If Senegal wants to keep its USD540 million compact with the Millennium Challenge Corp., the African nation needs to ensure the success of its fight against corruption.
“To qualify for and, more importantly, maintain MCC funds, countries must demonstrate positive policy performance and fight corruption,” U.S. Ambassador to Senegal Marcia Bernicat said in a commentary, as reported by Reuters. “The American people insist that their development dollars need to meaningfully improve the lives of the people of Senegal.”
Senegal had already carried out measures to deal with corruption even before MCC signed the five-year compact last year, said Mamadou Bamba Ndiaye, spokesman of Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade.
The MCC funding will be used to build roads, improve agriculture and set up economic enterprise zones in Senegal.
Meanwhile, MCC has approved a USD15 million threshold program grant to support Liberia’s economic reforms. The grant will target land rights, girls’ education and trade policy. The U.S. Agency for International Development will administer the program, and therefore spearhead coordination, contracting and financial management.
