U.S. Aid Agency Names 23 Countries Eligible for FY 2006 Funding

08 November 2005
US Department of State
Washington File

Washington -- The United States' Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) has named 23 countries eligible to apply for funding during the fiscal year that began October 1 (fiscal year 2006).

The selected countries from the “low income” category are: Armenia, Benin, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, East Timor, The Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Honduras, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mali, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Tanzania and Vanuatu.
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The announcement followed a November 8 meeting of the MCC board of directors in Washington, according to an MCC press release.
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The secretary of state chairs the MCC board, an independent U.S. agency. The board includes the secretary of the Treasury, U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), the administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and representatives of the private sector.

The countries selected met or exceeded national governance performance measures, developed using data supplied by the World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF), the research organization Freedom House and other internationally recognized groups. The measures -- indicators -- demonstrate a county's commitment to ruling justly, investing in people and encouraging economic freedom.
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The House of Representatives November 4 passed the final version of a $20.9 billion foreign spending bill that would provide $1.8 billion for the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) for FY06.
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