MCC CEO Webinar: MCC's New Regional Compacts

What role can the United States play in helping support African countries pursue integration as part of their economic growth and recovery goals? One promising approach is through new regional compacts with the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC). From its earliest days, MCC has invested in sectors with inherent regional integration or expansion opportunities, such as transportation, infrastructure, or energy. But until recently, the agency has only engaged at the country level. Now, with the authority to undertake cross border investments, MCC has begun pursuing its first regional compact(s) in West Africa, with the anticipated involvement of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, and Niger.

The Center for Global Development hosted a virtual event to discuss how the United States can support regional integration for growth in Africa. Centering around MCC’s forthcoming regional investments in West Africa, this conversation explored key opportunities for impact, consider alignment with country and regional strategies, and discuss the operational challenges that accompany complex programs.

Featured remarks:

• Sean Cairncross, CEO, Millennium Challenge Corporation

In conversation with:

• Masood Ahmed, President, Center for Global Development

Panelists:

• Mahmoud Bah, Regional Team Lead, Millennium Challenge Corporation
• Maryla Maliszewska, Senior Economist, World Bank
• Ahmadou Aly Mbaye, Professor of Economics and Public Policies, Cheikh Anta Diop University
• Gyude Moore, Senior Policy Fellow, Center for Global Development

Moderator:

• Sarah Rose, Policy Fellow, Center for Global Development