[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 188 (Friday, September 27, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51182-51189]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-20978]
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MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORPORATION
[MCC FR 19-07]
Report on the Criteria and Methodology for Determining the
Eligibility of Candidate Countries for Millennium Challenge Account
Assistance for Fiscal Year 2020
AGENCY: Millennium Challenge Corporation.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: This report to Congress is provided in accordance with the
Millennium Challenge Act of 2003, as amended (Act). The Millennium
Challenge Act of 2003 requires the Millennium Challenge Corporation to
publish a report that identifies the criteria and methodology that MCC
intends to use to determine which candidate countries may be eligible
to be considered for assistance under the Act for fiscal year 2020. The
report is set forth in full below.
Dated: September 23, 2019.
Brian Finkelstein,
Acting General Counsel.
Report on the Criteria and Methodology for Determining the Eligibility
of Candidate Countries for Millennium Challenge Account Assistance in
Fiscal Year 2020
Summary
In accordance with section 608(b)(2) of the Act (22 U.S.C.
7707(b)(2)), the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) is submitting
the enclosed report. This report identifies the criteria and
methodology that MCC intends to use to determine which candidate
countries may be eligible to be considered for assistance under the Act
for fiscal year 2020.
Under section 608(c)(1) of the Act (22 U.S.C. 7707(c)(1)), MCC
will, for a thirty-day period following publication, accept and
consider public comment for purposes of determining eligible countries
under section 607 of the Act (22 U.S.C. 7706).
This document explains how the Board of Directors (the Board) of
the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) will identify, evaluate, and
select eligible countries for fiscal year (FY) 2020. Specifically, this
document discusses the following:
I. Which countries MCC will evaluate?
II. How the Board evaluates these countries?
A. Overall Evaluation
B. For Selection of an Eligible Country for a First Compact
C. For Selection of an Eligible Country for a Second or
Subsequent Compact
D. For Selection of an Eligible Country for a Concurrent Compact
E. For Threshold Program Assistance
F. A Note on Potential Transition to Upper Middle Income Country
Status After Initial Selection
This report is provided in accordance with section 608(b) of the
Millennium Challenge Act of 2003, as amended (the Act), as more fully
described in Appendix A.
[[Page 51183]]
I. Which countries are evaluated?
MCC evaluates the policy performance of all candidate countries and
statutorily-prohibited countries by dividing them into two income
categories for the purposes of creating ``scorecards.'' These
categories are used to account for the income bias that occurs when
countries with more per capita resources perform better than countries
with fewer. In FY 2020, those scorecard evaluation income categories
\1\ are:
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\1\ These income groups correspond to the definitions of low
income countries and lower middle countries using the historical
International Development Association (IDA) threshold published by
the World Bank. MCC has used these categories to evaluate country
performance since FY 2004. Our amended statute no longer uses those
definitions for funding purposes, but we will continue to use them
for evaluation purposes.
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Countries whose gross national income (GNI) per capita is
$1,925 or less; and
Countries whose GNI per capita is between $1,926 and
$3,995.
Appendix B lists all candidate countries and statutorily-prohibited
countries for scorecard evaluation purposes.
II. How does the Board evaluate these countries?
A. Overall Evaluation
The Board looks at three legislatively-mandated factors when it
evaluates any candidate country for compact eligibility: (1) Policy
performance; (2) the opportunity to reduce poverty and generate
economic growth; and (3) the availability of MCC funds.
(1) Policy Performance
Appendix C describes all 20 indicators, their definitions, what is
required to ``pass,'' their source, and their relationship to the
legislative criteria. Because of the importance of evaluating a
country's policy performance in a comparable, cross-country way, the
Board relies to the maximum extent possible upon the best-available
objective and quantifiable policy performance indicators. These
indicators act as proxies for a country's commitment to just and
democratic governance, economic freedom, and investing in its people,
per MCC's founding legislation. Comprised of 20 third-party indicators
in the categories of ruling justly, encouraging economic freedom, and
investing in people, MCC scorecards are created for all candidate
countries and statutorily-prohibited countries. To ``pass'' most
indicators on its scorecard, a country's score on each indicator must
be above the median score in its income group (as defined above for
scorecard evaluation purposes). For the inflation, political rights,
civil liberties, and immunization rates \2\ indicators, however,
minimum or maximum scores for ``passing'' have been established. In
particular, the Board considers whether a country
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\2\ A minimum score required to pass has been established for
the immunization rates indicator only for countries in the scorecard
income pool defined as countries whose GNI per capita is between
$1,926 and $3,995 in FY 2020. Countries in the other scorecard
income pool, defined as those whose GNI per capita is $1,925 or less
in FY 2020, must score above the median score in their income pool
on the immunization rates indicator.
