Sec. 213. Support for Young African Leaders Initiative
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It is the sense of Congress that— the Young African Leaders Initiative, launched in 2010, is a signature effort to invest in the next generation of African leaders; 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; 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; enhance peace and security in their respective countries of origin and across Africa; and connect young African leaders continentally and globally across the private, civic, and public sectors; 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 the Secretary of State should increase the number of fellows from Africa participating in the Mandela Washington Fellowship above the estimated 700 fellows who participated during fiscal year 2021.
There is established the Young African Leaders Initiative, ( YALI ). YALI shall seek to build the capacity of young African leaders in sub-Saharan Africa in the areas of business and entrepreneurship, civic leadership, or public administration, including through efforts to— 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; provide increased training 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 strategic sectors, including critical minerals extraction, technology and media; and identify additional ways to connect all YALI alumni to United States public and private resources and institutions.
YALI shall support the participation in the United States in the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders of fellows from Africa who— are between 25 and 35 years of age; have demonstrated strong capabilities in entrepreneurship, innovation, public service, and leadership; and have had a positive impact in their communities, organizations, or institutions. The fellowships described in paragraph
(1)shall be overseen by the Secretary of State through the Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs. The Secretary of State shall establish and publish— eligibility criteria for participation as a fellow under paragraph (1); and criteria for determining which eligible applicants will be selected. Subject to the approval of the Secretary of State, United States citizens may— engage in reciprocal exchanges with alumni of the fellowship described in paragraph (3); and collaborate on projects with such fellowship alumni. The Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development shall establish 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 between 18 and 35 years of age who have demonstrated strong capabilities in entrepreneurship, innovation, public service and leadership, and peace-building and conflict resolution, and who have had a positive impact in their communities, organizations, or institutions. 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— the participation of Mandela Washington Fellows in a six-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 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. The Administrator for the United States Agency for International Development, in coordination with the Secretary of State and the heads of other relevant Federal departments and agencies, should continue to oversee and support YALI activities in sub-Saharan Africa, including— 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, training, and access to funding; training for young African leaders at regional leadership centers established in accordance with paragraph (5), and through online and in-person courses offered by such centers; and opportunities for networking and engagement with— alumni of the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders; alumni of programs at regional leadership centers established in accordance with paragraph (5); United States and like-minded diplomatic missions, business leaders, the diaspora, and others as appropriate; and 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. To carry out this subsection, the Secretary of State and the Administrator for the United States Agency for International Development, in coordination with 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 YALI.