Celebrating 20 Years of Poverty-Reducing Growth

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With strong bipartisan support, the Bush Administration conceptualized MCC in the early 2000s as a bold experiment to deliver U.S. foreign assistance through cost-effective, evidence-based project approaches.

Over nearly two decades, MCC has invested nearly $17 billion in infrastructure and policy reforms in health, education, power, agriculture, and transport across 47 countries, with programs expected to benefit nearly 400 million people. As the agency celebrates 20 years, we reflect on our achievements in combatting poverty, build on lessons learned, and set a path forward, allowing us to better engage with our partners for years to come.

At the turn of the millennium, MCC was created to develop an innovative way to reduce poverty through economic growth. Our founders designed the agency to be responsive to the development priorities of its partner countries, in particular supporting those countries in the third wave of democratization and reinforcing the ability of well-governed nations to deliver economic growth for their citizens.

It was a bold experiment. Our founding documents articulate three core principles: good policies matter for economic growth, country ownership is critical to sustainable development, and aid should be delivered with accountability for results. Over the past 20 years, despite rising authoritarianism and looming global challenges threatening development gains, MCC has continued to demonstrate the effectiveness of our core principles by delivering data-driven results and sustainable impact around the world.

MCC’s global investments have provided direct economic benefits to nearly 400 million people living in poverty. Infrastructure investments in areas like energy, transportation, and water and sanitation have added an additional $5.5 billion in benefits to partner countries’ economies. Learn more about MCC’s key investment results.

• VIDEO

  MCC’s 20th Anniversary Partners for Prosperity Tribute Dinner

  The Millennium Challenge Corporation’s founders will gather with heads of state to celebrate the fulfillment of the global development vision during a 20th anniversary tribute dinner highlighting poverty-reducing results in MCC partner countries and the launch of the Malawi Transport and Land Compact.

  MCC's Partners for Prosperity tribute dinner will take place on the sidelines of the Corporate Council on Africa's 2024 U.S.-Africa Business Summit. CEO Albright will lead the U.S. delegation and open the Summit's Tuesday, May 7, 9:05 a.m. CST Presidential Plenary – Celebrating 20 Years of MCC in Africa, and MCC Deputy CEO Chidi Blyden will speak at the U.S.-Africa Business Summit Women's Empowerment Panel, 9 a.m.-10 a.m. CST, Wednesday, May 8.

• VIDEO

  MCC's Tribute Dinner Recap

  

  Speeches and memorable moments from MCC's 20th anniversary tribute dinner showcased the agency's long-standing legacy and impact in partner countries across the globe.

• MILESTONES

  Impacting the Next 20 Years

  

  This special edition of Milestones highlights two decades of data-driven results and sustainable impact, providing direct economic benefits to nearly 400 million people living in poverty globally.

• SLIDESHOW

  MCC Delivers Country-Led Growth

  

  Over the past 20 years, MCC has continued to demonstrate the effectiveness of our core principles by delivering data-driven results and sustainable impact around the world.

Policy reform is a driving force for progress and prosperity as partner countries work toward paving a brighter future for their country and their people. At MCC, we also understand that fostering sustainable economic growth requires prioritizing policy investments that advance democratic values, investments in people, and economic freedom.

Guided by these core principles and values of selectivity, transparency, and accountability, MCC has forged partnerships and driven policy reforms in 47 countries, which are expected to deliver economic and social benefits to nearly 400 million people globally.

Moreover, in a rapidly changing world, advancing policies to meet emerging needs and capitalize on opportunities for growth is imperative. To maximize impact and reach, partner countries and development agencies, like MCC, must remain flexible and refine strategies to align with evolving circumstances.

Whether adjusting programs based on new data or tackling emerging issues head-on, MCC remains committed to maintaining the agility to ensure our initiatives remain impactful and effective.

We stand ready to apply our data-driven model to the places that need it the most.

Discover how MCC leverages data and evidence to strengthen and expand strategic partnerships prioritizing democracy, human rights, and investments in their people.

Learn about MCC's efforts to expand its policy reforms, which aim to amplify its impact and benefit even more individuals and communities around the world.

• VIDEO

  MCC@20: Advancing Policy to Drive Progress

• MILESTONES

  Advancing Policy to Drive Progress

  

  This special edition of Milestones explores how the passing of the S.1240/H.R. 3042, the MCC Candidate Country Reform Act, can enhance the agency's impact and provide more services to individuals and communities worldwide.

• SLIDESHOW

  MCC Fosters Global Economic Growth

  

  MCC has invested nearly $17 billion in grant capital to 47 low-income and low-middle-income countries across six continents. Collectively, these programs are expected to lift over 380 million people out of poverty.

