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Ambassador Andrew Young Lecture Series
January 29, 2008
The Africa Society and His Excellency Dr. Kwame Bawuah-Edusei will host the Ambassador Andrew Young Lecture Series, Tuesday, January 29th, 2008 from 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. at the Embassy of Ghana, featuring: Ambassador John J. Danilovich, Chief Operating Officer, Millennium Challenge Corporation.
Press Release
The Head of the Millennium Challenge Corporation
To Open The Africa Society's 2008 Andrew Young Lecture Series
Ambassador John J. Danilovich, CEO of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), will deliver the first address of the 2008 Andrew Young Lecture Series on Tuesday, January 29. The event begins with a reception at 6:30 pm with the lecture to follow. The evening is hosted by the Embassy of Ghana, 3512 International Drive, N.W. Washington, DC. The Andrew Young Lecture Series is a signature program of The Africa Society of the National Summit on Africa.
Ambassador Kwame Bawuah-Edusei of the Republic of Ghana will introduce Ambassador Danilovich to an audience of policy makers, academicians, journalists and members of the diplomatic, corporate and NGO communities.
In his talk, "The MCC and Africa: A Partnership for Progress," Ambassador Danilovich will address MCC's development assistance model; it's role in Africa and the progress of MCC programs on the continent. He will also speak about MCC's vision for growing African economies and integrating them into the global economy. Following his remarks, the ambassador will take questions.
MCC, a U.S. Government corporation established in 2004, is responsible for the stewardship of the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA), which receives annual appropriations from Congress. The MCA was initiated as a means of ensuring more effective expenditure of foreign aid, in which funds are directed towards politically and socially progressive developing nations. The MCC is currently engaged in 39 countries around the globe, including 20 African nations.
Ambassador Danilovich says, " The MCC is a mechanism that creates better opportunities for broader and deeper success in developing nations."
Bernadette Paolo, Africa Society President and CEO, notes "There is no doubt that African countries are benefiting from MCC. Though significant strides have been realized thus far, there have sometimes been difficulties in securing these funds for nations seeking assistance. We look forward to hearing from Ambassador Danilovich on the progress, challenges and future of the MCC."
John Danilovich has had a 30-year career in the public and private sectors including ambassadorial posts in Brazil and Costa Rico. He is a California native and holds degrees from Stanford and the University of Southern California. He began his tenure as CEO of the MCC on November 7, 2005.