PhD Degree Awarded to Mr. Faisal Abdullah Darem in International Development
Mr. Faisal Abdullah Ali Darem was awarded a PhD degree in international development for his dissertation titled, “The Impact of Conditional and Unconditional Cash Transfer Programs on Poverty Alleviation: Sana’a, 2021,” which was submitted to Inclusive Development Research Center, Sana’a University. The PhD dissertation defense was held on Saturday, March 14, 2026.
The PhD Viva-Voce Committee, which was formed based on a resolution issued by the Post-Graduate Studies and Scientific Research Council, consisted of the following members:
Committee Members Designation University Position
1 Prof. Mohammed Yahya Al-Rafiq, External Examiner, Thamar University, Chair.
2 Assoc. Prof. Abdullah Mohammed Al-Adhi, Main Supervisor, Amran University, Member.
3 Assoc. Prof. Mohammed Ali Iskandar, Internal Examiner, Sana’a University, Member.
The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) and Unconditional Cash Transfer (UCT) programs in reducing poverty within the complex context of prolonged armed conflict.
The study highlights that the protracted conflict in Yemen has significantly diminished household incomes, deteriorated living standards, and constrained the efficacy of social protection interventions. Key findings include:
• Long-term Welfare: CCT programs demonstrated a superior capacity to support long-term improvements in household welfare, particularly regarding educational expenditure, income stability, and livelihood assets. This success is largely attributed to the role of “conditionality” in nudging household behavior toward human capital investment.
• Immediate Relief: Conversely, UCT programs proved more effective in addressing immediate, life-sustaining needs. They significantly improved food security, healthcare access, and the procurement of essential medicines, providing critical short-term relief for the most vulnerable populations.
The study recommends the adoption of an adaptive, hybrid social protection model that integrates both CCTs and UCTs with broader livelihood development programs. The study emphasizes the need for human capital investment and enhanced financial inclusion to foster long-term sustainability and resilience. These findings offer vital policy insights for designing effective social protection systems in Yemen and other conflict-affected environments globally.
The PhD dissertation was examined and recommended by the Viva-Voce Committee for acceptance and approval. The PhD defense was attended by a number of academics, researchers, interested students, the candidate’s colleagues, and family members.
to downlead the abstract- click here