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passed at least 10 of the 20 indicators, with at least one
pass in each of the three categories,
passed either the Political Rights or Civil Liberties
indicator; and
passed the Control of Corruption indicator.
While satisfaction of all three aspects means a country is termed
to have ``passed'' the scorecard, the Board also considers whether the
country performs ``substantially worse'' in any one policy category
than it does on the scorecard overall.
The mandatory passing of either the Political Rights or Civil
Liberties indicators is called the Democratic Rights ``hard hurdle'' on
the scorecard, while the mandatory passing of the Control of Corruption
indicator is called the Control of Corruption ``hard hurdle.'' Not
passing either ``hard hurdle'' results in not passing the scorecard
overall, regardless of whether at least 10 of the 20 other indicators
are passed.
Democratic Rights ``hard hurdle:'' This hurdle sets a
minimum bar for democratic rights below which the Board will not
consider a country for eligibility. Requiring that a country pass
either the Political Rights or Civil Liberties indicator creates a
democratic incentive for countries, recognizes the importance democracy
plays in driving poverty-reducing economic growth, and holds MCC
accountable to working with the best governed, poorest countries. When
a candidate country is only passing one of the two indicators
comprising the hurdle (instead of both), the Board will also closely
examine why it is not passing the other indicator to understand what
the score implies for the broader democratic environment and trajectory
of the country. This examination will include consultation with both
local and international civil society experts, among others.
Control of Corruption ``hard hurdle:'' Corruption in any
country is an unacceptable tax on economic growth and an obstacle to
the private sector investment needed to reduce poverty. Accordingly,
MCC seeks out partner countries that are committed to combatting
corruption. It is for this reason that MCC also has the Control of
Corruption ``hard hurdle,'' which helps ensure that MCC is working with
countries where there is relatively strong performance in controlling
corruption. Requiring the passage of the indicator provides an
incentive for countries to demonstrate a clear commitment to
controlling corruption, and allows MCC to better understand the issue
by seeing how the country performs relative to its peers and over time.
Together, the 20 policy performance indicators are the predominant
basis for determining which eligible countries will be selected for MCC
assistance, and the Board expects a country to be passing its scorecard
at the point the Board decides to select the country for either a first
or second/subsequent compact. The Board, however, also recognizes that
even the best-available data has inherent challenges. Data gaps, real-
time events versus data lags, the absence of narratives and nuanced
detail, and other similar weaknesses affect each of these indicators.
As such, the Board uses its judgment to interpret policy performance as
measured by the scorecards. The Board may also consult other sources of
information to enhance its understanding of a country's policy
performance beyond scorecard issues (e.g., specific policy issues
related to trade, the treatment of civil society, other U.S. aid
programs, financial sector performance, and security/foreign policy
concerns). The Board uses its judgment on how best to weigh such
information in assessing overall policy performance.
(2) The Opportunity To Reduce Poverty and Generate Economic Growth
While the Board considers a range of other information sources
depending on the country, specific areas of attention typically include
better understanding issues and trends in, and trajectory of:
The state of democratic and human rights (especially
vulnerable groups \3\);
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\3\ For example: Women; children; LGBT individuals; people with
disabilities; and workers.
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civil society's perspective on salient governance issues;
the control of corruption and rule of law;
the potential for the private sector (both local and
foreign) to lead investment and growth;
poverty levels within a country; and
the country's institutional capacity.
[[Page 51184]]
Where applicable, the Board also considers MCC's own experience and
ability to reduce poverty and generate economic growth in a given
country--such as considering MCC's core skills versus a country's
needs, and MCC's capacity to work with a country.
This information provides greater clarity on the likelihood that
MCC programs will have an appreciable impact on reducing poverty by
generating economic growth in a given country. The Board has used such
information to better understand when a country's performance on a
particular indicator may not be up to date or is about to change. It
has also used it to decline to select countries that are otherwise
passing their scorecards. More details on this subject (sometimes
referred to as ``supplemental information'') can be found on MCC's
website: https://www.mcc.gov/.
(3) The Availability of MCC Funds
The final factor that the Board must consider when evaluating
countries is the available funds. The agency's budget allocation is
constrained, and often specifically limited, by provisions in our
authorizing legislation and appropriations acts. MCC has a continuous
pipeline of countries in compact development, compact implementation,
threshold programs, and compact closure. Consequently, the Board
factors in MCC's overall portfolio when making its selection decisions
given the funding available for each planned or existing program.
* * *
The following subsections describe how each of these three
legislatively-mandated factors are applied by the Board at the December
Board meeting: Selection of countries for a compact, selection of
countries for a second or subsequent compact, selection of countries
for the threshold program, and selection of countries for a concurrent
compact. A note follows on considerations for countries that might
transition to upper middle income country status after initial
selection.
