A Vision for Africa

Posted on June 1, 2009 by Darius Mans, Vice President, Department of Compact Implementation

It was a great pleasure to help welcome an impressive group of distinguished guests to MCC last week to mark Africa Day. What continues to unite Africa—a continent of 53 countries each with their own distinct culture and history—is a shared vision for a new day of opportunity and prosperity to transform the lives of the continent’s poorest. The U.S. Government’s MCC is proud to play a role in realizing this goal by diligently implementing results-driven programs that are making a difference in the lives of Africa’s poor.

We have invested more than 70 percent of our total grant funding-more than $4.7 billion-to fight poverty and stimulate sustainable economic growth in 18 African countries. Our partners are using these investments

• to boost agricultural productivity so as to increase food security,
• to educate girls and teach mothers how to prevent HIV transmission to their newborns, and
• to build roads not only to help farmers get their crops to market but also to help families get to schools and health clinics.

MCC’s partnerships throughout Africa are helping the poor earn the income they need to pull themselves and their households out of poverty and toward a better future. MCC is proof positive of the Obama Administration’s support for Africa, even in the midst of the current economic crisis.

Those who joined us for Africa Day from the Administration, the diplomatic corps, and the development community spoke with one voice: Africa’s promise is vast and the commitment to partner with Africans to realize such potential is firm. Gayle Smith, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Relief, Stabilization, and Development at the National Security Council, Ambassador Johnnie Carson, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Rodney Bent, our acting CEO here at MCC, Her Excellency Ambassador Amina Salum Ali from the African Union, His Excellency Ambassador Aziz Mekouar of Morocco and chair of Africa Day, Ken Hackett, President of Catholic Relief Services, and David Beckmann, President of Bread for the World, discussed the continent’s constraints to growth and realistic approaches for overcoming them. Their special insights offered pragmatic, practical, and results-driven solutions that are meaningful and sustainable for the people of Africa. View the event’s video for details.