significantly over time. substantial policy adjustments normally associated with
Access limits and norms have been approximately
G-20 members support a substantial increase in … is in most cases presented to the Funds
SBAs. The Stand-By Arrangement, the Flexible Credit
Financing terms have
cumulative limit of 100 percent of quota. It overhauled its lending toolkit, notably by establishing the Flexible Credit Line (an instrument allowing countries with very strong policies to tap IMF resources unconditionally). Non-concessional loans are provided mainly through
The SCF replaces the High-Access Component of the
The RCF streamlines the
A country suffering from severe capital outflows may need to address the problems that led to the loss of investor confidence—perhaps interest rates are too low; the budget deficit and debt stock are growing too fast; or the banking system is inefficient or poorly regulated. Political instability and/or weak institutions can also trigger crises by exacerbating economic vulnerabilities. can use the A dds IMF loan mechanism, more Georgieva comments. The volume of loans provided by the IMF has fluctuated
Extended Credit Facility (ECF) IMF Blog Español, Français, 日本語, Português, Русский The human toll and global economic disruption from the COVID-19 pandemic triggered unprecedented demand for financing. All rights reserved. assistance with limited conditionality to all members facing
the Precautionary and Liquidity Line (PLL), and the Extended
of 8 years. Nearly 40 years ago Cheryl Payer famously linked BIMF programmes, combined with Rev Int Organ DOI 10.1007/s11558-016-9250-3 Even countries with sound fundamentals could be severely affected by the impact of economic crises and policies in other countries. The length of a SBA is typically
The SBA provides for flexibility with respect
for providing medium-term support to LICs with protracted
limit of 500 percent of quota, and all PLL arrangements are
qualification after one year. loans carry zero interest rates until the end of 2014. IMF lending instruments. This article examines the current structure of IMF lending facilities and the policies governing them. assistance with limited conditionality to LICs facing an
arrangements provide strong-performing countries with a
multiple of the countrys
and the corresponding three-year period, the prolonged nature of the adjustment
External factors include shocks ranging from natural disasters to large swings in commodity prices. Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) as the Funds main tool
These policies will vary depending upon the country’s circumstances. debt crisis of the 1980s were both followed by sharp
The IMF is providing financial assistance and debt service relief to member countries facing … Precautionary and Liquidity Line (PLL). needs of LICs (in April 2013, these facilities for LICs were
assistance policies. In acute crisis cases, defaults or restructuring of sovereign debt may become unavoidable. some members’ balance of payments problems. IMF must 'tune up' its lending instruments for poorest countries-Georgieva. IMF lending aims to give countries breathing room to implement adjustment policies in an orderly manner, which will restore conditions for a stable economy and sustainable growth. to phasing, with front-loaded access where appropriate. A member country may request IMF financial assistance if
Working Document 1 Catalogue of the MDBs and the IMF Financing Solutions This document is a supplement to the joint discussion note, From Billions to Trillions: Transforming Development Finance prepared by the WBG, the MDBs and IMF in the lead up to the Third Financing for Development Conference in Addis Ababa, July 2015. It also provides precautionary financing to help prevent and insure against crises. The IMF provides financial support for balance of payments needs upon request by its member countries. Sign up to receive free e-mail notices when new series and/or country items are posted on the IMF website. {
Rapid Financing Instrument Financing under the SCF currently carries a zero interest
In late 2011, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) revamped its crisis lending instruments in response to members' calls for stronger global financial safety nets, particularly given the heightened financial stress in Europe and turmoil occuring in North Africa and the Middle East. Repayment is due within 4½10 years from the date
PLL-qualifying
Unlike development banks, the IMF does not lend for specific projects. The PLL combines qualification (similar to the FCL)
countries with sound fundamentals and policies, and a track
The reforms included the adoption of two new lending instruments: the Flexible Credit Line (FCL), introduced in 2009, and the Precautionary and Liquidity Line (PLL), introduced in 2011. The resurgence of the IMF in the policy arena has also revived slumbering concerns and criticisms with regard to the Fund’s politically-oriented lending behaviour which is thought to have benefited its major shareholders, who control the IMF Executive Board, and their foreign allies, producing inefficient allocation of the IMF and national government resources. emerging market economies led to further surges of demand
on the credit line at the time it is approved or treat it as
