On Eligibility Criteria for the Millennium Challenge Account

This paper defines two distinct and overarching objectives for the MCA:

• Achieve the greatest possible impact on economic growth and poverty reduction for each development aid dollar.
• Support long-term movement toward leadership that respects human rights and the rule of law, and is fundamentally concerned with improving its citizens’ well-being.

The authors propose 12 criteria for assessing potential recipient country eligibility and recommend that the MCA be targeted to the poorest countries that are eligible for World Bank grants and concessional loans.