Sierra Leone Secures Position for Millennium Challenge Corporation Compact Development

Sierra Leone achieved a significant milestone with its recent re-selection for the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact Development, as announced by the Ministry of Information on December 13, 2023. The decision, ratified by the MCC Board of Directors under the leadership of U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, reflects increased confidence in Sierra Leone's commitment to addressing concerns raised by the MCC Board in September.

The central focus of this re-selection is the enhancement of reliable and cost-effective electricity availability across Sierra Leone. The proposed Compact encompasses a range of measures, including increased private sector involvement in power supply, doubling energy transmission capacity, improving access in designated towns, and strengthening governance within the sector. Following the completion of core feasibility studies to determine the scope of the Compact, Sierra Leone is eager to engage in negotiations with the MCC to finalize this transformative process.

Sierra Leone's achievement in passing the MCC Scorecard for the fifth consecutive time in November 2023 played a pivotal role in its re-selection. President Julius Maada Bio emphasized the MCC's invaluable contribution to Sierra Leone, providing an objective framework for engaging and assessing the country's development aspirations aligned with both national expectations and international benchmarks.

The Sierra Leonean government remains committed to crucial reforms aimed at deepening democracy, fostering an improved investment climate, and nurturing the growth and fortification of human capital in alignment with MCC principles.

The highly anticipated Compact is poised to address the energy constraints, making substantial strides toward economic growth and poverty alleviation for the people of Sierra Leone.