I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 965 
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 
FEBRUARY 11, 2021 
Ms. BASS 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 TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Young African Leaders 
Initiative Act of 2021’’ or the ‘‘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 young 
emerging 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) DUTIES.—The YALI program shall seek to build 
to capacity of young African leaders in sub-Saharan Africa 
in the areas of civic engagement, entrepreneurship and 
business development, including through efforts to— 
(1) support young African leaders by offering 
professional development and a global network to 
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share expertise, including in the areas of civic lead-
ership, elections, human rights, good governance and 
public management; 
(2) provide increased economic and technical 
assistance to young African leaders and entre-
preneurs, to strengthen ties between United States 
and African businesses. 
(c) FELLOWSHIPS.—The YALI program shall award 
Mandela Washington Fellowships to young leaders who 
have demonstrated strong capabilities in entrepreneurship, 
innovation, public service, and leadership, and who have 
had a positive impact in their communities, organizations, 
or institutions. 
(d) REGIONAL LEADERSHIP CENTERS.—The YALI 
program shall offer training to young leaders who have 
demonstrated strong capabilities in entrepreneurship, in-
novation, public service and leadership, and who have had 
a positive impact in their communities, organizations, or 
institutions, by seeking to establish regional leadership 
centers in sub-Saharan Africa. 
(e) ACTIVITIES.— 
(1) UNITED
STATES-BASED
ACTIVITIES.—The 
Secretary of State, in coordination with the Admin-
istrator for the United States Agency for Inter-
national Development, shall oversee all United 
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