- Key Issues
- Low-Income Countries
Africa Set for Steady Growth, With Threat of Faster Inflation
Economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa is set to maintain pace in 2012, supported by higher commodity prices and rising export demand, the IMF’s latest forecast for the region says. But the projection assumes that the global economy will soon regain some of its momentum. 
Where IMF Loans Are Going
IMF Lends Angola $1.4 Billion to Support Reserves, Reforms
Oil producer Angola was poorly positioned when oil prices plunged in early 2009
Extra $102 Million to Help Earthquake-hit Haiti
Emergency IMF assistance takes total to be disbursed to $114 million
IMF Approves $117.8 Million Loan for Antigua and Barbuda
Sharp falls in tourism have helped shrink the economy
IMF Lends $551 Million to Democratic Republic of the Congo
After a decade-long conflict, the Democratic Republic of the Congo aims to boost growth and domestic revenues
Problem-Solving Ideas
Global Financial Crisis Implications for Low-Income Countries
Additional highly concessional donor support is needed
IMF In SDR 5.3 Billion Pacts to Support Lending to Low-Income Countries
Deals expand loan resources available for recently reformed concessional lending facilities
Should There Be Limits on External Debt in IMF-Supported Programs?
It might be a good idea to cap the size and growth rate of program countries' external debt
How the Main Debt-Relief Efforts are Doing, and What They are Costing
A total of 35 out of 40 eligible heavily indebted poor countries have qualified
Need to Know
Factsheet: IMF Ugrades Its Support for Low-Income Countries
Amid signs of success, there's more money and new instruments,
Debt Relief for Heavily Indebted Poor Countries
A two-step process to free resources for social spending
Rapid-Reaction Lending to Cushion the Impact of Shocks
Price spikes, natural disasters, conflicts are all covered
Factsheet: Poverty and Social Impact Analysis of Economic Policies
Understanding the impact of public policies on social and poverty outcomes
Who Said That?
IMF African Department Director Blogs on Helping Africa Through the Crisis
The IMF is seeking more resources for Africa and reacting more rapidly
IMF Head Writes to Civil Society Organizations
Looks forward to continued engagement with civil society to help poorest countries
IMF Chief Says World Must Not Forget Africa During Global Crisis
Syndicated op-ed says shared goal is for Africa to emerge stronger from crisis
Oil Offers Hope of Middle-Income Status for Ghana
If oil revenues finance new projects and not just the fiscal deficit
Economies expand, but with inflation risk
In much of Latin America and Asia and in low-income countries in sub-Saharan Africa, recovery has brought output back to precrisis peaks, and many economies have already moved into expansion territory.
Activity in these economies is being boosted by accommodative macroeconomic policies, rising exports and commodity prices, and—in several—capital inflows. Growth in sub-Saharan Africa is also projected to stay high, reflecting sustained strength in domestic demand and rising global demand for commodities.
Inflation pressure is forecast to broaden in some emerging and developing economies. This reflects mainly the behavior of food and energy prices and the fact that these components have a higher weight in the consumer price index in lower-income countries. Looking ahead, core inflation is projected to rise further as excess capacity is slowly worked off . Headline inflation will still moderate if commodity prices broadly stabilize as expected.
This page pulls together the IMF's work on low-income countries and includes links to key articlex, documents, and background information.
Related Links
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