Terra Renaissance, a non-governmental international aid agency based in Japan, has joined the Global Initiative on Decent Jobs For Youth boosting action around priority areas of ‘Youth in fragile situations’, ‘Youth in the rural economy’ and ‘Youth entrepreneurship and self-employment’. 

Read the detail of commitment here.

Terra Renaissance has been working mainly on the issues of landmines, small arms, and child soldiers in Asian and African countries since 2001. Over the last years, they have been working to empower more than 174,000 vulnerable people in conflict-affected areas to create their own lives and futures.

Their commitment focuses on providing economic and psychosocial support for 1556 youth in fragile situations like former child soldiers, refugees, street children, and other conflicts-affected people in Uganda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Burundi. Their projects aim to help young people gain knowledge and skill, increase social capital, which is helpful to access decent jobs, as well as enhancing the resilience of themselves and their community in the long term.

Through projects, Terra Renaissance provides vocational trainings such as tailoring, carpentry, motorcycle mechanic, and animal husbandry as well as kits to start income-generating activities (IGAs) (e.g., sewing machine, saw, motorcycle tool kit, small capital) for young people, and empowers youth psychosocially through counselling and other social activities like community work, peacebuilding workshops, and cultural activities, which can increase their social capital, ensure their safety net (e.g. they can cooperate with their neighbours), and contribute to youth being on decent jobs. As most of them are self-employed, they are supported to establish their own shops and regularly receive business support to strengthen their IGAs.

Their programs are operated in partnership with different organizations: In Uganda, with the Office of Prime Minister (OPM) and UNHCR, UNDP in Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ministry of National Solidarity, Social Affairs, Human Rights, and Gender in Burundi.

Terra Renaissance will contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals SDG1 (No Poverty), SDG4 (Quality education), SDG5 (Gender Equality) and SDG8 (Decent work and economic growth) through its commitment.

The Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for Youth and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

Decent Jobs for Youth was launched in 2016 as a UN system-wide effort, focusing on the youth employment challenge that is central to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It has emerged as a global, multi-stakeholder initiative that brings together governments, social partners, the private sector, youth and civil society organizations, and others. They work together to share knowledge, leverage resources and take action at country and regional level, to support young people in accessing decent work and productive employment worldwide. 

For more information, please contact:

Mayu Furuoka: Sub-Manager of Africa Region Project in Overseas Operation Department, Terra Renaissance, furuoka@terra-r.jp

Mai Yoshida: Director and Chief of Advocacy Team, Terra Renaissance, m_yoshida@terra-r.jp

Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for Youth: decentjobsforyouth@ilo.org