View source for Millennium Challenge Corporation

{{Short description|American government foreign aid agency}}
{{Infobox government agency
| agency_name     = Millennium Challenge Corporation
| logo            = File:US-MillenniumChallengeCorporation-2008Logo.svg
| logo_width      = 200px
| logo_caption    = Logo
| seal            = Seal of the United States Millennium Challenge Corporation.svg
| seal_width      = 200px
| seal_caption    = Seal
| formed          = January 2004
| headquarters    = [[Washington, D.C.]], U.S.
| employees       = ~300 (2011)
| budget          = $930 million ([[Fiscal year|FY]] 2023)<ref>{{cite web|title=FY 2024 Congressional Budget Justification - Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs|url=https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/508-compliant-FY-2024-CBJ_FINAL_4.26.2023.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240103232851/https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/508-compliant-FY-2024-CBJ_FINAL_4.26.2023.pdf|archive-date=January 3, 2024|publisher=[[U.S. Department of State]]|access-date=January 3, 2024}}</ref>
| chief1_name     = [[Alice P. Albright]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mcc.gov/about/leadership|title=Page: Leadership}}</ref>
| chief1_position = Chief Executive Officer
| website         = [http://www.mcc.gov/ www.mcc.gov]
}}
[[Image:MCC.PNG|thumb|300px|right|Partner countries as of May 2011. Countries in green have active compacts; countries in orange have active threshold compacts.]]

The '''Millennium Challenge Corporation''' ('''MCC''') is a [[Bilateralism|bilateral]] [[United States foreign aid]] agency established by the [[United States Congress|U.S. Congress]] in 2004. It is an independent agency separate from the [[United States Department of State|State Department]] and [[United States Agency for International Development|USAID]]. It provides grants to countries that have been determined to have good economic policies and potential for economic growth. The country qualification process is objective, involving scores provided by third parties in 20 different areas. An eligible country must apply for a grant with a specific project in mind.

According to the [[OECD]], the United States’ total official development assistance (ODA) (USD 55.3 billion, preliminary data) increased in 2022, mainly due to support to Ukraine, as well as increased costs for in-donor refugees from Afghanistan. ODA represented 0.22% of gross national income (GNI).<ref>{{cite web|url= https://oe.cd/il/dev-coop-us | title = OECD Development Co-operation Profiles| access-date= 4 October 2023}}</ref>

==History==
At the [[Inter-American Development Bank]] meeting on March 14, 2002, President [[George W. Bush]] called for a new compact for development with accountability for both rich and poor countries. He pledged to increase development assistance by 50% by fiscal year 2006 (which, by the end of 2004, doubled and was to double again by 2010).<ref name="About MCC">{{cite web | url=https://www.mcc.gov/about | title=About MCC | work=Millennium Challenge Corporation | access-date=September 4, 2016}}</ref> Other development programs like [[USAID]] 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.{{Citation needed|date=May 2011}}

MCC was authorized in 2004 with bipartisan support. Its guiding principles are:

* '''Competitive selection:''' Before a country can become eligible to receive assistance, MCC's Board examines its performance on 20 policy indicators and selects compact-eligible countries based on policy performance.
* '''Country-led solutions:''' MCC requires selected countries to identify their priorities for achieving sustainable economic growth and poverty reduction. Countries develop their MCC proposals in broad consultation within their society. MCC teams then work in close partnership to help countries refine a program.
* '''Country-led implementation:''' MCC administers the '''Millennium Challenge Account''' (MCA). When a country is awarded a compact, it sets up its own local MCA accountable entity to manage and oversee all aspects of implementation. Monitoring of funds is rigorous and transparent, often through independent fiscal agents.<ref name="About MCC"/>

==Leadership==
The first CEO of the Millennium Challenge Corporation was [[Paul V. Applegarth]], a finance manager with experience in [[emerging market]]s. Applegarth was followed by [[John Danilovich]], a business executive who had served as the [[U.S. Ambassador to Costa Rica]] from 2001 to 2004 and then [[U.S. Ambassador to Brazil]].<ref>{{cite web | title=About Millennium Challenge Corporation| publisher=MCC | url=http://www.mcc.gov/about/index.php | access-date=2007-09-26}}</ref> On November 20, 2009, [[Daniel Yohannes|Daniel W. Yohannes]], an Ethiopian-born American business person, was confirmed by the Senate as the CEO.<ref>{{cite web|title=U.S. Senate Confirms Daniel W. Yohannes as CEO of Millennium Challenge Corporation |publisher=MCC |url=http://www.mcc.gov/mcc/press/releases/us-senate-confirms-daniel-w-yohannes-as-ceo-of-mil.shtml |access-date=2009-11-21 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091201043644/http://www.mcc.gov/mcc/press/releases/us-senate-confirms-daniel-w-yohannes-as-ceo-of-mil.shtml |archive-date=December 1, 2009 }}</ref> He was appointed in May 2014 as US Ambassador to the [[OECD]] and succeeded by [[Dana Hyde]] who was CEO through January 2017.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.mcc.gov/news-and-events/release/statement-by-mcc-ceo-dana-j-hyde-on-senate-committee-approval-of-regional|title = U.S. Senate Confirms MCC's CEO and Board Members|publisher=MCC|date=May 21, 2014|access-date=March 10, 2023}}</ref> [[Sean Cairncross]] was confirmed as CEO under the [[First presidency of Donald Trump|Trump administration]] in June 2019 after four acting CEOs.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cgdev.org/blog/long-last-ceo-millennium-challenge-corporation|title=At Long Last, a CEO for the Millennium Challenge Corporation|publisher= Center for Global Development|date=June 18, 2019}}</ref> In January 2021 [[Mahmoud Bah]] became Millennium Challenge Corporation Acting CEO.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Savana |first1=Albert |title=United States: Joe Biden appoints Mahmoud Bah as head of Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) |url=https://www.kapitalafrik.com/2021/01/25/united-states-joe-biden-appoints-mahmoud-bah-as-head-of-millennium-challenge-corporation-mcc/ |access-date=8 December 2021 |work=Kapital Afrik |date=25 January 2021}}</ref> On February 16, 2022, [[Alice P. Albright]] was sworn in as CEO.<ref>{{cite news |title=Alice Albright Sworn In as Millennium Challenge Corporation CEO |url=https://www.mcc.gov/news-and-events/release/release-021622-alice-albright-ceo |access-date=2022-03-15}}</ref>

