Millennium Challenge Corporation – new in 2012

Faculty Mentor: Francis Fukuyama

The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) is an innovative and independent U.S. foreign aid agency that is helping lead the fight against global poverty.  Created by the U.S. Congress in January 2004 with strong bipartisan support, MCC is changing the conversation on how best to deliver smart U.S. foreign assistance by focusing on good policies, country ownership, and results.  For more info please visit www.mcc.gov

What is distinctive about MCC?

MCC is a prime example of smart U.S. Government assistance in action, benefiting both developing countries and U.S. taxpayers through:

Competitive selection: Before a country can become eligible to receive assistance, MCC’s Board examines its performance on independent and transparent policy indicators and selects compact-eligible countries based on policy performance.

Country-led solutions: MCC requires selected countries to identify their priorities for achieving sustainable economic growth and poverty reduction. Countries develop their MCC proposals in broad consultation within their society. MCC teams then work in close partnership to help countries refine a program.

Country-led implementation: MCC administers the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA). When a country is awarded a compact, it sets up its own local MCA accountable entity to manage and oversee all aspects of implementation. Monitoring of funds is rigorous and transparent, often through independent fiscal agents.

MCC forms partnerships with some of the world’s poorest countries, but only those committed to:

• good governance,
• economic freedom,
• and investments in their citizens.

Potential Fellowship Projects:

• Department of Congressional and Public Affairs

o   Potential duties include:

-          Monitoring and tracking legislation affecting international development and foreign affairs issues

-          Attending congressional hearings and briefings and writing summary reports

-          Compiling reports on MCC issues for congressional and NGO stakeholders

-          Writing and editing communications materials, including press releases, blog posts, fact sheets, correspondence, web copy, and social media strategy

-          Assisting in development and execution of public events with high-level participants

-          Managing a digital database of key stakeholders, including members of congress and administration officials

-          Leading various short-term and long-term research projects as assigned

o   Desirable skills include:

-          Professional experience in politics or legislative policy (including internships or volunteer opportunities)

-          Academic experience in foreign policy or international development (please note relevant coursework on resume)

-          Familiarity with key stakeholders in the field of international development, including leading Members of Congress, NGOs and private sector firms

-          Excellent writing skills, including writing for distinct audiences and converting technical content to plain language

-          Excellent verbal communication skills

-          Good judgment; ability to execute projects under tight deadlines with attention to detail

-          Strong work ethic and professionalism

-          Comfortable working independently and taking initiative

• Department of Policy and Evaluation

[Rising Seniors are preferred for consideration]

o   Potential duties include:

-          monitoring and tracking international and country-specific policy issues and drafting summaries of issue findings;

-          creating/maintaining resource libraries;

-          maintaining the “MCC Effect” database by researching and logging summaries and sources of findings on instances where MCC has been linked with incentives for policy reform in candidate countries;

-          researching third-party indicators on government policies or performances;

-          assisting with preparing policy data reports for MCC senior management, Board of Directors, and external stakeholders;

-          attending internal and external meetings; and

-          other duties as assigned

o   Desirable skills include:

-          Background on international development and/or public policy;

-          Quantitative and qualitative research skills;

-          Ability to write clearly and concisely on complex policy issues;

-          Ability to display data in compelling visual formats;

-          Comfortable working independently and in a team.

****Please note that working for the MCC requires a security clearance. If you are not eligible for a US Security Clearance, please do not apply for this fellowship. Some general guidelines on security clearances are listed below: 

The clearance process generally takes approximately 60-90 days to complete from the time the forms are received by the Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DS). Investigations may take substantially longer than 90 days if a candidate:

• has had extensive travel, education, residence and/or employment overseas
• has dual citizenship, foreign contacts, immediate family or relatives who are not citizens of the United States
• has a foreign-born spouse
• has a security, suitability, or medical issue to resolve (These issues could include a current or past history of drugs or alcohol abuse, as well as a recent history of credit problems.)

Further information regarding issues of dual citizenship and foreign influence is available at careers.state.gov. Although these problems will not necessarily preclude you from receiving a security clearance, they will lengthen the time required to complete the clearance process. A candidate’s preliminary notification of acceptance will include instructions on how to initiate the security clearance electronically. When this letter is received, please complete the online clearance process by the date indicated. This is important! Diplomatic Security may be unable to process your security clearance if you fail to meet that deadline.

• Dual Nationality/Close Family Ties: Dual nationals, recently naturalized, and applicants who have significant and close family ties to a particular country are encouraged NOT to seek an internship in that country. In such cases, there is a strong possibility that the applicant will either not receive the clearance in time to participate in the program, or that they may be denied clearance all together.
• Random Drug Testing: All interns serving in positions that require a clearance for access to information classified as “Secret” or above will be subject to the Department’s random employee drug testing program.