B. Evaluation for Selection of Eligible Countries for a First Compact
When selecting eligible countries for a compact, the Board looks at
all three legislatively-mandated aspects described in the previous
section: (1) Policy performance, first and foremost as measured by the
scorecards and bolstered through additional information (as described
in the previous section); (2) the opportunity to reduce poverty and
generate economic growth, examined through the use of other supporting
information (as described in the previous section); and (3) available
funding.
At a minimum, the Board considers whether a country passes its
scorecard. It also examines supporting evidence that a country's
commitment to just and democratic governance, economic freedom, and
investing in its people is on a sound footing and performance is on a
positive trajectory (especially on the ``hard hurdles'' of Democratic
Rights and Control of Corruption), and that MCC has the funds to
support a meaningful compact with that country. Where applicable,
previous threshold program information is also considered. The Board
then weighs the information described above across each of the three
dimensions.
During the compact development period following initial selection,
the Board reevaluates a selected country based on this same approach.
C. Evaluation for Selection of Eligible Countries for a Second or
Subsequent Compact
Section 609(l) of the Act specifically authorizes MCC to enter into
``one or more subsequent Compacts.'' MCC does not consider the
eligibility of a country for a subsequent compact, however, before the
country has completed its compact or is within 18 months of compact
completion, (e.g., a second compact if it has completed or is within 18
months of completing its first compact). Selection for a subsequent
compact is not automatic and is intended only for countries that (1)
exhibit successful performance on their previous compact; (2) exhibit
improved scorecard policy performance during the partnership; and (3)
exhibit a continued commitment to further their sector reform efforts
in any subsequent partnership. As a result, the Board has an even
higher standard when selecting countries for subsequent compacts.
(1) Successful Implementation of the Previous Compact
To evaluate the previous compact's success, the Board examines
whether the compact succeeded within its budget and time limits, in
particular by looking at three aspects:
The degree to which there is evidence of strong political
will and management capacity: Is the partnership characterized by the
country ensuring that both policy reforms and the compact program
itself are both being implemented to the best of that country's
ability?
The degree to which the country has exhibited commitment
and capacity to achieve program results: Are the financial and project
results being achieved; to what degree is the country committing its
own resources to ensure the compact is a success; to what extent is the
private sector engaged (if relevant); and other compact-specific
issues?
The degree to which the country has implemented the
compact in accordance with MCC's core policies and standards: Is the
country adhering to MCC's policies and procedures, including in
critical areas such as: Remediating unresolved claims of fraud,
corruption, or abuse of funds; procurement; and monitoring and
evaluation?
Details on the specific information types examined and sources used
in each of the three areas are provided in Appendix D. Overall, the
Board is looking for evidence that the previous compact will be or has
been completed on time and on budget, and that there is a commitment to
continued, robust reform going forward.
(2) Improved Scorecard Policy Performance
The Board also expects the country to have improved its overall
scorecard policy performance during the partnership, and to pass the
scorecard in the year of selection for the subsequent compact. The
Board focuses on the following:
The overall scorecard pass/fail rate over time, and what
this suggests about underlying policy performance, as well as an
examination of the underlying reasons;
The progress over time on policy areas measured by both
hard-hurdle indicators--Democratic Rights and Control of Corruption--
including an examination of the underlying reasons; and
Other indicator trajectories deemed relevant by the Board.
In all cases, while the Board expects the country to be passing its
scorecard, other sources of information are examined to understand the
nuance and reasons behind scorecard or indicator performance over time,
including any real-time updates, methodological changes within the
indicators themselves, shifts in the relevant candidate pool, or
alternative policy performance perspectives (such as gleaned through
consultations with civil society and related stakeholders). Other
information sources are also consulted to look at policy performance
over time in areas not covered by the scorecard, but that are deemed
important by the Board (such as trade, foreign policy concerns, etc.).
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(3) A Commitment To Further Sector Reform
The Board expects that subsequent compacts will endeavor to tackle
deeper policy reforms necessary to unlock an identified constraint to
growth. Consequently, the Board considers its own experience during the
previous compact in considering how committed the country is to
reducing poverty and increasing economic growth, and tries to gauge the
country's commitment to further sector reform should it be selected for
a subsequent compact. This includes:
Assessing the country's delivery of policy reform during
the previous compact (as described above);
Assessing expectations of the country's ability and
willingness to continue embarking on sector policy reform in a
subsequent compact;
Examining both other information sources describing the
opportunity to reduce poverty by generating growth (as outlined in A.2
above), and the first compact's relative success overall, as already
discussed; and
Finally, considering how well funding can be leveraged for
impact, given the country's experience in the previous compact.
* * *
Through this overall approach to selection for a subsequent
compact, the Board applies the three legislatively mandated evaluation
criteria (policy performance, the opportunity to reduce poverty and
generate economic growth, and available funds) in a way that assesses
the previous partnership from a compact success standpoint, a
commitment to improved scorecard policy performance standpoint, and a
commitment to continued sector policy reform standpoint. The Board then
weighs all of the information described above in making a decision.
