U.S. Millennium Challenge Corporation Delegation Visits Dakar
For Immediate Release
March 16, 2023
U.S. Millennium Challenge Corporation Delegation Visits Dakar to Progress Regional
Compact Development
Dakar, Senegal (March 16, 2023) – The U.S. Government’s Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) is wrapping up a successful first visit to Senegal to progress design of a potential regional compact – an investment grant aimed at reducing poverty and building inclusive, sustainable
economic growth throughout the region.
During the visit, MCC met with the private sector, government officials, representatives from all parties, and other development partners to discuss Senegal’s economy. These meetings are part of an ongoing effort to identify economic sectors that offer the greatest opportunities for regional
integration benefits, a process that is being conducted in partnership with the government of Senegal.
“We were thrilled to connect with so many local leaders from all aspects of society to discuss Senegal’s economy as it relates to the broader region,” said Alicia Robinson-Morgan, Managing Director for Africa at MCC. “We look forward to continuing these conversations, focusing in on the priority sectors, and building a compact that benefits all Senegalese and the region.”
MCC’s Board of Directors selected Senegal as eligible to develop a regional compact in December 2022 following the strong performance of Senegal on the MCC scorecard and the continued progress on the $550 million Senegal Power Compact, which is currently being implemented. The Senegal Power Compact aims to reduce poverty by improving electricity reliability, expanding electricity access outside of Dakar, and supporting the government of
Senegal to improve the sector’s governance and financial viability for sustainable development. The proposed regional compact and Senegal Power Compact both follow the $540 million MCC-Senegal compact that concluded in 2015.
The MCC-Senegal Compact focused on the agricultural sector, expanding access to markets and services by constructing roads and irrigation
networks in the Senegal River Valley in the north and the Casamance region in the south. The Millennium Challenge Corporation is an independent U.S. government development agency working to reduce global poverty through economic growth. Created in 2004, MCC provides
time-limited grants that pair investments in infrastructure with policy and institutional reforms to countries that meet rigorous standards for good governance, fighting corruption, and respecting democratic rights.
