The fate of Sierra Leone’s hopes for a $500 million grant from the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) hangs in the balance as the organization’s Board of Directors gathers in Washington D.C. today, Wednesday, December 13, 2023.

The Board’s decision will determine whether Sierra Leone continues to be eligible for the MCC compact, a program that provides funding to countries that demonstrate strong governance, economic freedom, and investments in their people. Sierra Leone’s eligibility hinges on more than just its score on the MCC Scorecard, which assesses the country’s performance in these three areas.

According to US Ambassador Bryan David Hunt, the MCC also considers a country’s broader trajectory of economic, social, and democratic development. In Sierra Leone’s case, concerns have been raised about the country’s democratic progress, particularly in the aftermath of its 2023 multi-tier elections.

“It takes more than just the Scorecard result to determine a country’s eligibility for the compact,” Ambassador Hunt stated. “We not only look at the Scorecard result but also at the broader trajectory of the country’s economic, social and democratic development.”

These concerns, coupled with recent developments in the country, have led some to believe that Sierra Leone may lose out on the FY 2024 MCC compact. However, there is still hope for the country, as the Board’s decision is not yet final.

“The Sierra Leone government has been looking forward to receiving the grant ever since the country secured a satisfactory score on the MCC Scorecard,” said a spokesperson for the Sierra Leonean Ministry of Finance. “We are aware that the MCC considers a number of factors when making its decisions, and we remain hopeful that Sierra Leone’s overall progress will be recognized.”

The MCC’s decision is expected to be announced in the coming days. Sierra Leoneans will be anxiously awaiting the news, hoping for a favorable outcome that will provide much-needed support for the country’s development efforts.