MCC - Zambia

CN: Zambia, 06-03-10

Thu, 03 Jun 2010 20:10:36 UT

CN: Zambia, 06-03-10 ()

Zambia's Strategic Objective Grant Agreement (SOAG)

Tue, 04 May 2010 15:05:09 UT

Zambia's Strategic Objective Grant Agreement (SOAG)

Threshold Program

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 17:02:28 UT

The Republic of Zambia and the United States have signed a two-year $22.7 million Threshold Program to reduce corruption and improve government effectiveness.

Recognizing that both the reality and public perception of corruption continue to be major impediments to the country's transition to a stable democracy with a market-driven economy, President Levy Mwanawasa has established and implemented a policy of “Zero Tolerance for Corruption” in Zambia. As an extension of this national policy, the Government of Zambia together with the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) have designed a Threshold Program with three components aimed at preventing corruption in targeted government institutions, improving public service delivery to the private sector, and improving border management of trade.

Highlights of Program Activities

Component 1: Prevent Corruption in Government Institutions

Reduce opportunities for administrative corruption in government institutions, namely the Ministry of Lands, Immigration Department of the Ministry of Home Affairs, and the Zambia Revenue Authority by:
Building the capacity of the Anti-Corruption Commission;
Implementing institutionally-tailored regulatory reforms to simplify processes and reduce opportunities for corruption;
Establishing internal watchdog units within each institution; and
Creating efficient public monitoring and reporting mechanisms to expose corruption.

Component 2: Improve Effectiveness of Public Services

Establish the Zambian Development Agency and Patents and Companies Registration Offices (PACROs) to remove administrative barriers to business and investment entry and operation outside the capital by:

Establishing the Zambian Development Agency as a one-stop-shop for investors and business people;
Simplifying the framework of economic regulations;
Setting up PACROs in provincial capitals; and
Improving the integration of the private sector into the nation's economic growth strategy.

Component 3: Improving Border Management of Trade

Remove barriers to trade and investment in the Zambian market by establishing a “Comprehensive Integrated Tariff System” that will unify all border-related fees and procedures by:

Upgrading and applying modern customs techniques and integrated border control and management in two pilot locations,
Improving the speed and efficiency of services provided by sanitary and phyto-sanitary units for local and export trade, and
Strengthening the standardization, certification and inspection units of the Zambia Bureau of Standards.

Expected Results

Reduce the number of days to register property at the Ministry of Lands from 70 to 35.
Decrease the percentage of households reporting payment of a bribe to the Customs Division of the Zambia Revenue Authority from 14 to 7.
Increase the percentage of households and businesses reporting quality service regarding business registration from 41 to 60.
Reduce the number of days to export products from 60 to 30.
Reduce the number of days to import products from 62 to 30.

Implementing Partners

USAID will oversee implementation of the Zambia Threshold Program on behalf of MCC. The Ministry of Finance and National Planning will assume overall responsibility for coordinating the Zambia Threshold Program on behalf of the Government of Zambia. However, other ministries, public-private partnerships and civil society, notably the Anti-Corruption Commission, Zambia Business Forum, and Transparency International, will have supervisory and implementation roles as well.

Compact Development

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 17:02:13 UT

Zambia is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The country has a population of approximately 12 million people and a Gross National Income (GNI) per capita of $950. According to the United Nations Development Program , 81.5% of the Zambian population lives below the poverty line (less than $2 a day). Zambia ranks in the 163rd position (out of 179 measured countries) in the Human Development Index.

Zambia became eligible for MCC Compact funding on December 11, 2008. To learn more about Zambia’s Compact development process please download its Quarterly Status Report or view its FY10 Scorecard to access more information on Zambia’s indicator performance.

Zambia's Strategic Objective Grant Agreement

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 17:24:59 UT

Zambia's Strategic Objective Grant Agreement ()

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Quarterly Threshold Program Status Report: Zambia

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 20:28:39 UT

Quarterly Threshold Program Status Report: Zambia ()

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Quarterly Status Report: Zambia

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:22:06 UT

Quarterly Status Report: Zambia ()

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Zambia

Wed, 13 May 2009 20:37:14 UT

Zambia is located in Southern Africa with a population of approximately 12 million people.

Zambia signed the MCC Threshold Program assistance on May 22, 2006 and was named eligible for MCC Compact Program Assistance on December 11, 2008.

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MCC Reiterates U.S. Commitment to Fight Poverty Board Calls on Partners to Recommit to Democratic Principles; Colombia, Indonesia, Zambia now Eligible for Innovative Grants

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 20:15:00 UT

Liberia and Timor-Leste named eligible for MCC’s threshold program
Board suspends assistance to Nicaragua

Washington, D.C. — The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Board of Directors selected Colombia, Indonesia, and Zambia as new countries eligible for large-scale grant funding under the U.S. Government’s innovative foreign assistance program to reduce poverty through economic growth. Following today’s announcement these countries may begin the process of applying for the five-year MCC compacts. Since its inception in 2004, MCC has approved compacts totaling over $6.3 billion with 18 partner countries.

