II 
Calendar No. 161 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 965 
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 
APRIL 22, 2021 
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations 
OCTOBER 28, 2021 
Reported by Mr. MENENDEZ, with an amendment 
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 
AN ACT 
To establish a comprehensive United States Government ini-
tiative to build the capacity of young leaders and entre-
preneurs in Africa, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Young African Leaders 
Initiative Act of 2021’’ or ‘‘YALI Act of 2021’’. 
SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 
It is the sense of Congress that— 
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(1)
the
Young
African
Leaders
Initiative, 
launched in 2010, is a signature effort to invest in 
the next generation of African leaders; 
(2) Africa is a continent of strategic importance 
and it is vital for the United States to support 
strong and enduring partnerships with the next gen-
eration of African leaders; and 
(3)
the
United
States
Government
should 
prioritize investments to build the capacity of emerg-
ing young African leaders in sub-Saharan Africa, in-
cluding through efforts to enhance leadership skills, 
encourage entrepreneurship, strengthen public ad-
ministration and the role of civil society, and connect 
young African leaders continentally and globally 
across the private, civic, and public sectors. 
SEC. 3. YOUNG AFRICAN LEADERS INITIATIVE PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There is established in the De-
partment of State the Young African Leaders Initiative 
(‘‘YALI’’) program. 
(b) PURPOSE.—The YALI program shall seek to 
build the capacity of young African leaders in sub-Saharan 
Africa in the areas of business, civic engagement, or public 
administration, including through efforts to— 
(1) support young African leaders by offering 
professional development, training, and networking 
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opportunities, particularly in the areas of leadership, 
innovation,
civic
engagement,
elections,
human 
rights, entrepreneurship, good governance, and pub-
lic administration; and 
(2) provide increased economic and technical 
assistance to young African leaders to promote eco-
nomic growth and strengthen ties between United 
States and African businesses. 
(c) FELLOWSHIPS.—The YALI program shall award 
fellowships under the Mandela Washington Fellowship for 
Young African Leaders program to young African leaders 
ages 18 to 35 who have demonstrated strong capabilities 
in entrepreneurship, innovation, public service, and leader-
ship, and who have had a positive impact in their commu-
nities, organizations, or institutions. 
(d) REGIONAL LEADERSHIP CENTERS.—The YALI 
program shall seek to establish regional leadership centers 
in sub-Saharan Africa to offer training to young African 
leaders ages 18 to 35 who have demonstrated strong capa-
bilities in entrepreneurship, innovation, public service and 
leadership, and who have had a positive impact in their 
communities, organizations, or institutions. 
(e) ACTIVITIES.— 
(1) UNITED
STATES-BASED
ACTIVITIES.—The 
Secretary of State, in coordination with the Admin-
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istrator for the United States Agency for Inter-
national Development and the heads of other rel-
evant Federal departments and agencies, shall over-
see all United States-based activities carried out 
under the YALI program, including the following: 
(A) The participation of Mandela Wash-
ington fellows in a six-week Leadership Insti-
tute at a United States university or college in 
business, civic engagement, or public manage-
ment, including academic sessions, site visits, 
professional networking opportunities, leader-
ship training, community service, and organized 
cultural activities. 
(B) The participation by Mandela Wash-
ington fellows in an annual Mandela Wash-
ington Fellowship Summit, to provide such Fel-
lows the opportunity to meet with United States 
leaders from the private, public, and non-profit 
sectors. 
(2) AFRICA-BASED ACTIVITIES.—The Secretary 
of State, in coordination with the Administrator for 
the United States Agency for International Develop-
ment and the heads of other relevant Federal de-
partments and agencies, should continue to support 
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YALI programs in sub-Saharan Africa, including the 
following: 
(A) Access to continued leadership training 
and other professional development opportuni-
ties for Mandela Washington Fellowship for 
Young African Leaders alumni upon their re-
turn to their home countries, including online 
courses, technical assistance, and access to 
funding. 
(B) Training for young African leaders at 
regional leadership centers established in ac-
cordance with subsection (d), and through on-
line and in-person courses offered by such cen-
ters. 
(C) Opportunities for networking and en-
gagement with— 
(i)
other
alumni
of
the
Mandela 
Washington Fellowship for Young African 
Leaders; 
(ii) alumni of programs at regional 
leadership centers established in accord-
ance with subsection (d); and 
(iii) United States and like-minded 
diplomatic missions, business leaders, and 
others as appropriate. 
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(3) IMPLEMENTATION.—To carry out this sub-
section, the Secretary of State, in coordination with 
the Administrator of the United States Agency for 
International Development and the heads of other 
relevant Federal departments and agencies shall 
seek to partner with the private sector to pursue 
public-private partnerships, leverage private sector 
expertise,
expand
networking
opportunities,
and 
identify funding opportunities as well as fellowship 
and employment opportunities for participants in the 
YALI program. 
(f) IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.—Not later than 180 
days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary of State, in coordination with the Administrator of 
the United States Agency for International Development 
and the heads of other relevant Federal departments and 
agencies, shall submit to the appropriate congressional 
committees a plan for implementing the YALI program, 
including the following: 
(1) A description of clearly defined program 
goals, targets, and planned outcomes for each year 
and for the duration of implementation of the pro-
gram. 
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(2) A strategy to monitor and evaluate the pro-
gram and progress made toward achieving such 
goals, targets, and planned outcomes. 
(3) A strategy to ensure the program is pro-
moting United States foreign policy goals in Africa, 
including
ensuring
that
the
program
is
clearly 
branded and paired with robust public diplomacy ef-
forts. 
(g) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for 
5 years, the Secretary of State, in coordination with the 
Administrator of the United States Agency for Inter-
national Development, shall submit to the appropriate 
congressional committees and publish in a publicly acces-
sible, internet–based form, a report on the following: 
(1) The progress made toward achieving the 
goals, targets, and planned outcomes described in 
subsection (f)(1), including an overview of the pro-
gram implemented in the previous year and an esti-
mated number of beneficiaries. 
(2) An assessment of how the YALI program is 
contributing to and promoting United States-Africa 
relations, particularly in areas of increased private 
sector investment, trade promotion, support to civil 
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society, improved public administration, and fos-
tering entrepreneurship and youth empowerment. 
(3)
Recommendations
for
improvements
or 
changes to the program and implementation plan, if 
any, that would improve their effectiveness during 
subsequent years of implementation of the program. 
(h)
APPROPRIATE
CONGRESSIONAL
COMMITTEES 
DEFINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘appropriate con-
gressional committees’’ means— 
(1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the 
Committee on Appropriations of the House of Rep-
resentatives; and 
(2) the Committee on Foreign Relations and 
the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate. 
(i) SUNSET.—The requirements of this section shall 
terminate on the date that is 5 years after the date of 
the enactment of this Act. 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Young African Leaders 
Initiative Act of 2021’’ or ‘‘YALI Act of 2021’’. 
SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 
It is the sense of Congress that— 
(1) the Young African Leaders Initiative, 
launched in 2010, is a signature effort to invest in the 
next generation of African leaders; 
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