Report on the Selection of Eligible Countries for Fiscal Year 2025 (Albania), 3966-3967 [2025-00899]

Download as PDF 3966 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 9 / Wednesday, January 15, 2025 / Notices MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORPORATION [MCC FR 25–01] Report on the Selection of Eligible Countries for Fiscal Year 2025 (Albania) Millennium Challenge Corporation. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: This report is provided in accordance with the Millennium Challenge Act of 2003, as amended. The report is set forth in full below. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Report on the Selection of Eligible Countries for Fiscal Year 2025 (Albania). lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 SUMMARY: Summary This report is provided in accordance with section 608(d)(1) of the Millennium Challenge Act of 2003, as amended (the Act) (22 U.S.C. 7707(d)(1)). This is the second such report for fiscal year (FY) 2025 due to the enactment of the Millennium Challenge Corporation Candidate Country Reform Act on December 23, 2024. The Act authorizes the provision of assistance under section 605 of the Act (22 U.S.C. 7704) to countries that enter into compacts with the United States to support policies and programs that advance the progress of such countries in achieving lasting poverty reduction through economic growth and are in furtherance of the Act. The Act requires the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) to determine the countries that will be eligible to receive assistance for the fiscal year, based on their demonstrated commitment to just and democratic governance, economic freedom, and investing in their people, as well as on the opportunity to reduce poverty through economic growth in the country. The Act also requires the submission of reports to appropriate congressional committees and the publication of notices in the Federal Register that identify, among other things: 1. The countries that are ‘‘candidate countries’’ for assistance for FY 2025 based on their per-capita income levels and their eligibility to receive assistance under U.S. law, and countries that would be candidate countries, but for specified legal prohibitions on assistance (section 608(a) of the Act (22 U.S.C. 7707(a))); 2. The criteria and methodology that the Board of Directors of MCC (the Board) used to measure and evaluate the policy performance of the ‘‘candidate countries’’ consistent with the VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:37 Jan 14, 2025 Jkt 265001 requirements of section 607 of the Act in order to determine ‘‘eligible countries’’ from among the ‘‘candidate countries’’ (section 608(b) of the Act (22 U.S.C. 7707(b))); and 3. The list of countries determined by the Board to be ‘‘eligible countries’’ for FY 2025, with justification for eligibility determination and selection for compact negotiation, including with which of the eligible countries the Board will seek to enter into compacts (section 608(d) of the Act (22 U.S.C. 7707(d))). This is an additional report that fulfills the requirements under the third of the above-described reports by MCC for FY 2025. A prior report was sent to Congress on December 19, 2024. Both the prior report and this report identify countries determined by the Board to be eligible under section 607 of the Act (22 U.S.C. 7706) for FY 2025 with which MCC seeks to enter into compacts under section 609 of the Act (22 U.S.C. 7708), as well as the justification for such decisions. The prior report also identifies countries selected by the Board to receive assistance under MCC’s threshold program pursuant to section 616 of the Act (22 U.S.C. 7715). Eligible Countries The Board met on December 18, 2024, to select those eligible countries with which the United States, through MCC, will seek to enter into a Millennium Challenge Compact pursuant to section 607 of the Act (22 U.S.C. 7706). At the time, the Board selected Liberia as eligible to develop a compact, as noted in MCC’s previous report. Following the passage of the MCC Candidate Country Reform Act, as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025, the Board considered additional eligible countries with which the United States, through MCC, will seek to enter into a Millennium Challenge Compact pursuant to section 607 of the Act (22 U.S.C. 7706). On January 7, 2025, the Board selected Albania for such assistance for FY 2025 via a written consent action in accordance with section 9 of MCC’s bylaws. Albania is invited by MCC to develop a compact. Criteria In accordance with the Act and with the ‘‘Selection Criteria and Methodology Report for Fiscal Year 2025’’ formally submitted to Congress on September 20, 2024, selection was based primarily on a country’s overall performance in three broad policy categories: