A New Architecture of Facilities for Low-Income Countries

Policy Papers ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 09 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Poverty Reduction ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Executive Board ◽  
New Facilities

This paper proposes a new facilities architecture for Low-Income Countries. It is based on "Option 2" set out in the framework paper discussed by the Executive Board on March 20, 2009. The new architecture provides a unified facilities framework for LICs under a new Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust (PRGT). The facilities are distinguished primarily by the duration of the financing and adjustment needs and the conditionality standard.

2017 Handbook of IMF Facilities for Low-Income Countries

Policy Papers ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Poverty Reduction ◽  
Safety Net ◽  
Policy Coordination ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Executive Board ◽  
Reference Tool ◽  
Financial Safety Net ◽  
Comprehensive Reference

This Handbook provides guidance to staff on the financial facilities and non-financial instruments for low-income countries (LICs), defined here as all countries eligible to obtain concessional financing from the Fund. It updates the previous version of the Handbook that was published in February 2016 (IMF, 2016d) by incorporating modifications resulting from Board papers and related decisions since that time, including Financing for Development—Enhancing the Financial Safety Net for Developing Countries—Further Considerations (IMF, 2016c), Review of Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust – Review of Interest Rate Structure (IMF, 2016b), Eligibility to Use the Fund’s Facilities for Concessional Financing (IMF, 2017a), Large Natural Disasters—Enhancing the Financial Safety Net for Developing Countries (IMF, 2017b) and Adequacy of the Global Financial Safety Net – Proposal for a New Policy Coordination Instrument (IMF, 2017c). Designed as a comprehensive reference tool for program work on LICs, the Handbook also refers, in summary form, to a range of relevant policies that apply more generally to IMF members. As with all guidance notes, the relevant IMF Executive Board decisions, including the terms of the various LIC Trust Instruments that have been adopted by the Board, remain the sole legal authority on the matters covered in the Handbook

Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust - 2017 Borrowing Agreements with the Bank of Spain, the Government of Japan and the People's Bank of China

Policy Papers ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (50) ◽  
Author(s):  
Keyword(s):  
Interest Rate ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Poverty Reduction ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Executive Board ◽  
Bank Of China ◽  
Current Board ◽  
The Media ◽  
The Government ◽  
Set Up

the Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust (PRGT or Trust), has entered into a new borrowing agreement with the Bank of Spain (Spain), amendments to the 2010 NPA with the Government of Japan (Japan), and a new note purchase agreement (NPA) with the People’s Bank of China (China). The new borrowing agreement with Spain, the amendments to the NPA with Japan, and the new NPA with China provide new resources of SDR 450 million, SDR 1.8 billion and SDR 800 million, respectively, to the General Loan Account of the PRGT for a total amount of SDR 3.05 billion in new PRGT lending resources. The new borrowing agreement, the augmentation under the amended NPA and the new NPA are among the first ten loan contributions concluded in the context of the current Board endorsed effort to raise SDR 11 billion in new PRGT loan resources. These became effective on February 22, 2017, for Spain; April 20, 2017, for Japan; and April 21, 2017, for China. Pursuant to Section III, paragraph 2 of the Instrument to establish the PRGT, the Managing Director is authorized to enter into borrowing agreements and agree to their terms and conditions with lenders to the Loan Accounts of the Trust. This paper presents to the Executive Board for information the new borrowing agreement with Spain, the amendments to augment the existing agreement with Japan, and the new NPA with China. The new borrowing agreement with Spain and NPA with China incorporate the following recent changes to the Fund’s framework for concessional lending to low income countries, which have also been adopted, as applicable, in prior amendments to the agreement with Japan: (i) the extensions of the commitments and drawdown period for PRGT loans to end-2020 and end-2024, respectively; (ii) the incorporation of the Chinese Renminbi (RMB) interest rate instrument of six month maturity for borrowing agreements in currencies; and (iii) the provision that, if the derived six-month SDR interest rate formula results in a negative rate, the applicable interest rate shall be zero percent. With respect to the amendment of the NPA with Japan, in addition to increasing the principal amount of notes that can be issued under the NPA, Japan’s agreement was also modified to: (i) provide more flexibility in the media of payment for purchases under the NPA; (ii) set up a maximum amount for monthly purchases under the NPA; and (iii) to establish a preferred media for payments of interest and principal amount of the notes issued under the NPA. Except for these changes, all other elements of the NPA with Japan remain unchanged.

