Secretary Hillary Clinton delivered these remarks with Ambassador Melanne Verveer in Washington, DC

Ambassador Verveer. Good morning, everyone, and welcome to the State Department and to the launch of mWomen. mWomen is about bringing together women and mobile technology to advance gender equality and global development, and as a result of that marriage, a better world for all of us.

We are so pleased to have so many distinguished guests here with us this morning. Representatives of the private sector from all around the world, some 20 mobile communications companies from Sri Lanka and Afghanistan to Mexico and Finland; NGOs who are using mobile technology to transform the lives of poor women, like Tostan from Senegal and SEWA in India; and colleagues from multilateral organizations; the governments of Liberia and Norway, and from across the United States Government—from Congress, from USAID, the White House, Treasury, and of course, all of our colleagues from the State Department.

Today, the United States is joining this global partnership, and there is no one more committed to this cause than the Secretary of State. Earlier this year, she outlined several key principles that should guide global development in this 21^st century. Three of the guideposts she espoused come together in today's announcement. She is a firm believer in the power of public-private partnerships to address our global challenges. For as long as I can remember, she's been talking about the three legs of the stool: business, civil society, and government collaborating on solutions for greater effectiveness and sustainability.

She's also been a strong proponent for the role of technology and innovation in development. In her words, there is no limit to the potential for technology to help us overcome obstacles to progress. And of course, she's been a tireless, global champion for the empowerment of women. Her voice on the importance of investing in the potential of women to lift and lead their societies has echoed around the world.

So please join with me in welcoming the U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Secretary Clinton. I am delighted to welcome all of you here to the Benjamin Franklin Room. I always like the idea that Franklin's looking down at us from his perch over the fireplace, and since he was such a strong proponent of technology and actually got patents and led the way in other areas of advancing the ability for people to lead productive lives, I think it's especially appropriate today. Because we are launching mWomen, an initiative aimed at solving an urgent problem that has gone unaddressed for too long—the global gender gap that prevents hundreds of millions of women from gaining access to mobile technology.

Now, we know that it goes without saying, it is so obvious, that mobile technology has reshaped the way that people work, learn, and communicate. And here at the State Department, it has also changed how we pursue our twin missions of diplomacy and development. We are using cell phones and mobile applications to help us coordinate disaster relief, track the results of our global health programs, engage directly with people whose contact with us would otherwise be only second- or third-hand, and advance our work around the world in dozens of other ways. And we know we are just scratching the surface.

But as excited as we are by how mobile technology can help us improve our work, we're even more excited about how it can help you and millions of others around the world improve what you do and empower more people to become full participants in their own societies. Mobile technology can accelerate economic development. With a cell phone, a farmer in Sub-Saharan Africa can learn how to protect her crops from pests that would otherwise destroy a harvest. An entrepreneur in Latin America can more easily obtain a business license or communicate with a mentor or a customer. A woman in Asia can use her mobile banking to control her family finances or budget for school fees or save for a new house.

And we also know that mobile technology can improve governance and strengthen democratic institutions. For example, in the recent voting on a constitution in Kenya, where previous elections had led to violence, peace was maintained, thanks in part to technology that tallied ballots in real-time. Mobile technology fosters health and education, especially in places where systems do not yet exist. With cell phones, expectant mothers who live nowhere near a clinic can still receive prenatal health tips. Students whose teachers rarely show up at school can still move ahead with their lessons.

There is a hunger for programs like this. In Bangladesh, more than 300,000 people have taken advantage of a new program that teaches English via cell phone. So we at the State Department and at USAID are increasing our support for mobile initiatives that can directly benefit people's lives, for example, by helping to organize a mobile money and financial inclusion conference in Kenya next month, by incorporating mobile money efforts into our Pathways to Prosperity Initiative, which supports women entrepreneurs in Latin America.

And we are developing an innovative program that addresses the particular needs of women. For example, we are in the early stages of developing an idea we are calling Mobile Justice to help women in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where sexual violence against women occurs at a horrific rate. In many parts of that country the police and court systems have disintegrated, so women who are attacked have no way to get justice. They can't even realistically travel to the urban centers where courts have been reestablished. But these cell phones give women the ability to collect evidence and record and transmit their testimony, so women in rural areas may be able to bring justice to them.

