Fact Sheet

MCC and Education: Investing in 

Human Resources to Reduce Poverty

About MCC and Education

Education is a key component to combat global poverty through the U.S. Government’s partnership with countries via the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC). Experts agree that lack of access to education can be a 

major constraint to economic growth. The selection process governing who receives MCC funding, the steps for 

developing many of MCC’s five-year grants, and the implementation of these unique programs around the world 

include education as an important consideration. A growing number of MCC’s partner countries have identified 

education as an area where this unique form of U.S. foreign assistance can have the greatest impact. 

In order to qualify for MCC funding, countries must pass third party indicators in the areas of ruling justly, investing in people, and promoting economic freedom. Two out of three policy indicators under the investing in people 

category relate to education. MCC investments are intended to strengthen partner countries’ education efforts, 

including the capacity of Ministries of Education to better manage the education system, so that they can sustain 

such efforts themselves in the future. 

MCC and Compact Proposals

A number of MCC partner countries have submitted proposals which include educational projects and training 

components that contribute to human development in activities related to: 

 Educational policy reform, including legal, regulatory, and financing frameworks 

 Augmenting or upgrading a country’s existing educational institutions, including assessments of facilities, 

teaching, learning, and outreach 

 Technical and vocational education and training (formal, non-formal education, and lifelong learning), often 

through public-private partnerships

 Improving access to education (basic, secondary, tertiary, vocational/technical, adult, non-formal, and other 

forms of education and training), including through distance learning and often targeting specific popultions 

(e.g., women) 

August 27, 2008 | www.mcc.gov
MCC and Education: Investing in Human Resources to Reduce Poverty, March 12, 2009 2

 Improving the quality and relevance of education, which may include addressing educational management, 

facilities and equipment, teacher competencies and professional development, curricular and textbook 

development, and strengthening capacity in learner-centered and adult learning methodologies

MCC and Education Projects in Implementation

Education Investments by Type

In millions of U.S. dollars.

Cross Support,

0.50%

Literacy,

Tertiary Education, 8.01%

0.81%

Textbooks,

5.62%

Construction/

Expansion

of Schools,

48.73%

Technical/

Vocational 

Training,

36.34%

MCC Education Investment Summary 

in millions of U.S. dollars.

Country

Technical/

Vocational 

Education 

Training

Construction

or Expansion 

of Schools Textbooks Literacy

Tertiary 

Education

Cross 

Project 

Support Total

Burkina Faso 28.83 28.83

El Salvador 27.71 27.71

Ghana 75.00 75.00

Mongolia 25.50 25.50

Morocco 12.00 20.80 32.80

Namibia 29.20 97.75 14.59 2.10 1.30 144.90

Niger 23.00 23.00

GRAND TOTAL 94.41 224.58 14.59 20.80 2.10 1.30 357.74

Over the course of the next 10 to 20 years, 

MCC’s targeted projects, of which education 

and training investments make up over 12%, are 

expected to benefit 1.9 to 2.4 million people, 

with an average additional income per beneficiary of $1,1001

.

1 MCC is currently reviewing its approach to beneficiary analysis 

and this number can only be seen as an estimate based on preliminary calculations. Additionally, the level of economic benefit to a 

beneficiary depends on the type, design, and intensity of the MCC 

project in which they are participating.