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Latest Episodes:

MCC at 20: Applying the Model to Emerging Challenges Globally Jun 29, 2023

On June 13, MCC CEO Alice Albright participated in an event at the Woodrow Wilson Center titled “MCC at 20: Applying the Model to Emerging Challenges Globally.” At the event, Mark Kennedy, Director of the Wilson Center’s Wahba Institute for Strategic Competition, hosted CEO Albright and Wilson Center CEO Ambassador Mark Green in a discussion about what comes next for MCC and how the MCC model can be used to address today’s foreign affairs challenges. Excerpts from that event appear in the Wilson Center podcast, and with their permission MCC is sharing that podcast on our channel.

Democracy in the Digital Era May 02, 2023

In the current development landscape, many countries are experiencing a decline in democratic values and practices, with governments limiting civil liberties and curtailing citizen participation in democratic processes. In this episode, we'll explore the challenges and opportunities of supporting democracy, good governance, and economic development in the digital era with Alicia Phillips Mandaville, MCC's Vice President of the Department of Policy and Evaluation and Steve Feldstein, Senior Fellow from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

Empowering Women in Côte d’Ivoire Through Entrepreneurial Education and Digital Skills Feb 28, 2023

In this episode, MCC Director of Gender and Social Inclusion, Krista Rigalo and DigiFemmes Program Director, Nadine Zoro discuss how DigiFemmes empowers women entrepreneurs, such as Linda Dempah, with 21st-century skills to future-proof their careers and help their businesses thrive.

Powering the U.S.-Benin Relationship Jan 31, 2023

Benin, a country in West Africa with a population of more than 12 million, is working to grow its economy and deliver power to its people. MCC is partnering with Benin to reduce poverty and support economic growth through a $391 million compact focused on electric power. The compact is strengthening the national power utility, attracting private sector investment into solar power generation, and funding major investments in the national grid, as well as off-grid power systems. In this latest episode, MCC Resident Country Director for Benin, Chris Broughton, speaks with U.S. Ambassador to Benin, Brian Shukan, about the ways MCC is transforming the country’s power sector and what this means for the U.S.-Benin relationship.

All Eyes on the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit Dec 07, 2022

In this episode, MCC Deputy CEO Mahmoud Bah and Dana Banks, Senior Advisor to the President and Special Advisor for the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit, discuss the U.S. Africa Leaders Summit and how it will reinforce the U.S.-Africa commitment to democracy and foster new economic engagement on the continent.

MCC Selection Season Update Dec 01, 2022

In this podcast episode, Associate Director of Selection and Eligibility Naureen Haque and Senior Development Policy Officer of Selection, Eligibility, and Policy Performance Terry Fletcher discuss MCC's new scorecard indicator and how it measures disability rights and lessons learned from countries working to improve their scorecard performance.

The Economics of Inclusion, Part 2 Nov 01, 2022

Structural exclusion of disadvantaged groups is a problem in all countries, and MCC knows that widespread exclusion or inequality may constrain economic growth. In this episode, Aysha House, Vice President of the Department of Congressional and Public Affairs, continues the conversation from The Economics of Inclusion–Part 1 with Malika Laasri, Director General of MCA-Morocco and Oumar Diop, CEO of MCA-Senegal II, about the importance of integrating inclusion and gender in development.

The Economics of Inclusion, Part 1 Oct 27, 2022

Structural exclusion of disadvantaged groups is a problem in all countries, and MCC knows that widespread exclusion or inequality may constrain economic growth. In this episode, Aysha House, Vice President of the Department of Congressional and Public Affairs, speaks with Malika Laasri, Director General of MCA-Morocco and Oumar Diop, CEO of MCA-Senegal II, to talk about the importance of integrating inclusion and gender in development.

Climate Resiliency and Stemming the Mongolian Water Crisis Sep 15, 2022

In less than three decades, the population of Ulaanbaatar has nearly tripled in size, increasing the city's demand for water. To prevent imminent water shortages and protect the quality of life, the $350M MCC-Mongolia Water Compact supports the Government of Mongolia's efforts to expand Ulaanbaatar's water supply. In this episode, Cameron Alford, MCC’s Vice President of the Department of Compact Operations, speaks with Tina Yu, MCC’s Resident Country Director, about this compact, which is MCC's largest investment in climate-smart infrastructure, building resiliency and the U.S.-Mongolia relationship.

Driving Digital Growth Jul 28, 2022

In this episode, Aysha House, MCC's Vice President of Congressional and Public Affairs, speaks with Agnieszka Rawa, MCC's Managing Director of MCC Data Collaboratives for Local Impact, and Cina Lawson, Togo’s Minister of Digital Economy and Transformation about using digitization to unlock economic growth and attract private sector investments.

