Does the Millennium Challenge Corporation reinforce capitalist power structures or empower citizens?

In development practice, how does ‘mutual benefit’ accrue, and to whom? China criticises America for perpetuating capitalist power relations and claims it can seek a new geo-political order based on South-South cooperation. Meanwhile, there has been an extraordinary shift of emphasis toward the private sector as a driver of development, but this shift is attracting increasing criticism. The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) - the only development agency to grow in influence under the Trump administration - is evaluated in the light of these two key themes. Neither China nor the private sector are successful in achieving ‘mutual benefit’ for ordinary citizens – both replicate existing power inequalities. As with the rise of both China and the private sector, the MCC also enmeshes developing countries further into the existing neoliberal capitalist structures. However, the advantages of the agency should not be dismissed outright, as its Ruling Justly and Investing in People indicators can enhance the capacity of citizens to challenge these power structures themselves

Would a commodity-based trade approach improve market access for Africa? A case study of the potential of beef exports from communal areas of Namibia

They would like to acknowledge the help of the following key informants: Paul Strydom, Willie Shutz, Gizaw Negussie, Susanne Thalwitzer and Goliath Tujendapi of the Meat Board of Namibia; Cyprianus Khaiseb, Berndt Muller, Brian Perkins, Marco Duvel, Obed Kaatura, Berry Manda, Diederick Rupping, Hellmut von Seydlitz and Rosa Katjivena of the Meat Corporation of Namibia; Alexander Toto and Frank Chitate of the Directorate of Namibian Veterinary Service; Bertus Kruger of GTZ; and Andre Mouton. They also wish to thank Gavin Thomson for guidance in reviewing preliminary drafts of this article which is an output of a research project funded by the UK Department for International Development. The views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of DFID