Ruling Justly, Encouraging Economic Freedom, and Investing in People. The Board relied, to the fullest extent possible, upon transparent and independent indicators PO 00000 Frm 00180 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 to assess countries’ policy performance and demonstrated commitment in these three broad policy areas. The Board compared countries’ performance on the indicators relative to their income-level peers, evaluating them in comparison to either the group of countries with a GNI per capita equal to or less than $2,165, the group with a GNI per capita between $2,166 and $4,515, or the group with a GNI per capita between $4,516 and $7,895. The criteria and methodology used to assess countries, including the methodology for the annual scorecards, are outlined in the ‘‘Selection Criteria and Methodology Report for Fiscal Year 2025.’’ 1 Scorecards reflecting each country’s performance on the indicators are available on MCC’s website at https://www.mcc.gov/who-we-select/ scorecards. The Board also considered whether any adjustments should be made for data gaps, data lags, or recent events since the indicators were published, as well as strengths or weaknesses in particular indicators. Where appropriate, the Board considered additional quantitative and qualitative information, such as evidence of a country’s commitment to fighting corruption, investments in human development outcomes, or poverty rates. MCC published a Guide to Supplemental Information 2 to increase transparency about the type of supplemental information the Board uses to assess a country’s policy performance. In keeping with statutory requirements, the Board also considered the opportunity to reduce poverty and promote economic growth in a country, in light of the overall information available, as well as the availability of appropriated funds. The Board sees the selection decision as an annual opportunity to determine where MCC funds can be most effectively used to support poverty reduction through economic growth in well-governed countries with demonstrated development need. The Board carefully considers the appropriate nature of each country partnership—on a case-by-case basis— based on factors related to poverty reduction through economic growth, the sustainability of MCC’s investments, and the country’s ability to attract and leverage public and private resources in support of development. This is the first fiscal year in which the Board used its new authority under 1 Available at https://www.mcc.gov/resources/ doc/report-selection-criteria-methodology-fy25. 2 Available at https://www.mcc.gov/resources/ doc/guide-to-supplemental-information. E:\FR\FM\15JAN1.SGM 15JAN1 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 9 / Wednesday, January 15, 2025 / Notices the MCC Candidate Country Reform Act to select from the additional group of countries newly included for consideration for MCC assistance. The new authority aligns the income threshold for a country to be an MCC candidate county with the World Bank threshold for initiating the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development graduation process ($7,895 gross national income per capita for fiscal year 2025). In considering any such new countries in MCC’s candidate pool, the Board will continue to apply MCC’s long-standing statutorily mandated eligibility criteria and selectivity model to all selections and will continue to prioritize the opportunity to reduce poverty through economic growth. Country Newly Selected for Compact Assistance Using the criteria described above, Albania, a candidate country under section 606(a) of the Act (22 U.S.C. 7705(a)), was newly selected as eligible for assistance under section 607 of the Act (22 U.S.C. 7706). Albania is invited by MCC to develop a compact. Albania: A prior MCC threshold program partner, Albania performs well on the scorecard, passing 15 of 20 indicators overall. A stable democracy with a record of competitive elections, Albania is expected to hold parliamentary elections on May 11, 2025. In recent years, Albania has adopted critical anti-corruption and rule of law reforms amid efforts to join the European Union, which are reflected in its performance on the scorecard. Despite sound economic governance, Albania continues to face headwinds in its development path given its vulnerabilities to geopolitical and natural disaster-related shocks, which have disproportionately affected the poor in recent years; 14 percent of the population lives on less than $6.85 per day—the World Bank’s poverty line for upper middle-income countries. MCC’s Board selected Albania as eligible to develop a compact in recognition of Albania’s democratic history, progress fighting corruption, and ongoing development needs. lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 (Authority: 22 