Rural youth in the Dominican Republic often have fewer job opportunities. According to the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), many young people in rural areas work in part-time and low-paid jobs. They also have limited access to job training, financial services and better employment opportunities. PRORURAL Joven is working to change this. The project aims to help 18,600 young people find jobs, become entrepreneurs or start small businesses. Officially known as the Productive Inclusion and Resilience of Poor Rural Youth Project, it aims to reduce poverty among young people living in rural areas and improve the quality of life for their families. The project focuses on helping young people find employment or become entrepreneurs while also helping families become more resilient to economic, social and climate-related challenges.

Training Young People for Jobs

One of the project’s main areas of work is its employment program. In July 2026, the Dominican government announced a new agreement that will provide technical and vocational training to more than 13,600 young people from rural communities over the next three years. The training is being developed through the country’s National Institute of Technical and Vocational Training, known as INFOTEP. The training focuses on skills that can help young people find real jobs. It also supports those who want to work for themselves or start a small business. This gives rural youth more ways to earn money and build a better future in their communities.

PRORURAL Joven also helps rural youth in the Dominican Republic who want to start their own businesses. The project provides training and support to help turn ideas into income-generating opportunities. It focuses on both finding a job and creating a job. This approach is especially useful in rural areas where work opportunities may be scarce. By supporting small businesses and young entrepreneurs, the project can help young people earn an income while staying in their communities. The project also aims to help young people develop business ideas and access financial services. This support can assist not only in starting a business but also in growing it over time. Entrepreneurship can become a way for young people living in rural areas to earn a more stable income.

Investing in Rural Youth

PRORURAL Joven is supported by the Dominican government and IFAD. IFAD lists the overall project cost at approximately $33.38 million, including $13.85 million in IFAD financing and additional funding from international and national partners. The project is part of an effort to increase the economic mobility of rural youth. IFAD says PRORURAL Joven is working to improve access to decent employment while helping young people strengthen their businesses. In 2026, the project has continued expanding its work. A national coordination effort announced in May included plans for 172 workshops designed to strengthen the project’s reach and connect vulnerable rural youth with services and opportunities.

A Path Through More Stable Incomes

PRORURAL Joven shows how job training and entrepreneurship can be used together to address rural poverty. For thousands of young people in the Dominican Republic, learning practical skills or receiving support to start a business could provide a path toward a more stable income. The planned training of more than 13,600 rural youth in the Dominican Republic gives the project a chance to reach more young people. By connecting training with jobs and entrepreneurship, PRORURAL Joven is helping young people create new opportunities for themselves while also supporting their families and communities. The project combines job training and entrepreneurship to assist young people in rural areas. Learning useful skills can help them find work, while support for small businesses can provide another way to earn money. For rural youth in the Dominican Republic, these opportunities can make it easier to build a more stable future.

Looking Ahead

There is still more work to be done, but projects like PRORURAL Joven demonstrate what is possible when young people receive the right support and opportunities. With more training and access to jobs, thousands of young people can improve their lives and build a better future without leaving their communities.

– Mert Sungur

Mert is based in Bursa/Turkey and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

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