This bill creates the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), run by the Secretary of State, to train and connect young leaders and entrepreneurs in sub-Saharan Africa. It supports Mandela Washington Fellowships for Africans ages 25–35 and requires the State Department to set eligibility and selection rules. USAID must set up at least four regional leadership centers and an online network to provide year-round training for people ages 18–35. U.S.-based activities include a 6-week Leadership Institute at U.S. schools and an annual fellowship summit. The bill directs coordination with other U.S. agencies, public-private partnerships, and requires an implementation plan within 180 days and annual reports for five years. The YALI program created by this bill would expire five years after the law is enacted.
No publicly available information. The bill text does not specify appropriation amounts or estimated costs.
Supporters say YALI invests in the next generation of African leaders and strengthens long-term ties between the United States and Africa. The bill frames YALI as a way to build leadership skills, encourage entrepreneurship, improve public administration and governance, support peace and security, counter predatory lending, and connect alumni to U.S. public and private resources. The Sense of Congress also calls for increasing the number of Mandela Washington Fellows above the roughly 700 who participated in fiscal year 2021 and for broader alumni engagement.
No publicly available information.