===Board of directors===
The board of directors is composed of nine members, four appointed by the [[president of the United States]] with the consent of the [[United States Senate]] and five ''[[ex officio]]'' members. The five ''ex officio'' members are the [[United States Secretary of State|U.S. secretary of state]], the [[United States Secretary of the Treasury|secretary of the treasury]], the [[administrator of the United States Agency for International Development]], the CEO of the MCC, and the [[U.S. trade representative]]. Of the four appointed members, one each shall be appointed from lists of individuals with relevant international experience submitted by the minority and majority leaders of the House of Representatives and Senate, respectively. These four each serve initial terms of three years, and may be reappointed to one additional term of two years. They may continue to serve after the expiration of each of their terms of office until a successor has been confirmed, for a maximum of one year.<ref name="USC">{{USCode|22|7703}}</ref>

The secretary of state serves as the chairperson of the board. A majority of the members of the board constitutes a quorum, which must include at least one of the four appointed members.<ref name="USC" />

===Board members===
The board members {{as of|lc=y|df=US|2025|3|9}}:<ref>{{cite web |date=<!--Not stated--> |title=Board of Directors |url=https://www.mcc.gov/about/org-unit/board-of-directors/ |access-date=March 9, 2025 |website=Millennium Challenge Corporation}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
! Position
! Name
! Party 
! Assumed office
! Term expiration
|-
! Chair ''(ex officio)''<br>Secretary of State
| {{sortname|Marco|Rubio}}
| {{party shading/Republican}} | Republican
| {{dts|2025|01|21}}
| —
|-
! Vice chair ''(ex officio)''<br>Secretary of the Treasury
| {{sortname|Scott|Bessent}}
| {{party shading/Republican}} | Republican
| {{dts|2025|01|28}}
| —
|-
! Member ''(ex officio)''<br>Administrator of USAID
| ''Vacant''
| 
| 
| —
|-
! Member ''(ex officio)''<br>CEO of the MCC
| ''Vacant''
| 
| 
| —
|-
! Member ''(ex officio)''<br>U.S. Trade Representative
| {{sortname|Jamieson|Greer}}
| {{party shading/Republican}} | Republican
| {{dts|2025|02|27}}
| —
|-
! Member
| ''Vacant''
| 
| 
| 
|-
! Member
| ''Vacant''
| 
| 
| 
|-
! Member
| ''Vacant''
| 
| 
| 
|-
! Member
| ''Vacant''
| 
| 
| 
|}

==Selection indicators==
A country is considered eligible for a compact (aid grant) if selected as eligible by the Board of Directors.<ref name="Selection Process">{{cite web |last1=Millennium Challenge Corporation |title=Selection Process |url=https://www.mcc.gov/who-we-select/selection-process |website=Millennium Challenge Corporation |access-date=8 March 2021 |quote=The Board of Directors selects eligible countries for MCC program assistance, typically in December of each year. In determining country eligibility, the Board considers three factors: A country’s policy performance; The opportunity to reduce poverty and generate economic growth within a country; and the Availability of funds. The selected countries, if they agree to participate, then develop a Compact Proposal with MCC.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Millennium Challenge Corporation |title=Report on the Selection of Eligible Countries for Fiscal Year 2021 |url=https://www.mcc.gov/resources/doc/report-fy2021-eligible-country |website=Millennium Challenge Corporation |access-date=8 March 2021 |quote=In accordance with the Act and with the “Report on the Criteria and Methodology for Determining the Eligibility of Candidate Countries for Millennium Challenge Account Assistance in Fiscal Year 2021” formally submitted to Congress on September 15, 2020, selection was based primarily on a country’s overall performance in three broad policy categories: Ruling Justly, Encouraging Economic Freedom, and Investing in People. The Board relied, to the fullest extent possible, upon transparent and independent indicators to assess countries’ policy performance and demonstrated commitment in these three broad policy areas. The Board compared countries’ performance on the indicators relative to their income-level peers, evaluating them in comparison to either the group of countries with a GNI per capita equal to or less than $1,945, or the group with a GNI per capita between $1,946 and $4,045.}}</ref> The Board of Directors chooses countries based on three factors: policy performance as measured by the selection indicators on MCC's scorecard, the opportunity to reduce poverty in a country, and the availability of funds.<ref name="Selection Process"/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Millennium Challenge Corporation |title=Report on the Selection of Eligible Countries for Fiscal Year 2021 |url=https://www.mcc.gov/resources/doc/report-fy2021-eligible-country |website=Millennium Challenge Corporation |access-date=8 March 2021 |quote=In accordance with the Act and with the “Report on the Criteria and Methodology for Determining the Eligibility of Candidate Countries for Millennium Challenge Account Assistance in Fiscal Year 2021” formally submitted to Congress on September 15, 2020, selection was based primarily on a country’s overall performance in three broad policy categories: Ruling Justly, Encouraging Economic Freedom, and Investing in People. The Board relied, to the fullest extent possible, upon transparent and independent indicators to assess countries’ policy performance and demonstrated commitment in these three broad policy areas. The Board compared countries’ performance on the indicators relative to their income-level peers, evaluating them in comparison to either the group of countries with a GNI per capita equal to or less than $1,945, or the group with a GNI per capita between $1,946 and $4,045.}}</ref> In order to pass the scorecard a country must pass 10 of the 20 indicators, pass either the Political Rights or Civil Liberties Indicators, and pass the Control of Corruption indicator.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Millennium Challenge Corporation |title=Selection Indicators |url=https://www.mcc.gov/who-we-select/indicators |website=Millennium Challenge Corporation |quote=A country is considered to “pass” the scorecard if it: (i) “passes” at least 10 of the 20 indicators; (ii) “passes” the Control of Corruption indicator; and, (iii) “passes” either the Civil Liberties or Political Rights indicator.}}</ref> For 16 of the 20 indicators, a country passes if its score exceeds the median score of its peer group.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Millennium Challenge Corporation |title=Selection Indicators |url=https://www.mcc.gov/who-we-select/indicators |website=Millennium Challenge Corporation |quote=A country is considered to “pass” a given indicator if it performs better than the median score in its income group...}}</ref> The remaining 4 indicators (Political Rights, Civil Liberties, Immunization Rates (if the median is above 90%, otherwise it is median based), and Inflation) are scored based on a static threshold.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Millennium Challenge Corporation |title=Selection Indicators |url=https://www.mcc.gov/who-we-select/indicators |website=Millennium Challenge Corporation |quote=Indicators with absolute thresholds in lieu of a median include: Inflation, on which a country’s inflation rate must be under a fixed ceiling of 15 percent; Immunization Rates, on which a country must have immunization coverage above 90% or the median, whichever is lower; Political Rights, on which countries must score above 17; and Civil Liberties, on which countries must score above 25.}}</ref>

