S.Amdt. 3502

This amendment, known as the Young African Leaders Initiative Act of 2025 (or YALI Act of 2025), aims to add a new section to bill S. 2296. Its purpose is to formally establish the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) to be carried out by the Secretary of State.

The amendment seeks to change the bill by adding the following:

• Capacity Building: It aims to build the capacity of young African leaders in sub-Saharan Africa focusing on business, civic engagement, and public administration. This includes professional development, training, and economic and technical assistance to promote growth and strengthen ties between U.S. and African businesses.

• Fellowships and Training: It supports the Mandela Washington Fellowship for leaders aged 25 to 35 and requires the USAID Administrator to establish at least four regional leadership centers and an online network for leaders aged 18 to 35.

• Collaborations and Exchanges: It allows U.S. citizens to engage in reciprocal exchanges and project collaborations with fellowship alumni.

• Accountability and Oversight: It requires the Secretary of State to:

  • Increase the number of Mandela Washington Fellowship participants above the fiscal year 2024 estimate of 700.
  • Submit an implementation plan to congressional committees within 180 days.
  • Provide annual reports for four years on program progress and its contribution to U.S.-Africa relations.
  • Assess the feasibility of expanding YALI to Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco in the first report.

• Timeline: This section is set to sunset 5 years after the Act is enacted.