2016 Handbook of IMF Facilities for Low-Income Countries

Policy Papers ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Poverty Reduction ◽  
Safety Net ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Legal Authority ◽  
Executive Board ◽  
Poverty Reduction Strategy ◽  
Reference Tool ◽  
Financial Safety Net ◽  
Comprehensive Reference

This Handbook provides guidance to staff on the financial and non-financial facilities for low-income countries (LICs), defined here as all countries eligible to obtain concessional financing from the Fund. It updates the previous version of the Handbook that was published in February 2015 (IMF, 2015) by incorporating modifications resulting from Board papers and related decisions since that time, including the reform of the Fund policy on Poverty Reduction Strategy in Fund engagement with low-income countries, Financing for Development—Enhancing the Financial Safety net for Developing Countries, Proposal for Catastrophe Containment and Relief Trust, the Review of Eligibility to Use the Fund’s Facilities for Concessional Financing, and the 14th General Review of Quotas.1 Designed as a comprehensive reference tool for program work on LICs, the Handbook also refers, in summary form, to a range of relevant policies that apply more generally to IMF members. As with all guidance notes, the relevant IMF Executive Board decisions, including the terms of the various LIC Trust Instruments that have been adopted by the Board, remain the sole legal authority on the matters covered in the Handbook.

Update on the Financing of the Fund's Concessional Assistance and Debt Relief to Low-Income Member Countries

Policy Papers ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (19) ◽  
Author(s):  
Keyword(s):  
Financial Market ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Poverty Reduction ◽  
Commodity Prices ◽  
Safety Net ◽  
Global Environment ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Executive Board ◽  
General Fund ◽  
Financial Safety Net

Better targeted support to LICs. In July 2015, the Executive Board approved measures to strengthen the financial safety net for low-income countries. Specifically, access norms and limits to the Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust (PRGT) resources were increased by 50 percent and the Rapid Credit Facility (RCF) interest rate was set permanently at zero. In addition, four countries graduated from PRGT eligibility. Together with a rebalancing of the mix of blended financing towards more use of general Fund resources for better-off PRGT-eligible countries, these reforms were broadly resource neutral and left the PRGT self-sustaining framework intact. Demand for PRGT resources up strongly. In 2015, demand reached SDR 1.5 billion, largely in response to shocks to commodity prices and adverse global financial market conditions. Demand is expected to remain elevated in 2016, as the global environment continues to be challenging.

Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust Interest Rate Mechanism - Extension of Temporary Interest Rate Waiver

Policy Papers ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 (103) ◽  
Author(s):  
Keyword(s):  
Interest Rate ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Poverty Reduction ◽  
Economic Recovery ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Executive Board ◽  
Disaster Assistance ◽  
Post Conflict ◽  
Global Growth ◽  
Rate Mechanism

In recent months, a number of Directors have expressed support in the Executive Board for a further extension of the temporary exceptional interest waiver on concessional lending. An extension would send a signal of the Fund’s continued support for Low-Income Countries at a time when the global economic crisis is still ongoing. In view of the related downside risks to the global economic recovery and a decline in the ability of Low-Income Countries to respond to a further weakening of global growth, this paper proposes a further extension of the exceptional interest waiver by two years, to end-2014. This paper also proposes to further extend to April 2013 the existing subsidization of the rate of charge on outstanding Emergency Natural Disaster Assistance and Emergency Post-Conflict Assistance purchases by PRGT-eligible members.

Use of Windfall Gold Sale Profits—Further Considerations

Policy Papers ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 (33) ◽  
Author(s):  
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Poverty Reduction ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Executive Directors ◽  
Preliminary Discussion ◽  
Use Of Resources ◽  
Wide Range

In April 2011, Executive Directors held a preliminary discussion on the use of the profits of SDR 6.85 billion from the Fund’s limited gold sale. They noted their expectation that at least SDR 4.4 billion of the profits would be placed in an endowment within the Investment Account, and affirmed their support for the 2009 financing package for low-income countries (LICs), including the distribution to the Fund’s membership of up to SDR 0.7 billion from the profits linked to gold sales, with the expectation that most members will return equivalent funds to the Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust (PRGT). There was a wide range of views among Directors on the three main options presented for the windfall of SDR 1.75 billion, but no consensus favoring a single option. The main options presented included use of resources linked to the windfall to boost the capacity of the PRGT, counting the windfall towards precautionary balances, or investing the windfall profits as part of the Investment Account’s endowment. Many Directors indicated that they could support a combination of two or more of the main options.

