Module 9: Be Your Own Boss Participant’s Handbook Work Ready Now | USAID Youth Advance – Pathway 1 | Liberia

The activity aims to improve the life of youth in Liberia by building the capacity of Liberian youth and business service providers to improve youth employment and livelihood opportunities. The USAID Youth Advance program will support three pathways of youth in Liberia: self-employment, wage employment, and further technical skills training after the Work Ready Now (WRN) course. Those youth who have an interest in pursuing self-employment will undertake Be Your Own Boss (BYOB) training, which equips them with the business skills necessary to start and manage their own businesses. Module 9: Be Your Own Boss is a key component of the BYOB training program. The module is designed to help participants develop the skills and knowledge necessary to start and manage their own businesses. The module objectives include explaining the meaning of business goals, identifying, analyzing, and selecting business ideas, conducting market research, and keeping basic financial records. The module includes a pre-module self-assessment, which helps participants identify their strengths and weaknesses in areas such as goal setting, business idea selection, and market research. The self-assessment is not a test and will not be graded, but rather a tool to help participants think about what they do well and where they need improvement. The module also includes a series of worksheets and handouts that provide participants with the necessary tools and resources to complete the module activities. These include worksheets on steps to achieve personal goals, characteristics of successful business owners, and market research, as well as handouts on business categories, competitor scenarios, and start-up costs. The module is designed to be completed over several sessions, with each session building on the previous one. The sessions cover key topics such as the basic concept of business, core business skills, and goal setting. The module also includes a post-module self-assessment, which helps participants evaluate their progress and identify areas for further improvement. Overall, Module 9: Be Your Own Boss is a comprehensive training program designed to equip Liberian youth with the skills and knowledge necessary to start and manage their own businesses. The module is a key component of the USAID Youth Advance Activity and is designed to support the development of youth in Liberia.