I 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 6087 
To establish a comprehensive United States Government initiative to build 
the capacity of young leaders and entrepreneurs in Africa, and for 
other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
OCTOBER 26, 2023 
Ms. KAMLAGER-DOVE (for herself and Mrs. KIM of California) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 
A BILL 
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 TITLES. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Young African Leaders 
Initiative Act of 2023’’ or the ‘‘YALI Act of 2023’’. 
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; 
(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— 
(A) enhance leadership skills; 
(B) encourage entrepreneurship; 
(C) strengthen public administration and 
the role of civil society; 
(D) enhance peace and security in their re-
spective countries of origin and across Africa; 
and 
(E) connect young African leaders con-
tinentally and globally across the private, civic, 
and public sectors; 
(4) youth in Africa have a positive impact on 
efforts to foster economic growth, improve public 
sector transparency and governance, and counter ex-
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tremism, and should be an area of focus for United 
States outreach on the African continent; and 
(5) the Secretary of State should— 
(A) increase the number of fellows from 
Africa participating in the Mandela Washington 
Fellowship above the estimated 700 fellows who 
participated during fiscal year 2021; and 
(B) identify additional ways to connect 
YALI alumni to United States public and pri-
vate resources and institutions. 
SEC. 3. YOUNG AFRICAN LEADERS INITIATIVE PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There is established the Young 
African Leaders Initiative (referred to in this section as 
‘‘YALI’’), which shall be carried out by the Secretary of 
State. 
(b) PURPOSE.—YALI shall seek to build the capacity 
of young African leaders in sub-Saharan Africa in the 
areas of business, civic engagement, or public administra-
tion, including through efforts— 
(1) to support young African leaders by offering 
professional development, training, and networking 
opportunities, particularly in the areas of leadership, 
innovation, civic engagement, elections, human 
rights, entrepreneurship, good governance, peace and 
security, and public administration; and 
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(2) to provide increased economic and technical 
assistance to young African leaders to promote eco-
nomic growth, strengthen ties between United States 
and African businesses, build resilience to predatory 
lending practices, and improve capacity in key eco-
nomic areas such as tendering, bidding, and contract 
negotiations, budget management and oversight, 
anti-corruption, and establishment of clear policy 
and regulatory practices. 
(c) FELLOWSHIPS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—YALI shall support the par-
ticipation in the United States in the Mandela 
Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders 
of fellows from Africa who— 
(A) are between 25 and 35 years of age; 
(B) have demonstrated strong capabilities 
in entrepreneurship, innovation, public service, 
and leadership; and 
(C) have had a positive impact in their 
communities, organizations, or institutions. 
(2) OVERSIGHT.—The fellowships described in 
paragraph (1) shall be overseen by the Secretary of 
State through the Bureau of Educational and Cul-
tural Affairs. 
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(3) ELIGIBILITY.—The Secretary of State shall 
establish and publish— 
(A) eligibility criteria for participation as a 
fellow under paragraph (1); and 
(B) criteria for determining which eligible 
applicants will be selected. 
(d) RECIPROCAL EXCHANGES.—Subject to the ap-
proval of the Secretary of State, United States citizens 
may— 
(1) engage in reciprocal exchanges in connec-
tion with alumni of the fellowship described in sub-
section (c); and 
(2) collaborate on projects with such fellowship 
alumni. 
(e) REGIONAL LEADERSHIP CENTERS
AND NET-
WORKS.—The Administrator of the United States Agency 
for International Development shall establish— 
(1) not fewer than 4 regional leadership centers 
in sub-Saharan Africa to offer in-person and online 
training throughout the year on business and entre-
preneurship, civic leadership, and public manage-
ment to young African leaders who are between 18 
and 35 years of age, have demonstrated strong capa-
bilities in entrepreneurship, innovation, public serv-
ice and leadership, and peace-building and conflict 
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resolution, and have had a positive impact in their 
communities, organizations, or institutions; and 
(2) an online network that provides information 
and courses on, and connections with leaders in, the 
private and public sectors of Africa. 
(f) ACTIVITIES.— 
(1) UNITED
STATES-BASED
ACTIVITIES.—The 
Secretary of State, in coordination with the heads of 
relevant Federal departments and agencies, shall 
oversee all United States-based activities carried out 
under YALI, including— 
(A) the participation of Mandela Wash-
ington Fellows in a 6-week Leadership Institute 
at a United States educational institution 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; and 
(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 nonprofit 
sectors. 
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(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 
YALI activities in sub-Saharan Africa, including— 
(A) continued leadership training and 
other professional development opportunities for 
Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young Af-
rican Leaders alumni upon their return to their 
home countries, including online courses, tech-
nical assistance, and access to funding; 
(B) training for young African leaders at 
regional leadership centers established pursuant 
to subsection (e), and through online and in- 
person courses offered by such centers; and 
(C) opportunities for networking and en-
gagement with— 
(i) alumni of the Mandela Washington 
Fellowship for Young African Leaders; 
(ii) alumni of programs at regional 
leadership centers established pursuant to 
subsection (e); 
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(iii) United States and like-minded 
diplomatic missions, business leaders, and 
others as appropriate; and 
(iv) where practicable and appro-
priate, other United States-funded regional 
leadership programs, including the Young 
Southeast 
Asian 
Leaders 
Initiative 
(YSEALI), the Young Leaders of the 
Americas Initiative (YLAI), the Young Pa-
cific Leaders (YPL), and the Young 
Transatlantic Innovation Leaders Initiative 
(YTILI), and through Department of 
State programs such as the Community 
Engagement Exchange Program and other 
initiatives. 
(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 and fellowship and 
employment opportunities for YALI. 
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(g) 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 a plan to the appropriate congres-
sional committees for implementing YALI, including— 
(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; 
(2) a strategy to monitor and evaluate the pro-
gram and progress made toward achieving such 
goals, targets, and planned outcomes; and 
(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, paired with robust public diplomacy efforts, 
and incorporates diversity among participants as 
practicable, including countries and communities in 
Africa facing economic distress, civil conflict, 
marginalization, and other challenges. 
(h) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for 
the following 4 years, the Secretary of State, in coordina-
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tion with the Administrator of the United States Agency 
for International Development, shall submit to the appro-
priate congressional committees and publish in a publicly 
accessible, internet-based form, a report that includes— 
(1) a description of the progress made toward 
achieving the goals, targets, and planned outcomes 
described in subsection (g)(1), including an overview 
of the program implemented in the previous year 
and an estimated number of beneficiaries; 
(2) an assessment of how YALI is contributing 
to and promoting United States-Africa relations, 
particularly in areas of increased private sector in-
vestment, trade promotion, support to civil society, 
improved public administration, promoting peace 
and security, and fostering entrepreneurship and 
youth empowerment; 
(3) recommendations for improvements or 
changes to YALI and the implementation plan, if 
any, that would improve their effectiveness during 
subsequent years of YALI’s implementation; and 
(4) for the first report submitted under this 
subsection, an assessment of the feasibility of ex-
panding YALI to Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, 
and Egypt. 
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