Today, Daniel W. Yohannes, Chief Executive Officer of the U.S. Government’s Millennium Challenge Corporation, issued the following statement:
“Warmest and heartfelt congratulations to Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf for sharing in this year’s Nobel Peace Prize. I had the honor of first meeting President Johnson Sirleaf in May 2010, and I continue to admire her tremendous efforts to promote reform, reconstruction and reconciliation in Liberia. Her extraordinary leadership and remarkable vision have defined a new day of opportunity in Liberia and provide a model for the rest of Africa, grounded in the principles of good governance and accountability that can generate and sustain transformative economic growth and development.
“The Millennium Challenge Corporation is pleased to partner with Liberia on an innovative $15 million, three-year Threshold Program designed to tackle three specific areas of reform: land rights and access, girls’ education and trade policy. Liberians themselves identified these priorities as key to their national development strategy, and MCC is proud to work with them in these areas, with the strong support and personal encouragement of President Johnson Sirleaf.
“President Johnson Sirleaf is an inspiration to all of us who seek and work for peaceful and prosperous communities, where both men and women can break free from the grips of poverty and live up to their potential. Her well-deserved recognition by the Nobel Committee affirms the President’s exceptional dedication to this calling, in service to her country and her fellow citizens as Africa’s first elected female president. MCC is honored to work alongside President Johnson Sirleaf and all Liberians.”
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The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) is an innovative and independent U.S. foreign aid agency that is helping lead the fight against global poverty. Created by the U.S. Congress in January 2004 with strong bipartisan support, MCC is changing the conversation on how best to deliver smart U.S. foreign assistance by focusing on good policies, country ownership and results.