“Congratulations to the newly eligible countries selected to participate in the Millennium Challenge Corporation program,” said MCC Chief Executive Officer Ambassador John Danilovich. “Your commitment to good governance and dedication to promoting economic freedom and investing in your people has placed you among a select group of countries working diligently to reduce global poverty through sustainable economic solutions.”

In addition, Liberia was selected as eligible for MCC’s threshold program which provides smaller grants to help reform-minded governments improve their performance on the policy indicators necessary for participation in the compact program.

“Over the past several years, Liberia’s performance has improved significantly on many of the MCC eligibility indicators. The Board took note of the strong evidence of Liberia’s commitment to reforms that will foster economic growth and poverty reduction,” said Ambassador Danilovich.

In making its country selection decisions, the Board considers the policy performance of candidate countries using 17 indicators in three areas—Ruling Justly, Investing in People, and Encouraging Economic Freedom. These indicators measure countries’ demonstrated commitment to policies that promote, among other things, political and economic freedom, investments in education and health care, control of corruption, and respect for civil liberties and the rule of law. The Board also takes into consideration the opportunity for MCC to reduce poverty and generate economic growth, and available budgetary resources.

Ambassador Danilovich added, “Being eligible for MCC funding does not mean a country will automatically receive a compact. Governments must demonstrate leadership in the broad-based consultative process to develop proposals that address barriers to poverty reduction and economic growth.”

The Board noted Jordan, Malawi, Moldova, Philippines, and Senegal will be able to continue the process of developing compacts in fiscal year 2009.

“Given sufficient resources allocated by Congress, MCC looks forward to long-term partnerships with these countries as they create their own plans to empower their poorest citizens,” said Ambassador Danilovich.

“The Board agreed that the Philippines remains eligible for developing a compact proposal, but emphasized that MCC will not sign a compact until the country passes the indicator criteria on corruption. The Board also reiterated the importance of this principle with respect to all its partner countries. The Board called upon the Government of the Philippines to intensify its efforts to fight corruption and will closely monitor the country’s performance,” said Ambassador Danilovich.

The Board also voted to suspend assistance for new activities under the $175 million MCC compact in Nicaragua because of actions taken by the Nicaraguan government that are inconsistent with MCC’s eligibility criteria. MCC will therefore not approve disbursements for activities not already contracted by MCA-Nicaragua. The political conditions leading up to, during, and following recent elections in Nicaragua were not consistent with MCC requirements that include a commitment to policies that promote political freedom and respect for civil liberties and the rule of law.

The Board called on Nicaragua to develop and implement a comprehensive set of measures to address concerns regarding the government’s commitment to democratic principles. The Board will review the response of the Nicaraguan government and determine subsequent actions at its next quarterly Board meeting in March 2009.

“The MCC model is based on aid with accountability and good governance. The Board determined that recent actions by the Nicaraguan government were inconsistent with MCC’s core principles and therefore had to take this difficult decision,” said Ambassador Danilovich. “Nicaragua’s compact with MCC benefits hundreds of thousands of poor Nicaraguans by providing better roads, property titles, and agricultural business support. For the sake of the poor of the country, we sincerely hope that the Nicaraguan government recommits to the principles of democracy and the rule of law so that MCC can reestablish what has been an effective partnership. It should be remembered that our partnership with Nicaragua is dedicated to both poverty reduction and good government policies.”

The MCC Board also decided today not to reselect Bolivia, Ukraine, and Timor-Leste as eligible for MCC compact assistance. The Board did, however, designate Timor-Leste as threshold eligible and invited the country to submit a threshold program proposal. MCC will continue to work with Ukraine as it implements its ongoing threshold program specifically addressing weaknesses in its policy performance. In addition, the Board decided that Yemen is no longer eligible for threshold program assistance.

The Board also reviewed progress made on reform measures initiated by the government of Armenia over recent months. The Board reiterated its concerns about the status of democratic governance in the country and underlined its expectations that the government of Armenia fulfill commitments to implement substantive reforms. The Board noted that it would again review Armenia’s performance and examine continued collaboration with the country during its March meeting.

Today’s meeting is the last for the public members of the Board who are members of the current administration.

“It has been an extraordinary opportunity and privilege to serve with the members of the Board,” said Ambassador Danilovich. “The MCC is strengthened in fulfilling its mission to reduce poverty through economic development by the dedication of worthy public servants from the Department of State, Department of the Treasury, the U.S. Trade Representative, and USAID and also by our four private sector Board members. My fellow colleagues at MCC deserve abundant praise and credit for their great achievement in creating what is now internationally acknowledged as an innovative and successful model of development assistance. Our Deputy CEO, Rodney Bent, will remain at MCC to ensure continuity of our model and country programs during this period of political transition.”

