The global crisis has underscored the need for effective global financial safety nets to protect countries with sound policy frameworks from adverse outcomes. Complementing the traditional crisis resolution role of the IMF, which has been instrumental during the recent crisis and is expected to...

This paper examines the volume and distribution of concessional and nonconcessional financial flows from Arab countries, and aid agencies, and regional institutions to developing countries. Arab financial assistance increased very rapidly from 1973 to 1980 in line with the rapid growth in oil...

This report examines the recent economic developments and prospects, and the role of the IMF in the reconstruction process for the Islamic State of Afghanistan. Since January 2002, the IMF staff has been heavily involved in assisting the Afghan authorities rebuild key economic institutions and...

This report provides an update of the assessment of Lao P.D.R.'s macroeconomic conditions and outlook presented at the time of the 2004 Article IV Consultation and in the Assessment Letter of March 10, 2005

This paper proposes an approach to making the MTS operational as it relates to the Fund's work in LICs that would define more precisely the Fund's responsibility and accountability in the PRSP and donor collaboration processes. The proposed activities are not 'new,' but represent an...

The global crisis has hit the Maldivian economy hard; combined with an unsustainable fiscal expansion, it has led to a large fiscal deficit and severe balance of payments pressures. The authorities are committed to a strong policy adjustment program, and have requested IMF financial support for...

Assessment Letters or Statements may be prepared for member countries with Fund-supported programs; receiving Fund emergency assistance; with staff-monitored programs; or surveillance-only cases. They are typically produced for use by the country with multilateral or bilateral donors or creditors,...

The new three-year ECF arrangement was approved by the Board on March 16, 2012. The economic outlook for 2012 and 2013 is broadly positive, thanks to the coming onstream of oil production and continuing investment in the natural resource sector. Downside risks to the outlook include the fragile...

The Fund has taken important steps to enhance its external sector assessments since the launch of the External Balance Assessment (EBA) methodology and the External Sector Report (ESR) in 2012, which provides a multilaterally consistent assessment of the largest economies' external sector...