The YALI Act of 2025 establishes a comprehensive U.S. government program focused on developing young African leaders in sub-Saharan Africa. The program aims to invest in emerging leaders aged 18-35 who show promise in business, public service, and civic engagement, helping them build skills in entrepreneurship, leadership, governance, and peace-building.

The program has two main components. First, it expands the Mandela Washington Fellowship, which brings African leaders to the United States for a 6-week intensive training program at American universities, plus an annual summit where they meet with U.S. business and government leaders. The goal is to increase the number of fellows beyond the roughly 700 who participated in 2021. Second, it establishes at least four regional training centers across sub-Saharan Africa that offer year-round courses in business, civic leadership, and public management, along with an online network connecting young leaders across Africa's private and public sectors.

The program also supports ongoing mentorship and networking for alumni after they return home, including access to funding, technical assistance, and connections with U.S. businesses and organizations. The State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development will partner with private companies to expand opportunities and funding. Congress requires detailed reports on the program's progress, effectiveness in strengthening U.S.-Africa relations, and recommendations for improvement. The program is set to run for five years, with an assessment of whether it could eventually expand to North African countries like Egypt and Morocco.