In a stride towards combating poverty in Africa, the Millennium Challenge Corporation’s (MCC) CEO, Alice Albright, embarked on a journey to Malawi and Zambia to celebrate remarkable progress in their collaborative efforts to alleviate poverty.
During her visit to Malawi, CEO Albright, alongside His Excellency President Lazarus Chakwera, marked the initiation of the $350 million Malawi Transport and Land Compact, specifically focusing on the Chileka-Likuni Corridor Road enhancement—a pivotal step towards improving transportation infrastructure vital for economic growth.
She participated in commemorating 60 years of diplomatic ties between the United States and Malawi, underscoring the enduring partnership in fostering economic prosperity and democratic values.
Albright’s engagements extended to discussions with stakeholders from the Lilongwe City Council and attending the inauguration of the MCA-Malawi II offices, reinforcing MCC’s commitment to sustainable development in Malawi.
Reflecting on the significance of the compact, CEO Albright emphasized, “Malawi has been an important partner of MCC’s since the agency’s creation. Over the past two decades, we’ve shared a commitment to economic growth, democracy, and inclusivity, and partnership towards a more prosperous world.”
The Malawi Transport and Land Compact, officially launched on May 6, 2024, aims to benefit over 5 million Malawians by enhancing transportation networks and strengthening land administration, thereby facilitating better access to markets and improving land utilization.
With this compact, MCC’s total investment in Malawi reaches $721.6 million, including previous programs addressing fiscal management, corruption, and energy generation.
Transitioning to Zambia, CEO Albright convened with His Excellency President Hakainde Hichilema and government officials to commend the rapid progress towards finalizing a new MCC-Zambia compact.
The proposed compact, anticipated to target the agriculture and agro-processing sectors, holds promise in fostering inclusive economic growth. Albright engaged with various stakeholders, including farmers, business owners, and financial institutions, to grasp the prevailing challenges and opportunities in Zambia’s economic landscape.
“MCC’s investments in this proposed compact will help drive down the cost of transport, improve roads linking farmers to markets, leverage private capital for agro-producers and agro-processors, and support necessary agriculture reforms,” affirmed CEO Albright.
The proposed compact builds upon MCC’s prior investment of over $377 million in Zambia, which notably enhanced access to water and sanitation services, promoted economic growth, and tackled corruption and trade barriers.
The Millennium Challenge Corporation, an independent U.S. government development agency, operates with the mission to reduce global poverty through strategic investments in infrastructure and institutional reforms.
Since its inception in 2004, MCC has endeavored to uplift nations that uphold good governance, combat corruption, and respect democratic principles.
