Sec. 275. Support for civil society in Africa
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Congress finds that youth in Africa can 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 continent. It is the policy of the United States, in cooperation and collaboration with private sector companies, civic organizations, nongovernmental organizations, and national and regional public sector entities, to commit resources to enhancing the entrepreneurship and leadership skills of African youth with the objective of enhancing their ability to serve as leaders in the public and private sectors in order to help them spur growth and prosperity, strengthen democratic governance, and enhance peace and security in their respective countries of origin and across Africa.
There is hereby established the Young African Leaders Initiative, to be carried out by the Secretary of State. There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as necessary to support the participation in the Initiative established under this paragraph, in the United States, of not fewer than 700 fellows from Africa each year for such education and training in leadership and professional development through the Department of State as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.
The Secretary shall establish and publish criteria for eligibility for participation as such a fellow, and for selection of fellows among eligible applicants for a fellowship. Under the Initiative, United States citizens may engage in such reciprocal exchanges in connection with and collaboration on projects with fellows under subparagraph
(A)as the Secretary considers appropriate. The Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development shall establish each of the following: Not fewer than four regional centers in Africa to provide in-person and online training throughout the year in business and entrepreneurship, civic leadership, and public management. An online network that provides information and online courses on, and connections with leaders in, the private and public sectors in Africa. Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the CEO of the United States Agency for Global Media shall submit to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on the resources and timeline needed to establish within the Agency an organization whose mission shall be to promote democratic values and institutions in Africa by providing objective, accurate, and relevant news and information to the people of Africa, especially in countries where a free press is banned by the government or not fully established, about the region, the world, and the United States through uncensored news, responsible discussion, and open debate.