For Immediate Release
September 21, 2016
Contact: Laura Allen
202-704-8558
AllenLM@mcc.gov
Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC)
Tomorrow, Thursday, Sept. 22, during the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly, the U.S. Government’s Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) will host a celebration of the signing of the Niger Sustainable Water and Agriculture Compact. The event will include remarks from the President of the Republic of Niger H.E. Mahamadou Issoufou and MCC CEO Dana J. Hyde.
Niger is at the forefront of today’s global challenges, from climate change to security. In partnership with the Government of Niger, the $437 million Niger Sustainable Water and Agriculture Compact will strengthen Niger’s agricultural sector — which employs more than 80 percent of the population and represents the second-largest export sector in the country — by improving water availability, farmer knowledge and management skills, roads, and market access. The MCC compact has the potential to benefit more than 3.9 million Nigeriens. The new compact includes investments in training for farmers — especially women and youth — climate-resilient agricultural production techniques, and development of market platforms to competitively position farmer groups in the marketplace in order to reduce poverty and encourage economic growth.
The following organizations are partnering with MCC on this event: Alliance to End Hunger, Bread for the World, Catholic Relief Services, Global Citizen, ONE Campaign, World Vision U.S.
For more information on MCC’s compact with the Republic of Niger, please visit: https://www.mcc.gov/where-we-work/program/niger-compact
To view a recent blog on the innovative use of data in developing the Niger Compact, visit: https://www.mcc.gov/blog/entry/blog-091516-building-nigers-statistical-capacity
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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 poor countries that meet rigorous standards for good governance, from fighting corruption to respecting democratic rights. Learn more about MCC at www.mcc.gov.
