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Millennium Challenge Account

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The Millennium Challenge Account (MCA), run by the Millennium Challenge Corporation, is a bilateral development fund announced by the Bush administration in 2002 and created in January, 2004.

Participants in the Program; United States as donor is in green, red countries have active compacts, blue countries have active threshold compacts, purple countries are in negotiations for either, light green has had compact funding suspended, and yellow countries have negotiated threshold agreements and are negotiating for full compacts

Origin

At the Inter-American Development Bank on March 14, 2002, President George W. Bush called for a new compact for development with accountability for both rich and poor countries. He also pledged to increase development assistance by 50% by Fiscal Year 2006 (which by the end of 2004 did double, and is to double again by 2010).[1][2] Other development programs like USAID (United States Agency for International Development) have been thought to suffer from many different and sometimes conflicting goals, which often are a result of political pressures, and for not delivering long-term economic improvements.

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The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) was established in January 2004 as a United States government corporation. The first CEO was Ambassador John Danilovich, a private businessman who had previously served as the U.S. Ambassador to Costa Rica from 2001 to 2004, and then U.S. Ambassador to Brazil. [3]

Countries that participate in the MCC are selected on a competitive basis through a set of 16 indicators designed to measure a country’s effectiveness at ruling justly, investing in people, and fostering enterprise and entrepreneurship. The focus of the MCC is to promote economic growth in the recipient countries. The program emphasizes good economic policies in recipient countries. The Bush administration has stated their belief that development aid works better in countries with good economic policies, such as free markets and low corruption.

Early evaluations noted that environmental safeguards would be needed to prevent widespread environmental damage that comes with economic growth.[4] Before the creation of the Threshold program, there were also arguments to allow countries that narrowly failed the criteria to be allowed to compete for funding.[5]

Criteria for eligibility

All indicators used and the whole process of qualifying are publicly available at the homepage of the MCA. On September 11, 2006, two new criteria were adopted for the Fiscal Year 2008 selection process, both of which relate to the environment. They will measure candidate countries ability to provide "clean drinking water, expand sanitation services, streamline the property registration process, and make land rights accessible and secure for poor and vulnerable populations."[6] The Corporation announced in December 2006 the creation of a gender policy to promote the role of women in the process of forming the compacts and in their impact.[7]

Criteria

Criteria Category Source
Civil Liberties Ruling Justly Freedom House
Political Rights Ruling Justly Freedom House
Voice and Accountability Ruling Justly World Bank Institute
Government Effectiveness Ruling Justly World Bank Institute
Rule of Law Ruling Justly World Bank Institute
Control of Corruption Ruling Justly World Bank Institute
Immunization Rate Investing in People World Health Organization
Public Expenditure on Health Investing in People World Health Organization
Girls' Primary Education Completion Rate Investing in People UNESCO
Public Expenditure on Primary Education Investing in People UNESCO and national sources
Natural Resource Management Investing in People CIESIN/Yale
Inflation Rate Economic Freedom IMF WEO
Trade Policy Economic Freedom Heritage Foundation
Land Rights and Access index Economic Freedom IFAD / IFC
Regulatory Quality Economic Freedom World Bank Institute
Fiscal Policy Economic Freedom national sources, cross-checked with IMF WEO
Business Start-up Economic Freedom IFC

Additional information is provided via third party indexes, such as the Global Integrity Index.