During the compact development period following initial selection,
the Board reevaluates a selected country based on this same approach.
D. Evaluation for Concurrent Compacts
Section 609(k) of the Act authorizes MCC to enter into one
additional concurrent compact with a country if one or both of the
compacts with the country is for the purpose of regional economic
integration, increased regional trade, or cross-border collaborations.
The fundamental criteria and process for the selection of countries
for such compacts remains the same as those for the selection of
countries for non-concurrent compacts: Countries continue to be
evaluated and selected individually, as described in sections II.A,
II.B, II.C, and II.F.
Section 609(k) also requires as a precondition for a concurrent
compact that the Board determine that the country is making
``considerable and demonstrable progress in implementing the terms of
the existing Compact and supplementary agreements thereto.'' This
statutory requirement is fully consistent with prior Board practice
regarding the selection of a country for a non-concurrent compact. For
a country where a concurrent compact is contemplated, the Board will
take into account whether there is clear evidence of success, as
relevant to the phase of the current compact. Among other information,
the Board will examine the evaluation criteria described in Section
II.C.1 above, notably:
The degree to which there is evidence of strong political
will and management capacity;
The degree to which the country has exhibited commitment
and capacity to achieve program results; and
The degree to which the country has implemented the
compact in accordance with MCC's core policies and standards.
In addition to providing information to the Board so it can make
its determination regarding the country's progress in implementing its
current compact, MCC will provide the Board with additional information
relating to the potential for regional economic integration, increased
regional trade, or cross-border collaborations for any country being
considered for a concurrent compact. This information may include items
such as:
The current state of a country's regional integration,
such as common financial and political dialogue frameworks, integration
of productive value chains, and cross-border flows of people, goods,
and services.
The current and potential level of trade between a country
and its neighbors, including analysis of trade flows and unexploited
potential for trade, and an assessment of the extent and significance
of tariff and non-tariff barriers, including information regarding the
patterns of trade.
The potential gains from cross-border cooperation between
a country and its neighbors to alleviate bilateral and regional
bottlenecks to economic growth and poverty reduction, such as through
physical infrastructure or coordinated policy and institutional
reforms.
The Board can then weigh all information as a whole--the
fundamental selection factors described in sections II.A, II.B, II.C,
and II.F, the information regarding implementation of the current
compact, and any additional relevant information regarding potential
regional integration--to determine whether or not to direct MCC to seek
to enter into a concurrent compact with a country.
E. Evaluation for Threshold Program Assistance
The Board may also evaluate countries for participation in the
threshold program. Threshold programs provide assistance to candidate
countries exhibiting a significant commitment to meeting the criteria
described in the previous subsections, but failing to meet such
requirements. Specifically, in examining a candidate country's policy
performance, the opportunity to reduce poverty and generate economic
growth, and available funds, the Board will consider whether a country
appears to be on a trajectory to becoming viable for compact
eligibility in the medium or short term.
F. A Note on Potential Transition to Upper Middle Income Country (UMIC)
Status After Initial Selection
Some candidate countries may have a high per capita income or a
high growth rate that implies there is a chance they could transition
to UMIC status during the life of an MCC partnership. In such cases, it
is not possible to accurately predict if or when such country may
transition to UMIC status.
Nonetheless, such countries may have more resources at their
disposal for funding their own growth and poverty reduction strategies.
As a result, in addition to using the regular selection criteria
described in the previous sections, the Board will also use its
discretion to assess both the need and the opportunity presented by
partnering with such a country, in order to ensure that there is a
higher bar for possible selection.
Specifically, if a candidate country with a high probability of
transitioning to UMIC status is under consideration for selection, the
Board will examine additional data and information related to the
following:
Whether the country faces significant challenges accessing
other sources of development financing (such as international capital,
domestic resources, and other donor assistance) and, if so, whether MCC
grant financing would be an appropriate tool;
Whether the nature of poverty in the country (for example,
high inequality or poverty headcount ratios relative to peer countries)
presents a clear and strategic opportunity for MCC to assist the
country in reducing such
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poverty through projects that spur economic growth;
Whether the country demonstrates particularly strong
policy performance, including policies and actions that demonstrate a
clear priority on poverty reduction; and
Whether MCC can reasonably expect that the country would
contribute a significant amount of funding to the compact.
These additional criteria would then be applied in any additional
years of selection as the country continues to develop its compact.
Should a country eventually transition to UMIC status during compact
development, a country would no longer be a candidate for selection for
that fiscal year. Continuing compact development beyond that point
would then be at the Board's discretion.
