Facing declining reserves and high inflation, Ethiopian authorities have implemented an effective macroeconomic adjustment package supported by the IMF under the rapid-access component of the Exogenous Shocks Facility. The global recession is putting renewed pressure on the external position,...

The staff report for the First Review Under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility on the Republic of Congo highlights economic development and fiscal policy. Reflecting the rise in oil prices, the fiscal and current account balance position improved significantly. Congo’s medium-term...

The Fourth Review Under the Extended Arrangement, Financing Assurances Review, and Request for Waiver of Performance Criteria for Serbia and Montenegro are discussed. The agreed tighter fiscal, monetary, and incomes policies should cool off wage and credit growth, which are driving the demand...

Macroeconomic performance has evolved in line with program projections, and financial market sentiment remains strong. Although the political situation remains stable, electoral politics are expected to intensify in advance of next year's general elections. The authorities indicated that they...

This paper discusses key findings of the Fifth Review under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) for The Gambia. The Gambia’s external debt position has worsened recently. The global economic crisis is undermining growth and the external balance. Performance on the PRGF-supported...

The discussions focused on advancing the unfinished reform agenda, and strengthening the investment climate. The macroeconomic objectives for 2003 remain broadly unchanged from those presented at the seventh review. Discussions on the 2004 financing outlook focused on the implications of the...

Monetary developments in the first half of 2003 were largely in line with expectations, except for credit to the private sector, which has accelerated significantly in recent months. The overall deficit of the consolidated government was 4.5 percent of GDP in 2002–03, lower than the program...

This paper discusses key findings of the Third Review Under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) for Mali. Implementation of the ECF-supported program has been challenged by the global financial crisis and the ensuing global slowdown. The new program aims to continue prudent fiscal policies and...

This paper discusses Moldova’s request for a Three-Year Arrangement under the Extended Credit Facility and request for an Extended Arrangement. The economy remained overregulated and hampered by relative price distortions. High barriers to entry and low competition in telecommunications,...

This paper discusses key findings of the Second Review Under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) for the Republic of Congo. Policy implementation through the first half of 2009 was satisfactory. All quantitative performance criteria and all but one of the structural benchmarks were...