By Jerromie S. Walters
MONROVIA, Liberia – Liberia’s low Girls’ Primary Education Completion Rate has emerged as a critical concern in the Millennium Challenge Corporation’s (MCC) latest scorecard, potentially impacting the country’s eligibility for development funding. The FY2026 assessment places Liberia in the bottom 25th percentile globally for this indicator, with a completion rate of just 59% compared to the median of 71.9%.
This educational shortfall appears connected to broader challenges in women’s economic participation detailed in the report. While Liberia scored relatively well in the overall “Women in the Economy” category, the country ranked in just the 9th percentile for “Employment Opportunity,” suggesting that limited educational access for girls may be creating persistent barriers to women’s entry into the formal workforce.
The MCC scorecard, used to determine eligibility for U.S. development grants, also highlighted concerning results in “Child Health,” where Liberia scored below the international median. These findings in social investment indicators contrast with stronger performances in economic areas like “International Market Access” (93rd percentile) and “Property and Land Rights” (67th percentile).
The educational gap identified in the report represents a significant challenge for Liberia’s development trajectory. Primary education completion for girls is widely recognized as fundamental to long-term economic growth, improved public health, and greater gender equality.
Conversely, Liberia demonstrates a notable strength in “International Market Access,” scoring 0.909 and ranking in the 93rd percentile. This indicates a trade environment that is relatively open to foreign competition. However, this open market has not yet translated into broad-based economic freedom, with the overall Economic Freedom score (57.4) lagging behind the median (63.6). High inflation and a low rank in Trade Policy continue to be headwinds.
The scorecard, mandated by U.S. law, evaluates countries on three pillars: Ruling Justly, Encouraging Economic Freedom, and Investing in People.
In Ruling Justly, Liberia shows a mixed governance record. It performs well on “Freedom of Information” (98th percentile) and “Control of Corruption” (56th percentile), but struggles with “Government Effectiveness” and “Rule of Law,” scoring below zero in both categories.
The “Personal Freedom” score is strong, ranking in the 91st percentile. Under Investing in People, critical social indicators are concerning. The “Girls’ Primary Education Completion Rate” is low at 59%, ranking in the bottom 25th percentile. “Child Health” and “Natural Resource Protection” scores also fall below the global median, highlighting areas requiring urgent attention.
In September of this year, a high-level MCC delegation arrived in Monrovia to lay the groundwork for a potential second multi-million dollar compact.
The delegation, led by MCC Africa Managing Director Carrie Monahan, aims to build on the success of the first $257 million agreement, which revitalized the country’s energy sector between 2016 and 2021.
Upon her arrival at Roberts International Airport, Monahan praised Liberia as a “strong partner” and expressed pride in the achievements of the initial compact.
The MCC Model
The Millennium Challenge Corporation was created by the U.S. Congress in January 2004 with strong bipartisan support. It partners with the world’s poorest countries that are committed to just and democratic governance, economic freedom, and investing in their populations.
The MCC model is built on the principle that investing in well-governed countries is the most effective use of development dollars and incentivizes reform before a country is even selected for a partnership. By providing time-limited grants that promote economic growth, reduce poverty, and strengthen institutions, MCC aims to create sustainable change. These investments in core infrastructure and policy reforms have benefitted nearly 400 million people across 47 countries, supporting global stability and prosperity while furthering American interests.
