Report on the Selection of Eligible Countries for Fiscal Year 2022
| Published date | 23 December 2021 |
| Citation | 86 FR 73004 |
| Record Number | 2021-27955 |
| Section | Notices |
| Court | Millennium Challenge Corporation |
73004
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 244 / Thursday, December 23, 2021 / Notices
POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR STORAGE OF
RECORDS
:
The records in this system are stored
electronically on MSPB’s local area
network or with FedRAMP-authorized
cloud service providers. Access is
limited to a small number of authorized
personnel at MSPB. In addition, if paper
records exist, they are stored in locked
file cabinets in access-restricted offices.
POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR RETRIEVAL OF
RECORDS
:
Records may be retrieved by name or
other unique personal identifier.
POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR RETENTION AND
DISPOSAL OF RECORDS
:
The records maintained in this system
of records are subject to NARA General
Records Schedule (GRS) 2.3 (Employee
Relations Records), Item 20 (Reasonable
accommodation case files). NARA GRS
2.3 instructs disposition three years
after employee separation from the
agency or all appeals are concluded,
whichever is later, but longer retention
is authorized if required for business
use.
ADMINISTRATIVE
,
TECHNICAL
,
AND PHYSICAL
SAFEGUARDS
:
Records in the system are protected
from unauthorized access and misuse
through various administrative,
technical, and physical security
measures, such as access controls,
mandatory security and privacy
training, encryption, multi-factor
authentication, security guards, and
locked offices.
RECORD ACCESS PROCEDURES
:
Individuals seeking notification of
and access to their records in this
system of records may submit a request
in writing to the Office of the Clerk of
the Board, U.S. Merit Systems
Protection Board, 1615 M Street NW,
Washington, DC 20419. Individuals
requesting access must comply with
MSPB’s Privacy Act regulations
regarding verification of identity and
access to records (5 CFR part 1205).
CONTESTING RECORD PROCEDURES
:
Individuals may request that records
about them be amended by writing to
the Office of the Clerk of the Board, U.S.
Merit Systems Protection Board, 1615 M
Street NW, Washington, DC 20419.
Individuals requesting amendment must
follow MSPB’s Privacy Act regulations
regarding verification of identity and
amendment to records (5 CFR part
1205).
NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES
:
See Record Access Procedures above.
EXEMPTIONS PROMULGATED FOR THE SYSTEM
:
None.
HISTORY
:
None.
[FR Doc. 2021–27874 Filed 12–22–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7400–01–P
MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE
CORPORATION
[MCC FR 21–13]
Report on the Selection of Eligible
Countries for Fiscal Year 2022
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.
Authority: Section 608(d)(2) of the
Millennium Challenge Act of 2003, as
amended, 22 U.S.C. 7707(d)(2) (the Act).
Dated: December 20, 2021.
Thomas G. Hohenthaner,
Acting VP/General Counsel and Corporate
Secretary.
Report on the Selection of Eligible
Countries for Fiscal Year 2022
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)).
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 fiscal year
(FY) 2022 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 2022, 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 the third of the above-
described reports by MCC for FY 2022.
It identifies countries determined by the
Board to be eligible under section 607
of the Act (22 U.S.C. 7706) for FY 2022
with which the MCC will seek to enter
into compacts under section 609 of the
Act (22 U.S.C. 7708), as well as the
justification for such decisions. The
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 14, 2021
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). The
Board selected the following eligible
countries for such assistance for FY
2022: Belize and Zambia. The Board
also selected the following previously
selected countries for compact
assistance for FY 2022: Benin, Burkina
Faso, Co
ˆte d’Ivoire, Indonesia, Lesotho,
Malawi, Mozambique, Niger, Sierra
Leone, and Timor-Leste.
Criteria
In accordance with the Act and with
the ‘‘Report on the Criteria and
Methodology for Determining the
Eligibility of Candidate Countries for
Millennium Challenge Account
Assistance in Fiscal Year 2022’’
formally submitted to Congress on
September 29, 2021, 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
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 244 / Thursday, December 23, 2021 / Notices
1
Available at https://www.mcc.gov/resources/
doc/report-selection-criteria-methodology-fy22.
2
Available at https://www.mcc.gov/resources/
doc/guide-to-supplemental-information.
3
Available at https://www.mcc.gov/blog/entry/
blog-101921-financial-inclusion (Access to Credit
and Land Rights and Access) and https://
www.mcc.gov/who-we-select/indicators/doing-
business-indicators-fy22 (Business Start-Up).
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 $1,965,
or the group with a GNI per capita
between $1,966 and $4,095.
The criteria and methodology used to
assess countries on the annual
scorecards are outlined in the ‘‘Report
on the Criteria and Methodology for
Determining the Eligibility of Candidate
Countries for Millennium Challenge
Account Assistance for Fiscal Year
2022.’’
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 took into account
additional quantitative and qualitative
information, such as evidence of a
country’s commitment to fighting
corruption, investments in human
development outcomes, or poverty rates.