Classification of Low-Income Countries for the Purpose of Debt Limits in Fund-Supported Programs - 2011 Update

Policy Papers ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 (60) ◽  
Author(s):  
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Financial Management ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Short Paper ◽  
Executive Board ◽  
Public Financial Management ◽  
Management Capacity

This short paper informs the Executive Board of staff’s assessment of macroeconomic and public financial management capacity (henceforth “capacity”) in PRGT-eligible countries (henceforth “low-income countries”) with Fund-supported programs for the purpose of setting debt limits. Capacity plays an important role in the framework for debt limits. This framework includes a menu of options for concessionality requirements to reflect the diversity of situations in low-income countries (LICs). Eligibility for a particular option is related to an assessment of debt vulnerabilities and capacity.

2016 Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust - Review of Interest Rate Structure

Policy Papers ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 (50) ◽  
Author(s):  
Keyword(s):  
Interest Rate ◽  
Interest Rates ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Poverty Reduction ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Credit Facility ◽  
Rate Structure ◽  
Low Interest Rates ◽  
The Interest Rate ◽  
Rate Mechanism

This paper reviews the interest rate structure that would apply to the PRGT in 2017–18. Based on the interest rate setting mechanism agreed in 2009, the interest rate for the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) would be zero and the rate for the Standby Credit Facility (SCF) would be 0.25 percent. The interest rate for the Rapid Credit Facility (RCF) was set permanently at zero in July 2015. Since the current mechanism was agreed, the Executive Board has granted successive exceptional interest waivers on all outstanding Fund concessional credit, setting all interest rates charged at zero percent. These waivers have been extended three times, providing interest rate relief to many low-income countries at a time when they faced considerable headwinds from the global economic environment. A strong case remains for maintaining zero rates on Fund concessional credit at the current global economic juncture. The global outlook for LICs has not significantly improved since the last review and downside risks remain significant. At the same time, many Directors noted at the last review in 2014 that the possibility of a prolonged period of very low interest rates warrants an early re-examination of the mechanism, including an exit strategy from repeated application of the waiver, with the objective of safeguarding the self-sustaining capacity of the PRGT. The paper seeks to respond to this call. It proposes that the PRGT interest rate mechanism be amended to accommodate anomalies created by a prolonged period of very low interest rates. Specifically, a new threshold is proposed whereby both the ECF and the SCF rate would be set at zero when the 12-month average SDR rate is less than or equal to 0.75 percent. This proposal will likely keep all PRGT interest rates under the mechanism at zero through at least 2020 given current market expectations while incurring only minimal subsidy costs and eliminating the need for continual waivers. In addition, staff proposes to waive interest rate charges on outstanding legacy balances under the Exogenous Shocks Facility (ESF), which are not determined via the interest rate mechanism, until the next review.

Quota and Voice Reform - Stocktaking and Further Considerations, Statistical Appendices I and II, Statement by the Managing Director, and Summing Up of the Board Meeting

Policy Papers ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 2007 (47) ◽  
Author(s):  
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Global Economy ◽  
World Economy ◽  
Emerging Market ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Board Meeting ◽  
Executive Board ◽  
Board Of Governors ◽  
New Formula ◽  
The Voice

At its Spring Meeting, the IMFC reiterated the importance of implementing the program of quota and voice reforms in line with the timetable set out by the Board of Governors in Singapore. The Committee welcomed the initial informal Board discussions on a new quota formula and stressed the importance of agreeing on a new formula, which should be simple and transparent and should capture members’ relative positions in the world economy. It noted that this reform would result in higher shares for dynamic economies, many of which are emerging market economies, whose weight and role in the global economy have increased. The Committee also stressed the importance of enhancing the voice and participation of low-income countries, a key issue for which is an increase in basic votes, at a minimum preserving the voting share of low-income countries. The Committee called on the Executive Board to continue its work on the reform package as a matter of priority.

Modification of Access Policies for the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility and the Exogenous Shocks Facility

Policy Papers ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 09 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Poverty Reduction ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Economic Downturn ◽  
Medium Term ◽  
Exogenous Shocks ◽  
World Economic ◽  
Access Policies ◽  
Over Time

The paper proposes a doubling of access limits on concessional lending to ensure that the Fund can respond effectively to the needs of low-income countries (LICs) severely affected by the current world economic downturn. Pending adoption of broader reforms to the LIC facilities architecture, higher access limits under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) and Exogenous Shocks Facility-High-Access Component (ESF-HAC) would give the Fund greater flexibility in assisting LICs, which have become more exposed to global volatility over time. A doubling of access limits would restore them to their 1998 levels in percent of GDP and would be consistent with the approach taken in determining new access limits for General Resources Account (GRA) resources. It would also be in line with the projected doubling of medium-term demand for concessional resources.

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