[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2236 Reported in Senate (RS)]
<DOC>
Calendar No. 324
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 2236
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 SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
July 10, 2025
Mr. Van Hollen (for himself and Mr. Rounds) introduced the following
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign
Relations
February 10, 2026
Reported by Mr. Risch, with an amendment
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed
in italic]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
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,
<DELETED>SECTION 1. SHORT TITLES.</DELETED>
<DELETED> This Act may be cited as the ``Young African Leaders
Initiative Act of 2025'' or the ``YALI Act of 2025''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS.</DELETED>
<DELETED> It is the sense of Congress that--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) the Young African Leaders Initiative, launched
in 2010, is a signature effort to invest in the next generation
of African leaders;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (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;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) the United States Government should prioritize
investments to build the capacity of emerging young African
leaders in sub-Saharan Africa, including through efforts that--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) enhance leadership skills;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) encourage entrepreneurship;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) strengthen public administration and
the role of civil society;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (D) enhance peace and security in their
respective countries of origin and across Africa;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (E) connect young African leaders
continentally and globally across the private, civic,
and public sectors;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) youth in Africa have a positive impact on
efforts to foster economic growth, improve public sector
transparency and governance, and counter extremism, and should
be an area of focus for United States outreach on the African
continent; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (5) the Secretary of State should--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) increase the number of fellows from
Africa participating in the Mandela Washington
Fellowship above the estimated 700 fellows who
participated during fiscal year 2024; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) identify additional ways to connect
YALI alumni to United States public and private
resources and institutions.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 3. YOUNG AFRICAN LEADERS INITIATIVE PROGRAM.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (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.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (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 administration, including through efforts
that--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (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, peace and security, and
public administration; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) provide increased economic and technical
assistance to young African leaders to promote economic growth,
strengthen ties between United States and African businesses,
build resilience to predatory lending practices, and improve
capacity in key economic areas such as tendering, bidding, and
contract negotiations, budget management and oversight, anti-
corruption, and establishment of clear policy and regulatory
practices.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) Fellowships.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) In general.--YALI shall support the
participation in the United States in the Mandela Washington
Fellowship for Young African Leaders of fellows from Africa
who--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) are between 25 and 35 years of
age;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) have demonstrated strong capabilities
in entrepreneurship, innovation, public service, and
leadership; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) have had a positive impact in their
communities, organizations, or institutions.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Oversight.--The fellowships described in
paragraph (1) shall be overseen by the Secretary of State
through the Bureau of Educational and Cultural
Affairs.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) Eligibility.--The Secretary of State shall
establish and publish--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) eligibility criteria for participation
as a fellow under paragraph (1); and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) criteria for determining which
eligible applicants will be selected.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (d) Reciprocal Exchanges.--Subject to the approval of the
Secretary of State, United States citizens may--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) engage in reciprocal exchanges in connection
with alumni of the fellowship described in subsection (c);
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) collaborate on projects with such fellowship
alumni.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (e) Regional Leadership Centers and Networks.--The
Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development
shall establish--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (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 entrepreneurship, civic
leadership, and public management to young African leaders
who--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) are between 18 and 35 years of
age;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) have demonstrated strong capabilities
in entrepreneurship, innovation, public service and
leadership, and peace-building and conflict resolution;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) have had a positive impact in their
communities, organizations, or institutions;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) an online network that provides information
and courses on, and connections with leaders in, the private
and public sectors of Africa.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (f) Activities.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (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--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) the participation of Mandela
Washington Fellows in a 6-week Leadership Institute at
a United States educational institution in business,
civic engagement, or public management, including
academic sessions, site visits, professional networking
opportunities, leadership training, community service,
and organized cultural activities; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (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 nonprofit sectors.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (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 activities in sub-Saharan Africa,
including--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) 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;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (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</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) opportunities for networking and
engagement with--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) alumni of the Mandela
Washington Fellowship for Young African
Leaders;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ii) alumni of programs at
regional leadership centers established
pursuant to subsection (e);</DELETED>
<DELETED> (iii) United States and like-
minded diplomatic missions, business leaders,
and others as appropriate; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (iv) where practicable and
appropriate, 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 Pacific 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.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) Implementation.--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 carry out this
subsection by seeking to partner with the private sector--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) to pursue public-private
partnerships;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) to leverage private sector
expertise;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) to expand networking opportunities;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (D) to identify funding opportunities and
fellowship and employment opportunities for
YALI.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (g) 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 a plan to the appropriate
congressional committees for implementing YALI, including--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) a description of clearly defined program
goals, targets, and planned outcomes for each year and for the
duration of implementation of the program;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) a strategy to monitor and evaluate the program
and progress made toward achieving such goals, targets, and
planned outcomes; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) a strategy to ensure the program is promoting
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.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (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 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 that includes--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (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;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) an assessment of how YALI 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,
promoting peace and security, and fostering entrepreneurship
and youth empowerment;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (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</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) for the first report submitted under this
subsection, an assessment of the feasibility of expanding YALI
to Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) Defined Term.--In this section, the term ``appropriate
congressional committees'' means--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the
Senate;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) the Committee on Appropriations of the
Senate;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House
of Representatives; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) the Committee on Appropriations of the House
of Representatives.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (j) Sunset.--This section shall cease to have effect on
the date that is 5 years after the date of the enactment of this
Act.</DELETED>
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLES.
