Routes to Resilience: The Power of Transport and Jobs in Morocco and Yemen

“Since the new bus rapid transit system started in Casablanca, my daily commute has become much faster and more comfortable,” says Fatima, an office worker in Casablanca. “Affordable and reliable buses have helped me find work outside my neighborhood.”

Building Pathways to Opportunity and Stability

Transport infrastructure is the backbone of modern economies connecting people to opportunities, goods to markets, and communities to one another. Beyond roads and bridges, it forms lifelines of stability and growth, especially in fragile and fast-urbanizing settings by connecting people to jobs and services, reducing isolation, and enabling economic activity to continue even during shocks.

In the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan region, where challenges of fragility, conflict, and economic strain persist, the World Bank’s transport investments are laying the groundwork for job creation, social inclusion, long-term resilience, and food security. From urban transport users in Casablanca and Agadir to women and children in rural Yemen who depend on safer access to schools, clinics, and markets, each kilometer of improved connectivity opens doors to livelihoods, learning, and hope. Through its transport investments across the region, the World Bank is helping communities rebuild lives by improving accessibility, safety, and employment opportunities.

Morocco: Connecting Cities, Empowering People

In Morocco, urban transport investments in infrastructure, systems, and rolling stock supported by the Morocco Urban Transport Program are transforming daily life for commuters across major cities.

A new Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line in Casablanca is cutting commute times and connecting more residents to jobs and services.

In Casablanca, Rabat, and Agadir, better-integrated transport networks linking buses, trams, and other modes are saving passengers at least 20 minutes per day in travel and waiting time. For many Moroccans, this means more time for family, work, and education.

These time savings are not only improving access to existing jobs but also motivating job seekers to look for opportunities beyond their neighborhoods. Faster, more reliable transport gives people the confidence to travel further for work, training, and services, expanding their options across the city.

“The improved transport corridors have made it easier for me to reach my workplace and access services in the city,” says Youssef, a commuter in Agadir. “It feels like the city is more connected than ever before.”

“The new transport options have made it possible for me to attend vocational training classes across town,” says Salma, a young trainee. “I’m now hopeful about my future career.”

Urban mobility is now safer, more efficient, and more inclusive in the above-mentioned cities. System designs now better protect pedestrians, cyclists, and passengers, with well-lit stations, security cameras, and station agents that help ensure women feel safe traveling at night. “New lighting and security cameras on buses and at stations have made me feel much more secure traveling at night,” says Nadia, a female student in Casablanca.

Modern buses and stations are accessible for persons with disabilities, and new routes connect underserved neighborhoods to city centers, enabling thousands to reach schools, hospitals, and workplaces.

By improving urban mobility, Morocco’s transport investments are also advancing climate and sustainability goals. Reliable public transport provides an affordable alternative to private cars, helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution.

Overall, the project’s impact has reached 158,000 direct beneficiaries, nearly 45 percent of them women, reflecting Morocco’s growing commitment to equitable and inclusive growth.

Yemen: Roads of Hope and Resilience

In Yemen, one of the world’s most fragile countries, the Emergency Lifeline Connectivity Project is bringing people closer to essential services and to stability.

Implemented by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) with World Bank financing and implementation, the project has rehabilitated 153 kilometers of rural roads and provided climate-resilient access to over 1.5 million people, enabling them to reach markets, schools, and health centers even during floods and landslides.

For residents of rural Ibb and Taiz, this means roads that no longer wash away with every rainy season. “Before, we could not reach the hospital for days when the roads were blocked,” says Amina, a mother of four. “Now, we can get there in hours, even after the rain.”

The project has created 807,300 labor-days and thousands of indirect off-site employment opportunities, providing jobs for more than 10,700 Yemenis, including women and food-insecure families.

Under its microenterprise program, 42 local contractors including 7 women-owned were trained and employed to carry out maintenance and rehabilitation works, gaining skills in project management, road safety, and environmental practices.

In addition to access and employment, the project strengthened Yemen’s institutional capacity, helping revive the Road Asset Management System and train technical staff in the Rural Access Program. Through improved data, planning, and capacity-building, Yemen’s transport sector is better equipped to maintain the roads that connect its people.

By reducing the average duration of climate-induced road closures from 27.5 days to zero, the project demonstrates how resilient infrastructure can sustain livelihoods, humanitarian access, and economic activities in conflict-affected areas.

Safer and better roads have also proven vital for farmers, who can now transport their produce more efficiently to markets, reducing spoilage and maintaining quality and incentivizing farmers to grow more and create much-needed jobs in rural areas. These improvements help mitigate food security risks in rural Yemen, ensuring communities have more stable access to essential goods.

Transport Investments: A Foundation for Stability

Across the region, World Bank transport projects show that infrastructure is not just about building roads, it’s about building opportunity. The work in Morocco and Yemen illustrates how targeted investments in both urban and rural transport can generate jobs, enhance food security, and promote socio-economic development across diverse contexts. These projects highlight the institution’s deep operational expertise and ability to apply global knowledge to local needs.

Every contract awarded to a local firm strengthens community ownership and helps sustain these businesses in preparation for the day after the conflict ends. Every kilometer of maintained road stimulates commerce, education, and health access.

By aligning infrastructure investment with job creation and human capital development, the World Bank is helping countries build resilience and inclusive growth from Morocco’s cities to Yemen’s rural communities.