U.S.C. 7707(d)(2)) Dated: January 10, 2025. Peter E. Jaffe, Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary. [FR Doc. 2025–00899 Filed 1–13–25; 11:15 am] BILLING CODE 9211–03–P VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:37 Jan 14, 2025 Jkt 265001 NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION [Notice: 25–002] Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel; Meeting National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). ACTION: Notice of meeting. AGENCY: In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration announces a forthcoming meeting of the Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP). The ASAP will hold its First Quarterly Meeting for 2025. This discussion is pursuant to carrying out its statutory duties for which the Panel reviews, identifies, evaluates, and advises on those program activities, systems, procedures, and management activities that can contribute to program risk. Priority is given to those programs that involve the safety of human flight. DATES: Thursday, January 30, 2025, 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., eastern time. ADDRESSES: Public attendance will be virtual only. See dial-in information below under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Lisa M. Hackley, ASAP Administrative Officer, NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC 20546, (202) 358–1947 or lisa.m.hackley@nasa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As noted above, this meeting is only available telephonically. Any interested person must use a touch-tone phone to participate in this meeting. Any interested person may call the USA toll free conference call number 888–566– 6133; passcode 8343253 and then the # sign. At the beginning of the meeting, members of the public may make a verbal presentation to the Panel limited to the subject of safety in NASA, not to exceed 5 minutes in length. To do so, members of the public must contact Ms. Lisa M. Hackley at lisa.m.hackley@ nasa.gov or at (202) 358–1947 at least 48 hours in advance. Any member of the public is permitted to file a written statement with the Panel via electronic submission to Ms. Hackley at the email address previously noted. Written statements should be limited to the subject of safety in NASA. The agenda for the meeting includes the following topics: —Updates on the Space Station Program —Updates on the Commercial Crew Program —Updates on the Moon to Mars Program 3967 It is imperative that the meeting be held on this date to accommodate the scheduling priorities of the key participants. Jamie M. Krauk, Advisory Committee Management Officer, National Aeronautics and Space Administration. [FR Doc. 2025–00666 Filed 1–14–25; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7510–13–P SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00181 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION [NOTICE: 25–001] Notice of Intent To Grant an Exclusive, Co-Exclusive or Partially Exclusive Patent License National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). ACTION: Notice of intent to grant exclusive, co-exclusive or partially exclusive patent license. AGENCY: NASA hereby gives notice of its intent to grant an exclusive, coexclusive or partially exclusive patent license to practice the inventions described and claimed in the patents and/or patent applications listed in SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION below. DATES: The prospective exclusive, coexclusive or partially exclusive license may be granted unless NASA receives written objections including evidence and argument, no later than January 30, 2025 that establish that the grant of the license would not be consistent with the requirements regarding the licensing of federally owned inventions as set forth in the Bayh-Dole Act and implementing regulations. Competing applications completed and received by NASA no later than January 30, 2025 will also be treated as objections to the grant of the contemplated exclusive, co-exclusive or partially exclusive license. Objections submitted in response to this notice will not be made available to the public for inspection and, to the extent permitted by law, will not be released under the Freedom of Information Act. Objections and Further Information: Written objections relating to the prospective license or requests for further information may be submitted to Agency Counsel for Intellectual Property, NASA Headquarters at Email: hq-patentoffice@mail.nasa.gov. Questions may be directed to Phone: (202) 358–0646. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NASA intends to grant an exclusive, coexclusive, or partially exclusive patent license in the United States to practice the inventions described and claimed in SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\15JAN1.SGM 15JAN1