All 20 indicators are compiled by third parties with no connection to MCC. MCC grants are made without considering politics. This is perhaps the most innovative aspect of MCC, as previous foreign aid missions were plagued by political considerations. The focus of the MCC is to promote [[economic growth]] in the recipient countries. The program emphasizes good economic policies in recipient countries, such as [[free markets]] and low [[Political corruption|corruption]].{{Citation needed|date=May 2011}}

[[File:Girls'PrimaryEducationCompletionRates regional.png|thumb|Girls' primary education completion rates for countries in Africa. Source data: MCC Open Data Catalog, FY 2014.
<ref>{{cite web|title=MCC Open Data Catalog|url=http://data.mcc.gov/raw/selection/fy14/timeseries_fy14.csv|work=FY2014_timeseries|access-date=11 Nov 2014}}</ref>]]

The indicators are:<ref>{{cite web|title=MCC Selection indicators|url=http://www.mcc.gov/pages/selection/indicators|access-date=6 May 2011}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Indicator'''
|'''Category'''
|'''Source'''
|-
|[[Civil liberties]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mcc.gov/who-we-fund/indicator/civil-liberties-indicator|title = Indicator: Civil Liberties| work=Millennium Challenge Corporation }}</ref>
|Ruling justly
|[[Freedom House]]
|-
|[[Political rights]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mcc.gov/who-we-fund/indicator/political-rights-indicator|title = Indicator: Political Rights}}</ref>
|Ruling justly
|Freedom House
|-
|[[Freedom of Information]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mcc.gov/who-we-select/indicator/freedom-of-information-indicator|title = Indicator: Freedom of Information}}</ref>
|Ruling justly
|[[Reporters Without Borders]]
[[Centre for Law and Democracy]]

