On November 9 the U.S. Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) released its annual scorecard for 78 countries on their policy performance in the areas of economic freedom, ruling justly, and investing in people. Mozambique passed 13 of 20 scorecard indicators.
MCC’s annual country scorecards compile data from 20 independent, third-party indicators and are key components in MCC’s annual selection process that determines which countries are eligible to develop a five-year grant agreement, known as a “compact,” with the agency.
Mozambique made gains in some scorecard categories compared to last year, specifically with improvements in immunisation rates and fiscal policy. However, this was offset by a five-point decline in the political rights indicator, which is based on Freedom House’s 2020 Freedom in the World Report. This indicator measures: the prevalence of free and fair elections of officials with real power; the ability of citizens to form political parties that may compete fairly in elections; freedom from domination by the military, foreign powers, totalitarian parties, religious hierarchies, and economic oligarchies; and the political rights of minority groups, among other related categories.
MCC will continue to work with the Government of Mozambique to develop a high-impact assistance compact by 2023 that will alleviate constraints to economic growth and poverty reduction in Mozambique. Partner countries should continue to pass the scorecard throughout the life of the partnerships to remain eligible for MCC assistance.
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“The development of a new compact will play a crucial role in unlocking Mozambique’s growth,” said U.S. Ambassador Dennis W. Hearne. “We are committed to working with our Mozambican partners to achieve our shared goal of a more prosperous, just, and healthy future for all Mozambicans.”
Created in 2004, MCC is an innovative foreign assistance agency designed to deliver programs that reduce poverty in developing countries through economic growth. MCC and the Government of Mozambique developed a five-year, US$506.9M compact in 2008 to invest in water and sanitation, roads, land tenure, and agriculture. The MCC Board of Directors selected Mozambique to develop a subsequent compact in December 2019. The compact development process is being led by former Mozambican Minister of Agriculture and Food Security and current MCC National Coordinator Higino de Marrule, and by MCC Country Director Kenneth Miller on the U.S. side.
Source: U.S. Embassy Maputo Press Office via Club of Mozambique