Appendix A: Statutory Basis for This Report
This report to Congress is provided in accordance with section
608(b) of the Millennium Challenge Act of 2003, as amended (the Act),
22 U.S.C. 7707(b).
Section 605 of the Act authorizes the provision of assistance to
countries that enter into a Millennium Challenge Compact with the
United States to support policies and programs that advance the
progress of such countries in achieving lasting economic growth and
poverty reduction. The Act requires MCC to take a number of steps in
selecting countries for compact assistance for FY 2020 based on the
countries' demonstrated commitment to just and democratic governance,
economic freedom, and investing in their people, MCC's opportunity to
reduce poverty and generate economic growth in the country, and the
availability of funds. These steps include the submission of reports to
the congressional committees specified in the Act and publication of
information in the Federal Register that identify:
(1) The countries that are ``candidate countries'' for assistance
for FY 2020 based on per capita income levels and eligibility to
receive assistance under U.S. law (section 608(a) of the Act; 22 U.S.C.
7707(a));
(2) The criteria and methodology that MCC's Board of Directors
(Board) will use to measure and evaluate policy performance of the
candidate countries consistent with the requirements of section 607 of
the Act (22 U.S.C. 7706) in order to determine ``eligible countries''
from among the ``candidate countries'' (section 608(b) of the Act; 22
U.S.C. 7707(b)); and
(3) The list of countries determined by the Board to be ``eligible
countries'' for FY 2020, with justification for eligibility
determination and selection for compact negotiation, including those
eligible countries with which MCC will seek to enter into compacts
(section 608(d) of the Act; 22 U.S.C. 7707(d)).
This report satisfies item 2 above.
Appendix B: Lists of all Candidate Countries and Statutorily-Prohibited
Countries for Evaluation Purposes
Income Groups for Scorecards
Since MCC was created, it has relied on the World Bank's gross
national income (GNI) per capita income data (Atlas method) and the
historical ceiling for eligibility as set by the World Bank's
International Development Association (IDA) to divide countries into
two income categories for purposes of creating scorecards. These
categories are used to account for the income bias that occurs when
countries with more per capita resources perform better than countries
with fewer. Using the historical IDA eligibility ceiling for the
scorecard evaluation groups ensures that the poorest countries compete
with their income level peers and are not compared against countries
with more resources to mobilize.
MCC will continue to use the historical IDA classifications for
eligibility to categorize countries in two groups for purposes of FY
2020 scorecard comparisons:
Countries with GNI per capita equal to or less than IDA's
historical ceiling for eligibility (i.e., $1,925 for FY 2020); and
Countries with GNI per capita above IDA's historical
ceiling for eligibility but below the World Bank's upper middle income
country threshold (i.e., $1,926 and $3,995 for FY 2020).
The list of countries for FY 2020 scorecard assessments is set
forth below:
Countries With GNI Per Capita of $1,925 or Less
1. Afghanistan
2. Bangladesh
3. Benin
4. Burkina Faso
5. Burma
6. Burundi
7. Cambodia
8. Cameroon
9. Central African Republic
10. Chad
11. Comoros
12. Congo, Democratic Republic of the
13. Congo, Republic of the
14. C[ocirc]te d'Ivoire
15. Eritrea
16. Ethiopia
17. Gambia, The
18. Guinea
19. Guinea-Bissau
20. Haiti
21. Kenya
22. Kyrgyzstan
23. Lesotho
24. Liberia
25. Madagascar
26. Malawi
27. Mali
28. Mauritania
29. Mozambique
30. Nepal
31. Niger
32. North Korea
33. Pakistan
34. Rwanda
35. S[atilde]o Tom[eacute] and Pr[iacute]ncipe
36. Senegal
37. Sierra Leone
38. Somalia
39. South Sudan
40. Sudan
41. Syria
42. Tajikistan
43. Tanzania
44. Timor-Leste
45. Togo
46. Uganda
47. Yemen
48. Zambia
49. Zimbabwe
Countries With GNI Per Capita Between $1,926 and $3,995
1. Angola
2. Bhutan
3. Bolivia
4. Cabo Verde
5. Djibouti
6. Egypt
7. El Salvador
8. Eswatini
9. Ghana
10. Honduras
11. India
12. Indonesia
13. Kiribati
14. Laos
15. Micronesia, Federated States of
16. Moldova
17. Mongolia
18. Morocco
19. Nicaragua
20. Nigeria
21. Papua New Guinea
22. Philippines
23. Solomon Islands
24. Tunisia
25. Ukraine
26. Uzbekistan
27. Vanuatu
28. Vietnam
Statutorily-Prohibited Countries
1. Bolivia
2. Burma
3. Burundi
4. Cambodia
5. Comoros
6. Democratic Republic of Congo
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7. Eritrea
8. Mauritania
9. Nicaragua
10. North Korea
11. South Sudan
12. Sudan
13. Syria
14. Zimbabwe
Appendix C: Indicator Definitions
The following indicators will be used to measure candidate
countries' demonstrated commitment to the criteria found in section
607(b) of the Act. The indicators are intended to assess the degree to
which the political and economic conditions in a country serve to
promote broad-based sustainable economic growth and reduction of
poverty and thus provide a sound environment for the use of MCC funds.
