This first annual review of the Malawi Poverty Reduction Strategy (MPRS) assesses progress toward the implementation of pro-poor activities with a focus on inputs and annual outputs. The review assessed that the allocation of resources in the MPRS is more comprehensive than in the budget. It...

Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) showed commendable growth owing to its strong macroeconomic performance and structural reforms under the economic program. Executive Directors commended the fiscal performance, bank restructuring, and the private sector developments, and stressed the...

Mozambique's economic program was originally supported by a three-year arrangement under the Enhanced Structural Adjustment Facility (ESAF). The Mozambican authorities are to be commended for a continued satisfactory performance under their Poverty Reduction Growth Facility (PRGF)-supported...

This paper reviews Bangladesh’s Interim Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (I-PRSP). The paper addresses the question as to “what are the broad lessons from the past development experience.” It captures the salient features of social progress notwithstanding the challenging odds facing the...

This paper examines Guinea’s Request for a Three-Year Arrangement Under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF). The first review of the third annual program supported by the PRGF was completed on December 20, 2000. Progress was made on the structural front, but the public enterprise...

This paper assesses Lao People’s Democratic Republic’s First Review Under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF), and a Request for Waiver of Performance Criteria. Performance in the first year of the PRGF arrangement has been generally satisfactory. Fiscal slippages through...

This paper focuses on the Republic of Armenia’s 2002 Article IV Consultation, First and Second Reviews Under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF), and a Request for Waiver of Performance Criteria. The PRGF-supported program approved in 2001 focuses on revenue mobilization, the...

This paper examines Moldova’s Economic Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (EGPRSP) covering 2004–06. The EGPRSP has the potential to become an effective tool for continuous strategic planning, and for providing for the prioritization of strategic objectives and the implementation of...

This paper examines Albania’s 2002 Article IV Consultation, First Review Under the Three-Year Arrangement Under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF), and Requests for Modification and Waiver of Performance Criterion. Economic growth appears to have fallen below a 7 percent...

This paper reviews Benin’s Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) for 2003–05. Benin’s PRSP represents, on the one hand, an overall strategy for combating poverty which, instead of focusing solely on economic growth or exclusively on social services, integrates all the dimensions of...