MCC's people are its power. Their work fuels the Agency's impact to deliver our mission to reduce global poverty through sustainable economic growth. Over the last 20 years, MCC’s targeted investments in well-governed countries have made a real and meaningful difference in the world.

The diverse perspectives and experiences of MCC’s people and partners drive economic prosperity—beginning from the selection process and continuing throughout the lifecycle of every program. Even through unexpected challenges, they keep the agency accountable and honest, making MCC the world’s most transparent bilateral development donor.

MCC’s trailblazers have strengthened our approach to how we do business. MCC staff values collaboration and learning— from how we amend internal processes to be more accountable to evolving the country development process to focus more on country ownership and integrating innovations like digital inclusion, blended finance, and climate mapping in our work. As a result of our collective work to make MCC its best, our partner governments, stakeholders, and the people of MCC further advance the global goal of poverty reduction through our unique model of country-led ownership.

Learn more about MCC’s unsung heroes.

MCC's PEOPLE

• Dan Petrie

  In 2019, Dan Petrie was a critical part of the MCC team that led the expansion of MCC’s mandate to allow regional concurrent compacts, in addition to existing compact and threshold program programs that focus on greater regional economic growth. Currently, MCC is working with Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, Senegal, and Cabo Verde to develop new regional compacts.

  

  “Goods and services don’t stop at borders; regional investments can provide that extra oomph needed to accelerate economic growth.“

• Jonathan Brooks

  When Jonathan Brooks joined MCC in 2005, the Agency was still learning to navigate its role in the U.S. Government’s foreign affairs toolkit and how to implement its principle of country ownership. Through the dedication and collaboration of MCC staff like Brooks, MCC has grown into the success it is today.

  

  “At the time, MCC felt very much like a mash between a start-up, a brokerage firm, and an NGO, with driven and smart people working very hard to get programs designed and signed. People were relentlessly driving program design with significant freedom and responsibility.“

• Gina Spiro

  After six years of country selections and program design and implementation, it was clear that MCC needed an organizing mechanism to bridge various departments, divisions, and teams. In 2010, Gina Spiro led the cross-agency initiative to develop MCC’s Policy on Policies— a clear, effective process for staff to amend, develop, and produce policies and processes at MCC.

  

  “We were hungry for clarity and consistency. By creating a unified and collaborative process for Agency policy changes, we successfully outlined the methods for change, and created a single resource where all MCC policies could be found. The Policy on Policies transformed how we work together.”

• Agnieszka Rawa

  As technology became increasingly common, MCC adapted to the changing world by supporting partner countries with their modernization efforts. In 2014, Agnieszka Rawa created MCC’s digital agenda, committing the agency to inclusive and sustainable measures in bridging the digital divide. As part of this effort, the Digifemmes program was launched, a collaboration between MCC, USAID, Microsoft, and other local partners- to provide Ivorian women entrepreneurs with the digital skills they need to grow their businesses.

  

  “Ensuring that women and excluded communities are at the center of digitalization is probably the most transformative investment that we could be making.”

As we forge ahead, the remarkable people of MCC will continue to enable the agency to be responsive to the rapidly changing development environment and navigate the increasing challenges of the climate crisis, rising food and energy costs, and threats to human rights and democracy.

• VIDEO

  MCC@20: Celebrating 20 Years of Economic Growth

• MILESTONES

  MCC's Unsung Heroes

  

  This special edition of Milestones delves into the agency's unsung heroes and their impact over the past 20-years.

In an interconnected and ever-changing world where complex crises such as armed conflicts, climate change, and inequality extend beyond borders, the United States remains committed to working with partner countries across the globe to meet their Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

MCC works hand in hand with partner countries to deliver high-impact programs and policies to meet the unique needs of a country and its people. Through large, multi-year grants, MCC supports sustainable development and enables necessary investments in infrastructure for the agriculture, energy, transportation, and water sectors that drive economic growth.

With nearly 92% of our entire investment portfolio supporting partner countries in meeting their SDG ambitions, MCC is well positioned to accelerate progress on the 2023 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Learn more about MCC’s efforts to collaborate with our partner countries to achieve their SDGs.

• VIDEO

  MCC: Celebrating Partnerships and Advancing the Global Goals

• MILESTONES

  Partnerships Drive the Global Goals

  

  This special edition of Milestones delves into the agency's 20-year impact in driving results that have supported countries in advancing their Sustainable Development Goals and creating a more equitable future for all.

Are you an MCC alum interested in the agency’s 20th Anniversary? Please email us at 20thanniversary@mcc.gov.

Follow our official social media handles to ensure you stay up-to-date with MCC’s 20th-anniversary campaign.

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