Jordan Times
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
$25 million grant to support political, economic reform
efforts
By Cheryl Haines
AMMAN –– The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC)
will provide $25 million to support the government’s efforts in advancing its
political and economic reforms through the Threshold Programme under an
agreement signed at the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation on
Tuesday.
Under the corporation’s motto of “reducing poverty through economic growth,”
Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit emphasised the importance of investing in the
country’s political, economic and social domains.
“Transforming Jordan into a modern knowledge state will increase productivity
and employment and ensure a better future for all Jordanians,” the premier said
at yesterday’s signing ceremony.
Jordan is the first country in the Middle East to receive the Millennium
Challenge Corporation grant, which will help the government accelerate
implementation of its home-grown reform initiatives that are focused in three
key areas — broadening public participation in the political and electoral
process, increasing government transparency and accountability, and enhancing
the efficiency and effectiveness of the customs administration
The Threshold Programme is designed to assist countries committed to undertaking
reforms that improve policy performance. In doing so, they may qualify for the
five-year Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) compact assistance, according to a
statement from the US embassy in Amman.
The Threshold Programme assists countries that are on the “threshold,” who have
not yet qualified for the MCA Compact funding, but have demonstrated a
significant commitment to improve their performance on the eligibility criteria
for the MCA Compact funding, the statement added.
The programme helps the selected countries address their specific policy
weaknesses which have been indicated by their score on 16 internationally-recognised
policy indicators. “Jordan is doing just that,” MCC CEO Ambassador John J.
Danilovich said at the signing ceremony.
The $25 million grant will be allocated in two areas over the course of two
years — $16.5 million will be used to support municipal development programmes,
providing assistance to increase participation in local elections and supplying
financial resources for community programmes to foster collaboration among
municipalities, citizens and the private sector.
The remaining $8.5 million will be directed towards modernising the customs
administration through implementing technical and strategic enhancements in
customs monitoring and border control, Minister of Planning and International
Cooperation Suhair Al-Ali said.
Danilovich and the US Agency for International Development Mission Director Anne
Aarnes signed the agreement with Al-Ali in the presence of Bakhit and American
Ambassador David Hale.