YALI Act of 2023

The YALI Act of 2023 establishes a formal U.S. government program to develop young African leaders in sub-Saharan Africa. It expands the existing Mandela Washington Fellowship, targeting individuals aged 25-35 (with regional centers also serving 18-35-year-olds) who demonstrate leadership in business, civic engagement, or public administration and have made community impact. Key mechanisms include creating four regional leadership centers for in-person and online training, increasing fellowship participation beyond 700 annually, and building an online network to connect participants with U.S. resources and global opportunities. The program requires annual reports on outcomes and expires after five years, focusing on U.S.-Africa partnership through leadership development, entrepreneurship, and governance support.