[[Access Now]]
|-
|[[Worldwide Governance Indicators|Government effectiveness]]<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.mcc.gov/who-we-fund/indicator/government-effectiveness-indicator |title = Government Effectiveness Indicator}}</ref>
|Ruling justly
|World Bank Institute
|-
|[[Rule of law]]<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.mcc.gov/who-we-fund/indicator/rule-of-law-indicator | title=Rule of Law Indicator}}</ref>
|Ruling justly
|World Bank Institute
|-
|[[Political corruption|Control of corruption]]<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.mcc.gov/who-we-fund/indicator/control-of-corruption-indicator |title = Control of Corruption Indicator}}</ref>
|Ruling justly
|World Bank Institute
|-
|[[Immunization]] rate <ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.mcc.gov/who-we-fund/indicator/immunization-rates-indicator |title = Immunization Rates Indicator}}</ref>
|Investing in people
|[[World Health Organization]]
|-
|[[List of countries by health expenditure covered by government|Public expenditure on health]]<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.mcc.gov/who-we-fund/indicator/health-expenditures-indicator |title = Health Expenditures Indicator}}</ref>
|Investing in people
|[[World Health Organization]]
|-
|Girls' [[primary education]] completion rate <ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.mcc.gov/who-we-fund/indicator/girls-primary-education-completion-rate-indicator |title = Girls' Primary Education Completion Rate Indicator| work=Millennium Challenge Corporation }}</ref> / Girls' [[secondary education]] completion rate <ref>{{Cite web |title=Girls' Lower Secondary Education Completion Rate Indicator |url=https://www.mcc.gov/who-we-select/indicator/girls-lower-secondary-education-completion-rate-indicator/ |access-date=2024-11-23 |website=Millennium Challenge Corporation |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Fletcher |first=Terry |date=October 2023 |title=MCC's New Scorecard Indicator: Employment Opportunity |url=https://www.mcc.gov/blog/entry/blog-101422-scorecard-indicator-employment/ |access-date=2024-11-23 |website=Millennium Challenge Corporation |language=en}}</ref>
|Investing in people
|[[UNESCO]]
|-
|Public expenditure on [[education]]<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.mcc.gov/who-we-fund/indicator/primary-education-expenditures-indicator |title = Primary Education Expenditures Indicator}}</ref>
|Investing in people
|UNESCO and national sources
|-
|[[Natural resource management|Natural resource protection]]<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.mcc.gov/who-we-fund/indicator/natural-resource-protection | title=Natural Resource Protection| newspaper=Millennium Challenge Corporation}}</ref>
|Investing in people
|CIESIN/Yale
|-
|[[Child Health]]<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.mcc.gov/who-we-select/indicator/child-health-indicator | title=Child Health Indicator}}</ref>
|Investing in people
|CIESIN/Yale
|-
|[[Inflation rate]]<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.mcc.gov/who-we-fund/indicator/inflation-indicator |title = Inflation Indicator}}</ref>
|Economic freedom
|[[International Monetary Fund]] WEO
|-
|[[Trade policy]]<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.mcc.gov/who-we-fund/indicator/trade-policy-indicator |title = Trade Policy Indicator| work=Millennium Challenge Corporation }}</ref>
|Economic freedom
|[[The Heritage Foundation]]
|-
|[[Land rights]] and [[Freedom to roam|access]] index <ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.mcc.gov/who-we-fund/indicator/land-rights-and-access-indicator |title = Land Rights and Access Indicator}}</ref>
|Economic freedom
|[[International Fund for Agricultural Development|IFAD]] / [[V-Dem Institute]]
|-
|[[Regulatory]] quality <ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.mcc.gov/who-we-fund/indicator/regulatory-quality-indicator |title = Regulatory Quality Indicator}}</ref>
|Economic freedom
|World Bank Institute
|-
|[[Fiscal policy]]<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.mcc.gov/who-we-fund/indicator/fiscal-policy-indicator |title = Fiscal Policy Indicator}}</ref>
|Economic freedom
| [[IMF]] WEO
|-
|[[Financial inclusion|Access to Credit]]<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.mcc.gov/who-we-select/indicator/access-to-credit-indicator |title = Access to Credit Indicator}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Fletcher |first=Terry |date=October 2021 |title=Strengthening Financial Inclusion on MCC's Scorecard |url=https://www.mcc.gov/blog/entry/blog-101921-financial-inclusion/ |access-date=2024-11-23 |website=Millennium Challenge Corporation |language=en}}</ref>
|Economic freedom
|Findex, [[World Bank]], IMF
|-
|[[Women's rights|Gender in the Economy]]<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.mcc.gov/who-we-select/indicator/access-to-credit-indicator |title = Gender in the Economy Indicator}}</ref>
|Economic freedom
| [[Women, Business and the Law]] [[World Bank]], [[UCLA]]
|-
|[[Labor rights|Employment Opportunity]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Employment Opportunity Indicator |url=https://www.mcc.gov/who-we-select/indicator/employment-opportunity/ |access-date=2024-11-23 |website=Millennium Challenge Corporation |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Fletcher |first=Terry |date=October 2022 |title=MCC's New Scorecard Indicator: Employment Opportunity |url=https://www.mcc.gov/blog/entry/blog-101422-scorecard-indicator-employment/ |access-date=2024-11-23 |website=Millennium Challenge Corporation |language=en}}</ref>
|Economic freedom
|[[V-Dem Institute]], [[University of California, Los Angeles|UCLA]]
|}

An eligible country must apply for a grant with a specific project in mind.

== Countries and country tools ==
;Compact countries
{{colbegin|colwidth=15em}}
* {{Flag|Armenia}}
* {{Flag|Benin}}
* {{Flag|Burkina Faso}}
* {{Flag|Cabo Verde}}
* {{Flag|Côte d'Ivoire}}
* {{Flag|El Salvador}}
* {{Flag|Georgia}}
* {{Flag|Ghana}}
* {{Flag|Honduras}}
* {{Flag|Indonesia}}
* {{Flag|Jordan}}
* {{Flag|Kosovo}}
* {{Flag|Lesotho}}
* {{Flag|Liberia}}
* {{Flag|Madagascar}}
* {{Flag|Malawi}}
* {{Flag|Mali}}
* {{Flag|Moldova}}
* {{Flag|Mongolia}}
* {{Flag|Morocco}}
* {{Flag|Mozambique}}
* {{Flag|Namibia}}
* {{Flag|Nepal}}
* {{Flag|Nicaragua}}
* {{Flag|Niger}}
* {{Flag|Philippines}}
* {{Flag|Senegal}}
* {{Flag|Sri Lanka}}
* {{Flag|Tanzania}}
* {{Flag|Timor Leste}}
* {{Flag|Tunisia}}
* {{Flag|Vanuatu}}
* {{Flag|Zambia}}
{{colend}}
;Threshold countries
{{colbegin|colwidth=15em}}
* {{Flag|Albania}}
* {{Flag|Burkina Faso}}
* {{Flag|Ethiopia}}
* {{Flag|Guatemala}}
* {{Flag|Guyana}}
* {{Flag|Honduras}}
* {{Flag|Indonesia}}
* {{Flag|Jordan}}
* {{Flag|Kosovo}}
* {{Flag|Gambia}}
* {{Flag|Indonesia}}
* {{Flag|Kenya}}
* {{Flag|Kyrgyz Republic}}
* {{Flag|Liberia}}
* {{Flag|Malawi}}
* {{Flag|Moldova}}
* {{Flag|Niger}}
* {{Flag|Paraguay}}
* {{Flag|Peru}}
* {{Flag|Philippines}}
* {{Flag|Rwanda}}
* {{Flag|São Tomé and Príncipe}}
* {{Flag|Solomon Islands}}
* {{Flag|Tanzania}}
* {{Flag|Togo}}
* {{Flag|Timor Leste}}
* {{Flag|Uganda}}
* {{Flag|Ukraine}}
* {{Flag|Zambia}}
{{colend}}

== MCC compacts and thresholds programs in recipient countries ==
MCC signs either a compact or a threshold agreement with a partner country. A compact is awarded if the country scores highly on the selection criteria indicators. If the country scores poorly but has a positive, upward trend on the selection criteria, it can still be eligible for a smaller grant, called a threshold program.

MCC requires that each partner government creates a special purpose legal entity that will be accountable for implementing the compact program.

