Last Updated: August 18, 2008

Low-Income Countries

A child is treated for dehydration. Reducing child mortality is one of the 8 MDGs. (photo: DPA)

A new World Bank-IMF report warns that most countries will fall short on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), a set of eight globally agreed development targets that the international community is aiming to achieve by 2015.

Country News and Analysis

IMF Helps Countries on Health and Social Policies

July 25, 2008
The IMF is working with low-income countries to protect spending on health, education, and other services while addressing the inflation and balance of payments repercussions.

Regional Economic Outlook for Africa

April 12, 2008
The region now faces the challenge of maintaining macroeconomic stability in the face of higher oil and food prices.

Africa's Power Supply Crisis

May 22, 2008
Sub-Saharan Africa faces major infrastructure challenges in its power sector, according to analysis in the IMF's Regional Economic Outlook for sub-Saharan Africa.

Relieving the Global Food Crisis

May 13, 2008
The IMF is concerned about the impact of price increases for food and fuel, especially on the poor, and is monitoring closely the current commodity price boom.

IMF Works With Vulnerable States on Food Price Policies

April 28, 2008
The IMF is working with vulnerable member countries to assess the fiscal, balance-of-payments, and income effects of higher food prices and of higher commodity prices more generally.

Food Price Rises Threaten Efforts to Cut Poverty—Strauss-Kahn

April 10, 2008
A rise in food prices of 48 percent since end-2006 is a huge increase that may undermine gains the international community has made in reducing poverty, IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn warned.
Frequently asked questions on low-income countries and high food prices

IMF Evaluates Its Involvement With Fragile States

April 1, 2008
The review said the IMF has, in most cases, succeeded in helping fragile states; however, improvements are still needed.

IMF to Back Liberia With Debt Relief, New Financing

March 20, 2008
In a major move to back Liberia's economic recovery after a ruinous 14-year period of civil war, the IMF has announced a series of measures to support it with debt relief and new financing.

Haiti gets US$12.2 Million program

March 4, 2008

Tackling Burkina Faso's Cotton Crisis

February 25, 2008
Burkina Faso's cotton sector has done much to boost GDP growth, but is now experiencing difficulties. Institutional and policy reforms are needed to ensure the sector's long-term viability and role in reducing poverty.

Nigeria Needs Sustained Reforms to Build on Success

February 15, 2008
The IMF's annual economic assessment finds Nigeria's current economic situation the strongest in recent history. But challenges remain to manage its budgets and oil revenues, the financial sector, and private sector growth.

Policy Overview

Building on Momentum: The Role of the IMF in Low-Income Countries

September 24, 2007
Speech by John Lipsky, First Deputy Managing Director

Should the IMF be involved in Low-Income Countries?

January 31, 2008
External view by Domenico Lombardy (World Economic Journal)

Debt Relief

Debt Relief Bringing Benefits to Africa

February 25, 2007

Africa's Improved Debt Outlook Sparks Investor Interest

February 25, 2007

IMF reviews progress with the HIPC Initiative and MDRI

October 4, 2007

Factsheets:

The Initiative for Heavily-Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC)

The Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative (MDRI)

Country Debt Sustainability Analyses

IMF Programs

PSI Framework Helping Africa's Leading Reformers

February 21, 2008

IMF's External Evaluation Office (IEO) reviews conditions in IMF programs

January 3, 2008

Response to CGD Report on IMF Programs and Health Spending

September 7, 2007
by Abdoulaye Bio-Tchané, Director, African Department

IMF Trims Use of Wage Bill Ceilings

September 5, 2007

Factsheets:

The Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF)

The Exogenous Shocks Facility (ESF)

Poverty Reduction

IMF Executive Board Discusses Aid for Trade

February 13, 2008

IMF attends 1st Meeting of MDG Africa Steering Group

September 14, 2007

Factsheet:

Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSP)

Related Links

Key Issues Page:

Technical Assistance

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Spotlight

Food Price Crisis Response

June 3, 2008
The IMF is helping low-income countries hit by high food prices take appropriate policy action while providing financial assistance to some of the worst-affected nations.

Food Crisis: IMF Backs Certain Policy Responses

May 23, 2008
The IMF cautions countries against adopting policies to address the global food price crisis that may have longer-term drawbacks, such as price and export controls and subsidies.

Research and Publications

Can Africa Make Trade an Engine for Growth?

March 11, 2008
An IMF book analyzes the trade patterns emerging in sub-Saharan Africa and assesses their implications for policy.

High and Volatile Treasury Yields in Tanzania

March 1, 2008
IMF Working Paper

Southern Africa: Adapting to Shocks

February 21, 2008
Article on IMF Working Paper

Terms of Trade Shocks and Economic Recovery

February 1, 2008
IMF Working Paper

Where Did All the Aid Go? An Empirical Analysis of Absorption and Spending

February 1, 2008
IMF Working Paper

Food and Biofuels: The Price of Success

December 3, 2007
IMF Chief Economist Simon Johnson looks at how adoption of biofuels is driving up world food prices and how rich countries could limit the impact on low-income countries.

Helping Postconflict Nations Rebuild

November 26, 2007
Three new books (by IMF staff and others) discuss how technical assistance by international institutions has helped postconflict countries.

Technology Widening Rich-Poor Gap

October 10, 2007
IMF Research

Stock Market Development in Sub-Saharan Africa: Critical Issues and Challenges

August 1, 2007
IMF Working Paper

The Prospects for Sustained Growth in Africa: Benchmarking the Constraints

May 2007
NBER paper by Simon Johnson, Jonathan Ostry and Arvind Subramanian finds that weak institutions may not be binding constraints on growth.