Or to give another example, we recently held a contest called Apps 4 Africa to reward local mobile developers in four African countries whose apps are helping to advance prosperity and stability in ingenious ways. One of the winners is a program called Mamakiba, a budgeting app that helps low-income pregnant women save and prepay for prenatal care and the costs of delivery. By helping women manage the cost of this care, we can increase the chance that they will receive care and protect both their health and the health of newborns.

Now, we know that mobile technology is no silver bullet. There's little use in saving money for prenatal care if there are no health workers nearby to deliver it. And there is no digital substitute for a fair justice system or a skilled and dedicated teacher. But there is no question either that the spread of cell phones has launched a new era of possibility in the fights against poverty, disease, hunger, corruption, and political oppression. Recently in Syria, young people whose teachers were physically abusing them began to record that abuse on their cell phones, and then when they uploaded it to YouTube, the government had to pay attention. So hundreds of teachers were transferred out of classrooms.

So we want to work with the mobile communication industry to think of more ways to amplify the effects we know already and to come up with the new ones that we believe are just around the corner. I personally believe that using cell phones and other technology can dramatically reduce corruption. And if we can make it possible on your cell phone to apply for and get a business license without having to go through five hands, all of which are outstretched, that cuts the cost of doing business.

But of course, to have a wide impact, the technology must be widely available, and for 300 million women in low- and middle-income countries the technology is still out of reach. It's not simply because it's too expensive, because many of these women's husbands and their sons have cell phones, but it's because of an array of economic and social barriers, from a lack of literacy to a lack of income to the all-too-common belief that cell phones afford more freedom to women than they deserve.

So we're called to close the mobile gender gap because of our commitment to fairness and because of our commitment to progress. I've said it so many times that some of you, I'm sure, are able to recite it by heart, but investing in women is an investment in families, communities, and countries. Investing in women's progress is the most direct and effective way to invest in progress economically and socially globally.

But beyond the personal applications, we know that there is much we can do if we change laws in countries, if we create the infrastructure that's needed, if we create the markets that are required, and we are hoping that you will help us do that.

So I want to applaud the mWomen initiative for recognizing the importance of this cross-cutting issue and to convey the strong support of the State Department and USAID as you pursue your goal of reducing by 50 percent the gender gap in the next three years. Several mobile networks in developing countries, including Vodaphone, Telefonica, Roshan, and Mobitel, have pledged significant support for increasing women's access, for example, by developing apps designed for women and training programs as well. We cannot do this without private sector leadership, and we applaud all of the companies that have already stepped forward and ask others to join us in this effort. We're working with governments and international organizations. My friend, President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf from Liberia and a global champion for mWomen, has sent her minister of Gender Equality and Development, Minister Gayflor, to join us here today to discuss how Liberia and the United States can work together. USAID has committed to partner with GSMA and the Gates Foundation through existing mobile initiatives on health, education, and agriculture. And additionally, the United States will continue to support civil society organizations that advocate for women's rights to undo constrictions on their ability to use technology freely. We really are believers in the freedom to connect. So today's launch of the mWomen Initiative is another big step on the road to gender equality, the freedom to connect, and all the opportunities that flow from it.

CEO Daniel Yohannes delivered these remarks in Washington, DC

Administrator Rajiv Shah delivered these remarks in New York, NY

Administrator Shah. There is a perception in the official development community that we have a clear understanding of what works, that we just need to commit more dollars or more effort, and then we can transform Tanzania into South Korea.

If that were true, if there were some secret recipe to the growth of nations, I'd never leave the kitchen.

That is why innovation is so important. We need to try new approaches and take more risks, and commit to rigorous measurement and evaluation at every turn, so that we can discover what is truly effective and replicate it.

And we need to do so with an eye toward sustainability. Treating a disease is important, and it improves lives in a dramatic and immediate way, but curing a disease is better.

Delivering food aid during a famine is critical, but investing in the agricultural development of nations so that they become food secure is a more important mission.

So I want to very clear: the methods you have brought to development are changing the mindset. In fact, many of the reforms I'm spearheading at USAID are rooted in this entrepreneurial, innovative approach.

