A sound fiscal stance has been the bedrock for Tanzania’s macroeconomic stability in recent years. Impressive increases in government revenues, together with substantial donor support, allowed for strong increases in government spending, without excessive recourse to domestic borrowing...

This paper discusses key findings of the 2004 Status Report on Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) for Niger. The report assesses economic and financial performance, as well as progress in implementing sectoral policies and strategies in 2004. Analysis of the economic and financial situation...

Benin’s program furthers the objectives elaborated in the previous report. It is the result of a broad participative process that engaged all levels of government, the private sector, civil society, and donor partners. Executive Directors commend the program as it provides an adequate...

This paper discusses the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia’s Second Review Under the Stand-By Arrangement and Request for Waiver of Performance Criteria and Rephasing of the Program. The 2007 fiscal deficit target increased modestly to 1 percent of GDP. Taxes were cut and budget...

This Joint Staff Advisory Note focuses on the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) 2004 and 2005 Annual Progress Reports for Niger. Overall, progress in the implementation of the PRSP in 2004 and 2005 was broadly positive, given the challenges posed by a drought and locust plague in the...

The IMF’s Executive Board completed the first review under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement in June 2010 and decided that the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) had reached the completion point under the Enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative. In 2010, an...

Following an extended period of strong economic performance, Vietnam is facing considerable challenges. Growth moderated to 6.2 percent in 2008. Rapid credit growth fueled by massive capital inflows, coupled with a surge in commodity prices, led to high inflation and large trade deficits in the...

Mali’s territorial integrity is threatened, questioning its internal capacity to face challenges and especially to ensure the physical safety of goods and individuals. The government is committed to implement all measures to overcome this situation. More specifically, it will increase...

The political and security focus has shifted from post-conflict needs to consolidating gains on peace and stability. Macroeconomic stability has been re-established, and debt relief has improved the debt sustainability outlook. This enabled a gradual switch in policy priorities toward creating...

This poverty reduction strategy paper on Nicaragua shows that the main obstacles to poverty reduction are related to culture, historical, and structural factors, as well as weak public policy. The lack of proper physical infrastructure, the weaknesses in the energy matrix, the flaws in the...