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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 9 (Wednesday, January 15, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3966-3967]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-00899]



[[Page 3966]]

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MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORPORATION

[MCC FR 25-01]


Report on the Selection of Eligible Countries for Fiscal Year 
2025 (Albania)

AGENCY: Millennium Challenge Corporation.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This report is provided in accordance with the Millennium 
Challenge Act of 2003, as amended. The report is set forth in full 
below.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Report on the Selection of Eligible 
Countries for Fiscal Year 2025 (Albania).

Summary

    This report is provided in accordance with section 608(d)(1) of the 
Millennium Challenge Act of 2003, as amended (the Act) (22 U.S.C. 
7707(d)(1)). This is the second such report for fiscal year (FY) 2025 
due to the enactment of the Millennium Challenge Corporation Candidate 
Country Reform Act on December 23, 2024.
    The Act authorizes the provision of assistance under section 605 of 
the Act (22 U.S.C. 7704) to countries that enter into compacts with the 
United States to support policies and programs that advance the 
progress of such countries in achieving lasting poverty reduction 
through economic growth and are in furtherance of the Act. The Act 
requires the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) to determine the 
countries that will be eligible to receive assistance for the fiscal 
year, based on their demonstrated commitment to just and democratic 
governance, economic freedom, and investing in their people, as well as 
on the opportunity to reduce poverty through economic growth in the 
country. The Act also requires the submission of reports to appropriate 
congressional committees and the publication of notices in the Federal 
Register that identify, among other things:
    1. The countries that are ``candidate countries'' for assistance 
for FY 2025 based on their per-capita income levels and their 
eligibility to receive assistance under U.S. law, and countries that 
would be candidate countries, but for specified legal prohibitions on 
assistance (section 608(a) of the Act (22 U.S.C. 7707(a)));
    2. The criteria and methodology that the Board of Directors of MCC 
(the Board) used to measure and evaluate the policy performance of the 
``candidate countries'' consistent with the requirements of section 607 
of the Act in order to determine ``eligible countries'' from among the 
``candidate countries'' (section 608(b) of the Act (22 U.S.C. 
7707(b))); and
    3. The list of countries determined by the Board to be ``eligible 
countries'' for FY 2025, with justification for eligibility 
determination and selection for compact negotiation, including with 
which of the eligible countries the Board will seek to enter into 
compacts (section 608(d) of the Act (22 U.S.C. 7707(d))).
    This is an additional report that fulfills the requirements under 
the third of the above-described reports by MCC for FY 2025. A prior 
report was sent to Congress on December 19, 2024. Both the prior report 
and this report identify countries determined by the Board to be 
eligible under section 607 of the Act (22 U.S.C. 7706) for FY 2025 with 
which MCC seeks to enter into compacts under section 609 of the Act (22 
U.S.C. 7708), as well as the justification for such decisions. The 
prior report also identifies countries selected by the Board to receive 
assistance under MCC's threshold program pursuant to section 616 of the 
Act (22 U.S.C. 7715).

Eligible Countries

    The Board met on December 18, 2024, to select those eligible 
countries with which the United States, through MCC, will seek to enter 
into a Millennium Challenge Compact pursuant to section 607 of the Act 
(22 U.S.C. 7706). At the time, the Board selected Liberia as eligible 
to develop a compact, as noted in MCC's previous report.
    Following the passage of the MCC Candidate Country Reform Act, as 
part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025, 
the Board considered additional eligible countries with which the 
United States, through MCC, will seek to enter into a Millennium 
Challenge Compact pursuant to section 607 of the Act (22 U.S.C. 7706). 
On January 7, 2025, the Board selected Albania for such assistance for 
FY 2025 via a written consent action in accordance with section 9 of 
MCC's bylaws. Albania is invited by MCC to develop a compact.

