Monrovia– Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) compact, as a high-level delegation from the U.S. government agency have begin technical engagements with government and national stakeholders.
By Jaheim T. [email protected]
The delegates, visit marks a critical milestone following the MCC Board’s decision in December 2025 to reaffirm Liberia’s eligibility for a second compact—an outcome that Finance and Development Planning Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan described as both hard-earned and historic.
In his remarks, Ngafuan recalled the series of engagements that led to the reaffirmation, including the growth analysis conducted in September and follow-up meetings in Washington, D.C.
He described the Board’s decision as “a truly good Christmas for our people,” underscoring the significance of the announcement for a country seeking to unlock new drivers of economic growth.
“These earlier missions, including the growth analysis in September and follow-ups in Washington, D.C., helped build the strong partnership that resulted in reaffirmation for a second compact,” Ngafuan said, noting that the path to eligibility was “challenging but ultimately successful.”
With eligibility secured, the Finance Minister emphasized that Liberia is now entering the most demanding phase of the process. “This is not the end; it’s the start of a process that will require effort, hard work, and a whole-of-government approach to achieving outcomes,” he said.
Ngafuan disclosed that government has begun preparations to operationalize a new MCC office in Liberia, announcing plans to expedite recruitment so that leadership is in place ahead of a key workshop scheduled for February. The workshop, he noted, will be central to shaping the direction of the compact.
He reaffirmed Liberia’s commitment to working closely with MCC and development partners, thanking his technical team led by Deputy Minister Dehpue Zuo, as well as senior officials and sector ministries who have coordinated the country’s preparations.
He also acknowledged the role of broader government stakeholders in positioning Liberia for the compact’s development phase.
The MCC delegation is being led by Ms. Carrie Monahan, Managing Director for Africa at the Millennium Challenge Corporation, who underscored the competitive nature of the MCC selection process and the importance of Liberia’s past performance.
“We are extremely proud of the success of the first compact and the deep U.S.–Liberia partnership,” Monahan said, explaining that Liberia’s track record played a decisive role in the Board’s reaffirmation decision.
She noted that the delegation’s mission will focus on broad consultations and stakeholder engagements to map out the compact development process. “A major focus of our work this week will be stakeholder engagements and outlining the compact development process,” she said.
According to Monahan, MCC compacts are grounded in rigorous data analysis and inclusive consultations involving government, civil society, and the private sector. These consultations are designed to identify binding constraints to economic growth and craft targeted investments capable of delivering lasting impact.
She highlighted an upcoming “root cause analysis” workshop scheduled for February as a central milestone in the process. The workshop, she said, will deepen discussions on priority sectors where MCC investments could have “transformative impacts.”
Also addressing, U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Joseph E. Zadrozny extended New Year greetings and stressed the importance of sustaining the partnership between Liberia and the United States as the compact development moves forward.
The delegation’s visit forms part of the initial phase of compact development and signals a renewed long-term commitment by both governments to promote economic growth, job creation, and stronger governance in Liberia through evidence-based investments.
