Invitation to Innovate (I to I)

The Millennium Challenge Corporation’s new Invitation to Innovate (I to I) initiative, which was launched through an Annual Partnership Solicitation, is a framework designed to facilitate the development of partnerships with the private sector and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). MCC’s goal is to solicit innovative partnership ideas from the private and non-governmental sectors that will expand the impact of MCC’s investments and support the agency’s mission of reducing poverty through economic growth.

Partnerships solicited through the Invitation to Innovate initiative will introduce new technologies and approaches for development, enhance training and expertise, and increase the sustainability of MCC investments. Successful partnerships are expected to leverage resources and concentrate on priority development activities that meet MCC’s core principles of “policy matters,” accountability, and results.

The I to I initiative is focused on partnerships in select MCC partner countries:

• Compacts in Development
  • Cape Verde
  • Indonesia
  • Zambia
  • Ghana

• Compacts in Implementation

  • Lesotho
  • Tanzania
  • Ghana

• Selected Priority Sectors

  • Land Tenure
  • Transportation Corridor Development

In the future, MCC may expand the initiative to include additional countries or sectors.

Who Can Partner

New partnerships will bring ideas and innovations to MCC projects and allow MCC to expand the types of organizations with which it typically works. Partners may include private enterprises, non-governmental organizations, social responsibility funds, foundations, other donors, and development-oriented investment funds.  Partnerships may include a range of characteristics and cooperative arrangements, including coordination of activities, co-financing arrangements, shared implementation, risk sharing, resource sharing.

Application Process

U.S. and international companies and organizations may apply for a partnership opportunity with MCC by submitting a short concept paper for review by MCC and the relevant MCA (the partner country implementing entity).  If the review is favorable, a full proposal will be invited. Specific details regarding concept paper requirements are noted in the Annual Partnership Solicitation posted at www.grants.gov.

MCC is committed to country ownership and country-led development. All partnerships will be subject to agreement and, as appropriate, engagement of MCA country counterparts. MCC recognizes that partners will want to consider carefully their relationship to government agencies and projects, and will facilitate this relationship where appropriate to achieve effective and meaningful partnerships. Concept papers and applications may be shared with MCA country counterparts.

MCC already funds activities in the public sector, where the government role is clear and preeminent. Through this new initiative, MCC hopes to draw more broadly on partners to leverage MCC resources and to stimulate new investment and new development practices. These partnerships, although often complex and challenging to structure, offer the possibility of mobilizing additional resources for develop¬ment and promoting greater program effectiveness and sustainability — thus offering an opportunity to substantially increase the impact of MCC-funded projects.