[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 965 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

<DOC>
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

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT


 
  To establish a comprehensive United States Government initiative to 
 build the capacity of young leaders and entrepreneurs in Africa, and 
                          for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 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--
            (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 generation of African leaders; and
            (3) the United States Government should prioritize 
        investments to build the capacity of emerging young African 
        leaders in sub-Saharan Africa, including through efforts to 
        enhance leadership skills, encourage entrepreneurship, 
        strengthen public administration 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 Department 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 opportunities, 
        particularly in the areas of leadership, innovation, civic 
        engagement, elections, human rights, entrepreneurship, good 
        governance, and public administration; and
            (2) provide increased economic and technical assistance to 
        young African leaders to promote economic 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 
leadership, and who have had a positive impact in their communities, 
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 capabilities 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 Administrator for the United 
        States Agency for International Development and the heads of 
        other relevant Federal departments and agencies, shall oversee 
        all United States-based activities carried out under the YALI 
        program, including the following:
                    (A) The participation of Mandela Washington fellows 
                in a six-week Leadership Institute at a United States 
                university or college in business, civic engagement, or 
                public management, including academic sessions, site 
                visits, professional networking opportunities, 
                leadership training, community service, and organized 
                cultural activities.
                    (B) The participation by Mandela Washington fellows 
                in an annual Mandela Washington Fellowship Summit, to 
                provide such Fellows 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 Development and the heads of other 
        relevant Federal departments and agencies, should continue to 
        support YALI programs in sub-Saharan Africa, including the 
        following:
                    (A) Access to continued leadership training and 
                other professional development opportunities for 
                Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders 
                alumni upon their return 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 accordance with 
                subsection (d), and through online and in-person 
                courses offered by such centers.
                    (C) Opportunities for networking and engagement 
                with--
                            (i) other alumni of the Mandela Washington 
                        Fellowship for Young African Leaders;
                            (ii) alumni of programs at regional 
                        leadership centers established in accordance 
                        with subsection (d); and
                            (iii) United States and like-minded 
                        diplomatic missions, business leaders, and 
                        others as appropriate.
            (3) Implementation.--To carry out this subsection, 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 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 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 program.
            (2) A strategy to monitor and evaluate the program and 
        progress made toward achieving such goals, targets, and planned 
        outcomes.
            (3) A strategy to ensure the program is promoting United 
        States foreign policy goals in Africa, including ensuring that 
        the program is clearly branded and paired with robust public 
        diplomacy efforts.
    (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 International Development, shall submit to the appropriate 
congressional committees and publish in a publicly accessible, 
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 program implemented in the previous year and 
        an estimated 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 society, improved public 
        administration, and fostering 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 congressional committees'' means--
            (1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on 
        Appropriations of the House of Representatives; 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.

            Passed the House of Representatives April 20, 2021.

            Attest:

                                             CHERYL L. JOHNSON,

                                                                 Clerk.