,,ii #aagth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #bede ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,july #bi1 #bjba,mr4 ,van ,hollen 7for himself and ,mr4 ,rounds7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations ,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 emerging young ,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 ,program 7referred to in this ,act as the ,,yali ,program74 7b7 ,purpose ,the ,,yali ,program shall seek to build the capacity of young ,african leaders in sub-,saharan ,africa in the areas of business1 civic engagement1 or public administration1 including through efforts-- 7#a7 to support young ,african leaders by offering professional development1 training1 and networking opportunities1 particularly in the areas of leadership1 innovation1 civic engagement1 elections1 human rights1 entrepreneurship1 good governance1 and public administration2 and 7#b7 to provide increased economic and technical assistance to young ,african leaders to promote economic growth and strengthen ties between ,united ,states and ,african businesses4 7c7 ,fellowships ,the ,,yali ,program shall award fellowships through the ,mandela ,washington ,fellowship for ,young ,african ,leaders ,program to young ,african leaders who-- 7#a7 are between #ah and #ce years of age2 7#b7 have demonstrated strong capabilities in entrepreneurship1 innovation1 public service1 and leadership2 and 7#c7 have had a positive impact in their communities1 organizations1 or institutions4 7d7 ,regional leadership centers ,the ,,yali ,program shall seek to establish regional leadership centers in sub-,saharan ,africa to offer training to young ,african leaders who-- 7#a7 are between #ah and #ce years of age2 7#b7 have demonstrated strong capabilities in entrepreneurship1 innovation1 public service and leadership2 and 7#c7 have had a positive impact in their communities1 organizations1 or institutions4 7e7 ,activities 7#a7 ,united ,states-based activities ,the ,secretary of ,state1 in coordination with the ,administrator of the ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development and the heads of other relevant ,federal departments and agencies1 shall oversee all ,united ,states-based activities carried out under the ,,yali ,program1 including the participation of ,mandela ,washington fellows in-- 7,a7 a #f-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 activities2 and 7,b7 an annual ,mandela ,washington ,fellowship ,summit to provide such fellows the opportunity to meet with ,united ,states leaders from the private1 public1 and nonprofit sectors4 7#b7 ,africa-based activities ,the ,secretary of ,state1 in coordination with the ,administrator of the ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development and the heads of other relevant ,federal departments and agencies1 should continue to support existing ,young ,african ,leaders ,initiative programs in sub-,saharan ,africa1 including-- 7,a7 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 countries1 including online courses1 technical assistance1 and access to funding2 7,b7 training for young ,african leaders at regional leadership centers established in accordance with subsection 7d71 and through online and in-person courses offered by such centers2 and 7,c7 opportunities for networking and engagement with-- 7i7 other alumni of the ,mandela ,washington ,fellowship for ,young ,african ,leaders2 7ii7 alumni of programs at regional leadership centers established in accordance with subsection 7d72 and 7iii7 ,united ,states and like-minded diplomatic missions1 business leaders1 and others1 as appropriate4 7#c7 ,implementation ,the ,secretary of ,state1 in coordination with the ,administrator of the ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development and the heads of other relevant ,federal departments and agencies1 shall seek to partner with the private sector to pursue public-private partnerships1 leverage private sector expertise1 expand networking opportunities1 and identify funding opportunities and fellowship and employment opportunities for participants in the ,,yali ,program4 7f7 ,implementation plan ,not later than #ahj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,state1 in coordination with the ,administrator of the ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development and the heads of other relevant ,federal departments and agencies1 shall submit a plan to the appropriate congressional committees for implementing the ,,yali ,program1 which plan shall include-- 7#a7 a description of clearly defined program goals1 targets1 and planned outcomes for each year and for the duration of implementation of the ,,yali ,program2 7#b7 a strategy to monitor and evaluate the ,,yali ,program and progress made toward achieving such goals1 targets1 and planned outcomes2 and 7#c7 a strategy to ensure that the ,,yali ,program is promoting ,united ,states foreign policy goals in ,africa1 including ensuring that the ,,yali ,program is clearly branded and paired with robust public diplomacy efforts4 7g7 ,report ,not later than #a year after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 and annually thereafter for the following #e years1 the ,secretary of ,state1 in coordination with the ,administrator of the ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development1 shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees and publish in a publicly accessible1 internet-based form1 a report that contains-- 7#a7 a description of the progress made toward achieving the goals1 targets1 and planned outcomes described in subsection 7f77#a71 including an overview of the implementation of the ,,yali ,program during the previous year and an estimated number of ,,yali ,program beneficiaries during such year2 7#b7 an assessment of how the ,,yali ,program is contributing to and promoting ,united ,states-,africa relations1 particularly in areas of increased private sector investment1 trade promotion1 support to civil society1 improved public administration1 and fostering entrepreneurship and youth empowerment2 and 7#c7 recommendations for improvements or changes to the ,,yali ,program and implementation plan1 if any1 that would improve its effectiveness during subsequent years of implementation of the ,,yali ,program4 7h7 ,defined term ,in this section1 the term appropriate congressional committees means-- 7#a7 the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations of the ,senate2 7#b7 the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,senate2 7#c7 the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs of the ,house of ,representatives2 and 7#d7 the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,house of ,representatives4 7i7 ,sunset ,the ,,yali ,program shall terminate on the date that is #e years after the date of the enactment of this ,act4