Yemen is reportedly the second most heavily armed society in the world. The Yemen Armed Violence Assessment (YAVA) is being conducted by the independent research institute - the Small Arms Survey - to shed light on the dynamics and effects of armed violence in the country. The project was developed in consultation with international, national and local actors in Yemen. It aims to enhance transparency and produce balanced original analysis.

The assessment will identify core drivers of armed conflict, together with a detailed overview of the scale and impacts of armed violence in Yemen. More importantly, the YAVA will review and measure the effectiveness of specific state and civil responses to containing and reducing armed violence. Such data is critical for developing a clearer understanding of what works and what does not. Research will be administered between 2008 and 2010 and findings will be published in English and Arabic.