requirements in which it is not in compliance should
be ineligible to participate in programs, projects, or
activities, or receive assistance or other benefits,
under this Act.
SEC. 5. ADDITIONAL AUTHORITIES AND INCREASED FLEXI-
BILITY TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE UNDER THE
DEVELOPMENT FUND FOR AFRICA.
(a) DECLARATIONS
OF
POLICY.—The Congress
makes the following declarations:
(1) The Development Fund for Africa estab-
lished under chapter 10 of part I of the Foreign As-
sistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2293 et seq.) has
been an effective tool in providing development as-
sistance to sub-Saharan Africa since 1988.
(2) The Development Fund for Africa will com-
plement the other provisions of this Act and lay a
foundation for increased trade and investment op-
portunities between the United States and sub-Saha-
ran Africa.
(3) Assistance provided through the Develop-
ment Fund for Africa will continue to support pro-
grams and activities that promote the long term eco-
nomic development of sub-Saharan Africa, such as
programs and activities relating to the following:
(A) Strengthening primary and vocational
education systems.
(B) Strengthening health care systems.
(C) Strengthening family planning service
delivery systems.
(D) Supporting democratization, good gov-
ernance and civil society and conflict resolution
efforts.
(E) Increasing food security by increasing
agricultural production and productivity and in-
creasing real incomes for poor individuals.
(F) Promoting an enabling environment
for private sector-led growth through economic
reform, privatization, and market economic ac-
tivities.
(G) Promoting decentralization and local
participation in the development process.
(H) Increasing the technical and manage-
rial capacity of sub-Saharan African individuals
to manage the economy of sub-Saharan Africa.
(I) Ensuring sustainable economic growth
through environmental protection.
(4) The African Development Foundation has a
unique congressional mandate to empower the poor
to participate fully in development and to increase
opportunities for gainful employment, poverty allevi-
ation, and more equitable income distribution in sub-
Saharan Africa. The African Development Founda-
tion has worked successfully to enhance the role of
women as agents of change, strengthen the informal
sector with an emphasis on supporting micro and
small sized enterprises, indigenous technologies, and
mobilizing local financing. The African Development
Foundation should develop and implement strategies
for promoting participation of grassroots and infor-
mal sector groups such as cooperatives, artisans, and
traders into the programs and initiatives established
under this Act.
(b) ADDITIONAL AUTHORITIES.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 496(h) of the For-
eign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2293(h)) is
amended—
(A) by redesignating paragraph (3) as
paragraph (4); and
(B) by inserting after paragraph (2) the
following:
‘‘(3) DEMOCRATIZATION AND CONFLICT RESO-
LUTION CAPABILITIES.—Assistance under this sec-
tion may also include program assistance—
‘‘(A) to promote democratization, good
governance, and strong civil societies in sub-Sa-
haran Africa; and
‘‘(B) to strengthen conflict resolution capa-
bilities of governmental and nongovernmental
entities in sub-Saharan Africa.’’.
(2) 
CONFORMING
AMENDMENT.—Section
496(h)(4) of such Act, as amended by paragraph
(1), is further amended by striking ‘‘paragraphs (1)
and (2)’’ in the first sentence and inserting ‘‘para-
graphs (1), (2), and (3)’’.
(c) WAIVER AUTHORITY.—Section 496 of the For-
eign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2293) is amended
by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(p) WAIVER AUTHORITY.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The President may waive
any provision of law that earmarks, for a specified
country, organization, or purpose, funds made avail-
able to carry out this chapter if the President deter-
mines that the waiver of such provision of law would
provide increased flexibility in carrying out this
chapter.
‘‘(2) REQUIREMENT
TO
SUPERSEDE
WAIVER
AUTHORITY.—The provisions of this subsection shall
not be superseded except by a provision of law en-
acted after the date of the enactment of the African
Growth and Opportunity: The End of Dependency
Act of 1996 which specifically repeals, modifies, or
supersedes the provisions of this subsection.’’.
SEC. 6. UNITED STATES–SUB-SAHARA–AFRICA TRADE AND
ECONOMIC COOPERATION FORUM.
(a) DECLARATION OF POLICY.—The Congress de-
clares that institutionalized regular high-level meetings be-
tween appropriate officials of the United States Govern-
ment and officials of the governments of sub-Saharan Af-
rican countries are important to foster close economic ties
between the United States and sub-Saharan Africa.
(b) ESTABLISHMENT.—It is the sense of the Con-
gress that not later than 12 months after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the President should establish a
United States-Sub-Saharan Africa Trade and Economic
Cooperation Forum (hereafter in this section referred to
as the ‘‘Forum’’).
(c) REQUIREMENTS.—It is further the sense of the
Congress that in carrying out the Forum, the President
should meet the following requirements:
(1) The President should direct the Secretary
of Commerce, the Secretary of the Treasury, the
Secretary of State, and the United States Trade
Representative to host the first annual meeting with
the counterparts of such Secretaries from the gov-
ernments of sub-Saharan African countries eligible
under section 4, and government officials from other
appropriate countries in Africa, to discuss expanding
trade and investment relations between the United
States and sub-Saharan Africa and the implementa-
tion of this Act.
(2)(A) The President should encourage United
States nongovernmental organizations to host an-
nual meetings with nongovernmental organizations
from sub-Saharan Africa in conjunction with the an-
nual meetings of the Forum for the purpose of dis-
cussing the issues described in paragraph (1).
(B) The President should encourage United
States representatives of the private sector to host
annual meetings with representatives of the private
sector from sub-Saharan Africa in conjunction with
the annual meetings of the Forum for the purpose
of discussing the issues described in paragraph (1).
(3) The President should, to the extent prac-
ticable, meet with the heads of governments of sub-
Saharan African countries eligible under section 4
not less than once every two years for the purpose
of discussing the issues described in paragraph (1).
The first such meeting should take place not later