The Millennium Challenge Corporation is a unique government agency that includes private and public sector members on its Board. The MCC Board of Directors is composed of the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Treasury, the U.S. Trade Representative, the Administrator of USAID, the CEO of MCC, and four private sector members appointed by the President of the United States with the advice and consent of the U.S. Senate. The Secretary of State is the Chair of the Board and the Secretary of Treasury is the Vice Chair.

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The Millennium Challenge Corporation, a U.S. government agency designed to work with developing countries, is based on the principle that aid is most effective when it reinforces sound political, economic, and social policies that promote poverty reduction through economic growth. For more information about MCC, visit www.mcc.gov.

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MCC CEO Offers Condolences on the Passing of Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 18:40:00 UT

Washington, D.C.— Millennium Challenge Corporation CEO Ambassador John Danilovich released the following statement on the death of Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa:

“On behalf of the Millennium Challenge Corporation, I wish to convey my deepest condolences to the citizens of Zambia on the passing of President Mwanawasa. President Mwanawasa’s death not only is a great loss for Zambia but for the continent of Africa. My personal sympathies, and those of my staff, are with his family and the people of his country. We have lost an esteemed partner in the ongoing fight against poverty in President Mwanawasa. We join the people of Zambia in mourning his loss and in honoring his vision for a prosperous and bright future for his beloved nation.”

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Zambia Revenue Authority Opens Refurbished Client Service Center

Tue, 27 Mar 2007 15:15:00 UT

Launches Streamlined Value Added Tax Registration Process and Code of Ethics

Lusaka, Zambia— Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa joined by U.S. Ambassador to Zambia Carmen M. Martinez and visiting Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Millennium Challenge Corporation Rodney Bent today opened a refurbished Client Service Center at the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA). Funds from a $22.7 million Millennium Challenge Corporation-financed Threshold program were used to refurbish the center. The grant also provided the ZRA with technical assistance to help streamline the Value Added Tax (VAT) registration process, which has reduced the time required to register for the VAT from between 2 to 3 weeks to just 6 days.

Recognizing that both the reality and public perception of corruption continue to be major impediments to the country’s transition to a stable democracy with a market-driven economy, Zambia established and implemented a policy of “Zero Tolerance for Corruption” in Zambia. As an extension of this national policy, the Government of Zambia in May 2006 signed an agreement with the U.S. to reduce corruption and improve government effectiveness through activities in two components.

One component of the program (“Ruling Justly”) promotes greater transparency while reducing opportunities for corruption in three target institutions – the Ministry of Lands, the Immigration Department, and the Zambia Revenue Authority. Another component (“Economic Freedom”) assists the Zambian government in establishing the Zambia Development Agency, extending the Patents and Companies Registration Office to three provincial capitals, and improving management of trade at the borders.

“I applaud the Zambia Revenue Authority’s work to reduce the time to register for the Value Added Tax to under a week,” said Mr. Bent. “By streamlining data input and the steps necessary to register for VAT, this program is promoting transparency and increasing business productivity in Zambia.”

Businesses can now complete the streamlined process entirely at the newly refurbished Client Service Center without having to visit additional offices in the ZRA complex. The Client Service Centre will be a one-stop shop for all dealings with ZRA. The new center guides the customer with clearly marked areas for small and medium taxpayers. As part of the Zambia program’s integrated border management initiative, the new center will also facilitate a one-stop-shop for clearing cargo and other services through a single information window.

Mr. Bent added, “Zambia is a valued partner in the fight against corruption and I commend President Mwanawasa for his leadership. We thank our colleagues at USAID and the U.S. Embassy for all of their efforts throughout the implementation of this program. We look forward to strengthening our partnership with the government of Zambia as more implementation successes are achieved.”

As part of the renewed commitment to transparency and public service, ZRA approved a new code of ethics that sets guidelines for professional and ethical conduct of ZRA staff. The ZRA’s Integrity Committee, in collaboration with the Anti-Corruption Commission and the Zambia Threshold Program, launched the new code today with President Mwanawasa leading ZRA officers in publicly affirming the code of ethics. The ZRA will soon display a “citizen’s charter,” outlining the level of service Zambians can expect from the agency.

