The GOOD NEWS

The Millennium Challenge Account

AThe newly-created Presidential Initiative, Millennium Challenge Account, approved its first Threshold Country Plan with the technical support of USAID/WARP. Burkina Faso was selected by the Millennium Challenge Account as a Threshold Country in November, 2004. USAID/WARP provided technical assistance to support the

Government of Burkina Faso in developing its Threshold Country Plan and will manage the Burkina Faso Girls' Education MCA Program. More

USAID/WARP Successfully Supports the First Threshold Country Plan Approved by the Millennium Challenge Account

Following a series of meetings and reviews of the draft, the Government of Burkina Faso submitted its Threshold Country Plan on June 21, 2005, and on July 6, 2005, the MCC Board of Directors approved the plan. USAID/WARP worked quickly to develop a Strategic Objective Grant Agreement between the Government of Burkina Faso and USAID/WARP which was signed on July 22, 2005, one month following the approval of the Threshold Country Plan.

USAID/WARP Signs Strategic Objective Grant Agreement with the Government of Burkina Faso to Support Girls' Basic Education

On Friday, July 22, 2005, the Government of Burkina Faso and USAID signed a Strategic Objective Grant Agreement to support girls' primary education. The initiative, part of the Millennium Challenge Account's Threshold Country Program, provides $12.9 million over a two year period to improve enrollment and attendance rates of girls in primary schools.

At a public signing ceremony, the Minister of Finance and Budget, Hon. Jean-Baptiste M.P. Compaoré and Mr. Paul V. Applegarth, Chief Executive Officer, Millennium Challenge Corporation signed the grant agreement, with the Minister of Basic Education and Literacy and USAID/WARP present.

The signing ceremony was followed by a meeting with the President of Burkina Faso, H.E. Blaise Compaoré to discuss overall objectives of this new initiative with the eventual goal of Burkina Faso becoming eligible as a Millennium Challenge country.