22 U.S.C. § 7706: Eligible countries

The Board shall determine whether a candidate country is an eligible country for purposes of this section. Such determination shall be based, to the maximum extent possible, upon objective and quantifiable indicators of a country’s demonstrated commitment to the criteria in subsection (b), and shall, where appropriate, take into account and assess the role of women and girls. A determination whether a country is eligible for a subsequent, non-concurrent Millennium Challenge Compact shall also be based, to the extent practicable, on significantly improved performance across the criteria in subsection (b) that, at a minimum, are relevant to the preceding Compact, compared to the country’s performance with respect to such criteria when selected for such preceding Compact. promote political pluralism, equality, and the rule of law; respect human and civil rights, including the rights of people with disabilities; protect private property rights; encourage transparency and accountability of government; combat corruption; and the quality of the civil society enabling environment; encourage citizens and firms to participate in global trade and international capital markets; promote private sector growth; strengthen market forces in the economy; and respect worker rights, including the right to form labor unions; and promote broad-based primary education; strengthen and build capacity to provide quality public health and reduce child mortality; and promote the protection of biodiversity and the transparent and sustainable management and use of natural resources. At the time the Board determines eligible countries under this section for a fiscal year, the Board shall select those eligible countries with respect to which the United States will initially seek to enter into a Millennium Challenge Compact pursuant to section 7708 of this title . The extent to which the country clearly meets or exceeds the eligibility criteria. The opportunity to reduce poverty and generate economic growth in the country. The availability of amounts to carry out this chapter. any relevant laws governing the formation or establishment of a civil society organization, particularly laws intended to curb the activities of foreign civil society organizations; any relevant laws governing the operations of a civil society organization, particularly those laws seeking to define or otherwise regulate the actions of foreign civil society organizations; laws relating to the legal status of civil society organizations, including laws which effectively discriminate against foreign civil society organizations as compared to similarly situated domestic organizations; laws regulating the freedom of expression and peaceful assembly; and laws regulating the usage of the Internet, particularly by foreign civil society organizations. The criteria and methodology submitted by the Board to Congress and published in the Federal Register under section 7707(b)(2) of this title with respect to a fiscal year shall remain fixed for purposes of eligibility determinations for such year. As appropriate, the Board, acting through the Chief Executive Officer, shall review the eligibility criteria and methodology and modify such criteria and methodology in subsequent years consistent with section 7707(b) of this title .