This Act may be cited as the ``Young African Leaders Initiative Act
of 2026'' or the ``YALI Act of 2026''.
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;
(3) the United States Government should prioritize
investments to build the capacity of emerging young African
leaders in sub-Saharan Africa, including through efforts that--
(A) enhance leadership skills;
(B) encourage entrepreneurship;
(C) strengthen public administration and the role
of civil society;
(D) enhance peace and security in their respective
countries of origin and across Africa; and
(E) connect young African leaders continentally and
globally across the private, civic, and public sectors;
and
(4) youth in Africa have a positive impact on efforts to
foster economic growth, improve public sector transparency and
governance, and counter extremism, and should be an area of
focus for United States outreach on the African continent.
SEC. 3. YOUNG AFRICAN LEADERS INITIATIVE.
(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 administration, including through efforts that--
(1) support young African leaders by offering professional
development, training, and networking opportunities,
particularly in the areas of leadership, innovation, civic
engagement, elections, internationally recognized human rights,
entrepreneurship, good governance, peace and security, and
public administration; and
(2) provide increased economic and technical assistance to
young African leaders to promote economic growth, strengthen
ties between United States and African businesses, build
resilience to predatory lending practices, and improve capacity
in key economic 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 participation 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 Cultural Affairs.
(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 approval of the Secretary
of State, United States citizens may--
(1) engage in reciprocal exchanges in connection with
alumni of the fellowship described in subsection (c); and
(2) collaborate on projects with such fellowship alumni.
(e) 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 Washington Fellows
in a 6-week Leadership Institute at a United States
educational institution in business, civic engagement,
or public management, including academic sessions, site
visits, professional networking opportunities,
leadership training, community service, and organized
cultural activities; and
(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
nonprofit sectors.
(2) Implementation.--The Secretary of State, in
coordination with the heads of other relevant Federal
departments and agencies, shall carry out this subsection by
seeking to partner with the private sector--
(A) to pursue public-private partnerships;
(B) to leverage private sector expertise;
(C) to expand networking opportunities; and
(D) to identify funding opportunities and
fellowship and employment opportunities for YALI.
(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 heads of other relevant Federal departments and agencies, shall
submit a plan to the appropriate congressional 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 program;
(2) a strategy to monitor and evaluate the program and
progress made toward achieving such goals, targets, and planned
outcomes; and
(3) a strategy to ensure the program is promoting United
States foreign policy goals in Africa, including ensuring that
the program is clearly branded, paired with robust public
diplomacy efforts, and incorporates participants from a variety
of countries, including communities in Africa facing economic
distress, civil conflict, persecution, and other challenges.
(g) 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 shall submit to the appropriate 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 referred to 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 YALI 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,
promoting peace and security, and fostering entrepreneurship
and youth empowerment; and
(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
(h) Defined Term.--In this section, the term ``appropriate
congressional committees'' means--
(1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;
(2) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;
(3) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives; and
(4) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives.
(i) Sunset.--This section shall cease to have effect on the date
that is 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.
Calendar No. 324
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 2236
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a comprehensive United States Government initiative to
build the capacity of young leaders and entrepreneurs in Africa, and
for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
February 10, 2026
Reported with an amendment