But here's the reality: while you may be changing the mindset, you're not yet changing the overall system.

The system, by and large, is still dominated by large, official assistance agencies like USAID; agencies that can deliver massive sums of assistance, and wield powers that only governments can.

What we offer is more than assistance. We can take a whole of government approach, harnessing the power of trade and investment, increasing security and good governance, and using the tools of diplomacy to ease tensions and stifle conflict.

Now, I come here knowing full well the perception many of you might have of USAID or other development agencies. You think we're slow; sclerotic; risk averse. You think we're bureaucratic in our approach and ossified in our ways.

To some, USAID represents the old guard; the old ways of pursuing development. We write the big check and hire the big contractor but we never quite solve the big problem.

And I have to be honest, I agree with many of those criticisms. I used to be one of you, after all.

For too long, USAID has taken on the bad habits of a large government bureaucracy. Too often, our staff is encumbered by our process, unable to break free and do the thoughtful, meaningful work they joined USAID to do.

But I want to discuss with you the true assets an agency like USAID has to offer, and share some of the major reforms we're leading to ensure we can work not just more closely with you, but more closely like you as well.

What I didn't appreciate before I arrived was the sheer scale at which an organization like USAID was operating. Even when I was at the Gates Foundation—the largest philanthropic venture in the world—we could only afford to distribute about $3.5 billion a year.

USAID's 2011 budget request is 6 times that, with over $21 billion available for development assistance.

What does a budget that size actually mean? It means working on development projects that can impact entire countries, not just communities or villages.

It means a large amount of capital available to assist and fund programs.

And it means we have massive buying power, capable of establishing supply chains and driving promising new products to scale, significantly lowering costs.

USAID spends $600 million a year on health commodities alone per year. Imagine the leverage that provides us when negotiating the prices of life-saving drugs. And we are exploring ways to use this purchasing power to create markets.

Imagine that same leverage applied to the production of a cleaner burning cook stove or an off-grid solar panel.

Operating at this type of scale allows USAID to have a unique impact. For example, currently, private philanthropies have worked hard to provide credit guarantees in order to leverage private financing for development initiatives. But they do so with great difficulty, on a deal-by-deal basis.

At USAID, our Development Credit Authority program has mobilized almost two-and-a-half billion dollars in financing through the same kind of partial credit guarantees.

We've been able to help nearly 90,000 enterprises in more than 70 countries, with each of our dollars yielding $27 in private financing. That's an incredible leverage ratio by any measure.

USAID isn't satisfied with this success. We're continuing to work on new funding mechanisms and business models that will foster even greater investments of private capital, and build the infrastructure to channel that capital to the people who need it most.

That's why we're supporting the research of Monitor Group, on new, customer-focused, bottom-of-the-pyramid business models that can be employed to reach not just tens-of-thousands of people, but tens-of-millions.

And it's why we partnered with Root Capital to provide credit and loan guarantees to farmers in Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya and Ethiopia to produce premium coffee for export. One of the varieties we helped distribute, Blue Bourbon, now retails for $22 a pound, and is sold in over 5,000 Starbucks around the world.

We all know, though, that local entrepreneurs need more than just capital, and here too USAID can be an incredibly effective partner.

We've worked extensively with both public and private organizations, helping to strengthen the enabling environment for business creation by providing technical assistance, building regulatory and IP structures, and pioneering the “Doing Business Rankings,” now conducted by the World Bank.

These types of efforts should make our work easier. One of the cruel realities of developing world entrepreneurship is how many great minds are discouraged, and how many great ideas lost, under the crushing weight of red tape, graft and corruption.

And perhaps one of the greatest assets USAID has is its truly global presence. USAID currently has more than 80 missions in more than 90 countries, staffed with thousands of local development experts. In fact, 70% of our mission staff are foreign service nationals, with vital local expertise.

These missions are in Accra and Delhi and Bogota, but they're also in places where development entrepreneurs are less visible; places like Juba, Bamako and Luanda. When you seek to replicate the success of a project in a new region, the expertise and local knowledge of USAID can help.

