Drought is a recurrent natural hazard that is expected to increase in the future due to anthropogenic climate change. The Middle East region witnessed a drought period between 2007 and 2009 that has been reported to have severe consequences for the population, especially in Syria and Iraq. This...

This paper seeks to document key characteristics of small island states in the Pacific. It restricts itself to a limited number of indicators which are macro-orientated - population, fertility of land, ability to tap into economies of scale, income, and geographic isolation. It leaves aside...

This paper analyzes progress on the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper—Country Development Strategy (PRSP–CDS) in the Kyrgyz Republic for 2007–10. The CDS is the most important concept paper that outlines midterm vision of the Kyrgyz Republic. The paper also discusses that...

This paper discusses the progress report on the National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS) for Nigeria. The NEEDS 2004–07 is Nigeria’s reform based medium-term plan for economic recovery, growth, and development. Fiscal and monetary policies have been carefully...

Kenya’s Poverty Reduction Strategy Annual progress report highlights that sound macroeconomic management policies are finally beginning to yield results in terms of macroeconomic growth, which is the underpinning for future poverty reduction. A high degree of price stability has been...

This Selected Issues and Statistical Appendix paper assesses Romania’s external competitiveness by reviewing recent developments in a range of standard indicators and estimating equilibrium real exchange rates. The results suggest that, although Romania’s historical cost advantage vis-à-vis...

This report describes the progress made in implementing the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper for Sierra Leone covering the period 2005–07. Efforts to reform the public sector were not successful. Management and Functional Reviews were conducted for several ministries, departments, and...

In recent years, the IMF has released a growing number of reports and other documents covering economic and financial developments and trends in member countries. Each report, prepared by a staff team after discussions with government officials, is published at the option of the member country.

This paper examines Kenya’s Poverty Reduction Strategy annual progress report. The Investment Program for the Economic Recovery Strategy is Kenya’s medium-term strategy to foster economic growth and reduce poverty. Poverty is defined as the inability to command resources and is a...