Millennium Challenge Corporation’s Board of Directors Approves Albania’s Threshold Program to Tackle Corruption

Washington, D.C. —Today, the Board of Directors of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) approved a $13.85 million Threshold program for Albania focused on improving the country's performance in the Ruling Justly and Economic Freedom indicators. Albania's Threshold program aims to reduce corruption through reforms in tax administration, public procurement, and business registration.

“MCC congratulates the people and government of Albania for their commitment to tackling corruption and strengthening the policy environment needed to reduce poverty and encourage private sector investment,” said MCC CEO Ambassador John Danilovich. “Thanks to our colleagues at USAID and the U.S. Embassy in Albania led by Ambassador Ries for their assistance and expertise in making this program a reality.”

MCC's Threshold Program is designed to assist countries that are on the “threshold” of Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) eligibility for Compacts, meaning that they are committed to undertaking the reforms necessary to improve policy performance and eventually qualify for MCA Compact assistance. Threshold Program assistance is used to help such countries address the specific policy weaknesses indicated by the country's scores on the 16 policy indicators that are central to the criteria and methodology for MCA Compact eligibility.

MCC measures policies in three areas—Ruling Justly, Investing in People, and Encouraging Economic Freedom—using 16 policy indicators which have a demonstrated link to poverty reduction and growth. The indicators are products of respected international institutions and national data and each was selected based on its relationship to growth and poverty reduction, the number of countries it covers, its transparency and availability, its analytical rigor, and its objectivity.

To date, under its Threshold Program, MCC has committed nearly $100 million including: approximately $14 million to improve the policy environment and fight corruption in Albania, close to $35 million to tackle corruption in Paraguay, nearly $13 million to help improve girls' primary education in Burkina Faso, almost $21 million to help Malawians fight corruption, and over $11 million to help Tanzanians fight corruption and strengthen the rule of law.

In addition, MCC has approved Compacts totaling over $1.5 billion with eight countries: Madagascar, Cape Verde, Honduras, Nicaragua, Georgia, Armenia, Vanuatu, and Benin. MCC is also actively engaging with other eligible countries to assist them in Compact development.

Albania Fact Sheet

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Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), a U.S. government corporation designed to work with some of the poorest countries in the world, is based on the principle that aid is most effective when it reinforces good governance, economic freedom, and investments in people that promote economic growth and elimination of extreme poverty.