Even with these existing, surprising capabilities, USAID is still in need of reform. That's why, since assuming leadership of the Agency, I've made it my top priority to embrace a spirit of innovation. I asked a Columbia entrepreneurship instructor, Maura O'Neill to bring her expertise to lead USAID's focus on innovation.

That means harnessing the power of science and technology, employing new models of development work, and changing the way we procure contracts, partner with institutions, and evaluate our performance.

Those of you who know our history, know that USAID used to be the world's leader in applying science and technology to the issues of development. We helped develop the innovations that produced the Green Revolution and pioneered Oral Rehydration Therapy in Bangladesh.

By the time I took office, that science and technology capacity had almost completely eroded. We are currently working hard to rebuild that tradition, establishing a science and technology policy division and hiring more scientists and engineers.

We're also inviting 25 innovation fellows from leading academic institutions, social entrepreneurial ventures and the private sector to work with us at USAID. And, we can be novel in how we source and fund innovation as well.

Today, we are unveiling our Development Innovation Ventures fund. Borrowing from the venture capital model, DIV was created to promote high-return and sometimes high-risk ideas and projects, catalyze game-changing innovations and create new portals of entry for social entrepreneurs to work with USAID.

I'm proud to announce today that we've recruited Michael Kremer, the world-renowned Harvard economist, to join us at USAID as scientific director of DIV, helping to recruit new talent and ideas to the agency. We're incredibly excited to have someone of Michael's immense talent working with us at USAID.

And since the Red Sox aren't in the playoffs, he should have an easier time getting people to follow him out of Cambridge.

As part of our launch, we ran a small test over the past few months in order to identify an initial set of projects. Today I'm happy to announce that we are investing in our first eight ventures.

I want to mention two of these projects in order to give you a sense of the kind of development entrepreneurs that we know will accelerate our impact.

We're awarding SiGNa Chemistry $100,000 to develop the E-Bike, an affordable fuel-cell powered bicycle that also serves as a portable, general purpose power source. The fuel-cell operates at one-sixth the cost, weight and volume of existing battery technologies, giving the E-Bike a range of up to 100 miles, while emitting only water vapor and air. And the fuel cell can easily be removed to serve as a stand-alone power source.

We're lucky to have Michael Lefenfeld from SiGNA, a proud Columbia alum, here with us today. Michael, congratulations, USAID is excited to partner with you, and we're all curious how you got to the conference today.

By offering a clean, cheap alternative to the dirty two-stroke engine scooters you find throughout the developing world, we expect the E-Bike to have a significant impact—at least until Apple offers the i-bike.

I am also excited to announce that Eli Berman's team at UCSD has been selected as one of our initial venture partners. Their ground-breaking work uses cell phone monitoring technology to innovate in the democracy and governance sector. They set up a randomized trial in 450 polling locations in the recent Afghanistan elections. Stay tuned for some results coming out in the next few months.

Those are just two of the eight grants we're announcing today, which in total represent $1 million devoted to innovations like solar lighting in rural Uganda, self-test to prevent the second largest cause of maternal mortality, and mobile health surveillance in India.

CEO Daniel Yohannes delivered these remarks in Port of Praia, Cape Verde

CEO Yohannes. I am happy to be here, and it is a real privilege to see the Port of Praia again! I was here for the first time in February of this year, and I am pleased to return now to see the additional progress achieved through Cape Verde's partnership with the U.S. Government's Millennium Challenge Corporation.

President Obama unveiled a new vision for global development last month, one based, in part, on lessons learned from MCC. In the President's Global Development Policy, he calls for partnering with countries to invest in economic growth and achieve results. This is exactly what MCC and Cape Verde have done together.

The Cape Verde-MCC partnership is contributing in meaningful ways to this island-nation's incredible story of sustainable development. Cape Verde is an example of economic reform, liberalization, and good governance in West Africa. And, the historic completion of Cape Verde's 110 million dollar MCC compact—the first in all of Africa—is increasing agricultural productivity, improving the transportation network, facilitating trade, and developing the private sector.

A key result from our partnership that we celebrate today is the modernization of the Port of Praia.