==Eligible countries==
In the first year (2004), 17 countries were made eligible for an MCC grant: [[Armenia]], [[Benin]], [[Bolivia]], [[Cape Verde]], [[El Salvador]], [[Georgia (country)|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. On June 16, 2006, [[the Gambia]] was suspended, citing deterioration in 8 of the 16 criteria categories.<ref>{{cite web | title=The Gambia Suspended from Participation in MCC Compact Program| publisher=Millennium Challenge Corporation | date=June 16, 2006 | url=http://www.mcc.gov/public_affairs/press_releases/pr_061606_Gambia.shtml| access-date=2006-09-13 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060902211136/http://www.mcc.gov/public_affairs/press_releases/pr_061606_Gambia.shtml <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2006-09-02}}</ref> [[Mali]] was approved in October 2006 for a $461 million program to develop modern irrigation systems and an industrial park.<ref>{{cite web |author =Charles W. Corey| title=Millennium Challenge Corporation approves $461 million for Mali| publisher=Relief Web | date=October 26, 2006 | url=http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/YAOI-6UY37G?OpenDocument| access-date=2006-10-30}}</ref> [[Jordan]] was granted full compact eligibility, despite objections from Freedom House for its lack of full political and civil rights.<ref>{{cite web | title=Millennium Challenge Corporation Should Hold Countries to Higher Standards of Democratic Governance| publisher=Freedom House | date=November 2, 2006|url=http://freedomhouse.org/template.cfm?page=70&release=435| access-date=2006-11-13}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |author =Kevin J. Kelley| title=East Africa: Graft Costs Uganda And Kenya Millions in U.S. Aid| newspaper=The East African| date=November 14, 2006 | url=http://allafrica.com/stories/200611140069.html?page=2| access-date=2006-11-20}}</ref> In June 2007, MCA-eligible countries in Africa held a meeting in [[Accra]], Ghana, to discuss their experiences.<ref>{{cite web | title=Meeting of MCA Eligible Countries in Africa| publisher=Business Ghana| date=June 11, 2007 | url=http://www.businessghana.com/portal/events/index.php?op=getEventInfo&id=893| access-date=2007-07-15}}</ref> [[Malawi]] qualified for a full compact in 2007, while [[Mauritania]] became threshold eligible.<ref>{{cite web | title=Millennium Challenge Corporation Reinforces Support for Africa: Malawi and Mauritania Selected to Participate| publisher=Millennium Challenge Corporation| date= December 12, 2007 | url=http://www.mcc.gov/press/releases/2007/release-121207-selection.php| access-date=2008-02-03 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080115071922/http://www.mcc.gov/press/releases/2007/release-121207-selection.php <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2008-01-15}}</ref>

===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.<ref>{{cite web|title=Millennium Challenge Corporation Names Seven Countries Eligible for Threshold Program |publisher=Millennium Challenge Corporation |date=September 30, 2004 |url=http://www.mcc.gov/public_affairs/press_releases/threshold%20press%20release.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041014232814/http://www.mcc.gov/public_affairs/press_releases/threshold%20press%20release.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 14, 2004 |access-date=2006-09-14 }}</ref> [[Jordan]] received a Threshold program aimed at democracy and trade totaling $25 million.<ref>{{cite web|title=US grants Jordan 25 million dollars to finance reforms |publisher=dpa German Press Agency |date=October 17, 2006 |url=http://rawstory.com/news/2006/US_grants_Jordan_25_million_dollars_10172006.html |access-date=2006-10-17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110603231538/http://rawstory.com/news/2006/US_grants_Jordan_25_million_dollars_10172006.html |archive-date=June 3, 2011 }}</ref> [[Yemen]] was previously eligible for a threshold agreement, but was suspended after their indicators fell too low to qualify. But having successfully completed a democratic election and various economic reforms, the MCC made Yemen eligible again for a threshold agreement.<ref>{{cite web | title=Yemen's Eligibility for Assistance Reinstated by Millennium Challenge Corporation Board| publisher=United States Embassy in Yemen| date= February 15, 2007 | url=http://yemen.usembassy.gov/yemen/MCC_feb_07.html| access-date=2007-03-29 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070815110707/http://yemen.usembassy.gov/yemen/MCC_feb_07.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2007-08-15}}</ref> On December 12, 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.<ref>{{cite web | title=Millennium Challenge Corporation Reinforces Support for Africa: Malawi and Mauritania Selected to Participate| publisher=Millennium Challenge Corporation| date= December 12, 2007 | url=http://www.mcc.gov/press/releases/2007/release-121207-selection.php| access-date=2007-12-13 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071216001424/http://www.mcc.gov/press/releases/2007/release-121207-selection.php <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2007-12-16}}</ref> In 2007 the U.S. Ambassador to [[Swaziland]] highlighted the progress on the MCC indicators over the last few years and encouraged the country to work toward eligibility.<ref>{{cite news |author =Timothy Simelane| title=Parker sees hope for Swazi economy| newspaper=The Swazi Observer| date= December 14, 2007 | url=http://www.observer.org.sz/main.php?id=40365&section=main| access-date=2007-12-14 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080107014926/http://www.observer.org.sz/main.php?id=40365&section=main <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2008-01-07}}</ref>

A full listing of MCC partner countries can be found at https://www.mcc.gov/where-we-work/. MCC's portfolio focuses mostly on African nations.

