Work Ready Now Training for USAID Youth Advance in Liberia

The program aims to equip young people with the foundational skills and knowledge necessary to become healthy, productive workers and participants in civic and community affairs. WRN has been designed to be participatory, active, and hands-on, allowing youth to actively engage in the learning process, practice and enhance new skills, and gain self-confidence to find and keep work. The program is socially inclusive, ensuring that all youth, including men and women, people with disabilities, and the most disadvantaged, can fully participate and reach their potential. A unique feature of the WRN curriculum is the integration of Work-Based Learning (WBL), where participants have the opportunity to learn from the world of work in their communities. This approach enables youth to gain practical experience and develop skills that are relevant to the local job market. The WRN training program is tailored to meet the needs and aspirations of three different target groups. Pathway 1 (P1) targets 13,000 youth with marginal literacy skills, providing them with foundational skills, including basic literacy and numeracy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship training. Pathway 2 (P2) supports 5,400 youth with a moderate level of basic education, offering them access to work readiness training, youth-friendly financial services, and market-driven technical skills training. Pathway 3 (P3) targets 3,200 youth who are approaching college graduation or have recently graduated but are unemployed, providing them with a version of WRN supplemented with digital literacy and on-the-job training. The WRN training program is delivered through a network of Youth Serving Local Organizations (YSLOs), training institutions, private sector partners, and community colleges. The program is customized to meet the needs and goals of each target group, with a focus on developing the foundational skills and knowledge necessary for youth to become healthy, productive workers and participants in civic and community affairs. By providing youth with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in the workforce, the WRN training program aims to improve the life of youth in Liberia and support the creation of an enabling environment for improved youth productivity.