This port rehabilitation contributes to an integrated solution for long-term poverty reduction and economic growth. It will boost port security. It will improve this nation's transportation network, facilitate more trade, and further develop the private sector. I, for one, believe that the private sector is the real engine of economic growth. The investments we've made in this port will strengthen Cape Verde's economic system, making it easier for the private sector to invest, make money, and create new jobs. These are essential ingredients for sustainable development.

I congratulate the people and government of Cape Verde on their commitment to good policies and to the sound implementation of their MCC compact, including the completion of the first phase of work on the Port of Praia. Now, the incredible impact we see underway must be completed fully and sustained well into the future.

Our work together on the Port of Praia will remain a reminder of the strong bonds of friendship and cooperation between the United States and Cape Verde.

Thank you very much. Obrigado.

CEO Daniel Yohannes delivered these remarks in Cape Verde

CEO Yohannes. I'm pleased to join you to review the results from the partnership between Cape Verde and the U.S. Government's Millennium Challenge Corporation. Cape Verde has been a very good MCC partner, committed to sound policies, steady growth, and strong economic management.

This commitment has not gone unnoticed. In 2007, Cape Verde became the second country to graduate from the United Nations’ Least Developed Country status because of socio-economic progress. In 2009, Cape Verde became the first country eligible for a second MCC compact. Even as Cape Verde graduated into the more competitive lower-middle income category, it worked hard to improve policies and practices. Cape Verde's commitment to good policies must continue moving forward.

When Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who chairs MCC's Board, visited here, she described Cape Verde as a “model of democracy and economic progress in Africa.” Here in Cape Verde, I have had the great privilege of meeting citizens who are reform-minded, committed to transparency, and interested in improving the effectiveness of their government.

The progress we celebrate today reflects President Obama's new vision for development, where countries lead programs to invest in economic growth and achieve results. This is what the Cape Verde-MCC partnership is accomplishing.

We can see results on many levels. Earlier today, I toured the progress being made at the Port of Praia through Cape Verde's MCC compact. I'm looking forward to visiting the post-harvest center and some of the bridges tomorrow, which MCC support made possible as well.

The experts here today have discussed more of the initial programmatic results: rural roads upgraded; reservoirs completed to increase irrigated land; farmers trained; micro-finance institutions extending credit to farmers and agribusinesses; and citizens accessing a range of services through an innovative e-government system.

Yet, these milestones alone do not tell the whole story. We also need to look at how Cape Verde achieved these results. We cannot overlook the tremendous work Cape Verde continues to undertake to reform its policies and build its capacity to lead its development. These are part of Cape Verde's results story too.

As a model of country-led development, Cape Verde is putting policies, procedures, and practices in place to promote private sector-led growth. We see this in the commitment by Cape Verde to secure funds and contribute as much as 116 million dollars to achieve the objectives of its MCC compact. This accomplishment deserves applause. It demonstrates “country ownership” at work.

Cape Verde is also making critical policy reforms to sustain MCC's investments. For example, Cape Verde created a Road Maintenance Fund, financed by a fuel levy, to maintain the country's road network. It passed a Harmonized Procurement Law to promote greater transparency and efficiency in public spending. About 400 auditors, procurement agents, and commercial agents were trained on the new law. What a way to build homegrown capacity.

Because of the construction of the postharvest inspection center on Santo Antão that I will visit tomorrow, the Council of Ministers lifted the 20-year, inter-island embargo on exports of horticultural products from Santo Antão. The government's decree eliminates obstacles to the movement of inspected and certified agricultural exports, generating more business and trade.

Cape Verde also updated its national microfinance law, building the capacity of local microfinance institutions. Technical assistance to these institutions increased their operational and financial sustainability. It furthered their ability to deliver rural credit to farmers and agribusinesses. And credit is key to private sector development.

In these ways, Cape Verde embraces MCC's approach to sound policies at the national and sector levels. We work with partners committed to ruling justly, promoting economic freedom, and investing in their people. Countries that perform well in these areas—while leveraging domestic policy reform—promote sustainable growth, good governance, and an environment for trade and investment.