==Funding==
[[Congress of the United States|Congress]] has consistently provided less funding for the program than the president has requested. In [[fiscal year]] 2004, $650 million were provided for the program, with an increase up to $1.5 billion the next year.<ref>{{cite news| title=Nuts and Bolts of Bill| newspaper=The Washington Post| date=December 7, 2006| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A41379-2004Dec6?language=printer| access-date=2006-11-13| archive-date=2018-08-15| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180815134630/https://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A41379-2004Dec6/?language=printer| url-status=dead}}</ref> For fiscal year 2007, $2 billion were provided, a 14% increase over the previous year but still under the $3 billion target.<ref>{{cite web | title=Millennium Challenge Corporation Statement on Fiscal Year 2007 House Appropriation| publisher=Millennium Challenge Corporation| date= June 9, 2006 | url=http://www.mcc.gov/public_affairs/press_releases/pr_060906_FY07ha.shtml| access-date=2006-09-14 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060902211124/http://www.mcc.gov/public_affairs/press_releases/pr_060906_FY07ha.shtml <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2006-09-02}}</ref> Again for fiscal year 2008, less funding will be provided than was hoped for, and only $1.2 billion was budgeted; 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.<ref>{{cite web |author =Sheila Herrling | title=MCA Reauthorization Bill Killed| publisher=MCA Monitor Blog| date= December 11, 2006 | url=http://blogs.cgdev.org/mca-monitor/archives/2006/12/mca_reauthoriza.php| access-date=2006-12-17 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061215143702/http://blogs.cgdev.org/mca-monitor/archives/2006/12/mca_reauthoriza.php <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2006-12-15}}</ref> In discussions of the FY 2009 budget, the United States Senate 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.<ref>{{cite web |author =Celia W. Dugger| title=U.S. Agency's Slow Pace Endangers Foreign Aid| work=The New York Times| date= December 7, 2007 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/07/world/africa/07millennium.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin| access-date=2007-12-11}}</ref> Senator [[Richard Lugar]], the author of the amendment, responded that more "realistic" funding levels allowed for more compacts, thus spreading the "MCC effect".<ref>{{cite web |author =Richard G. Lugar| title=Foreign Aid Strategies| work=The New York Times| date= December 11, 2007 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/11/opinion/lweb11lugar.html?ref=opinion| access-date=2007-12-12}}</ref>
The amendment did not make it into the final bill.<ref>{{cite web |author =Megan Harris| title=Analysis: Promising aid program faces cuts| publisher=UPI| date= January 22, 2008 | url=http://www.metimes.com/Security/2008/01/22/analysis_promising_aid_program_faces_cuts/d7df/| access-date=2008-02-02 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080209144352/http://www.metimes.com/Security/2008/01/22/analysis_promising_aid_program_faces_cuts/d7df/ <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2008-02-09}}</ref> President Bush's FY 2008 budget requested $2.225 billion, the first time since the program's inception that the amount was not $3 billion, and enough money for five compacts, several threshold agreements and administrative funding.<ref>{{cite web | title=MCC FY 2009 Budget Request Supports Continued U.S. Commitment to Reduce Poverty| publisher=Millennium Challenge Corporation| date= February 4, 2008 | url=http://www.mcc.gov/documents/factsheet-020408-fy09budget.pdf| access-date=2008-02-14|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080409113746/http://www.mcc.gov/documents/factsheet-020408-fy09budget.pdf <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2008-04-09}}</ref>

==Reception and impact==

=== Initial justification ===
Studies by conservative groups such as [[The 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. The Heritage Foundation has consistently supported the MCC's approach, which has used their trade measure from the [[Index of Economic Freedom]].<ref>{{cite web| author=Paolo Pasicolan and Sara J. Fitzgerald| title=The Millennium Challenge Account: Linking Aid with Economic Freedom| publisher=The Heritage Foundation| date=October 18, 2002| url=http://www.heritage.org/Research/TradeandForeignAid/bg1602.cfm| access-date=2006-10-29| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061027204308/http://www.heritage.org/Research/TradeandForeignAid/bg1602.cfm| archive-date=2006-10-27| url-status=unfit}}</ref> In April 2005, the [[United States Government Accountability Office]] issued a favorable report about the work of the MCC and its work thus far.<ref>{{cite web | title=Progress Made on Key Challenges in First Year| publisher=Government Accountability Office| date= April 27, 2005 | url=http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d05625t.pdf| access-date=2006-10-29}}</ref> The [[Program Assessment Rating Tool]] (PART), which reviews the efficiency and results produced by U.S. government programs, was scheduled to be reviewed in 2007.<ref>{{cite web | title=Assessing Program Performance Using the Part| publisher=Office of Management and Budget| date= March 20, 2007 | url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/part/index.html| access-date=2007-03-28 | url-status=dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070314070051/http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/part/index.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2007-03-14}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite journal |author =Doug Johnson, Tristan Zajonc| title=Can Foreign Aid Create an Incentive for Good Governance? Evidence from the Millennium Challenge Corporation | publisher=John F. Kennedy School of Government| date=April 11, 2006 | ssrn=896293}}</ref> The [[World Policy Council]], headed by [[United States Ambassador to Botswana|Ambassador]] [[Horace Dawson]] and [[United States Senate|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.<ref>{{cite journal|first=Horace |last=Dawson |author-link=Horace Dawson |author2=Edward Brooke |author3-link=Henry Ponder |author3=Henry Ponder |author4=Vinton R. Anderson |author5-link=Bobby William Austin |author5=Bobby William Austin |author6-link=Ron Dellums |author6=Ron Dellums |author7-link=Kenton Keith (diplomat) |author7=Kenton Keith |author8=Huel D. Perkins |author9-link=Charles Rangel |author9=Charles Rangel |author10=Clathan McClain Ross |author11-link=Cornel West |author11=Cornel West |title=The Centenary Report Of The Alpha Phi Alpha World Policy Council |publisher=Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity |date=July 2006 |url=http://www.alpha-phi-alpha.com/Resources/ImageFile/File/image/WPC06-WEB.pdf |access-date=27 January 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090225132901/http://www.alpha-phi-alpha.com/Resources/ImageFile/File/image/WPC06-WEB.pdf |archive-date=25 February 2009 |author2-link=Edward Brooke }}</ref> ''Doing Business 2007'' cited the Millennium Challenge Accounts as a catalyst for reforms underway in 13 countries.<ref>{{cite web | title=Annual Report of International Finance Corporation Highlights Reform Incentives Created by Millennium Challenge Corporation| publisher=Millennium Challenge Corporation | date=September 6, 2006 | url=http://www.mcc.gov/public_affairs/press_releases/pr_090606_IFC.shtml| access-date=2006-09-13 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060929104703/http://www.mcc.gov/public_affairs/press_releases/pr_090606_IFC.shtml <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2006-09-29}}</ref> Also, [[Freedom House]] released subcategories for the first time since it was being used as part of the MCC's measurements to allow for more granular distinctions.<ref>{{cite web | title=Freedom House Releases Subcategory and Aggregate Scores for Freedom in the World| publisher=Freedom House| date=September 28, 2006 | url=http://www.freedomhouse.org/template.cfm?page=70&release=418| access-date=2006-10-16}}</ref> Also, the number of days it takes to start a business in 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.<ref>{{cite web|title=Millennium Challenge Corporation Releases 2007 Country Data Measuring Performance on 16 Benchmark Indicators; MCA Eligibility Creating Incentives for Policy Reform in Countries |publisher=Millennium Challenge Corporation |date=October 16, 2006 |url=http://mcc.gov/public_affairs/press_releases/pr_101606_07country_data.shtml |access-date=2006-10-21 }}{{dead link|date=May 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

