The war has significantly affected Yemeni women, particularly the absence of their role in the political process. YLDF implemented the first phase of the Women Leaders for Peace in Yemen to enhance women's participation in decision-making, in partnership with Oxfam, AWAM and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs during the period from January 2017 until December 2018, to bring the voices of Yemeni women affected by the current situation at the local and international levels, enable them to attain decision-making positions and play a positive role in in policymaking processes. It was implemented in three governorates, Sana'a, Aden, Hodeida, by two sub-local partners, SOS Foundation in Aden & SDHGF in Hodeida

The project targeted 40 government officials, civil society organizations, young women's activists, lawyers, media professionals, academics, local activists, youth and young women in general, to involve women and spread peace and security in their workplaces or reflect them in their future policies. The project was characterized by a variety of areas of specialization, including courses in capacity-building, lobbying sessions, advocacy and awareness-raising. The project also included activities such as; interactive theatre, short films and broadcasting also gender sensitivity training in peacebuilding, which formed the core of the project and was developed taking into account gender hubs, UN Security Council resolution 1325 on women, security, peace, CEDAW and peacebuilding

A number of materials were produced throughout the project on advocacy, including 15 short films discussing Yemeni women's issues on the topics addressed in UN Security Council resolution 1325. These short films covered such topics as the escape of women from their homes due to war, the role of women in conflict resolution, their role in Yemen's National Dialogue & as mediators for the exchange and release of prisoners. Short films were also shown in screening sessions attended by more than 400 men and women members of the community, as well as theatre sessions that were shown to raise public awareness, and the theatre attended more than 1,200 viewers

One of the project's outputs was the establishment of peace platforms called the " Balkees Granddaughter Organization." for capacity-building for 60 young women's activists (20 from each governorate) on gender, peace and security as well as strategic planning, advocacy and proposal writing. Balkees Granddaughter Organization achieved community recognition through its activities, then became an initiative that proved its presence in society, received the support of various members of society and decision makers, and was hosted on a number of radio stations and TV channels. What makes Balkees Granddaughter Organization unique among other initiatives is that this network of ambitious women from multiple grass-roots levels from different governorates and backgrounds, united under an umbrella with a common goal of addressing the issues of Yemeni women

Five of the project's policy papers regarding women were presented to government officials at6 lobbying and advocacy meetings. At the international level, a policy document entitled "Women's participation in political negotiations" was presented at Human Rights Council in Geneva in March 2018. Finally, the project verified the traditional tools used and praised by Yemeni society and tribal areas for conflict resolution, especially those used by local women to resolve the conflict. Furthermore, a study entitled "Yemeni traditional tools" was conducted

YLDF implemented the project "Women's Leadership for Peace in Yemen - Phase II" In partnership with Oxfam GB, the aim is to ensure a comprehensive peace-building & gender-sensitive peace through a strengthened and effective civil society and community initiatives, starting in Sana 'a, Aden and Hodeida in October 2020. The total 24 beneficiaries were members of youth initiatives (8 males - 16 females) and 20 girls from Balkees Granddaughter Organization