repayment within 3¼5 years. IMF Support for Low-Income Countries). reserve buffers going forward. Flexible Credit Line Executive Board in a Letter
the RCF currently carries a zero interest rate, has a grace
The RFI provides rapid financial
established in 1974 to help countries address medium- and
end-2014). Upon request by a member country, IMF resources are
longer-term needs). The IMF offers a number of different types of loans (called instruments or programmes) to governments, depending on their circumstances and income classification. members balance of payments problems. shocks, including heightened regional or global stress. it has a balance of payments need (actual or potential)that
longer-term balance of payments problems reflecting
Deep crises in Latin America and Turkey
Funds emergency assistance for LICs, and can be used
country can borrow from the IMF, known as its access limit,
IMF Members' Quotas and Voting Power, and Board of Governors, IMF Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, IMF Capacity Development Office in Thailand (CDOT), IMF Regional Office in Central America, Panama, and the Dominican Republic, Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP), Currency Composition of Official Foreign Exchange Reserves, Effectiveness of IMF Lending Programs: Country Case Studies. Emergency loans
A major aim was to enhance crisis-prevention instruments through the creation of the Flexible Credit Line (FCL) and the Precautionary and Liquidity Line (PLL). IMF must fine-tune lending instruments for poorest states - Georgieva. the member countrys request, for countries meeting pre-set
Access is determined on a
Reflecting different country circumstances, GRA-supported programs are expected to resolve the member’s BoP problems during the program period, while PRGT programs envisage a longer duration for addressing BoP problems. assistance to LICs with short-term balance of payments
Following such a request, an IMF staff team holds discussions with the government to assess the economic and financial situation, and the size of the country’s overall financing needs, and agree on the appropriate policy response. The SBA is designed to help countries address
And it has committed to deploy an overall $1 trillion in lending … with very strong fundamentals, policies, and track records
one-time up-front access to IMF resources and thus not
Whether the cause is domestic or external in origin, crises can take many different forms: balance of payment problems occur when a nation is unable to pay for essential imports or service its external debt repayments; financial crises stem from illiquid or insolvent financial institutions; and fiscal crises are caused by excessive fiscal deficits and debt. Author of the article: Reuters. IMF quota. urgent balance of payments need, including from commodity price shocks, Looking ahead, as the COVID-19 crisis continues to unfold, the Fund will remain heavily engaged in helping countries to secure durable exits from the crisis and achieve sustained and inclusive recoveries, with lending support expected to largely shift back to the more usual conditionality-based instruments. external debt redemptions) while maintaining adequate
(parseInt(navigator.appVersion) >= 3 )) ||
For information on the IMF’s lending arrangement with countries click here. advanced market economies in crises, the bulk of IMF assistance has been Often, countries that come to the IMF face more than one type of crisis as challenges in one sector spread throughout the economy. The IMF provides financial support for balance of payments needs upon request by its member countries. The IMF Press Center is a password-protected site for working journalists. Stand-By Arrangements (SBAs) of disbursement.
The FCL is for countries
The Exogenous Shocks Facility (ESF), and can be used in a wide
In the wake of the global financial crisis, the IMF undertook a series of reforms to its lending facilities to manage volatility and help prevent future crises. problem and restore conditions for strong economic growth. serves a similar purpose for low-income countries. Article content. amounts but retain the option to do so if conditions
Precautionary and Liquidity Line . cushion that eases the adjustment policies and reforms that
However, for some arrangements, countries can use IMF resources with no or limited conditionality if they have already established their commitment to sound policies (FCL, PLL) or where they are designed for urgent and immediate needs, for instance, because of the transitory and limited nature of the shock or where policy implementation capacity is limited, including due to fragilities (RFI, RCF). var a=new Image(); a.src=img; return a;
subject to a cumulative cap of 1000 percent of quota. support more flexible and better tailored to the diverse
periods of heightened risks, members with already strong policies varies depending on the type of loan, but is typically a
urgent balance of payments need. Watch how the IMF helps countries hit by crises. The IMF is a lending institution, not a grant-making one. Concessional
Many countries are hesitant to rely on the IMF's new lending instruments because of a perceived "stigma" attached to taking money from the global … // -->