Millennium Challenge Commission - July 17 2008

The Millennium Challenge Commission (MCC) is a $175 million grant awarded over five years to Nicaragua to reduce poverty through economic development in the western region to increase income. The MCC awards grants to countries that already are in the development phase and have the capacity and commitment to implement programs but do not have the necessary resources to do it effectively.

There are three main areas the grant is addressing:
1. Increase value added of business which is being accomplished through a rural business development program for agricultural farms including, milk, beans, and aqua plans
2. Strengthening property rights through the land projects
3. Reduce transportation costs through the transportation regularization project

The project is in its second year and to date there has been $50.9 million committed and $23.5 million committed. There have been 5,819 beneficiaries, 20 percent are women, and 2,949 new jobs created. Sixty-eight kilometers of primary roads and 300 kilometers of secondary roads have also been built under this grant.