Erja is an expert in participatory social development, social inclusion and the application of the Human Rights Based Approach to development. Her focus has been on the crosscutting issues of gender, children and youth and social inclusion (disabled, marginal groups etc.), which implementation she monitored and evaluated in integrated rural development programmes (Vietnam, Ethiopia, Nepal, India) that focus on livelihoods development, rural infrastructure, education, including vocational training, employment creation, and/or working through self-help groups (micro-finance). In her latest position at Operation a Day’s Work, a child- and youth-focused NGO, the starting point of all projects is in the HRBA.