,i #aagth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #ife ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,february #aa1 #bjba,ms4 ,bass introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs ,a ,,bill ,to establish a comprehensive ,united ,states ,government initiative to build the capacity of young leaders and entrepreneurs in ,africa1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,young ,african ,leaders ,initiative ,act of #bjba or the ,,yali ,act of #bjba4 #b4 ,sense of congress ,it is the sense of ,congress that-- 7#a7 the ,young ,african ,leaders ,initiative1 launched in #bjaj1 is a signature effort to invest in the next generation of ,african leaders2 7#b7 ,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 leaders2 and 7#c7 the ,united ,states ,government should prioritize investments to build the capacity of young emerging ,african leaders in sub-,saharan ,africa1 including through efforts to enhance leadership skills1 encourage entrepreneurship1 strengthen public administration and the role of civil society1 and connect young ,african leaders continentally and globally across the private1 civic1 and public sectors4 #c4 ,young ,african leaders initiative program 7a7 ,in general ,there is established in the ,department of ,state the ,young ,african ,leaders ,initiative 7,,yali7 program4 7b7 ,duties ,the ,,yali program shall seek to build to capacity of young ,african leaders in sub-,saharan ,africa in the areas of civic engagement1 entrepreneurship and business development1 including through efforts to-- 7#a7 support young ,african leaders by offering professional development and a global network to share expertise1 including in the areas of civic leadership1 elections1 human rights1 good governance and public management2 7#b7 provide increased economic and technical assistance to young ,african leaders and entrepreneurs1 to strengthen ties between ,united ,states and ,african businesses4 7c7 ,fellowships ,the ,,yali program shall award ,mandela ,washington ,fellowships to young leaders who have demonstrated strong capabilities in entrepreneurship1 innovation1 public service1 and leadership1 and who have had a positive impact in their communities1 organizations1 or institutions4 7d7 ,regional leadership centers ,the ,,yali program shall offer training to young leaders who have demonstrated strong capabilities in entrepreneurship1 innovation1 public service and leadership1 and who have had a positive impact in their communities1 organizations1 or institutions1 by seeking to establish regional leadership centers in sub-,saharan ,africa4 7e7 ,activities 7#a7 ,united states-based activities ,the ,secretary of ,state1 in coordination with the ,administrator for the ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development1 shall oversee all ,united ,states-based activities carried out under the ,,yali program1 including the following3 7,a7 ,the participation of ,mandela ,washington ,fellows in a six-week ,leadership ,institute at a ,united ,states university or college in business1 civic engagement1 or public management1 including academic sessions1 site visits1 professional networking opportunities1 leadership training1 community service1 and organized cultural activities4 7,b7 ,the participation by ,mandela ,washington ,fellows in an annual ,mandela ,washington ,fellowship ,summit1 to provide such ,fellows the opportunity to meet with ,united ,states leaders from the private1 public1 and non-profit sectors4 7#b7 ,africa-based activities ,the ,united ,states should continue to support overseas initiatives of the program1 including the following3 7,a7 ,quality leadership training1 professional development1 and networking opportunities for ,mandela ,washington ,fellowship alumni upon their return to their home countries1 including online courses4 7,b7 ,training for young ,african leaders at regional leadership centers established in accordance with subsection 7d71 and through online courses offered by such centers4 7,c7 ,opportunities for networking with-- 7i7 alumni of the ,mandela ,washington ,fellowship2 7ii7 alumni of the programs at ,,yali ,regional ,leadership ,centers established in accordance with subsection 7d71 who offer leadership training programs at higher education institutions in sub-,saharan ,africa2 and 7iii7 ,american and ,african professionals and experts4 7,d7 ,opportunities through the ,united ,states ,africa ,development ,foundation to facilitate professional development and sharing of expertise in the home countries of ,mandela ,washington ,fellowship alumni and throughout the ,african continent4 7#c7 ,implementation ,to carry out this subsection1 ,united ,states diplomatic and consular posts1 the ,administrator of the ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development1 the ,secretary of ,state1 and agency external partners managing and implementing the ,,yali program-- 7,a7 shall promote ,united ,states policy goals in ,africa by providing tools and resources to help young ,african leaders develop important skills and connections1 including through online campaigns and public diplomacy initiatives2 7,b7 shall establish a system for monitoring1 evaluating1 and improving the ,,yali program2 and 7,c7 may accept financial contributions from foundations1 corporations1 private donors1 program partners1 and implementing agency external partners intended to foster the goals of the ,,yali program4 7f7 ,reports 7#a7 ,strategy ,the ,secretary of ,state1 in coordination with the ,administrator of ,,usaid1 shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a strategy for implementing the ,,yali program1 including the following3 7,a7 ,,yali program goals1 targets1 and planned outcomes for each year and1 separately1 for the ,,yali program generally during the duration of its implementation4 7,b7 ,a ,,yali program monitoring and evaluation plan1 including metrics for measuring ,,yali program progress and determining whether ,,yali program goals1 targets1 and planned outcomes of growing the ,united ,states and ,africa trade relationship1 strengthening civil society and public administration1 and supporting innovation and investment in the next generation of ,african leaders have been met annually and1 separately1 for the ,,yali program generally1 during the duration of its implementation4 7#b7 ,annual reports ,the ,secretary of ,state1 in coordination with the ,administrator of ,,usaid1 shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees and publish in a publicly accessible1 internet-based form1 an annual report for the #e-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this ,act on-- 7,a7 ,,yali program progress and an assessment of the metrics1 goals1 targets1 and outcomes referred to in paragraph 7#a77;,a71 including information relating to ,,yali program implementation and outcome activities during the year covered by each report2 and 7,b7 recommendations for improvements or amendments to the ,,yali program and strategy1 if any1 that would improve their effectiveness during subsequent years of ,,yali program implementation4 7#c7 ,final report ,not later than ,december #a1 #bjbe1 the ,secretary of ,state1 in coordination with the ,administrator of ,,usaid1 shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a final assessment report that evaluates ,,yali program implementation and outcomes during the entire duration of ,,yali program operation1 including recommendations regarding whether the ,,yali program should be reauthorized and any changes that would improve its effectiveness4 7g7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,appropriate congressional committees ,the term appropriate congressional committees means-- 7,a7 the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs of the ,house of ,representatives2 7,b7 the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,house of ,representatives2 7,c7 the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations of the ,senate2 and 7,d7 the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,senate4 7#b7 ,implementing agency external partners ,the term implementing agency external partners means any external partner that is not a ,united ,states ,government agency1 and may include one or more of the following entities3 7,a7 ,local or multinational corporations4 7,b7 ,nongovernmental organizations4 7,c7 ,universities4 7,d7 ,regional institutions4