Through program and process results—through sound policies and country-led development—Cape Verde is increasing agricultural productivity, improving the transportation network, facilitating trade, and developing the private sector. The investments we've made will strengthen Cape Verde's economic system, making it easier for the private sector—as the real engine of growth—to invest, make money, and create jobs. This helps Cape Verdeans earn more income, which is key to long-term economic growth. Independent evaluations will measure the broader income growth and verify the impact of the results we see.

Ultimately, any measure of our results—our success—comes down to some simple questions: Are we raising the incomes of the poor? Are we reducing poverty? Are we creating opportunities, especially for the young? Are we creating an environment that encourages private sector investments? I am proud that the Cape Verde-MCC partnership is building a solid foundation to answer these tough questions—and improve the lives of individuals, families, and communities today and well into the future. And those results make us all very proud.

Thank you very much. Obrigado.

CEO Daniel Yohannes delivered these remarks in Santo Antão, Cape Verde

CEO Yohannes. It is a pleasure to be here for the opening of the post-harvest center. This is made possible through the partnership between Cape Verde and the U.S. Government's Millennium Challenge Corporation.

I was in Cape Verde for the first time in February of this year, and it's great to be back! Cape Verde remains a model of democracy and economic progress in Africa. I am pleased that the Millennium Challenge Corporation is part of Cape Verde's story of economic growth and development.

Today, we celebrate a historic chapter here in Cape Verde: The completion of the very first Millennium Challenge Corporation compact in Africa. Cape Verde's 110 million dollar MCC compact to reduce poverty and promote economic growth has delivered tangible results that make a difference in the lives of families and communities. Our partnership is increasing agricultural productivity, improving the transportation network, facilitating trade, and expanding the private sector.

The investments we've made will strengthen Cape Verde's economic system, making it easier for the private sector—as the engine of growth—to invest, make money, and create jobs. This helps Cape Verdeans earn more income, which is key to long-term economic growth.

The post-harvest center that we inaugurate today is further proof of the success of the Cape Verde-MCC partnership.

Farmers and agribusinesses now have a modern facility to store and certify their agricultural products. The center will allow farmers to maintain the freshness and quality of crops, and command the best possible market price at the right time. With investments in farmer training and improvements to roads, bridges, and the port, this post-harvest center is part of an integrated solution to boost agricultural productivity and competitiveness.

Because of the construction of this post-harvest inspection center, the training of sanitary inspectors, and further research on the millipede pest, the Council of Ministers approved a decree to lift a 20-year, inter-island embargo on exports of horticultural products from Santo Antão. The decree eliminates obstacles to the movement of inspected and certified agricultural exports. This will generate more business, trade, and income for the farmers and people of this island.

Let me also acknowledge the contribution of our friends at the Peace Corps. More than 50 Peace Corps volunteers serve in Cape Verde, and many contributed to the work of the MCC compact by collaborating with your agricultural extension services and local governments. I thank them for their service to our shared goals.

Today's inauguration is just the beginning. Now, this center must be used by the agricultural community to maximize their opportunities for greater income. Like all the successes of Cape Verde's MCC compact, including this post-harvest center, the incredible impact we see underway must now be sustained. For the sake of economic growth in Cape Verde, let us sustain and build upon the fruits of our partnership moving forward.

Thank you very much, and congratulations to Cape Verde on the completion of its Millennium Challenge Corporation compact, including the opening of this post-harvest center. Obrigado.

Secretary Hillary Clinton delivered these remarks with Minister Nasser Judeh and CEO Daniel Yohannes in Washington, DC

Mr. Yohannes. Thank you. Please be seated. Minister Judeh, Secretary Clinton, Minister Najjar, all our distinguished guests. It is an honor to join you for the historical signing of a $275 million compact between the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the U.S. Government's Millennium Challenge Corporation.

Jordan and the United States share a close friendship built on mutual interest and shared values. The MCC Compact we sign today is further proof of the cooperation between our two great countries. I'd like to especially thank Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, the chair of MCC's Board of Directors for her ongoing support of MCC's mission to fight global poverty. I'd also like to thank Mohye al-Deen Shbool and Jay Scheerer for their exceptional leadership in guiding the Jordanian and MCC teams to this occasion.