The indicators are not goals in themselves; rather, they are proxy
measures of policies that are linked to broad-based sustainable
economic growth. The indicators were selected based on (i) their
relationship to economic growth and poverty reduction; (ii) the number
of countries they cover; (iii) transparency and availability; and (iv)
relative soundness and objectivity. Where possible, the indicators are
developed by independent sources. Listed below is a brief summary of
the indicators (a detailed rationale for the adoption of these
indicators can be found in the Public Guide to the Indicators on MCC's
public website at www.mcc.gov).
Ruling Justly
1. Political Rights: Independent experts rate countries on the
prevalence of free and fair electoral processes; political pluralism
and participation of all stakeholders; government accountability and
transparency; freedom from domination by the military, foreign powers,
totalitarian parties, religious hierarchies and economic oligarchies;
and the political rights of minority groups, among other things. Pass:
Score must be above the minimum score of 17 out of 40. Source: Freedom
House
2. Civil Liberties: Independent experts rate countries on freedom
of expression and belief; association and organizational rights; rule
of law and human rights; and personal autonomy and economic rights,
among other things. Pass: Score must be above the minimum score of 25
out of 60. Source: Freedom House
3. Freedom of Information: Measures the legal and practical steps
taken by a government to enable or allow information to move freely
through society; this includes measures of press freedom, national
freedom of information laws, and the extent to which a county is
filtering internet content or tools. Pass: Score must be above the
median score for the income group. Source: Freedom House/Reporters
Without Borders/Centre for Law and Democracy.
4. Government Effectiveness: An index of surveys and expert
assessments that rate countries on the quality of public service
provision; civil servants' competency and independence from political
pressures; and the government's ability to plan and implement sound
policies, among other things. Pass: Score must be above the median
score for the income group. Source: Worldwide Governance Indicators
(World Bank/Brookings)
5. Rule of Law: An index of surveys and expert assessments that
rate countries on the extent to which the public has confidence in and
abides by the rules of society; the incidence and impact of violent and
nonviolent crime; the effectiveness, independence, and predictability
of the judiciary; the protection of property rights; and the
enforceability of contracts, among other things. Pass: Score must be
above the median score for the income group. Source: Worldwide
Governance Indicators (World Bank/Brookings)
6. Control of Corruption: An index of surveys and expert
assessments that rate countries on: ``grand corruption'' in the
political arena; the frequency of petty corruption; the effects of
corruption on the business environment; and the tendency of elites to
engage in ``state capture,'' among other things. Pass: Score must be
above the median score for the income group. Source: Worldwide
Governance Indicators (World Bank/Brookings)
Encouraging Economic Freedom
1. Fiscal Policy: General government net lending/borrowing as a
percent of gross domestic product (GDP), averaged over a three year
period. Net lending/borrowing is calculated as revenue minus total
expenditure. The data for this measure comes from the IMF's World
Economic Outlook. Pass: Score must be above the median score for the
income group. Source: The International Monetary Fund's World Economic
Outlook Database
2. Inflation: The most recent average annual change in consumer
prices. Pass: Score must be 15 percent or less. Source: The
International Monetary Fund's World Economic Outlook Database
3. Regulatory Quality: An index of surveys and expert assessments
that rate countries on the burden of regulations on business; price
controls; the government's role in the economy; and foreign investment
regulation, among other areas. Pass: Score must be above the median
score for the income group. Source: Worldwide Governance Indicators
(World Bank/Brookings)
4. Trade Policy: A measure of a country's openness to international
trade based on weighted average tariff rates and non-tariff barriers to
trade. Pass: Score must be above the median score for the income group.
Source: The Heritage Foundation
5. Gender in the Economy: An index that measures the extent to
which laws provide men and women equal capacity to generate income or
participate in the economy, including factors such as the capacity to
access institutions, get a job, register a business, sign a contract,
open a bank account, choose where to live, to travel freely, property
rights protections, protections against domestic violence, and child
marriage, among others. Pass: Score must be above the median score for
the income group. Source: Women, Business, and the Law (World Bank)
6. Land Rights and Access: An index that rates countries on the
extent to which the institutional, legal, and market framework provide
secure land tenure and equitable access to land in rural areas and the
time and cost of property registration in urban and peri-urban areas.
Pass: Score must be above the median score for the income group.