Nepal Compact Ratification Mar 31, 2022

In February 2022, the U.S. Government’s Millennium Challenge Corporation $500 million compact with the Government of Nepal was ratified. The compact aims to maintain road quality, increase the availability and reliability of electricity, and facilitate cross-border electricity trade between Nepal and India—helping to spur investments, accelerate economic growth, and reduce poverty.

The Business of Kindness Feb 15, 2022

MCC’s mission is to reduce poverty through economic growth. As a development agency, we partner with developing countries who are committed to good governance, economic freedom and investing in people. Investing in people is at the cornerstone of how MCC measures its development impact and value. As we look across MCC’s staff and culture, it’s important to build strong workplaces that foster inclusion, safety and compassion where teams are productive, and employees feel valued and respected.

It’s Selection Season at MCC Nov 18, 2021

MCC forms partnerships with developing countries who are committed to good governance, economic freedom and investing in their citizens. MCC is a prime example of smart U.S. Government assistance in action, and one of the distinctive hallmarks of the agency’s operations is competitive selection. In this episode, we discuss the selection process for MCC grant assistance, from the Board’s examination of a country’s performance on 20 independent and transparent policy indicators (MCC’s “Scorecard”) to other factors that impact initial selection through ongoing eligibility.

Back to School with MCC Oct 27, 2021

Fall is in full swing, which means school is back in session and students everywhere have resumed their learning journeys. MCC often refers to itself as a “learning institution.” But was does that mean in practice? In this episode, Aysha House, MCC Vice President of Congressional and Public Affairs, speaks to Alicia Phillips Mandaville, Vice President of Policy and Evaluation, and Casey Dunning, Director of Results and Learning, about what the agency means when it says it’s a “learning institution” and how MCC applies its learning culture to its programs.

Summer Camp with Isa Alcalde and Women in Science Morocco Sep 03, 2021

One hundred secondary school students based in Morocco, Côte d’Ivoire, and the United States attended the WiSci Morocco Girls' STEAM Camp in August for two weeks of informative discussions, interactive STEAM skills workshops, and leadership training. The WiSci (Women in Science) camps, born out of a public-private partnership between organizations committed to bridging the gender gap in science, technology, engineering, arts and design, and mathematics (STEAM), provide adolescent girls with technical knowledge and mentorship opportunities to help them explore a future in STEAM fields.

The Foundation of All Development Activities? Part 2 of 2 Aug 19, 2021

In part two of MCC Vice President of Congressional and Public Affairs Aysha House's conversation with Shawn Baker, the United States Agency for International Development’s Chief Nutritionist and MCC’s Katerina “Kat” Ntep, Deputy Vice President of Sector Operations, the intersectionality between nutrition and challenges such as conflict and climate come to the fore of this important discussion.

The Foundation of All Development Activities? Part 1 of 2 Aug 11, 2021

In part one of this episode, Aysha House, MCC Vice President of Congressional and Public Affairs, hosts a panel discussion on the importance and imperative of nutrition programs in the developing world with Shawn Baker, the United States Agency for International Development’s Chief Nutritionist and MCC’s Katerina “Kat” Ntep, Deputy Vice President of Sector Operations. Aysha and our guests explore the foundational nature of nutrition in international development and how development agencies across government can best leverage their strengths for maximum impact in this critical sector.

Regional Economic Integration and Private Sector Investment in Africa Jun 24, 2021

Implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area, private sector investment and development of robust domestic markets across the African continent are critical to promoting inclusive economic growth. In Part 2 of her conversation with Dr. Donald Kaberuka, Co-chair of the United Nations Secretary-General’s High-Level Panel on Internal Displacement and renowned economist, MCC Deputy Chief Executive Officer Alexia Latortue explores what it will take for these factors to have maximum impact.

On Africa Day, What Will It Take for Economies to Recover When Covid Goes Away? May 25, 2021

Covid-19 has impacted economies around the world in unprecedented ways, with developing nations most adversely affected, with recent economic forecasts from the IMF estimating that GDP contracted by 2.6 percent across the continent in 2020, and World Bank estimates predicting that the impacts of the pandemic in Africa could drive up to 40 million people into extreme poverty—erasing recent progress. In her illuminating conversation with Dr. Donald Kaberuka, Co-chair of the United Nations Secretary-General’s High-Level Panel on Internal Displacement and renowned economist, MCC Deputy Chief Executive Officer Alexia Latortue shines a light on what it might take for African economies to recover from the pandemic, and what role development agencies might play in the process.

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