The staff report for the Second Review under the Three-Year Arrangement under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) highlights Benin’s macroeconomic framework. All quantitative performance criteria (PC) and benchmarks for the period through end-December 2006 were observed, but...

This report focuses on IMF Technical Assistance Evaluation—Public Expenditure Management (PEM) Reform in Selected African Countries. Most of the countries examined were colonies of the United Kingdom, inheriting similar and relatively simple budget systems based on an interpretation of...

Ghana’s macroeconomic performance has continued to improve, and the program’s objectives are being met. Progress has also been made toward achieving the Millennium Development Goals. Public expenditure and financial management has shown improvement. The medium-term outlook appears...

The Mauritanian transition authorities embarked on a path toward democracy, rule of law, and good governance. The transition authorities initiated a wide range of structural reforms based on the priorities that emerged from consultations with civil society and political parties, and emphasizing...

The report assesses the Ex Post Assessment of Longer-Term Program Engagement. It reviews the success of the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) program in achieving rapid growth, low inflation, and a comfortable external position. It highlights that the design of the programs has been...

The implementation of Georgia’s poverty reduction strategy has proceeded well, with impressive achievements in curbing corruption, improving the business climate, and continued improvement in public finances. Particular emphasis should be given to enhancing macroeconomic management,...

The staff report for the Fifth Review Under the Three-Year Arrangement Under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility on Burkina Faso highlights the macroeconomic framework for 2006 and the fiscal policy. Discussions on the macroeconomic framework for 2006 focused on the permanence of the...

Performance under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility-supported program has been good. All quantitative performance criteria have been met. The economy has coped well with unfavorable external price developments. A substantial reform of the mechanism for determining cotton producer prices...

Economic growth in Swaziland has weakened over the past decade. This 2005 Article IV Consultation highlights that real GDP growth decelerated to 2.1 percent in 2004 and an estimated 1.8 percent in 2005. A prolonged drought affected agricultural output, particularly maize, the main staple crop,...