York served multiple purposes. The group addressed the Sierra Leonean community in the
Washington, DC area; participated in the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact Award meetings in Washington DC and New Jersey; attended the Ronald A. Brown
African Affairs Annual Conference at the World Bank organized by Constituency for Africa
(CFA); attended the West African Youth Forum at the National Democratic Institute; and
visited the 68th United Nations General Assembly in New York.
[In December 2012, Sierra Leone was one of a group of selected lower income countries
that became eligible for the Millennium Challenge Corporation ‘Compact’ grant funding
after passing 12 out of 20 benchmark indicators in the area of ruling justly, and investing in
citizens and economic freedom. According to Mr. Mahmoud Idriss, Coordinator for MCC,
“The MCC is a United States government funded agency that forms strategic partnerships
with countries that have met certain criteria in the foregoing areas to combat poverty and
promote sustainable economic growth through private investments.” Mr. Idriss disclosed
that the grant is dependent on identified projects, with clearly a defined and rigorous process
that a beneficiary government must follow in order to access the funding
(mysierraleoneonline.com, October 2013).]
The presidential delegation also attended the Amistad celebrations in Connecticut, and the
Sierra Leone New Jersey Economic Summit at Essex County College. Although absent
from the trip, on September 17 President Koroma addressed an audience of dignitaries,
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