As the Millennium Challenge Account ramps up its grantmaking to poor-but-well-governed countries, there is increasing interest in the types of proposals that countries are offering for consideration. A new MCA Monitor Field Report and a CGD Congressional briefing organized by CGD offer fresh views of the MCA's work on the ground. Critics have argued that the compacts approved to date have not been large enough to have the transformative effect the MCA seeks. Others worry that the slow pace of outlays will make the MCA’s growing endowment a tempting target for other priorities.
A new MCA Monitor Report from the Field by Sarah Lucas, assesses the strengths and weaknesses of Malawi’s proposal process. According to Lucas, following some initial confusion in Malawi about the size and scope of proposal the MCC desired, Malawi and the MCC struck a balance that lead to a 2-year, $20.9 million agreement. Lucas also describes the strong connection between the MCA and USAID staff on the ground in Malawi, and the imperative that Malawi fight corruption if the effort is to succeed.
At a February 2 Congressional briefing organized by CGD, Rep. Jim Kolbe (R-AZ) and Rep. Dennis Rehberg (R-MT) shared their impressions from a recent congressional delegation to Africa that included visits to two MCA-eligible countries, Senegal and Benin. Rep. Kolbe, chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Foreign Operations, and Rep. Rehberg, an up-and-coming subcommittee member, raised questions about the ability of the Senegal proposal to bring about a broad transformation in the country. The Senegal proposal centers on the development of land to alleviate the lack of suitable space for commercial and industrial expansion on the Dakar Peninsula. Rep. Rehberg said the project was akin to creating a new city, and said that MCA feasibility studies would be crucial to making a final decision.
Kolbe and Rehberg spoke more positively of Benin’s 5 year, $307 million proposal, accepted by the MCA on January 30. Kolbe noted the strength of Benin’s civil society and the practicality of their plan to upgrade the Port of Cotonou. Both Kolbe and Rehberg cautioned, however, that it would be unfortunate if Benin postponed or cancelled presidential elections slated for this spring. They stressed that final MCA approval should be contingent on maintaining the election schedule.
*Watch Representative Kolbe's speech
*Watch Representative Rehberg's speech
*(Videos stream in Quicktime-- if you do not have Quicktime on your computer download it for free)
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