This paper presents the staff report for Kenya’s 2009 Article IV Consultation on economic development and policies. The progress Kenya achieved on the growth and poverty reduction fronts stalled in 2008 owing to a series of adverse developments, including the global economic crisis. The...

Economic activity is on the upswing in Tajikistan, bolstered by higher hydroelectric power production. The government is working to address the structural energy deficit and achieve energy independence, raise social expenditures, maintain a flexible exchange rate regime, and continue structural...

The Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper for Togo builds on the strategy laid out in the Interim Strategy for Poverty Reduction (I-PRSP). Owing to circumstances largely beyond the control of the authorities, the results obtained under the implementation of the I-PRSP have been below expectations....

This report discusses the Action Plan for Public Financial Management (PFM) Reforms Based on PEFA Assessment for the Maldives. The purpose of the action plan is to help prioritize efforts in light of scarce resources. The recently completed Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability (PEFA)...

Economic conditions have stabilized, and the economy is projected to bottom out in 2010, giving way to a mild recovery in 2011 followed by stronger growth. The foremost policy challenge is to achieve the official fiscal consolidation targets so as to put debt ratios on a declining path and...

The staff report on Guatemala’s 2009 Article IV Consultation and Second Review under the Stand-By Arrangement, and Requests for Modification of Performance Criterion and Consultation Clause are presented. There are signs that the Guatemalan economy is starting to recover. Real GDP growth...

Jamaica has been stuck in a cycle of low growth and high debt dynamics. It has been severely impacted by the global economic slowdown, and finances have deteriorated. Jamaica’s objective of virtually eliminating the overall public sector deficit is appropriate. Embedding the medium-term...

Yemen is confronted with a range of difficult economic challenges. The reduction in oil revenues in the past year has affected the Yemeni economy through a set of direct and indirect channels. The loss of oil revenue contributed to a record fiscal deficit of about 10 percent of GDP in 2009,...

This paper reviews the annual progress report on Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) for Republic of Congo. The adoption of the PRSP in March 2008 was followed by adoption of the Operational Action Plan for implementation of the PRSP. The poverty reduction strategy is being implemented in an...

This 2009 Article IV Consultation discusses that the impact of the global financial crisis on Syria has been relatively moderate and mostly through linkages to trading partners in the GCC and Europe. Lower growth in manufacturing, construction, and services was partially offset by a moderate...