Eligible countries

In the first year (2004), 17 countries were made eligible for an MCA grant: Armenia, Benin, Bolivia, Cape Verde, El Salvador, Georgia, Ghana, Honduras, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mali, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Senegal, Sri Lanka, and Vanuatu. Madagascar and Honduras were the first countries to receive actual funding from the MCA. As of May 2005, Nicaragua, Cape Verde and Georgia are next in line to receive money. On June 16, 2006, The Gambia was suspended from eligibility, citing deterioration in 8 of the 16 criteria categories.[8] Mali was approved in October 2006 for a 461 million dollar program to develop modern irrigation systems and an industrial park.[9] Jordan was granted full compact eligibility, despite objections from Freedom House for its lack of full political and civil rights.[10] The country of Fiji is no longer eligible due to its military coup, which under US law precludes the country from receiving financial aid of this type.[11] MPs in Uganda from the opposition party hailed their country's rejection from full compact status, demanding instead a stronger effort in stopping the corruption that disqualified their country.[12] The funding of Tanzania's compact has been pushed forward from May 2007 to an earlier date to accelerate the process of reform.[13] In June 2007, MCA eligible countries in Africa held a meeting in Accra to discuss their experiences in the program.[14] The country of Malawi qualified for a full compact in 2007, while Mauritania became threshold eligible.[15]

Threshold eligible

Several countries were chosen in 2004 for a new part of the program called Threshold Program Assistance, which are smaller compacts used to assist a country close to meeting account eligibility to become eligible for a full program.[16] Jordan received a Threshold program aimed at democracy and trade totaling 25 million US dollars.[17] Yemen was previously eligible for a threshold agreement, but was suspended after their indicators fell too low to qualify. But having successfully competed a democratic election and various economic reforms, the Millennium Challenge Corporation has once again made Yemen eligible for a threshold agreement.[18] On December 12th 2007, the MCC Board selected Malawi for a compact and Mauritania for a threshold agreement, as well as allowing Albania, Paraguay, and Zambia to submit a first ever second stage threshold agreement.[19] In 2007 the American ambassador to Swaziland highlighted the progress on the MCC indicators over the last few years and encouraged the country to work toward eligibility.[20]

Funding

Congress has consistently provided less funding for the program than the president has requested. In Fiscal Year 2004, 650 million USD were provided for the program, with an increase up to 1.5 billion the next year.[21] For Fiscal Year 2007, 2 billion dollars were provided, a 14% increase over the previous year but still under the 3 billion target.[22] Again for Fiscal Year 2008, less funding will be provided than was hoped for, and only 1.2 billion is currently budgeted, and the CEO of the MCC commented that it would undercut the program's efforts. Congress declined to re-authorize the program, which technically was not needed since the program had been authorized already, but also since there was argument over the authorization language.[23] In discussions of the Fiscal Year 2009 budget, the United States Senate has proposed that only half of the money needed for a compact be provided up front, as opposed to full funding for each one provident in advance, which officials at the corporation insist would be a "large step backward" causing too little aid to make an impact on recipient countries.[24] Senator Richard Lugar, the author of the amendment, responded that more "realistic" funding levels allowed for more compacts, thus spreading the "MCC effect".[25] The amendment did not make it into the final bill.[26] President Bush's 2008 Fiscal Year budget requested $2.225 billion, the first time since the programs inception that the amount was not $3 billion, and enough money for 5 compacts, several thresholds and administrative funding.[27] There is currently debate in congress as to how much to fund the program, with early numbers indicating it will be cut by 525 million, but there is a push by other senators to restore the funding.[28]

Reception and impact

Studies by groups such as the conservative Heritage Foundation in the United States have shown that many developing countries that have received foreign aid have seen their per capita income fall or stagnate over the last 40 years, and the Heritage Foundation has consistently supported the MCC's approach, which has also utilized their trade measure from the Index of Economic Freedom.[29] In April 2005, the United States Government Accountability Office issued a favorable report about the work of the MCC and its work thus far.[30] The Program Assessment Rating Tool, or PART, which reviews the efficiency and results produced by US government programs, was scheduled to be reviewed in 2007.[31] A study in 2006 looking at the "MCC effect" estimated that potential recipient countries improved 25% more on MCA's criteria than other countries, after controlling for time-trends.[32] The World Policy Council, headed by Ambassador Horace Dawson and Senator Edward Brooke, recognizes the MCC as the most recent and most promising program in its area, and recommended that the Bush administration and the Congressional Black Caucus focus on full funding and an accelerated pace of spending.[33] Doing Business 2007 cited the Millennium Challenge Accounts as a catalyst for reforms underway in 13 countries.[34] Also, Freedom House, an organization that monitors the level of freedom in the world, released subcategories for the first time since it was being used as part of the MCC's measurements to allow for finer distinctions in their ratings.[35] Also, the number of days it takes to start a business in both low and low-middle income countries has decreased significantly since 2002, which is one of the factors the accounts measure since rapid business registration is thought to increase economic activity.[36]

