IMF Archives: Finding Aids
Western Hemisphere Department Records
Date(s): 1949-1994 |
Context
Name of Creator: Western Hemisphere Department
Administrative/Biographical history: In February 1953, the reorganization of the Far Eastern, Middle Eastern and Latin America Department (1950-1953) led to the creation of four area departments: Asian Department, European Department, Middle Eastern Department, and Western Hemisphere. The primary functions and responsibilities of the Western Hemisphere Department, at the time of its establishment, included: handling negotiations with member countries; maintaining staff contact with member countries and international organizations, and participating in international conferences; maintaining information on member countries and preparing analyses of monetary and financial positions of the countries; preparing reviews of members' positions for discussion by the Executive Board; and making recommendations on par value proposals of members and proposed exchange transactions on proposals with respect to exchange restrictions and multiple rates made by individual member countries.
In 1980, the primary functions of the Department remained the same but the way in which they were carried out had changed. The divisions were now to keep abreast of the economic, financial and political developments of the countries within their areas which included: keeping a database for each country and preparing frequent reports and short-term forecasts; providing technical assistance and setting up assistance projects; posting and guiding resident officers in member countries; making available country expertise to other departments; and collaborating with the World Bank.
In 1987, the Department took on the function of consulting with official and private creditors on the financing of economic programs, and rescheduling of external debts of member countries.
In terms of organizational structure, the Central American Division was established in April 1957 with the aim to further strengthen the Latin American South, the Latin American North and North American divisions' work and provide better coverage of Latin America. Also during this time of restructuring, WHD Director Del Canto communicated the intention to place major emphasis ion operations rather than research, thereby focusing on specific financial problems faced by countries such as monetary, fiscal, and credit problems. Further significant geographical and division name changes took place in 1966, 1997, 1984, 1992, and 1994. By 1994, the Department expanded top ten divisions.
As of 2006, the Western Hemisphere Department is still comprised of 10 divisions (Atlantic, Caribbean I, Caribbean II, Central American, Mexico/Latin American, North America, Pacific, River Plate, South/Central I and South/Central II) including 34 member countries.
Directors of Western Hemisphere Department were: George F. Luthringer (1953-1955), Jorge Del Canto (1957-1977), E. Walter Robichek (1977-1981), Eduardo Wiesner (1982-1987), Sterie T. Beza (1987-1994), Claudio M. Loser (1994-2002), Anoop Singh (2002- present).
Content and structure
Scope and content: Fonds contains records of the Western Hemisphere Department created and/or maintained by its Immediate Office. The fonds comprises files from the countries of the Americas, including Central, South, North, and the Caribbean. Although the department was established in 1953, there are some earlier records from 1949 created at the time when WHD was a Division under its predecessor, the Research Department. Records primarily document the functions of WHD in the area of monitoring the economic, financial and political developments of its member countries, negotiating the use of IMF resources with regards to exchange rate systems, Stand-by arrangements and other economic and financial issues; conducting missions and participating in meetings, providing technical assistance to countries, and establishing and maintaining departmental collaboration with other international organizations. Processing of Division records is to be completed by 2009.
Conditions of Access and Use
Conditions governing access and reproduction: Contains closed material.
Language/script of material: English, Spanish, Portuguese, French
Associated Materials
Related units of description: For a complete set of country files, particularly for information on when countries in the Western Hemisphere Department became members of International Monetary Fund, refer to the Central Files Collection. See also Research Department for pre-1950 materials.
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