Natural Resource Management Indicator Search
In its authorizing legislation, the MCC is directed to use objective and quantifiable indicators to evaluate a country's demonstrated commitment to, among other things, economic policies that promote the sustainable management of natural resources. At first, MCC provided its Board with supplemental quantitative and qualitative information about countries' performance in this area. However, MCC recognized the importance of including an indicator of policy performance in this area on its country scorecards. In February 2005, MCC initiated a public process, spearheaded by former MCC Board Member Governor Christine Todd Whitman, to seek broad input from experts and key stakeholders on a natural resources management indicator or index.
In July 2006, MCC concluded its review of the ideas for a natural resources management indicator and ultimately identified two new measures to adopt: a Natural Resource Management Index from Columbia University's Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN) and the Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy, and a Land Rights and Access Index which includes an indicator from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and two indicators from the International Finance Corporation (IFC). Both indices were first introduced as supplemental information in Fiscal Year 2007, and they were fully incorporated into the MCC scorecards beginning in Fiscal Year 2008.
- Fact Sheet (October 2006)
The links below lead to the sources of the natural resource management data used in the selection of eligible countries.
- Natural Resource Management index (CIESIN/Yale)
- Land Rights and Access index (IFAD / IFC)
Public Consultation
In the search for a Natural Resources indicator, MCC consulted extensively with a broad range of environmental experts, think tanks, NGOs, scholars, the Congress, and various US government offices. In February 2005, MCC invited experts with a range of experience to participate in a Natural Resources Working Group and invited them to provide input into the process by identifying available indicators, formally proposing new or existing indicators or serving as an evaluator of the proposals received by MCC. During these consultations, MCC researched and catalogued over 120 potential natural resource indicators.
- Catalogue of potential indicators examined (Microsoft Excel)
Many of those consulted suggested MCC convene a gathering of experts in this field to take stock of existing and emerging research and to discuss the merits and shortcomings of potential indicators. In response, in June 2005, MCC worked with The Brookings Institution to bring together some of the top experts in the field of natural resources management, environmental indicators, and environmental economics. The group discussed and evaluated potential indicators and MCC announced a “call for ideas” to seek formal suggestions for an indicator by institutions that manage such data. MCC provided an outline of the process through which proposals would be evaluated and introduced the expert evaluators.