KEY ISSUES Background. The Ebola outbreak that started in one district in late May has spread to the entire country, overwhelming already weak institutions and ill-equipped medical facilities. At end-August, over 1000 people were infected and more than a third had died from the disease. The...

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Jordan’s economy has been resilient in an increasingly difficult regional environment. Previously highlighted risks have materialized, most notably major disruptions of gas flows from Egypt, and new ones have emerged, particularly from the conflict in Iraq. The macroeconomic...

This paper discusses Guinea-Bissau’s Request for Disbursement Under the Rapid Credit Facility (RCF). In 2012 and 2013, Guinea-Bissau suffered a severe balance of payments shock as the international price of raw cashew nuts-the main export product-fell by about 20 percent per year. The...

Program implementation and economic fundamentals continue to be strong, but the external position weakened in mid-2014. Projected growth for 2014 has been revised down to 2.8 percent from 3.7 percent, due to weaker demand for Seychelles' two main exports�tourism and canned tuna. At the same...

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Context. On June 7, 2013, the Executive Board approved a 24-month Stand-By Arrangement in an amount equivalent to 400 percent of quota (SDR 1.146 billion or about $1.75 billion). To date, SDR 716.25 million, equivalent to $1.1 billion, has been disbursed. Background. Tunisia is...

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...

Context and policy challenges. Mozambique's macroeconomic performance remains robust, with strong growth and low inflation. In spite of the heightened risks from an uncertain global outlook, growth is expected to be broad-based in the medium term and boosted by the natural resource boom and...

KEY ISSUES Background: Poland's strong fundamentals and sound policies helped it to successfully withstand several bouts of market turbulence and paved the way for economic recovery. While Poland has benefited from its continued transformation into a more open and dynamic economy, its...

Ireland's recovery has strengthened yet political challenges to adjustment appear to have increased. The recovery is led by job creation and investment financed by retained earnings rather than lending. But uncertainties around medium-term prospects are wide given external risks and domestic...