Some critics have charged that the program uses indicators by conservative groups such as the Heritage foundation and are therefore biased toward free market economics.[37] The program is thought to have also resulted in countries receiving less funding from other US government development organizations and not more. Some development agencies have also felt frozen out of the process since the compact programs are designed primarily by the country involved.[38] Implementation has also been difficult in Armenia, with concern about effectiveness is currently being discussed.[39]


References

  1. ^ "The Millennium Challenge Account". The White House. March 22, 2002. Retrieved 2006-09-13.
  2. ^ Matt Frei (February 14, 2008). "Bush defends US record on Darfur". BBC. Retrieved 2008-02-14.
  3. ^ "About Millennium Challenge Corporation". MCC. Retrieved 2007-09-26.
  4. ^ Nigel Purvis (2003). "Greening U.S. Foreign Aid through the Millennium Challenge Account". The Brookings Institute. Retrieved 2006-11-14. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  5. ^ Lael Brainard and Allison Driscoll (2003). "Making the Millennium Challenge Account Work for Africa". The Brookings Institute. Retrieved 2006-11-14. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  6. ^ "Millennium Challenge Corporation Adopts Environmental and Land Access Criteria for Selection of Eligible Countries". Millennium Challenge Corporation. September 11, 2006. Retrieved 2006-09-13.
  7. ^ "Millennium Challenge Corporation Adopts Gender Policy". Millennium Challenge Corporation. December 11, 2006. Retrieved 2006-12-16.
  8. ^ "The Gambia Suspended from Participation in MCC Compact Program". Millennium Challenge Corporation. June 16, 2006. Retrieved 2006-09-13.
  9. ^ Charles W. Corey (October 26, 2006). "Millennium Challenge Corporation approves $461 million for Mali". Relief Web. Retrieved 2006-10-30.
  10. ^ "Millennium Challenge Corporation Should Hold Countries to Higher Standards of Democratic Governance". Freedom House. November 2, 2006. Retrieved 2006-11-13.
  11. ^ "US suspends $3m in military aid". Fiji Times. December 21, 2006. Retrieved 2006-12-23.
  12. ^ Kevin J. Kelley (November 14, 2006). "East Africa: Graft Costs Uganda And Kenya Millions in U.S. Aid". The East African. Retrieved 2006-11-20.
  13. ^ Muhidin Michuzi (October 3, 2006). "US to speed up funds release to Dar". Daily News TSN. Retrieved 2006-10-06.
  14. ^ "Meeting of MCA Eligible Countries in Africa". Business Ghana. June 11, 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-15.
  15. ^ "Millennium Challenge Corporation Reinforces Support for Africa: Malawi and Mauritania Selected to Participate". Millennium Challenge Corporation. December 12, 2007. Retrieved 2008-02-03.
  16. ^ "Millennium Challenge Corporation Names Seven Countries Eligible for Threshold Program" (PDF). Millennium Challenge Corporation. September 30, 2004. Retrieved 2006-09-14.
  17. ^ "US grants Jordan 25 million dollars to finance reforms". dpa German Press Agency. October 17, 2006. Retrieved 2006-10-17.
  18. ^ "Yemen's Eligibility for Assistance Reinstated by Millennium Challenge Corporation Board". United States Embassy in Yemen. February 15, 2007. Retrieved 2007-03-29.