In keeping with legislative directives,
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
relatively well-governed, poor countries.
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 was the fourth year the Board
considered the eligibility of countries
for concurrent compacts. In addition to
the considerations for compact
eligibility detailed above, the Board
considered whether a country being
considered for a concurrent compact is
making considerable and demonstrable
progress in implementing the terms of
its existing compact.
This was the thirteenth year the Board
considered the eligibility of countries
for subsequent compacts, as permitted
under section 609(l) of the Act. MCC’s
engagement with partner countries is
not open-ended, and the Board is
deliberate when selecting countries for
follow-on partnerships, particularly
regarding the higher bar applicable to
subsequent compact countries. In
making these selection decisions, the
Board considered—in addition to the
criteria outlined above—the country’s
performance implementing its prior
compact, including the nature of the
country’s partnership with MCC, the
degree to which the country has
demonstrated a commitment and
capacity to achieve program results, and
the degree to which the country
implemented the compact in accordance
with MCC’s core policies and standards.
To the greatest extent possible, these
factors were assessed using pre-existing
monitoring and evaluation targets and
regular quarterly reporting. This
information was supplemented with
direct surveys and consultation with
MCC staff responsible for compact
implementation, monitoring, and
evaluation. MCC published a Guide to
Supplemental Information
2
and related
webpages
3
regarding how MCC assesses
performance on the Access to Credit,
Land Rights and Access, and Business
Start-Up indicators on the scorecard, in
order to increase transparency about the
type of supplemental information the
Board uses to assess a country’s policy
performance. The Board also considered
a country’s commitment to further
sector reform, as well as evidence of
improved scorecard policy performance.
In addition, this is the sixth year
where the Board considered an explicit
higher bar for those countries close to
the upper end of the candidate pool,
looking closely in such cases at a
country’s access to development
financing, the nature of poverty in the
country, and its policy performance.
Countries Newly Selected for Compact
Assistance
Using the criteria described above,
two candidate countries under section
606(a) of the Act (22 U.S.C. 7705(a) were
newly selected for assistance under
section 607 of the Act (22 U.S.C. 7706):
Belize and Zambia. In accordance with
section 609(k) of the Act, no candidate
countries were newly selected to
explore development of a concurrent
compact program under section 607 of
the Act (22 U.S.C. 7706).
Belize: Belize offers MCC the
opportunity to engage with a country
that is committed to democratic
governance but that faces rising poverty
rates, significant challenges to economic
growth, and vulnerability to external
shocks. Belize meets the scorecard
criteria, passing 13 of 20 indicators
overall in FY 2022, with strong
performance on both the Control of
Corruption and Democratic Rights ‘‘hard
hurdles.’’ By selecting Belize for a
compact, MCC will support the
government’s efforts to strengthen
economic growth to reduce poverty and
address the development challenges
facing the country.
Zambia: Zambia’s recent democratic
transition and demonstrated
commitment to pursuing critical
economic and democratic governance
reforms contributed to the Board’s
decision to select Zambia for a
subsequent compact. Zambia passes the
scorecard in FY 2022, passing 15 of 20
indicators overall, including both the
Control of Corruption and Democratic
Rights ‘‘hard hurdles.’’ By selecting
Zambia for a compact, MCC can support
the government’s efforts to make key
economic and governance reforms,
reduce poverty and strengthen
economic growth, and address the
country’s pressing development
challenges.
Countries Selected To Continue
Compact Development
Ten of the countries selected for
compact assistance for FY 2022 were
previously selected for FY 2021.
Indonesia, Lesotho, Malawi,
Mozambique, Sierra Leone, and Timor-
Leste were selected to continue
developing ‘‘domestic’’ compacts.
Benin, Burkina Faso, Co
ˆte d’Ivoire, and
Niger were selected to continue
developing concurrent compacts for the
purpose of regional integration.
Selection of these countries for FY 2022
was based on an assessment of their
policy performance since their prior
selection.
Although the Board reselected Benin,
it endorsed MCC’s determination to
significantly reduce the portion of the
planned regional investment that would
be made in Benin through a concurrent
compact due to Benin’s multi-year
decline in its commitment to the
principles that underpin MCC’s
eligibility criteria, including the core
principles of democratic governance.
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 244 / Thursday, December 23, 2021 / Notices
4
Available at https://www.mcc.gov/who-we-
select/suspension-or-termination.
1
See Docket No. RM2018–3, Order Adopting
Final Rules Relating to Non-Public Information,
June 27, 2018, Attachment A at 19–22 (Order No.
4679).
1
15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
2
17 CFR 240.19b–4.
Countries Selected To Receive
Threshold Program Assistance
The Board did not newly select any
countries to receive threshold program
assistance for FY 2022.
Countries Selected To Continue
Developing Threshold Programs
The Board selected Kenya and
Kiribati to continue developing
threshold programs. Selection of these
countries for FY 2022 was based on
their continued performance since their
prior selection.
