It was inspiring to be part of such an impressive group during last week’s ceremony honoring the ONE Campaign. The 2008 Commitment to Development “Ideas in Action” Award, sponsored by the Center for Global Development and Foreign Policy magazine, brought together a core group of people whose collective voice demonstrates that Americans care deeply about poverty. ONE’s tireless commitment to raise awareness about global poverty through a grassroots campaign is certainly worthy of this recognition.
It is a commitment we too share at the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC). Some may not know about initiatives like this one in which the United States is working to combat global poverty through results-driven creativity and innovation. I enjoy hearing people’s reactions when they learn about MCC – a U.S. Government agency with the sole mission of reducing global poverty through sustainable economic growth. Without exception, they feel satisfied knowing that there is an approach that matches U.S. generosity with accountability and results.
Private citizens from all backgrounds and professional sectors know that poverty requires action and attention. Just ask MCC’s four private sector Board of Director members, who came together in a video to discuss how MCC generates real results in the fight against global poverty by marrying capacity-building engagement with partner countries and a smart, fiscally-responsible use of resources. In times like these, as Americans everywhere are watching every penny, they can be confident that their government’s MCC, together with our partner countries, are delivering returns and results from every investment made. The world’s poor and American taxpayers deserve no less.
One way this approach to foreign assistance builds accountability is by asking countries to identify their development needs. It is country responsibility—country ownership—at work. Ambassador Ombeni Sefue of Tanzania, which is implementing a $698 million MCC grant, says: “Ownership and partnership have to prepare us to stand on our own feet…We determine needs. We set priorities.” As partners in development, MCC countries are championing their programs from the outset and investing in their success until the end. ONE staff member Chandler Smith witnessed this when she recently visited a pineapple farm in Ghana, where MCC is partnering on a $547 million grant. Through MCC-funded technical training, Ghanaian pineapple farmers are growing their operations in sustainable ways.
For our part, MCC takes the time to study where our investments would make the most sense. After careful due diligence, we invest in those countries where our grants can have the deepest impact for the greatest number of people—in countries that support good governance, fight corruption, invest in their people, and encourage economic freedom. Practicing fiscal accountability, MCC funding is released in tranches as benchmarks are reached. MCC’s focus on the international best practice of “aid predictability,” where we set aside the entire grant amount from the start, gives partner countries the confidence of knowing that they will be able to complete their projects. It’s an effective, respectful, smart way to tackle these urgent problems.
Through country ownership and fiscal accountability, MCC is delivering on America’s commitment to end global poverty. With a strong budget, and partners like ONE and others in the development community, MCC can move even closer to making this shared commitment a reality. As MCC’s Acting CEO Rodney Bent said about the 2010 budget, “I think it will be reflective of the Obama administration’s support for MCC and of our work going forward, since MCC is about partnership and about finding good quality projects with partners. I’m confident that partnership, transparency, accountability, and working with other countries, in what I call a smart power way, is going to be a hallmark of the Obama administration, just as it has been a hallmark of MCC.”
This was first published in the ONE Campaign Blog on March 31, 2009.