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Zambia and MCC: Combating Corruption and Improving Government Service

Mon, 22 May 2006 16:20:00 UT

Fact Sheet: Zambia and MCC: Combating Corruption and Improving Government Service ()

Zambia Receives $22.7 Million Millennium Challenge Corporation Grant to Tackle Corruption

Mon, 22 May 2006 12:45:00 UT

Washington, D.C. —Today, Chief Executive Officer of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), Ambassador John Danilovich, presided over a Threshold Program signing ceremony between the United States and the Republic of Zambia for a two-year $22.7 million initiative aimed at fighting corruption and improving government effectiveness. Zambian Minister of Finance and National Planning Ng'andu P. Magande and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Assistant Administrator for Africa Lloyd Pierson signed the agreement. Zambian Ambassador to the United States Dr. Inonge Mbikusita-Lewanika observed the signing. The program's three-pronged strategy in combating corruption focuses on preventing corruption in targeted government institutions, improving public service delivery to the private sector, and improving border management of trade.

“Fighting corruption is an essential component in reducing poverty because corruption undermines all other efforts to stimulate growth and spread opportunity,” said MCC CEO Ambassador John Danilovich. “Congratulations to the people and government of Zambia for their ambitious, results-oriented program to root out corruption and encourage investment. I applaud President Mwanawasa for his bold action in implementing a ‘Zero Tolerance for Corruption' policy. We look forward to building on our strong partnership throughout the implementation phase.”

Ambassador Danilovich added, “Thanks to our colleagues at USAID and the U.S. Embassy in Zambia led by Ambassador Carmen Martinez for their tireless efforts in making this program possible.”

MCC's Threshold Program is designed to assist countries that are on the “threshold” of Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) eligibility for Compacts. Threshold Program assistance is used to help countries address the specific policy weaknesses indicated by the country's scores on 16 policy indicators in three categories—Ruling Justly, Investing in People, and Encouraging Economic Freedom. These policy indicators are central to the criteria and methodology for MCA eligibility and are products of respected international institutions and national data. Each indicator 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.

MCC's Threshold Program assistance totals approximately $116 million in six countries: Burkina Faso, Malawi, Tanzania, Albania, Paraguay, and Zambia.

Zambia 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.

Millennium Challenge Corporation Board Names Fiscal Year 2006 Threshold Countries

Tue, 08 Nov 2005 20:55:00 UT

November 8, 2005

Washington, D.C. – Today, the Board of Directors of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) selected a total of 13 countries to participate in the Threshold Program for fiscal year 2006. The Threshold Program is designed to assist countries that do not qualify but are close and are committed to undertaking the reforms necessary to improve policy performance that may eventually help them qualify for Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) Compact assistance.

The Board selected 13 countries to participate in the Threshold Program: Guyana, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyz Republic, Malawi, Moldova, Paraguay, Philippines, São Tomé and Principe, Ukraine, Uganda, and Zambia.

Since its establishment last year, MCC has signed Compacts with five nations, Madagascar, Honduras, Cape Verde, Nicaragua, and Georgia, totaling over $900 million. MCC is also actively engaging with other MCA-eligible countries in Compact negotiations and currently expects to sign three more within the next few months. Under the fiscal year 2005 Threshold Program, MCC has committed nearly $13 million to help improve girls' primary education in Burkina Faso and almost $21 million to help Malawians fight corruption. Additional threshold plans are in the final stages of completion and are expected to be received by MCC within the next few months.

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Press Release: Millennium Challenge Corporation Names Fiscal Year 2005 Eligible Countries

Mon, 08 Nov 2004 16:45:00 UT

Press Release: Millennium Challenge Corporation Names Fiscal Year 2005 Eligible Countries ()

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MCC - Zambia

CN: Zambia, 06-03-10

Zambia's Strategic Objective Grant Agreement (SOAG)

Threshold Program

Highlights of Program Activities

Component 1: Prevent Corruption in Government Institutions

Component 2: Improve Effectiveness of Public Services

Component 3: Improving Border Management of Trade

Expected Results

Implementing Partners

Compact Development

Zambia's Strategic Objective Grant Agreement

Quarterly Threshold Program Status Report: Zambia

Quarterly Status Report: Zambia

Zambia

MCC Reiterates U.S. Commitment to Fight Poverty Board Calls on Partners to Recommit to Democratic Principles; Colombia, Indonesia, Zambia now Eligible for Innovative Grants

Liberia and Timor-Leste named eligible for MCC’s threshold program Board suspends assistance to Nicaragua

MCC CEO Offers Condolences on the Passing of Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa

Zambia Revenue Authority Opens Refurbished Client Service Center

Launches Streamlined Value Added Tax Registration Process and Code of Ethics

Zambia and MCC: Combating Corruption and Improving Government Service

Zambia Receives $22.7 Million Millennium Challenge Corporation Grant to Tackle Corruption

Millennium Challenge Corporation Board Names Fiscal Year 2006 Threshold Countries

Press Release: Millennium Challenge Corporation Names Fiscal Year 2005 Eligible Countries

Liberia and Timor-Leste named eligible for MCC’s threshold program
Board suspends assistance to Nicaragua