By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and laws of the United States of America, and in order to strengthen dialogue between United States officials and the African Diaspora by increasing engagement through collaboration , partnership and community building among the United States, Africa and other nations worldwide, the following is hereby ordered:
Section 1. Policy. The United States has a long-standing commitment to engaging the African diaspora: people of native African origin who live outside of the African continent and who have collectively described themselves as constituencies of the sixth region of the African Union. The African Diaspora in the United States is a source of strength, encompassing African Americans, including descendants of enslaved Africans, and nearly two million African immigrants who have close family, social, and economic connections to the African continent. African Americans have been instrumental in strengthening US-Africa relations and in shaping US foreign policy toward Africa, including through active advocacy on behalf of the African continent, even while fighting for civil rights in the USA. The African immigrant community continues to make significant contributions to the growth and prosperity of the United States. The United States government encourages efforts to promote equity and opportunity for the African Diaspora in the United States, and will continue to encourage efforts to strengthen cultural, social, political, and economic ties among African communities, the global African Diaspora and the United States. .
In August 2022, my Administration released the US Sub-Saharan Africa Strategy, which outlines our foreign policy goals to strengthen relationships with African nations, listen to diverse local voices, and broaden the circle of engagement to advance our goals. strategic for the benefit of both Africans and Americans.
Second. 2. Establishment of the President’s Advisory Council on African Diaspora Engagement in the United States. Within 180 days from the date of this order, the Secretary of State shall establish the President’s Advisory Council on African Diaspora Engagement in the United States (Advisory Council) within the Department of State.
Second. 3. Membership. (a) The Advisory Council shall be composed of no more than 12 members, appointed by the Secretary of State, who are representative of and reflect the diversity of the African diaspora of African American and African immigrant communities, including individuals who have distinguished themselves in the government. , sports, creative industries, business, academia, social work, and faith-based activities. Appointments to the Advisory Council will be made without regard to political affiliation.
(b) Members of the Advisory Council will serve 2-year terms without compensation or reimbursement.
(c) The Secretary of State will designate one of the members of the Advisory Council to act as Chairman.
(d) The Secretary of State shall designate a senior official or employee of the Department of State to serve as Executive Director of the Advisory Council.
Second. 4. Functions. (a) The Advisory Council will advise the President, through the Secretary of State, and later through the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs (APNSA) and the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy (APDP), on the strengthening of the connections between the US Government and the African Diaspora in the US, as outlined in the US Strategy for Sub-Saharan Africa.
(b) In providing the advice described in subsection (a) of this section, the Advisory Council will provide information, analysis, and recommendations that address the following, in addition to other topics that the Secretary of State deems pertinent, in coordination with the APNSA and the APDP:
(i) strategies to promote equity and opportunity for African Diaspora communities, including through efforts coordinated by the National Policy Council under Executive Order 13985 of January 20, 2021 (Promotion of Equity and support for underserved communities through the federal government);
(ii) ways to support the United Nations Permanent Forum for People of African Descent;
(iii) programs and initiatives to strengthen cultural, social, political, and economic ties between African communities, the global African diaspora, and the United States, such as the Young African Leaders Initiative, and address challenges and opportunities to promote inclusion, belonging to, and public awareness of, the diversity, achievements, culture and history of the African Diaspora;
(iv) programs and initiatives, such as the International Visitor Leadership Program, to expand educational exchange programs between Africa and the United States;
(v) programs and initiatives to increase public-private collaboration and community participation in improving the socioeconomic well-being of African Diaspora communities; Y
(vi) programs and initiatives, such as Prosper Africa, to increase the participation of members of the African diaspora in the United States with respect to trade, investment, economic growth, and development programs related to Africa.
Second. 5. Administration. (a) The Department of State will provide funding and administrative support for the Advisory Council, to the extent permitted by law and within existing appropriations.
(b) The Advisory Council shall meet in plenary session at least quarterly, or more frequently as necessary.
Second. 6. General provisions. (a) To the extent the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended (5 USC App.) (the “Act”), may apply to the Advisory Council, any function of the President under the Act, except those in section 6 of the Act, will be executed by the Secretary of State in accordance with the guidelines issued by the General Services Administrator.
(b) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or its head; either
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget related to budgetary, administrative or legislative proposals.
(c) This order will be implemented in accordance with applicable law and will be subject to the availability of assignments.
(d) This order is not intended to create, and does not create, any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies or entities, its officials , employees, or agents, or any other person.
JOSE R. BIDEN JR.
THE WHITE HOUSE,
December 13, 2022.
