To establish a comprehensive United States Government initiative to build the capacity of young leaders and entrepreneurs in Africa, and for other purposes.
Sponsors
Legislative Progress
IntroducedMs. Kamlager-Dove (for herself, Mrs. Kim, Ms. Jacobs, Mr. McCaul, …
Summary
What This Bill Does
This bill formally establishes the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), a U.S. government program that has been running since 2010 to invest in the next generation of African leaders. It creates a structured framework for training young Africans (ages 18-35) in business, civic engagement, and public administration through fellowships, regional leadership centers, and networking opportunities with U.S. institutions.
Who Benefits and How
Young African leaders and entrepreneurs benefit directly through access to the Mandela Washington Fellowship (a 6-week leadership program at U.S. universities), training at four regional leadership centers in sub-Saharan Africa, online courses, and networking with U.S. business and government leaders. Sub-Saharan African communities benefit from having trained leaders return with skills in governance, entrepreneurship, anti-corruption practices, and peace-building.
Who Bears the Burden and How
The U.S. government bears the primary costs through the State Department and USAID, which must fund the fellowship programs, establish and operate regional leadership centers, coordinate annual summits, and provide ongoing support to alumni. Federal agencies face new reporting requirements, including submitting an implementation plan within 180 days and annual progress reports for 5 years.
Key Provisions
- Establishes at least 4 regional leadership centers in sub-Saharan Africa for year-round training
- Requires the Mandela Washington Fellowship to continue bringing African leaders (ages 25-35) to U.S. universities for 6-week leadership institutes
- Mandates coordination with private sector for public-private partnerships and funding opportunities
- Requires an annual report assessing progress and U.S.-Africa relations impact
- Includes a sunset clause: the program authorization expires 5 years after enactment
- Directs feasibility study for expanding YALI to North African countries (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt)
Evidence Chain:
This summary is derived from the structured analysis below. See "Detailed Analysis" for per-title beneficiaries/burden bearers with clause-level evidence links.
Primary Purpose
The bill establishes a comprehensive initiative, Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), to build the capacity of young leaders and entrepreneurs in sub-Saharan Africa, focusing on business, civic engagement, and public administration. It aims to enhance leadership skills, encourage entrepreneurship, strengthen governance, promote peace, and foster economic growth.
Policy Domains
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
- "the_secretary"
- → Secretary of State
- "the_administrator"
- → Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
Key Definitions
Terms defined in this bill
A fellowship program for young African leaders between 25-35 years old, focusing on leadership, innovation, public service, and entrepreneurship. It includes a 6-week Leadership Institute in the US with academic sessions, site visits, networking, and cultural activities.
The official title of the bill, establishing YALI and its associated programs.
An initiative to build the capacity of young leaders in sub-Saharan Africa, focusing on business, civic engagement, and public administration. It offers professional development, training, networking opportunities, economic assistance, and leadership programs.
We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.
Learn more about our methodology