Millennium Challenge Corporation Deputy CEO Chidi Blyden Visits Dar es Salaam to Deepen Partnership, Activate Grant Program Development

Deputy CEO of the U.S. Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), Chidi Blyden, engages with scholars while visiting the dLab, an innovation lab, established by MCC and the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which trained thousands of youths in data literacy, coding, and other digital skills.

Deputy CEO of the U.S. Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), Chidi Blyden (fifth from right), and Acting Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy Jonathan Howard (third from right) joins Minister for Finance, Mwigulu Nchemba (sixth from right) and Tanzania’s Ambassador to the U.S. Elsie Kanza (next to Min. Nchemba), following a productive discussion between U.S. and Tanzanian government representatives, on cooperation around the coming MCC Threshold Project.

 

Dar es Salaam, TANZANIA

 

 The U.S. Government’s Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Deputy CEO Chidi Blyden departed Tanzania after a visit to rekindle the partnership and kick off the future development of an MCC threshold program with the Government of Tanzania. 

 

“Tanzania is an important partner for the United States and the new MCC threshold program is an excellent opportunity to further our engagement,” said Blyden.  “I am looking forward to our collective efforts to strengthen democratic governance and promote inclusive and sustainable economic development.”

 

During her visit, Blyden visited the dLab, an innovation lab that harnesses the potential of the data revolution to solve local, regional, and global sustainable development challenges. MCC, with President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), established the dLab which trained thousands of youths in data literacy, coding, and other digital skills. She also met with leaders of key civil society organizations to gain an understanding of the opportunities for policy and institutional reform in Tanzania.

 

Blyden also engaged with the Government of Tanzania, including meeting with the Minister of Finance, Hon. Dr. Mwigulu L. Nchemba, Executive Secretary of the Planning Commission Lawrence Mafuru and appointed National Coordinator Dr. Hamisi Mwinyimvua who expressed commitment to a thriving economy and developing an impactful MCC threshold program. The delegation engaged with the Executive Board and members of the CEO Round Table (CEORt), an organization that convenes leaders from the private sector focused on improving Tanzania’s business regulatory environment.

 

The visit included meetings with alumni and staff from the MCC Tanzania compact, who continue to be steadfast partners in ensuring MCC investments improve lives. MCC’s previous work in Tanzania includes a $698.1 million compact completed in 2013 which provided infrastructure improvement projects in transportation, energy, and water.

 

On December 13, 2023, MCC’s Board of Directors selected Tanzania to develop a threshold program, creating an opportunity for MCC and Tanzania to work together to improve policy and institutional reforms. Read more here.