Haiti’s recently completed arrangement under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) helped to maintain macroeconomic stability after the 2010 earthquake. While Haiti has seen four consecutive years of growth, reducing poverty requires higher and sustained growth rates

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Investment and growth prospects are gradually improving. Growth is projected to be about 2 percent in 2015/16, as the full-year impact of lower oil import costs and the recovery from last year’s drought materialize, and as improvements in the business climate and confidence...

This paper discusses Honduras’ First Reviews Under the Stand-by Arrangement (SBA) and Standby Credit Facility (SCF). Program implementation for the first reviews has been strong. All 2014 performance criteria and indicative targets were met, most with significant margins. The authorities have...

Discussions centered on the preparations for the 2015/16 budget, and reforms to strengthen the financial sector and boost growth. The authorities have deepened their efforts in supporting their ambitious fiscal goals by strengthening public financial management and revenue administration, and...

The government of President Hernandez inherited a difficult macroeconomic situation upon taking office in January 2014. Economic growth decelerated significantly in 2013, driven mainly by lower private demand from policy uncertainty and by weaker trade-partner growth. The fiscal accounts...

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Extended Credit Facility (ECF) Arrangement: On June 26th, 2014, the Executive Board approved a three-year arrangement for a total amount equivalent to SDR 14.04 million (about US$21.7 million, 120 percent of quota). The equivalent of SDR 2.04 million was disbursed upon approval...

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This is the final review under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement. The program contributed to maintaining macroeconomic stability, and there was progress on structural reforms. The authorities intend to request a successor arrangement under the ECF. A new finance...

KEY ISSUES Context. Prudent macroeconomic policies have underpinned Colombia’s strong growth during the last few years, which exceeded that of most Latin American peers. Last year, the economy posted real growth of 4.6 percent, and average inflation remained near the center of the target...

KEY ISSUES Context: Peru remains one of the best performing economies in Latin America, with solid macroeconomic fundamentals, strong policy frameworks, and visible gains in poverty reduction. Like most of the region, Peru faced a challenging external environment in 2014. External shocks were...

KEY ISSUES Strategy: The 2015 U.S. Article IV consultation centered on the prospects for higher policy rates and the outlook for, and policy response to, financial stability risks, integrating the findings of the Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP). Main findings and policy messages: •...