On October 20, 2004, Bono - lead singer in the internationally acclaimed rock band U2 - was in Portland, Oregon entertaining thousands at the Rose Garden. But he was speaking not singing. Not surprisingly, for those who know Bono's passion for bringing more assistance to the world's poor - particularly in Africa - his topic was US public policy as it relates to these problems.

In response to a question regarding the Millennium Challenge Account, which was the subject of my last Blog, Bono said that he thinks it is a wonderful concept.

The Millennium Challenge Corporation is a new approach to foreign aid. It sets up a competition for earning foreign aid. In 2004, seventy of the world's poorest countries competed for the $1 billion dollars in aid to be distributed. Sixteen countries bid successfully. In 2005 the US has promised $5 billion.

The criteria that competing countries must meet address the weaknesses in many past foreign aid programs. Corruption, just governance, investing in their own citizens and economic freedom, are among the factors evaluated (only 23 percent of those countries that apply for Millennium Challenge aid will receive it in the first year). Further, a business plan for how the aid will be spent must be submitted and approved. Adherence to the agreed upon plan and success in achieving its goals will be carefully evaluated and publicly reported.

The Millenium Challenge Corporation's approach allows each country to determine its most important needs while at the same time providing the transparency that helps to ensure that the money goes where it is intended.

This approach allows each country to determine its most important needs. But it also provides the transparency that helps to ensure that the money goes where it is intended and that the results accomplished will be known both within the country and by the US.

Support for finding more effective ways to help the poor countries of the world move forward in building self-sustaining economies and governments is blossoming within very disparate support groups. Paul Applegarth, CEO of the Millennium Challenge Corporation, spoke recently to the Portland, Oregon Chapter of the Initiative for Global Development (IGD), an organization of business people started in Seattle, Washington. The objective of the IGD is to favorably influence US public policy in ways that will help to eliminate the world's most extreme poverty.

Mercy Corps and other humanitarian organizations have come together in the Better and Safer World Campaign. Their objectives are very similar to those of the IGD.








To read another Global Envision article about Bono's activism, see Bono's Developing Business.