Source: The International Fund for Agricultural Development and World
Bank
7. Access to Credit: An index that rates countries on rules and
practices affecting the coverage, scope, and accessibility of credit
information available through either a public credit registry or a
private credit bureau; as well as legal rights in collateral laws and
bankruptcy laws. Pass: Score must be above the median score for the
income group. Source: World Bank
8. Business Start-Up: An index that rates countries on the time and
cost of complying with all procedures officially required for an
entrepreneur to start up and formally operate an industrial or
commercial business. Pass: Score must be above the median score for the
income group. Source: World Bank
Investing in People
1. Public Expenditure on Health: Total current expenditures on
health by government (excluding funding sourced from external donors)
at all levels divided by GDP. Pass: Score must be above the median
score for the income group. Source: The World Health Organization
[[Page 51188]]
2. Total Public Expenditure on Primary Education: Total
expenditures on primary education by government at all levels divided
by GDP. Pass: Score must be above the median score for the income
group. Source: The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization and National Governments
3. Natural Resource Protection: Assesses whether countries are
protecting up to 17 percent of all their biomes (e.g., deserts,
tropical rainforests, grasslands, savannas and tundra). Pass: Score
must be above the median score for the income group. Source: The Center
for International Earth Science Information Network and the Yale Center
for Environmental Law and Policy
4. Immunization Rates: The average of DPT3 and measles immunization
coverage rates for the most recent year available. Pass: Score must be
above the median score for countries with a GNI/capita of $1,925 or
less and 90 percent or higher for countries with a GNI/capita between
$1,926 and $3,995. Source: The World Health Organization and the United
Nations Children's Fund
5. Girls Education
a. Girls' Primary Completion Rate: The number of female students
enrolled in the last grade of primary education minus repeaters divided
by the population in the relevant age cohort (gross intake ratio in the
last grade of primary). Countries with a GNI/capita of $1,925 or less
are assessed on this indicator. Pass: Score must be above the median
score for the income group. Source: United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization.
b. Girls Secondary Enrollment Education: The number of female
pupils enrolled in lower secondary school, regardless of age, expressed
as a percentage of the population of females in the theoretical age
group for lower secondary education. Countries with a GNI/capita
between $1,926 and $3,995 are assessed on this indicator instead of
Girls Primary Completion Rates. Pass: Score must be above the median
score for the income group. Source: United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization.
6. Child Health: An index made up of three indicators: (i) Access
to improved water, (ii) access to improved sanitation, and (iii) child
(ages 1-4) mortality. Pass: Score must be above the median score for
the income group. Source: The Center for International Earth Science
Information Network and the Yale Center for Environmental Law and
Policy
Relationship to Legislative Criteria
Within each policy category, the Act sets out a number of specific
selection criteria. A set of objective and quantifiable policy
indicators is used to inform eligibility decisions for assistance and
to measure the relative performance by candidate countries against
these criteria. The Board's approach to determining eligibility ensures
that performance against each of these criteria is assessed by at least
one of the objective indicators. Most are addressed by multiple
indicators. The specific indicators appear in parentheses next to the
corresponding criterion set out in the Act.
Section 607(b)(1): Just and Democratic Governance, Including a
Demonstrated Commitment to--
(A) promote political pluralism, equality and the rule of law
(Political Rights, Civil Liberties, Rule of Law, and Gender in the
Economy);
(B) respect human and civil rights, including the rights of people
with disabilities (Political Rights, Civil Liberties, and Freedom of
Information);
(C) protect private property rights (Civil Liberties, Regulatory
Quality, Rule of Law, and Land Rights and Access);
(D) encourage transparency and accountability of government
(Political Rights, Civil Liberties, Freedom of Information, Control of
Corruption, Rule of Law, and Government Effectiveness);
(E) combat corruption (Political Rights, Civil Liberties, Rule of
Law, Freedom of Information, and Control of Corruption); and
(F) the quality of the civil society enabling environment (Civil
Liberties, Freedom of Information, and Rule of Law).
Section 607(b)(2): Economic Freedom, Including a Demonstrated
Commitment to Economic Policies That--
(A) encourage citizens and firms to participate in global trade and
international capital markets (Fiscal Policy, Inflation, Trade Policy,
and Regulatory Quality);
(B) promote private sector growth (Inflation, Business Start-Up,
Fiscal Policy, Land Rights and Access, Access to Credit, Gender in the
Economy, and Regulatory Quality);
(C) strengthen market forces in the economy (Fiscal Policy,
Inflation, Trade Policy, Business Start-Up, Land Rights and Access,
Access to Credit, and Regulatory Quality); and
(D) respect worker rights, including the right to form labor unions
(Civil Liberties and Gender in the Economy)
Section 607(b)(3): Investments in the People of Such Country,
Particularly Women and Children, Including Programs That--
(A) promote broad-based primary education (Girls' Primary
Completion Rate, Girls' Secondary Education Enrollment Rate, and Total
Public Expenditure on Primary Education);
(B) strengthen and build capacity to provide quality public health
and reduce child mortality (Immunization Rates, Public Expenditure on
Health, and Child Health); and
(C) promote the protection of biodiversity and the transparent and
sustainable management and use of natural resources (Natural Resource
Protection).