Ongoing Review of Partner Countries’
Policy Performance
The Board emphasized the need for
all partner countries to maintain or
improve their policy performance. If it
is determined during compact
implementation that a country has
demonstrated a significant policy
reversal, MCC can hold it accountable
by applying MCC’s Suspension and
Termination Policy.
4
[FR Doc. 2021–27955 Filed 12–21–21; 11:15 am]
BILLING CODE 9211–03–P
POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket Nos. MC2022–32 and CP2022–39;
MC2022–33 and CP2022–40]
New Postal Products
AGENCY
: Postal Regulatory Commission.
ACTION
: Notice.
SUMMARY
: The Commission is noticing
recent Postal Service filings for the
Commission’s consideration concerning
negotiated service agreements. This
notice informs the public of the filings,
invites public comment, and takes other
administrative steps.
DATES
: Comments are due: December
28, 2021.
ADDRESSES
: Submit comments
electronically via the Commission’s
Filing Online system at http://
www.prc.gov. Those who cannot submit
comments electronically should contact
the person identified in the
FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT
section by
telephone for advice on filing
alternatives.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
:
David A. Trissell, General Counsel, at
202–789–6820.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
:
Table of Contents
I. Introduction
II. Docketed Proceeding(s)
I. Introduction
The Commission gives notice that the
Postal Service filed request(s) for the
Commission to consider matters related
to negotiated service agreement(s). The
request(s) may propose the addition or
removal of a negotiated service
agreement from the market dominant or
the competitive product list, or the
modification of an existing product
currently appearing on the market
dominant or the competitive product
list.
Section II identifies the docket
number(s) associated with each Postal
Service request, the title of each Postal
Service request, the request’s acceptance
date, and the authority cited by the
Postal Service for each request. For each
request, the Commission appoints an
officer of the Commission to represent
the interests of the general public in the
proceeding, pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505
(Public Representative). Section II also
establishes comment deadline(s)
pertaining to each request.
The public portions of the Postal
Service’s request(s) can be accessed via
the Commission’s website (http://
www.prc.gov). Non-public portions of
the Postal Service’s request(s), if any,
can be accessed through compliance
with the requirements of 39 CFR
3011.301.
1
The Commission invites comments on
whether the Postal Service’s request(s)
in the captioned docket(s) are consistent
with the policies of title 39. For
request(s) that the Postal Service states
concern market dominant product(s),
applicable statutory and regulatory
requirements include 39 U.S.C. 3622, 39
U.S.C. 3642, 39 CFR part 3030, and 39
CFR part 3040, subpart B. For request(s)
that the Postal Service states concern
competitive product(s), applicable
statutory and regulatory requirements
include 39 U.S.C. 3632, 39 U.S.C. 3633,
39 U.S.C. 3642, 39 CFR part 3035, and
39 CFR part 3040, subpart B. Comment
deadline(s) for each request appear in
section II.
II. Docketed Proceeding(s)
1. Docket No(s).: MC2022–32 and
CP2022–39; Filing Title: USPS Request
to Add Priority Mail Contract 734 to
Competitive Product List and Notice of
Filing Materials Under Seal; Filing
Acceptance Date: December 17, 2021;
Filing Authority: 39 U.S.C. 3642, 39 CFR
3040.130 through 3040.135, and 39 CFR
3035.105; Public Representative:
Christopher C. Mohr; Comments Due:
December 28, 2021.
2. Docket No(s).: MC2022–33 and
CP2022–40; Filing Title: USPS Request
to Add Priority Mail Express & Priority
Mail Contract 128 to Competitive
Product List and Notice of Filing
Materials Under Seal; Filing Acceptance
Date: December 17, 2021; Filing
Authority: 39 U.S.C. 3642, 39 CFR
3040.130 through 3040.135, and 39 CFR
3035.105; Public Representative:
Kenneth R. Moeller; Comments Due:
December 28, 2021.
This Notice will be published in the
Federal Register.
Erica A. Barker,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2021–27865 Filed 12–22–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710–FW–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–93825; File No. SR–
CboeBZX–2021–082]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; Cboe
BZX Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing
and Immediate Effectiveness of
Proposed Rule Change To Make
Juneteenth National Independence Day
a Holiday of the Exchange
December 17, 2021.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
1
and
Rule 19b–4 thereunder,
2
notice is
hereby given that on December 6, 2021,
Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc. filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission
(‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule
change as described in Items I and II
below, which Items have been prepared
by the Exchange. The Commission is
publishing this notice to solicit
comments on the proposed rule change
from interested persons.
I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Terms of Substance of
the Proposed Rule Change
Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc. (the
‘‘Exchange’’ or ‘‘BZX’’) proposes to
amend its rules to make Juneteenth
National Independence Day a holiday of
the Exchange. The text of the proposed
rule change is provided in Exhibit 5.
The text of the proposed rule change
is also available on the Exchange’s
website (http://markets.cboe.com/us/
equities/regulation/rule_filings/bzx/), at
the Exchange’s Office of the Secretary,
and at the Commission’s Public
Reference Room.
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