Poverty in Nepal remains pervasive owing to insufficient growth and inadequate targeting under the poverty alleviation programs. Executive Directors stressed the need to implement strong fiscal and monetary policies and accelerate structural reforms. They welcomed the Poverty Reduction Strategy...

This paper highlights Mozambique’s 2005 Article IV Consultation, Second Review Under the Three-Year Arrangement Under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF), Request for Waiver of Performance Criteria, and Modification of Performance Criteria. The performance under the program...

This paper examines the First Review Under the Three-Year Arrangement Under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility for Dominica. The authorities were encouraged by the stronger-than-envisaged performance, but considered it premature to change the macroeconomic framework. The recent...

This paper focuses on Nepal’s First Review of the Three-Year Arrangement Under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) and Request for Waiver of Performance Criteria. The difficult political and security situation notwithstanding, the PRGF-supported program is broadly on track....

The staff report for the Second Review Under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility on Ghana highlights economic developments and policies. Efforts to consolidate the fiscal position continued, and there was no net domestic financing of the budget in 2003, implying a sharp reduction of...

This 2004 Article IV Consultation highlights that following the near crisis in the first half of 2003, the authorities in Jamaica have succeeded over the past year in stabilizing the economy and restoring market confidence. The foreign exchange market stabilized in mid-2003, inflation has...

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...

This paper examines Sudan’s 2005 Article IV Consultation and the Final Review of the 2004 and 2005 Staff-Monitored Program (SMP). Between 2001 and 2004, the economy of Sudan grew at an average rate of 6.4 percent per year, and the non-oil sector expanded at an annual rate of 5.3 percent....

This 2004 Article IV Consultation highlights that economic growth in Yemen slowed in 2004 owing to a sharp contraction in the oil sector. Oil production declined by 5.9 percent, reflecting diminishing recovery from aging large oil fields as well as the absence of significant new discoveries....

This paper examines Congo’s 2004 Article IV Consultation and New Staff-Monitored Program (SMP). In the context of improved security, the pace of economic activity in the non-oil sector has increased. Non-oil real GDP increased by about 10 percent per year on average during 2000–03....