=== Subsequent impact ===
Since its inception, MCC has invested over $16 billion dollars in projects benefiting over 380 million people, including training nearly half a million farmers, creating over 7,000 kilometers of electrical lines and building thousands of roads.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Collinson |first=Erin |date=January 2024 |title=Happy Birthday, MCC! An American Experiment in Promoting Effective Economic Development Turns 20 |url=https://www.cgdev.org/blog/happy-birthday-mcc-american-experiment-promoting-effective-economic-development-turns-20 |publisher=[[Center for Global Development]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=August 2024 |first=Helen Murphy // 30 |date=2024-08-30 |title=Devex Newswire: After two decades, a look at MCC's impact |url=https://www.devex.com/news/devex-newswire-after-two-decades-a-look-at-mcc-s-impact-108192 |access-date=2024-11-23 |website=Devex |language=en}}</ref> MCC has published over 190 studies on the effectiveness of its assistance in partner countries.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Millennium Challenge Corporation Evidence Platform |url=https://mcc.icpsr.umich.edu/ |access-date=2024-11-23 |website=mcc.icpsr.umich.edu |language=en}}</ref> Reviews of multiple studies on particular sectors have found some programs have had an impact on growth and poverty reduction, while others have had less impact than initially expected.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last1=Ricou |first1=Marcel |last2=Moore |first2=Ryan |date=March 2020 |title=Principles into Practice: Training Service Delivery for Jobs & Productivity |url=https://www.mcc.gov/resources/doc/paper-p-into-p-tvet/ |access-date=2024-11-23 |website=Millennium Challenge Corporation |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Patel |first=Shreena |date=November 2017 |title=Principles into Practice: Lessons from MCC's Investments in Roads |url=https://www.mcc.gov/resources/doc/p-into-p-roads/ |access-date=2024-11-23 |website=Millennium Challenge Corporation |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last1=Chambers |first1=Gail |last2=Patel |first2=Shreena |date=June 2021 |title=Principles into Practice: Lessons from Evaluations of MCC Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Programs |url=https://www.mcc.gov/resources/doc/paper-p-into-p-wash/ |access-date=2024-11-23 |website=Millennium Challenge Corporation |language=en}}</ref>  Immediate outputs from the programs are more frequently attributed to MCC's assistance, while longer term impacts are often more difficult to connect directly MCC's programs.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />

More recent research has also been done into the "MCC Effect" and the relationship between MCC's Country Scorecards economic growth, and poverty reduction.<ref name=":3">{{Cite journal |last1=Parks |first1=Bradley C. |last2=Davis |first2=Caroline |date=April 2019 |title=When do governments trade domestic reforms for external rewards? Explaining policy responses to the Millennium Challenge Corporation's eligibility standards |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/gove.12376 |journal=Governance |language=en |volume=32 |issue=2 |pages=349–367 |doi=10.1111/gove.12376 |issn=0952-1895|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref name=":4">Parks, B. C., & Rice, Z. J. (2013). Does the “MCC Effect” Exist? Results from the 2012 MCA Stakeholder Survey. Center for Global Development (MCA Monitor), 1-10.</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite journal |last1=Fletcher |first1=Terry |last2=Rosenberg |first2=Talia |date=November 20, 2024 |title=Is Governance Associated with Poverty Reduction Independent of Economic Growth? |url=https://www.mcc.gov/resources/doc/paper-governance-and-economic-growth/ |journal=Millennium Challenge Corporation}}</ref> Some studies have found evidence that countries do engage in policy reform in order to improve on MCC's scorecards.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" />  While others have demonstrated a connection between MCC's eligibility criteria and development outcomes for a country such as lower poverty.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Grant |first=Daniel |date=2012 |title=Investigating the empirical relationship between millennium challenge corporation aid eligibility criteria and development outcomes |url=https://www.proquest.com/openview/ba2e19498e9b4f6e49f7e4ce49fa0dea/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=18750 |access-date=2024-11-23 |website=www.proquest.com |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":5" /> Some find that these relationships are independent of growth, with lower poverty rates in countries that have passed the MCC scorecard than those that fail it, even holding GDP constant.<ref name=":5" />

