Press Release

MCC CEO Discusses Agency Investments in WASH and COVID-19 Response in Concordia Webinar

WASHINGTON, D.C., June 5, 2020 – The U.S. Government’s Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Chief Executive Officer Sean  Cairncross  was the featured speaker  for  an event hosted by Concordia as part of the organization’s COVID-19 webinar series.  Concordia is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization focused on fostering, elevating, and sustaining cross-sector partnerships for social impact. CEO Cairncross was joined by Kennedy Odede, Founder & CEO, Shining Hope for Community (SHOFCO); and Ambassador Paula Dobriansky, Former Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs.

During the discussion, CEO  Cairncross  emphasized  MCC’s commitment to delivering sustainable economic growth and reducing poverty around the world. Since its inception in 2004, MCC has invested more than $13 billion in country-led projects in areas such as power, education, and health. Specifically, CEO Cairncross highlighted MCC’s investments in Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH), especially on the African continent. Working alongside partner countries, MCC has played an integral role in improving access to safe water and sanitation supplies in underserved communities. The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the critical need for access to water, sanitation, and hygiene supplies for health and safety.

“As we’ve seen throughout this crisis, health and the economy are inextricably linked. MCC’s focus will continue to be on our mission to reduce poverty through economic growth,” MCC CEO Sean Cairncross said. “Many of our programs—like WASH investments—have direct and indirect impacts on a country’s health sector. MCC’s country-led programs are structured to build capacity in our partner countries and invest in long-term, sustainable development that will promote economic revitalization and job creation once the COVID-19 pandemic subsides.”

“The MCC is an important institution within the United States government. It has dealt particularly adroitly with WASH – water, sanitation, and hygiene – which is so crucial at this time of the COVID-19 pandemic," said Ambassador Paula Dobriansky. She went on to assert that, "significantly, MCC works together with partner countries and builds upon their innovative ideas, frameworks and projects which will grow their economies."

A recording of the event “WASH: Linking Global Health and Global Economies” is available  to view.

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The Millennium Challenge Corporation is an independent U.S. government agency working to reduce global poverty through economic growth.  Created in 2004, MCC provides time-limited grants and assistance to low-income countries that meet rigorous standards for good governance, from fighting corruption to respecting democratic rights.  Learn more about MCC at  www.mcc.gov.