Criteria

    In accordance with the Act and with the ``Selection Criteria and 
Methodology Report for Fiscal Year 2025'' formally submitted to 
Congress on September 20, 2024, selection was based primarily on a 
country's overall performance in three broad policy categories: Ruling 
Justly, Encouraging Economic Freedom, and Investing in People. The 
Board relied, to the fullest extent possible, upon transparent and 
independent indicators to assess countries' policy performance and 
demonstrated commitment in these three broad policy areas. The Board 
compared countries' performance on the indicators relative to their 
income-level peers, evaluating them in comparison to either the group 
of countries with a GNI per capita equal to or less than $2,165, the 
group with a GNI per capita between $2,166 and $4,515, or the group 
with a GNI per capita between $4,516 and $7,895.
    The criteria and methodology used to assess countries, including 
the methodology for the annual scorecards, are outlined in the 
``Selection Criteria and Methodology Report for Fiscal Year 2025.'' \1\ 
Scorecards reflecting each country's performance on the indicators are 
available on MCC's website at https://www.mcc.gov/who-we-select/scorecards.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Available at https://www.mcc.gov/resources/doc/report-selection-criteria-methodology-fy25.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Board also considered whether any adjustments should be made 
for data gaps, data lags, or recent events since the indicators were 
published, as well as strengths or weaknesses in particular indicators. 
Where appropriate, the Board considered additional quantitative and 
qualitative information, such as evidence of a country's commitment to 
fighting corruption, investments in human development outcomes, or 
poverty rates. MCC published a Guide to Supplemental Information \2\ to 
increase transparency about the type of supplemental information the 
Board uses to assess a country's policy performance. In keeping with 
statutory requirements, the Board also considered the opportunity to 
reduce poverty and promote economic growth in a country, in light of 
the overall information available, as well as the availability of 
appropriated funds.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ Available at https://www.mcc.gov/resources/doc/guide-to-supplemental-information.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Board sees the selection decision as an annual opportunity to 
determine where MCC funds can be most effectively used to support 
poverty reduction through economic growth in well-governed countries 
with demonstrated development need. The Board carefully considers the 
appropriate nature of each country partnership--on a case-by-case 
basis--based on factors related to poverty reduction through economic 
growth, the sustainability of MCC's investments, and the country's 
ability to attract and leverage public and private resources in support 
of development.
    This is the first fiscal year in which the Board used its new 
authority under

[[Page 3967]]

the MCC Candidate Country Reform Act to select from the additional 
group of countries newly included for consideration for MCC assistance. 
The new authority aligns the income threshold for a country to be an 
MCC candidate county with the World Bank threshold for initiating the 
International Bank for Reconstruction and Development graduation 
process ($7,895 gross national income per capita for fiscal year 2025). 
In considering any such new countries in MCC's candidate pool, the 
Board will continue to apply MCC's long-standing statutorily mandated 
eligibility criteria and selectivity model to all selections and will 
continue to prioritize the opportunity to reduce poverty through 
economic growth.

Country Newly Selected for Compact Assistance

    Using the criteria described above, Albania, a candidate country 
under section 606(a) of the Act (22 U.S.C. 7705(a)), was newly selected 
as eligible for assistance under section 607 of the Act (22 U.S.C. 
7706). Albania is invited by MCC to develop a compact.
    Albania: A prior MCC threshold program partner, Albania performs 
well on the scorecard, passing 15 of 20 indicators overall. A stable 
democracy with a record of competitive elections, Albania is expected 
to hold parliamentary elections on May 11, 2025. In recent years, 
Albania has adopted critical anti-corruption and rule of law reforms 
amid efforts to join the European Union, which are reflected in its 
performance on the scorecard. Despite sound economic governance, 
Albania continues to face headwinds in its development path given its 
vulnerabilities to geopolitical and natural disaster-related shocks, 
which have disproportionately affected the poor in recent years; 14 
percent of the population lives on less than $6.85 per day--the World 
Bank's poverty line for upper middle-income countries. MCC's Board 
selected Albania as eligible to develop a compact in recognition of 
Albania's democratic history, progress fighting corruption, and ongoing 
development needs.

(Authority: 22 U.S.C. 7707(d)(2))

    Dated: January 10, 2025.
Peter E. Jaffe,
Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2025-00899 Filed 1-13-25; 11:15 am]
BILLING CODE 9211-03-P
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