=== Criticism ===
Some critics have charged that the program uses indicators by conservative groups, such as [[The Heritage Foundation]], and is therefore biased toward free market economics and reimposing [[American imperialism]] on the [[Global South]].<ref>{{cite web |author =Mark Engler| title=Calling Bad Business Good| publisher=TomPaine.com| date= October 30, 2006 | url=http://www.tompaine.com/articles/2006/10/30/calling_bad_business_good.php| access-date=2006-10-30}}</ref><ref>Mawdsley, Emma, 2007, "The Millennium Challenge Account: Neo-liberalism, poverty and security", ''Review of International Political Economy'', 14(3), pp.487-509</ref><ref>Carbone, M., 2004, “The Millennium Challenge Account: A Marginal Revolution in US Foreign Aid Policy”, ''Review of African Political Economy'', 31(101), pp.536-542</ref><ref>Soederberg, Susanne, 2004, “American empire and ‘excluded states’: the Millennium Challenge Account and the Shift to pre-emptive development”, ''Third World Quarterly'', 35(2), pp.279-302</ref> The program is said to have resulted in countries receiving less funding from other U.S. government development organizations and not more. Some development agencies have felt frozen out of the process since the compact programs are designed primarily by the country involved.<ref>{{cite web| author=Tim Starks| title=A Slouching Millennium Challenge| publisher=Congressional Quarterly| date=June 18, 2007| url=http://public.cq.com/docs/cqw/weeklyreport110-000002533265.html| access-date=2006-10-30| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070704050737/http://public.cq.com/docs/cqw/weeklyreport110-000002533265.html| archive-date=2007-07-04| url-status=dead}}</ref> Implementation has been difficult in [[Armenia]], and concern about its effectiveness has been expressed.<ref>{{cite web|title=SOLUTION TO PROBLEM OF UNEQUAL DEVELOPMENT OF YEREVAN AND RURAL AREAS MOST IMPORTANT TASK |publisher=ARKA News Agency |date=September 18, 2006 |url=http://www.arka.am/en/archive/n09/n1809/180905.html |access-date=2006-10-16 }}{{dead link|date=May 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

In February 2020, the [[Cabinet of Sri Lanka]] said it would not sign the proposed MCC agreement in its present form. A committee of experts had determined that it contained clauses incompatible with the [[Constitution of Sri Lanka]] and was "detrimental" to the country's sovereignty.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.adaderana.lk/news/61064/cabinet-decides-not-to-sign-proposed-mcc-agreement|title=Cabinet decides not to sign proposed MCC agreement|work=Ada Derana|date=28 February 2020}}</ref>  After a board meeting on 15 December 2020, the MCC announced the cancelation of the proposed compact with Sri Lanka.<ref name=CG161220>{{cite news|url=https://colombogazette.com/2020/12/16/mcc-discontinues-480-million-compact-deal-with-sri-lanka/|title=MCC discontinues $480 million Compact deal with Sri Lanka|date=16 December 2020|access-date=17 December 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-12-18 |title=Lanka Loses Half A Billion-Dollar MCC Grant; Gota Rewards Main Culprit As US Envoy |url=https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/lanka-loses-half-a-billion-dollar-mcc-grant-gota-rewards-main-culprit-as-us-envoy/ |access-date=2024-11-23 |website=Colombo Telegraph |language=en-US}}</ref> Several sources have cited a Chinese government disinformation campaign against MCC was the origin of these concerns.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Millennium Challenge Corporation at 20: Progress and Prospects {{!}} Council on Foreign Relations |url=https://www.cfr.org/event/millennium-challenge-corporation-20-progress-and-prospects |access-date=2024-11-23 |website=www.cfr.org |publisher=[[Council on Foreign Relations]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Today |first=Ceylon |date=2022-07-07 |title=Lankans 'duped' by fake news on MCC |url=https://ceylontoday.lk/2022/07/08/lankans-duped-by-fake-news-on-mcc/ |access-date=2024-11-23 |website=Ceylon Today |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Wignaraja |first=Ganeshan |date=September 2019 |title=Making the Millennium Challenge Corporation Compact Work for Sri Lanka |url=https://www.eastwestcenter.org/publications/making-the-millennium-challenge-corporation-compact-work-sri-lanka |work=[[East West Center]]}}</ref> A similar disinformation effort attributed to the Chinese government was attempted against MCC's program in Nepal, but was ultimately unsuccessful and the compact moved forward.<ref>{{Cite web |title=US envoy nominee: Nepal ratified MCC despite China's 'disinformation campaign' |url=https://kathmandupost.com/national/2022/07/15/us-envoy-nominee-nepal-ratified-mcc-despite-china-s-disinformation-campaign |access-date=2024-11-23 |website=kathmandupost.com |language=English}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-08-08 |title=Nepal ratified MCC Compact in the face of China's 'disinformation campaign': US Envoy Nominee |url=https://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/nepal-ratified-mcc-compact-in-the-face-of-china-s-disinformation-campaign-us-envoy-nominee/ |access-date=2024-11-23 |website=myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mishra |first=Abhinandan |date=2024-06-15 |title=Under China's shadow: Nepali media under Beijing's control |url=https://sundayguardianlive.com/top-five/under-chinas-shadow-nepali-media-under-beijings-control#google_vignette |access-date=2024-11-23 |website=The Sunday Guardian Live |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=MCC office welcomes Chinese bidders, with a caveat |url=https://kathmandupost.com/national/2023/05/21/mcc-office-welcomes-chinese-bidders-with-a-caveat |access-date=2024-11-23 |website=kathmandupost.com |language=English}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Pokharel |first=Arjun Prasad |date=2024-06-28 |title=Navigating the Complexities of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) in Nepal |url=https://nepjol.info/index.php/academia/article/view/67367 |journal=Academia Research Journal |language=en |volume=3 |issue=2 |pages=24–34 |doi=10.3126/academia.v3i2.67367 |issn=2961-1989|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Millennium Challenge Corporation’s Nepal Compact]]
* [[Title 22 of the Code of Federal Regulations]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20161229072238/https://www.mcc.gov/ Official Website]
* [https://fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RL32427.pdf Millennium Challenge Corporation.] [[Congressional Research Service]]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20161121211613/https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/millennium-challenge-corporation Millennium Challenge Corporation] in the [[Federal Register]]

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:2004 establishments in the United States]]
[[Category:Independent agencies of the United States government]]
[[Category:International development agencies]]
[[Category:United States foreign aid]]
[[Category:Foreign relations of the United States]]