Appendix D: Subsequent and Concurrent Compact Considerations
MCC reporting and data in the following chart are used to assess
compact performance of MCC compact countries nearing the end of compact
implementation (i.e., within 18 months of compact end date), or for
current MCC compact countries under consideration for a concurrent
compact, where appropriate. Some reporting used for assessment may
contain sensitive information and adversely affect implementation or
MCC-partner country relations. This information is for MCC's internal
use and is not made public. However, key implementation information is
summarized in compact status and results reports that are published
quarterly on MCC's website under MCC country programs (https://www.mcc.gov/where-we-work) or monitoring and evaluation (https://www.mcc.gov/our-impact/m-and-e) web pages.
For completed compacts, additional information is used to assess
compact performance and is found in a country's Star Report. The Star
Report and its associated quarterly business process capture key
information to provide a framework for results and improve the ability
to disseminate learning and evidence throughout the lifecycle of an MCC
investment from selection to final evaluation. For each compact and
threshold program, evidence is collected on performance indicators,
evaluation results, partnerships, sustainability efforts, and learning,
among other elements.
[[Page 51189]]
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MCC reporting/
Topic data source Published documents
------------------------------------------------------------------------
COUNTRY PARTNERSHIP........... Quarterly
Political Will................ Quarterly results published as
Status of major implementation ``Table of Key
conditions precedent.. reporting. Performance
Program oversight/ Indicators''
implementation.. Quarterly (available by
[cir] project restructures.... results country): https://
[cir] partner response to reporting. www.mcc.gov/our-
accountable entity capacity Survey impact/m-and-e.
issues.. of MCC staff.. Star Reports
Political MCC Star (available by
independence of the Reports.. country): https://
accountable entity.. www.mcc.gov/
Management Capacity........... resources?fwp_resour
Project management ce_type=star-report.
capacity.. Survey
Project performance.. questions: https://
Level of MCC www.mcc.gov/
intervention/oversight.. resources/doc/guide-
Relative level of to-the-compact-
resources required.. survey-summary-fy20.
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PROGRAM RESULTS............... Monitoring
Financial Results............. Indicator and Evaluation Plans
Commitments-- tracking tables. (available by
including contributions to country): https://
compact funding.. Quarterly www.mcc.gov/our-
Disbursements........ financial impact/m-and-e.
Project Results............... reporting. Quarterly
Output, outcome, results published as
objective targets.. Quarterly ``Table of Key
Accountable entity implementation Performance
commitment to `focus on reporting. Indicators''
results'.. (available by
Accountable entity Quarterly country): https://
cooperation on impact results www.mcc.gov/our-
evaluation.. reporting. impact/m-and-e.
Percent complete for Survey Star Reports
process/outputs.. of MCC staff.. (available by
Relevant outcome Impact country): https://
data.. evaluations.. www.mcc.gov/
Details behind target MCC Star resources?fwp_resour
delays.. Reports.. ce_type=star-report.
Target Achievements........... Survey
questions: https://www.mcc.gov/resources/doc/guide-to-the-compact-survey-summary-fy20.
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ADHERENCE TO STANDARDS........ Audits Published
Procurement.......... (GAO and OIG). OIG and GAO audits.
Environmental and Star Reports
social.. Quarterly (available by
Fraud and corruption. implementation country): https://
Program closure...... reporting. www.mcc.gov/
Monitoring and Survey resources?fwp_resour
evaluation.. of MCC staff.. ce_type=star-report.
All other legal MCC Star Survey
provisions.. Reports.. questions: https://www.mcc.gov/resources/doc/guide-to-the-compact-survey-summary-fy20.
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COUNTRY SPECIFIC.............. Quarterly
Sustainability................ Quarterly results published as
Implementation implementation ``Table of Key
entity.. reporting. Performance
MCC investments...... Indicators''
Role of private sector or Quarterly (available by
other donors.. results country): https://
Other relevant reporting. www.mcc.gov/our-
investors/investments.. Survey impact/m-and-e.
Other donors/ of MCC staff.. Star Reports
programming.. MCC Star (available by
Status of related Reports.. country): https://
reforms.. www.mcc.gov/
Trajectory of private resources?fwp_resour
sector involvement going ce_type=star-report.
forward.. Survey
questions: https://www.mcc.gov/resources/doc/guide-to-the-compact-survey-summary-fy20.
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[FR Doc. 2019-20978 Filed 9-26-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9211-03-P