By Esther Wright
Officials of the U.S. Government’s Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) have successfully concluded a working visit to Sierra Leone the 8th October 2021 which was geared towards discussing the development of a potential compact agreement between MCC and the Sierra Leone Government – a significant investment to support economic growth in Sierra Leone.
While the MCC team was in Freetown, they met with local leaders from civil society organizations, the private sector, Government officials, representatives from all parties, and other development partners. The meetings were part of MCC’s compact development process conducted in partnership with the Government of Sierra Leone.
“We were thrilled to be able to travel to Port Loko, Bombali, and Koinadugu districts. We were able to talk with various stakeholders from all parts of society to ensure the compact is a benefit to all Sierra Leoneans, said Tina Yu, Country Director for the Sierra Leone Compact Team at MCC. “We look forward to continuing these conversations as compact development progresses.”
MCC’s Board of Directors selected Sierra Leone as eligible to develop a compact in December 2020. The Government of Sierra Leone and MCC have subsequently worked together to identify and assess challenges to Sierra Leone’s economic growth and are now designing meaningful projects that will benefit Sierra Leone. Consultations and broad input from key stakeholders across Sierra Leone are critical to project design and to the success of this partnership.
The new compact follows the successful completion of a $44.4 million threshold program between MCC and the Government of Sierra Leone that concluded in March 2021. The threshold program built a foundation of policy reform, sector coordination, and operational management to improve the water and electricity services in and around Freetown.
MCC is an international development agency of the U.S. Government, working to reduce global poverty through economic growth. Created in 2004, MCC provides time-limited grants and assistance to countries that meet rigorous standards for good governance, fighting corruption, and respecting democratic rights.
