,,ii #aaith ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #bbcf ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,july #aj1 #bjbe,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 titles ,this ,act may be cited as the ,young ,african ,leaders ,initiative ,act of #bjbe or the ,,yali ,act of #bjbe4 #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 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 that-- 7,a7 enhance leadership skills2 7,b7 encourage entrepreneurship2 7,c7 strengthen public administration and the role of civil society2 7,d7 enhance peace and security in their respective countries of origin and across ,africa2 and 7,e7 connect young ,african leaders continentally and globally across the private1 civic1 and public sectors2 7#d7 youth in ,africa have a positive impact on efforts to foster economic growth1 improve public sector transparency and governance1 and counter extremism1 and should be an area of focus for ,united ,states outreach on the ,african continent2 and 7#e7 the ,secretary of ,state should-- 7,a7 increase the number of fellows from ,africa participating in the ,mandela ,washington ,fellowship above the estimated #gjj fellows who participated during fiscal year #bjbd2 and 7,b7 identify additional ways to connect ,,yali alumni to ,united ,states public and private resources and institutions4 #c4 ,young ,african ,leaders ,initiative program 7a7 ,in general ,there is established the ,young ,african ,leaders ,initiative 7referred to in this section as ,,yali71 which shall be carried out by the ,secretary of ,state4 7b7 ,purpose ,,yali 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 that-- 7#a7 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 peace and security1 and public administration2 and 7#b7 provide increased economic and technical assistance to young ,african leaders to promote economic growth1 strengthen ties between ,united ,states and ,african businesses1 build resilience to predatory lending practices1 and improve capacity in key economic areas such as tendering1 bidding1 and contract negotiations1 budget management and oversight1 anti-corruption1 and establishment of clear policy and regulatory practices4 7c7 ,fellowships 7#a7 ,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-- 7,a7 are between #be 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 7#b7 ,oversight ,the fellowships described in paragraph 7#a7 shall be overseen by the ,secretary of ,state through the ,bureau of ,educational and ,cultural ,affairs4 7#c7 ,eligibility ,the ,secretary of ,state shall establish and publish-- 7,a7 eligibility criteria for participation as a fellow under paragraph 7#a72 and 7,b7 criteria for determining which eligible applicants will be selected4 7d7 ,reciprocal exchanges ,subject to the approval of the ,secretary of ,state1 ,united ,states citizens may-- 7#a7 engage in reciprocal exchanges in connection with alumni of the fellowship described in subsection 7c72 and 7#b7 collaborate on projects with such fellowship alumni4 7e7 ,regional leadership centers and networks ,the ,administrator of the ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development shall establish-- 7#a7 not fewer than #d regional leadership centers in sub-,saharan ,africa to offer in-person and online training throughout the year on business and entrepreneurship1 civic leadership1 and public management 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 leadership1 and peace-building and conflict resolution2 and 7,c7 have had a positive impact in their communities1 organizations1 or institutions2 and 7#b7 an online network that provides information and courses on1 and connections with leaders in1 the private and public sectors of ,africa4 7f7 ,activities 7#a7 ,united states-based activities ,the ,secretary of ,state1 in coordination with the heads of relevant ,federal departments and agencies1 shall oversee all ,united ,states-based activities carried out under ,,yali1 including-- 7,a7 the participation of ,mandela ,washington ,fellows in a #f-week ,leadership ,institute at a ,united ,states educational institution 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 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 nonprofit sectors4 7#b7 ,africa-based activities ,the ,secretary of ,state1 in coordination with the ,administrator for the ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development and the heads of other relevant ,federal departments and agencies1 should continue to support ,,yali activities in sub-,saharan ,africa1 including-- 7,a7 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 pursuant to subsection 7e71 and through online and in-person courses offered by such centers2 and 7,c7 opportunities for networking and engagement with-- 7i7 alumni of the ,mandela ,washington ,fellowship for ,young ,african ,leaders2 7ii7 alumni of programs at regional leadership centers established pursuant to subsection 7e72 7iii7 ,united ,states and like-minded diplomatic missions1 business leaders1 and others as appropriate2 and 7iv7 where practicable and appropriate1 other ,united ,states-funded regional leadership programs1 including the ,young ,southeast ,asian ,leaders ,initiative 7,,yseali71 the ,young ,leaders of the ,americas ,initiative 7,,ylai71 the ,young ,pacific ,leaders 7,,ypl71 and the ,young ,transatlantic ,innovation ,leaders ,initiative 7,,ytili71 and through ,department of ,state programs such as the ,community ,engagement ,exchange ,program and other initiatives4 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 carry out this subsection by seeking to partner with the private sector-- 7,a7 to pursue public-private partnerships2 7,b7 to leverage private sector expertise2 7,c7 to expand networking opportunities2 and 7,d7 to identify funding opportunities and fellowship and employment opportunities for ,,yali4 7g7 ,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 ,,yali1 including-- 7#a7 a description of clearly defined program goals1 targets1 and planned outcomes for each year and for the duration of implementation of the program2 7#b7 a strategy to monitor and evaluate the program and progress made toward achieving such goals1 targets1 and planned outcomes2 and 7#c7 a strategy to ensure the program is promoting ,united ,states foreign policy goals in ,africa1 including ensuring that the program is clearly branded1 paired with robust public diplomacy efforts1 and incorporates diversity among participants as practicable1 including countries and communities in ,africa facing economic distress1 civil conflict1 marginalization1 and other challenges4 7h7 ,report ,not later than #a year after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 and annually thereafter for the following #d years1 the ,secretary of ,state1 in coordination with the ,administrator of the ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development1 shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees1 and publish in a publicly accessible1 internet-based form1 a report that includes-- 7#a7 a description of the progress made toward achieving the goals1 targets1 and planned outcomes described in subsection 7g77#a71 including an overview of the program implemented in the previous year and an estimated number of beneficiaries2 7#b7 an assessment of how ,,yali 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 promoting peace and security1 and fostering entrepreneurship and youth empowerment2 7#c7 recommendations for improvements or changes to ,,yali and the implementation plan1 if any1 that would improve their effectiveness during subsequent years of ,,yali's implementation2 and 7#d7 for the first report submitted under this subsection1 an assessment of the feasibility of expanding ,,yali to ,morocco1 ,algeria1 ,tunisia1 ,libya1 and ,egypt4 7i7 ,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 7j7 ,sunset ,this section shall cease to have effect on the date that is #e years after the date of the enactment of this ,act4