Water is at the heart of the MCC Jordan Compact. Jordan is ranked among the five most water poor countries in the world. Because of short supply of water, many households receive water only once or twice a week. Poor connections and leaking pipes mean that even available water fail to reach some homes and businesses. The limits—this limits economic activity and complicates daily life. Ordinary citizens, the private sector, civil society, and the government worked together to identify Jordan's severe water shortages as a constraint to economic growth. Addressing this issue is a priority for improving livelihoods, reducing poverty, and achieving sustainable economic growth.

Reflecting President Obama's vision for global development, MCC's country-driven approach invests in solutions by and for Jordanians. We believe our investments are most effective in partner countries that lead their own development and create conditions that lead their own—sustain their own impact we seek. That's why Jordan's Compact invests in water sector and that's why Jordan is committed to sound policies, transparency, and accountability to deliver results from this Compact.

Jordan's MCC Compact invests in three integrated water and waste water projects in Zarqa. This is one of the country's poorest areas, where nearly three in ten households consume less than the minimum amount of water considered essential for personal hygiene and food safety.

First, the Compact will rehabilitate the water supply network for households and businesses. Second, the Compact will expand the wastewater collection network into neighborhoods that lack access to proper sewer systems. Third, the Compact will expand the As-Samra Wastewater Treatment Plant by partnering with a private sector operator that will mobilize a portion of the total construction cost. Together, these projects will increase the water supply to households and commercial users throughout Zarqa.

Excellencies, MCC is proud to partner with Jordan to make sure that water advances prosperity. I congratulate the people of Jordan for their vision in creating the Compact we sign today.

Looking ahead, our focus must be on the Compact's timely and successful implementation. When water flows in Jordan, poverty reduction and sustainable economic growth will surely follow.

It is now my great privilege to introduce and yield the podium to the chair of MCC's board, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. Madam Secretary.

Secretary Clinton. Thank you Daniel. Thank you and it is a pleasure to welcome all of you here today for this exciting event. Last month, I had the honor of visiting His Majesty King Abdullah II in Amman and conferring with my colleague, Foreign Minister Judeh. So I'm especially pleased to have this opportunity to have all of you here for the witnessing of this new development partnership. And I want to welcome Minister of Water Najjar, Her Royal Highness—thank you for being here as well—the new ambassador from the Hashemite Kingdom, and all of our other Jordanian guests.

You've heard from President Yohannes all of the reasons why this project goes to the very core of one of Jordan's most serious challenges: access to water; the good utilization of water; making sure that the water that is available and that can be collected, is deliverable. We heard what Jordanians told us during this process. And of course, our relationship with Jordan is rooted in mutual respect and common purpose and a shared commitment to working for peace and greater prosperity in the region. Jordanian peacekeepers serve in troubled lands far from home. The Jordanian Government, particularly His Majesty and the foreign minister have worked with us literally side by side and telephone by telephone to support direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians with the goal of two states for two peoples and a comprehensive peace in the region. We could not do this without Jordan's leadership.

So this compact takes our already strong relationship to the next level. The United States will invest $275 million through the Millennium Challenge Corporation. I was very excited to share this good news with King Abdullah in person and I'm pleased to witness the official signing today. This will be a tangible demonstration of this friendship that exists between the people of Jordan and the people of the United States.

Because of the upgrades that will be made to the water supply network and to improving waste water collection and expanding a key wastewater treatment plant, nearly 2 million people will gain more reliable access to clean water, many for the first time. These projects will help Jordan manage its water resources while saving money and protecting the environment. And over the long term, such improvements to Jordan's water system will help spur sustainable economic growth and improve public health. But the impact will be felt right away with much needed new construction jobs as projects begin. This is a real partnership.

I thank the Government of Jordan and your team. I thank the Millennium Challenge Corporation and its team.

Before I close, I want to say a few words directly to the people of Jordan. In a time when many families here in the United States are tightening their own belts and making difficult sacrifices, we are making this investment in your country because we believe in Jordan's promise and we are committed to Jordan's future. Americans understand that a strong and prosperous Jordan is good for the region and good for the world. We want to work with you to realize our shared aspirations and shape the future together. That is what this agreement is all about. Now, I would like to invite the foreign minister to add his comments.

