Millennium Challenge Corporation assesses progress
Officials from the United States based Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) are in the country to engage the Government of Malawi on progress made so far in the implementation of its $350.7 million phase of the compact.
The delegation will also discuss with government the requirements for Malawi to qualify for the second power compact agreement.
The compact is designed to increase individual and business incomes and reduce poverty by improving the availability of power supply, expanding access to power, reducing the cost of doing business and revitalising Malawi’s power sector.
This is to be achieved through improvements to power infrastructure such as rehabilitating Nkula hydropower plant and installing transmission and distribution lines across the country.
MCC also participated in the process to unbundle Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom) and will work to increase its successful financial and operational performance.
The delegation includes Acting Vice President for the Department of Compact Operations, Kyeh Kim, Acting Vice President for the Department of Policy and Evaluation, Tom Kelly, and Chief Economist, Mark Sundberg.
They are scheduled to meet Chief Secretary to Government, Lloyd Muhara, Minister of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining, Bright Msaka, and Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development, Goodall Gondwe.
United States Ambassador to Malawi, Virginia Palmer, said the visit will provide MCC leadership an opportunity to engage the Government of Malawi to initiate discussions on eligibility requirements for the second phase of the compact.
“Implementation of Malawi’s power compact is on track and the delegation’s visit will highlight the strong partnership with both government of Malawi partners and the Millenium Challenge Account Malawi team. Continued support for the power sector reform agenda from the government of Malawi is critical to ensure the compact’s goals are not only achieved but sustainable beyond the compact’s closure in September 2018,” she said