  19. ^ "Millennium Challenge Corporation Reinforces Support for Africa: Malawi and Mauritania Selected to Participate". Millennium Challenge Corporation. December 12, 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-13.
  20. ^ Timothy Simelane (December 14, 2007). "Parker sees hope for Swazi economy". The Swazi Observer. Retrieved 2007-12-14.
  21. ^ "Nuts and Bolts of Bill". The Washington Post. December 7, 2006. Retrieved 2006-11-13.
  22. ^ "Millennium Challenge Corporation Statement on Fiscal Year 2007 House Appropriation". Millennium Challenge Corporation. June 9, 2006. Retrieved 2006-09-14.
  23. ^ Sheila Herrling (December 11, 2006). "MCA Reauthorization Bill Killed". MCA Monitor Blog. Retrieved 2006-12-17.
  24. ^ Celia W. Dugger (December 7, 2007). "U.S. Agency's Slow Pace Endangers Foreign Aid". The New York Times. Retrieved 2007-12-11.
  25. ^ Richard G. Lugar (December 11, 2007). "Foreign Aid Strategies". The New York Times. Retrieved 2007-12-12.
  26. ^ Megan Harris (January 22, 2008). "Analysis: Promising aid program faces cuts". UPI. Retrieved 2008-02-02.
  27. ^ "MCC FY 2009 Budget Request Supports Continued U.S. Commitment to Reduce Poverty" (PDF). Millennium Challenge Corporation. February 4, 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-14.
  28. ^ "Leading International NGOs, Think Tanks and Senators join President Bush in Support of Full Funding for MCC". Millennium Challenge Corporation. June 13, 2008. Retrieved 2008-06-19.
  29. ^ Paolo Pasicolan and Sara J. Fitzgerald (October 18, 2002). "The Millennium Challenge Account: Linking Aid with Economic Freedom". The Heritage Foundation. Retrieved 2006-10-29.
  30. ^ "Progress Made on Key Challenges in First Year" (PDF). Government Accountability Office. April 27, 2005. Retrieved 2006-10-29.
  31. ^ "Assessing Program Performance Using the Part". Office of Management and Budget. March 20, 2007. Retrieved 2007-03-28.
  32. ^ Doug Johnson, Tristan Zajonc (April 11, 2006). "Can Foreign Aid Create an Incentive for Good Governance? Evidence from the Millennium Challenge Corporation". John F. Kennedy School of Government. Retrieved 2006-11-20.
  33. ^ Dawson, Horace (July 2006). "The Centenary Report Of The Alpha Phi Alpha World Policy Council" (PDF). Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. Retrieved 2008-01-06. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  34. ^ "Annual Report of International Finance Corporation Highlights Reform Incentives Created by Millennium Challenge Corporation". Millennium Challenge Corporation. September 6, 2006. Retrieved 2006-09-13.
  35. ^ "Freedom House Releases Subcategory and Aggregate Scores for Freedom in the World". Freedom House. September 28, 2006. Retrieved 2006-10-16.
  36. ^ "Millennium Challenge Corporation Releases 2007 Country Data Measuring Performance on 16 Benchmark Indicators; MCA Eligibility Creating Incentives for Policy Reform in Countries". Millennium Challenge Corporation. October 16, 2006. Retrieved 2006-10-21.
  37. ^ Mark Engler (October 30, 2006). "Calling Bad Business Good". TomPaine.com. Retrieved 2006-10-30.
  38. ^ Tim Starks (June 18, 2007). "A Slouching Millennium Challenge". Congressional Quarterly. Retrieved 2006-10-30.
  39. ^ "SOLUTION TO PROBLEM OF UNEQUAL DEVELOPMENT OF YEREVAN AND RURAL AREAS MOST IMPORTANT TASK". ARKA News Agency. September 18, 2006. Retrieved 2006-10-16.

See also

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