This paper presents an update to the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) for the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe. It discusses that a tendency toward continual growth of the unemployment levels was verified in the urban region between 2000 and 2003 while during the same...

This paper assesses Afghanistan’s Third Review Under the Staff-Monitored Program (SMP) and Request for an Extension. Performance during the third quarter of the SMP was strong, particularly considering that the October 2004 presidential elections and the ensuing formation of a new...

This paper evaluates Armenia’s Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) Progress Report covering August 2003–December 2004. The developments in 2003–04 are rather reassuring. The resulting pattern, overall, is more favorable than what was foreseen by the PRSP development...

This Selected Issues paper and Statistical Appendix presents a debt sustainability analysis for Afghanistan. The analysis is based on a simple spreadsheet model that calculates indicators of sustainability in terms of ratios of the net present value (NPV) of debt and debt service to relevant...

This paper examines Uganda’s 2004 Article IV Consultation, Fourth Review Under the Three-Year Arrangement Under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF), and a Request for Waiver of Performance Criteria. The performance under the program supported by the PRGF was mixed. Four...

Treasury systems enable governments to prepare financial plans, implement annual budgets, handle cash resources, provide fiscal accounts, and ensure control and accountability. The design of these systems varies considerably across countries, reflecting differences in priorities, country...

This paper examines the Annual Progress Report (APR) on Rwanda’s Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP). The 2004 APR is an important progress marker in Rwanda’s long-term vision to reduce the proportion of Rwandans living below the poverty line from 60 percent to 25 percent and...

The Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs) on Georgia review macroeconomic, structural, and social policies in support of growth and poverty reduction, as well as associated external financing needs and major sources of financing. The sustainability of high economic growth is a positive...

This report on Sri Lanka’s Observance of Standards and Codes highlights the fiscal transparency module. The 2003 Fiscal Management Act has improved the transparency of government fiscal policy. There has been little progress made in eliminating the quasi-fiscal activities of public...

This paper discusses the Use of IMF Resources in Haiti and Request for Emergency Post-Conflict Assistance (EPCA). The EPCA-supported program was on track until May 2005. All end-December and end-March targets were observed, inflation declined, the exchange rate stabilized, and net international...