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Press Release

MCC to Launch Smart Aid Series on International Women's Day

For Immediate Release

March 4, 2016

Contact: 202-521-3880

Email: Renee Kelly

WASHINGTON, D.C., March 4, 2016 – On Tuesday, March 8, the U.S. Government’s Millennium Challenge Corporation will join the Society for International Development to launch a new Smart Aid series in celebration of International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month.

Since its founding, MCC has sought innovative ways to transform lives and reduce poverty through economic growth. The Smart Aid series will bring together development practitioners, thought leaders and MCC experts for a roundtable discussion of best practices, innovative approaches, and lessons learned across a range of development topics to foster greater collaboration.

Tuesday’s first Smart Aid series event will focus on gender and social inclusion in infrastructure development, featuring experts from MCC who will discuss the agency’s work to reduce gender and social inequalities and empower women and girls around the world. MCC has pioneered important gender and social inclusion considerations in the field of international development and is a proud partner of the U.S. Government’s Let Girls Learn effort to help adolescent girls get an education.    

Many countries with high levels of gender inequality also experience high levels of poverty, and gender inequality can be a significant constraint to economic growth and poverty reduction. Gender differences and inequalities are considered throughout MCC’s grant process, including the selection of eligible countries, the development and design of compacts, the review and implementation of projects, and program monitoring and evaluation.

Throughout the month of March, MCC will continue to amplify the insights and experiences of women in leadership across the development community in a new podcast series called “Women on a Mission,” along with the launch of a new MCC Twitter account focused on gender and social inclusion.

WHAT:

Smart Aid Series Launch Event on Gender and Social Inclusion

WHO:

MCC Practice Lead and Senior Director, Gender and Social Inclusion, Anupma Jain

MCC Senior Operations Advisor, Gender and Social Inclusion and Sector Operations, Michelle Adato

MCC Director, Gender and Social Inclusion, Yeshiareg Dejene

MCC Senior Program Officer, Gender and Social Inclusion, Monica Tejada

Senior Inclusive Development Advisor at World Learning Jennifer Collins-Foley

WHEN:

2 p.m., Tuesday, March 8

WHERE:

Society for International Development at 1101 15th Street NW, 3rd Floor, Washington, D.C.

Press are invited to attend this event. To confirm attendance, please RSVP to press@mcc.gov.

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