. However, the language barrier constitutes a big obstacle. Nonetheless, there is a great dependance on think tanks that operate from within Yemen. Their counterparts around the world, including the United States, often do this.”

Challenges

Ayad Qassem described funding as one of the biggest challenges that think tanks in South Yemen face. He stressed that ’South24 Center‘ has largely confronted this challenge by relying upon its own resources since it was founded five years ago.

“The lack of awareness about the importance of think tanks is also due to the lack of funding. This is a correlated tangled relationship. A prominent challenge is the lack of staff which is a real gap in South Yemen, leading to obstacles and problems,” he added. Qassem pointed out that “the external audience is interested in accessing information that is presented in keeping with the most modern methods, with lucidity and digital adaptability in research and analysis while retaining the scientific academic characteristics. This is what the local centers lack.”

Dr. Omar Bajardana agreed that the lack of funding and adequate staff are the most prominent challenges that think tanks have to contend within South Yemen. He added: “There is also another challenge related to the political polarization that affects think tanks and hinders research work. The political conflict pushes research centers to search for funders which would turn them into propaganda platforms for the political parties themselves.”

He pointed to “the separation between these centers identifying themselves as specialized or interested in Yemeni affairs, and their presence abroad. All of this affects research work as well as its required methodology and scientific standards”.

For her part, Fatima Alasrar highlighted “the challenges related to synchronization and the news or analysis coverage of the current situation in Yemen due to the raging regional context and the new issues on the wider arena”. She added: “We feel these challenges even for those of us working outside Yemen. However, these challenges can be eased through expanding local communication networks on the ground and using technology for follow up and monitoring”.

Dr. Huda Alawi moved to other challenges that think tanks face in South Yemen, including receiving foreign funding which, according to her, is linked to strenuous administrative bureaucratic phases. This is in addition to the comparative advantages enjoyed by the counterpart research centers in North Yemen as part of what she described as “the accumulated injustices against Southerners in the unity system”.

She went on to say: “With regard to feminist research centers, there has been a short-sighted vision and neglect of these think tanks. The studies related to women in general are challenged by the community's stereotypical thinking about such an activity.”

Dr. Mahmoud Al-Salimi highlighted several problems facing think tanks in South Yemen, including the state-owned ones such as the centers affiliated with Aden University. He added: “The situation in general is bad. Infrastructure is very poor due to the lack of seminar halls, physical or digital libraries, and proper internet facility”.

According to Al-Salimi, the public’s interaction with think tanks is also negligible due to the general livelihood conditions. He said that “the poor coordination among the centers themselves is a problem. Furthermore, there is a disconnect between the issues of focus by some think tanks and the society’s top priority ones”.

Treatments and Recommendations

Ayad Qassem stressed that the creation of funds to support think tanks in South Yemen is very important to maintain the presence of these entities and help them improve their standards. He believes that “It is also important to ensure that the products of the research centers reach different categories of the audience, including foreigners who prefer their mother tongue, or the ordinary readers who prefer articles and papers written in a smooth, concise, and easy language.”

Think tanks should continue their work regardless of the challenges or obstacles, according to Dr. Mahmoud Al-Salimi, who added: “It is essential to provide funding that covers the minimum cost for the continuation of their work. In depth discussions in this aspect should be initiated in addition to approaching possible backers, including businessmen, and governmental or even political parties.”

Dr. Huda Alawi believes in the importance of boosting awareness about the significance of think tanks in South Yemen, especially those specializing in female studies and issues. This is in addition to “getting rid of the distorted stereotypical ideas regarding these efforts that are viewed with suspicion by society.”

She stressed the importance of arriving at assessments, readings, and studies to understand the reasons that hinder the progress of feminist centers specializing in issues related to women and society.

Dr. Omar Bajardana concluded that think tanks in South Yemen should build joint partnerships to move forward and consolidate research and academic space in a way that would contribute to creating wider effect and stronger popular support. According to him, this would push decision makers to address the problems of these think tanks and take into consideration their published studies and analyses for building stances and arriving at decisions.