MONROVIA — A high-powered delegation from the U.S. Government’s Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) is set to arrive in Liberia on Monday, September 22, to assess the country’s readiness for reaffirmation of eligibility for a potential second MCC Compact.
The mission, led by Ms. Carrie Monahan, Managing Director for Africa at MCC, will bring together senior experts across economics, trade, and finance. The team includes Deidre Fair, Director of Finance and Trade; Steve Anderson, Economist; Peter Glick, Economist; Sophia Marcus, Economist; Sheena Cooper, Finance and Trade Specialist; and Arif Mamun, Deputy Vice President for the Economic Analysis Division.
The visit comes ahead of MCC’s December 2025 board meeting, where Liberia’s eligibility for a second Compact will be formally reviewed.
Wide-Ranging Stakeholder Engagements
While in Liberia, the delegation will hold consultations with key government institutions and stakeholders, including the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Central Bank of Liberia, National Investment Commission, Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services (LISGIS), and the Ministry of Mines and Energy.
Other engagements are expected with the Liberia Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (LEITI), the Liberia Revenue Authority, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the Liberia Special Economic Zone Authority, the Liberia Chamber of Commerce, as well as private sector and civil society actors.
These meetings form part of MCC’s Constraints Analysis, a rigorous diagnostic process designed to identify barriers to inclusive and sustainable economic growth and to determine priority sectors for investment.
Liberia’s Case for Compact Readiness
Liberia’s Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, welcomed the visit, describing it as “a crucial moment” in Liberia’s partnership with the MCC.
“The MCC is embracing a win-win development model under the current U.S. administration,” Minister Ngafuan said. “They are seeking to support sectors that not only drive Liberia’s economic progress but also create opportunities for U.S. investment.”
The MCC mission also marks a renewal of momentum for Liberia, following a temporary pause in Compact discussions due to U.S. political transitions and evolving policy directions.
Background on MCC
The Millennium Challenge Corporation, created by the U.S. Congress in 2004, is an independent government agency that provides multi-million-dollar grants to countries demonstrating strong commitments to good governance, economic freedom, and investment in their people. Its Compacts aim to reduce poverty through sustainable, growth-driven reforms. Liberia previously benefitted from its first Compact (2016–2021), which focused on rehabilitating the Mount Coffee Hydropower Plant, strengthening the Liberia Electricity Corporation, and reforming road maintenance systems. That program brought significant improvements in electricity generation and infrastructure, but policymakers have since argued that a second Compact is critical for consolidating gains and expanding development impact.
