Created by the U.S. Congress in January 2004 with strong bipartisan support, MCC partners with the world’s poorest countries that are committed to just and democratic governance, economic freedom and investing in their populations.
Investing in well-governed countries is the most effective use of development dollars and incentivizes reform even before a country is selected to partner with MCC. MCC provides time-limited grants promoting economic growth, reducing poverty, and strengthening institutions. These investments in core infrastructure and policy and institutional reforms are key interventions that are expected to benefit nearly 400 million people across 47 countries. MCC investments support stability and prosperity in partner countries all while furthering American interests. With cost-effective and transparent projects, a lean staff, and an evidence-based approach, MCC ensures American tax-payer dollars are well spent and go to countries that share our values.
What is distinctive about MCC?
MCC forms partnerships with developing countries who are committed to good governance, economic freedom and investing in their citizens. MCC is a prime example of smart U.S. Government assistance in action, benefiting both developing countries and the American taxpayers through:- Competitive selection: MCC’s Board examines a country’s performance on 20 independent and transparent policy indicators and selects countries based on policy performance.
- Country-led solutions: MCC requires selected countries to identify their priorities for achieving sustainable economic growth and poverty reduction. Countries develop their MCC proposals in broad consultation within their society. MCC then works in close partnership to help countries refine programs.
- Country-led implementation: When a country is awarded an MCC compact, it sets up a local accountable entity to manage and oversee all aspects of implementation. Monitoring of funds is rigorous, transparent and often managed through independent fiscal agents.
- Focus on results: MCC is committed to producing results and ensuring that the American people are getting a good return on their investment. MCC employs technically rigorous, systematic and transparent methods of projecting, tracking and evaluating the impacts of its programs.
- Compacts—large, five-year grants for selected countries that meet MCC’s eligibility criteria
- Concurrent Compacts for Regional Investments—grants that promote cross-border economic integration, and increase regional trade and collaboration
- Threshold Programs—smaller grants focused on policy and institutional reform in selected countries that come close to passing MCC’s eligibility criteria and show a firm commitment to improving their policy performance
What is MCC achieving?
MCC projects tackle some of the most pressing challenges people face in developing countries, like supplying electricity so businesses can operate and students can study after dark; providing clean drinking water so women don’t have to walk long distances—sometimes at great personal risk—to get water for their families; and building roads so farmers can get their goods to market and children can get to school. MCC has invested approximately $17 billion in signed compact and threshold programs worldwide that support country-led projects in areas like:- agriculture and irrigation
- anti-corruption
- education
- energy and power (generation, distribution, and transmission)
- finance and enterprise development
- health
- land rights and access to land
- transportation infrastructure (roads, bridges, ports)
- water supply and sanitation
- Create jobs and expand markets
- Build a more stable world
- Promote growth through infrastructure
- Invest in the next generation
- Incentivize policy and institutional reform
- Empower women and girls
- Increase the capacity of partner governments
- Give entrepreneurs tools to succeed
- Lay the groundwork for healthy communities