Minister Nasser Judeh.

Foreign Minister Judeh. Thank you very, very much, Madam Secretary. It is a great pleasure to be here at the State Department again and I am particularly honored to be here at the signing ceremony of the Millennium Challenge Corporation Compact. This auspicious occasion marks yet another important milestone in the strong and enduring relationship between Jordan and the United States, a relationship based on friendship, on mutual respect, common values, strategic partnership, and a shared commitment to peace and development.

The signing of the Compact today clearly demonstrates the United States’ unwavering commitment to the stability and prosperity of Jordan and to the entire region. It also reflects the United States strong acknowledgement of Jordan's steady, unwavering and committed development and reform efforts on all levels. Indeed, the United States has made substantial and much appreciated contributions over many years to Jordan's development in key areas such macroeconomic stability and the economic reforms and has provided support to critical sectors. Not to mention our all-important partnership in so many key areas, not least of all the pursuit of peace and prosperity in our troubled region.

We are very, very grateful and extremely thankful for this invaluable support and assistance. Jordan, under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah II ibn Al-Hussein remains committed to forge ahead along the road of reform and progress to create better lives and a prosperous future for our people and to set an example of what is possible to achieve. And in this regard, the sky is the limit.

We have made significant strides in political, economic and social reforms over the last few years, which have enhanced growth rates, improved the investment climate, strengthened the private and public sectors, and reduced the rates of poverty and unemployment. We also focus our efforts on ensuring gender equality and empowering women as key components of all our development plans.

And I think you mentioned, Madam Secretary, the presence of two very distinguished and accomplished ladies, our ambassador to the United States and Her Royal Highness Princess Aisha bint Al-Hussein our defense attaché. Just an example of where we're heading in Jordan and I'm very proud to be here with them today.

Our parliamentary elections in two weeks, yours in one week, Madam Secretary, will mark yet another significant milestone along this path. And the significance of the date of our elections, the 9^th of November, will not be lost on you in particular because five years ago on that tragic day in November in 2005, we had the terrorist attacks that took the lives of so many innocent civilians in Jordan and this is yet another affirmation of our resolve and our commitment to move steady on and meet these challenges head on in partnership with all our friends around the world.

The government is committed to having this process be open, transparent, and fair and so reform efforts for the upcoming period will build on the achievements and sustained gains attained to date on all fronts. Madam Secretary, Your Highness, ladies and gentlemen, Excellencies, the MCC program in Jordan has unique characteristics—relevance to the real needs of Jordanians, innovation in finding practical solutions to the challenges we face, and determination to implementing them.

The program will positively touch the lives of so many Jordanians in many ways, for it addresses water scarcity, one of the gravest environmental challenges that we in Jordan face today. The Compact will fund projects that will improve water and sanitation services to more than a million inhabitants in densely populated cities within the Zarqa area and will provide job opportunities for many Jordanians. In fact, this grant is of great importance to the water sector in Jordan as it contributes by around 20 percent of the total capital investment in the water sector over the coming three years.

I wish to extend our sincere thanks and appreciation to Secretary Clinton for her strong and unwavering support to the Compact agreement with Jordan. Madam Secretary, your presence here today and your words with His Majesty the King in Amman and the press conference we had during your last visit to Jordan is a clear demonstration of your support and of your friendship. We are also thankful to Mr. Yohannes for his strong leadership throughout the process. We also acknowledge the efforts of Mr. Patrick Fine, vice president for Compact Operations, Mr. Darius Teter, and deputy vice president.

I wish to thank my colleagues in Jordan who worked on this day and in the past, our MCA unit at the prime ministry and the teams in the ministries of planning, water and irrigation, and foreign affairs. I also wish to thank the transaction team at the MCC working on Jordan's program for their cooperation, dedication, and support during the whole Compact development stages.

We in Jordan are looking forward to continuing to working very, very closely with the MCC towards effective, flourishing implementation of Jordan's program and we'll always be prepared to overcome obstacles that might come across our way. This is a great day. Thank you very much all of you.

Foreign Minister Judeh. Good luck, Madam Secretary.

Secretary Clinton. Thank you.