YALI Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Senator Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD]
In Committee
Summary
Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) would create a U.S.-led program to train, connect, and support young leaders across sub-Saharan Africa and would add a Mandela Washington Fellowship for emerging entrepreneurs and public servants ages 25–35. The bill focuses on leadership training, economic capacity building, and stronger U.S.–Africa private sector ties.
Show full summary
- Young African leaders and alumni would get professional development, a six-week U.S. Leadership Institute, continued Africa-based training, and access to an online alumni network to boost entrepreneurship, civic engagement, and public administration.
- U.S. citizens and private sector partners would be able to take part in reciprocal exchanges and collaborate with alumni, creating recruitment, funding, and partnership opportunities.
- African institutions and governments would see targeted capacity building in procurement, budget oversight, anti-corruption, and contract negotiation through regional leadership centers, with at least four centers required to offer in-person and online training.
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Annual public reports on YALI
If enacted, the Secretary of State would have to submit and publish online a YALI report within one year and then annually for four more years. Each report would describe progress toward program goals, give an estimated number of beneficiaries, assess YALI's effects on U.S.–Africa ties (investment, trade, civil society, governance, peace and security, entrepreneurship, and youth empowerment), and offer recommendations. The first report must also assess whether YALI could be expanded to Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt.
New training for young African leaders
If enacted, the bill would create the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) run by the State Department. It would fund a Mandela Washington Fellowship for eligible African leaders ages 25 to 35, including a six-week U.S. Leadership Institute with classes, site visits, networking, community service, and an annual Fellowship Summit. The program would also fund continued training in Africa, regional leadership centers (at least four), online courses, and private-sector partnerships. U.S. citizens could take part in reciprocal exchanges or joint projects only with Secretary of State approval.
YALI plan due in 180 days
If enacted, the bill would require the Secretary of State, with USAID and other federal partners, to send Congress a YALI implementation plan within 180 days. The plan must set program goals, targets, planned annual outcomes, and a monitoring and evaluation strategy. It must also explain how YALI will support U.S. foreign policy in Africa, including branding, public diplomacy, and inclusion of participants from diverse and distressed areas. The plan must go to the Senate and House foreign relations and appropriations committees.
YALI authority ends after five years
If enacted, the bill would make the YALI authorities and requirements expire five years after the date of enactment. Until that date, the program, reporting, and planning rules would stay in effect. The sunset could limit or stop future YALI activities after five years unless Congress renews the authority.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD]
MD • D
Cosponsors
Mike Rounds
SD • R
Sponsored 7/10/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov