Overview

Fighting corruption is at the core of the MCC process and is a key part of the U.S. Government’s approach to poverty reduction.  

MCC has made controlling corruption a key indicator in selecting partner countries for compact eligibility.  During the Compact development process and in the implementation of its Compacts, MCC—with its MCA counterparts—promotes  measures to prevent and detect incidents of fraud and corruption before problems occur and after problems emerge.

Measuring Corruption

MCC uses the World Bank Institute’s Control of Corruption indicator as part of its selection criteria to determine if a country is eligible to make a proposal for an MCA grant.

Among other things, this indicator measures the frequency of “additional payments to get things done,” the effects of corruption on the business environment, “grand corruption” in the political arena, and the tendency of elites to engage in “state capture.”

Countries are Responding

Countries are responding to MCC's corruption measurement by:

• Passing stronger anticorruption laws
• Strengthening oversight institutions
• Opening up the public policy-making process to greater scrutiny
• Increasing corruption-related investigations and prosecutions

Policy on Prevention, Detection, and
Remediation of Fraud and Corruption

MCC strengthened its anti-corruption stance by adopting a comprehensive policy on the:

• prevention,
• detection and
• remediation

of fraud and corruption by drawing on MCC and other donor experience.  

Working Paper: MCC’s Role in
the Fight Against Corruption

In April 2007, MCC published a working paper on its anti-corruption efforts. The paper describes how MCC is fighting corruption and how it is attempting to build upon and contribute to “best practices.” As part of a broader effort to engage those working in the field of anti-corruption, MCC is currently soliciting public feedback on this paper. If you would like to submit a comment, email developmentpolicy@mcc.gov.