## D4D Fund Delivers Proposed Program for the Next 18 Months

## Source details

**Canonical URL:** [D4D Fund Delivers Proposed Program for the Next 18 Months](https://www.imf.org/-/media/files/capacity-developement/d4d/3rd-meeting/d4d-fund-delivers-proposed-program-for-the-next-18-months.pdf)

## Other formats

- [Markdown version](/-/media/files/capacity-developement/d4d/3rd-meeting/d4d-fund-delivers-proposed-program-for-the-next-18-months.pdf.md)
- [Structured JSON version](/-/media/files/capacity-developement/d4d/3rd-meeting/d4d-fund-delivers-proposed-program-for-the-next-18-months.pdf.json)

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### Uncertainty and Changing Demand for Capacity Development (CD)
- Drivers of uncertainty: "Spread of pandemic, economic crisis, travel prospects, CD demand."
- Short-term needs emphasized: "business continuity."
- Examples of short-term needs:
  - "alternative data sources as traditional data sources have become unavailable;"
  - "classification of measures in fiscal stimulus packages;"
  - "seasonal adjustment of GDP."
- Shift in requests:
  - "Less traditional, medium-term project-based CD, delivered remotely instead of onsite while traveling is not possible."
  - "New on-demand operational CD engagements addressing urgent short-term demands, delivered remotely, including through webinars."
  - "Surge in requests for remote ad hoc assistance through brief exchanges with authorities by email/phone, effort mostly less than one business day."

### Adjustments to CD Delivery and the Work Plan (FY21–FY22Q2)
- Work plan composition:
  - "129 traditional, medium-term project based CD activities."
  - "40 percent of these will be remote."
  - "22 new on-demand operational CD activities (remote)."
- Delivery modalities:
  - Remote TA, webinars, and brief ad hoc exchanges are prioritized due to travel constraints.
  - Emphasis on maintaining business continuity using alternative data sources (Big Data, web scraping).

### Work Plan Overview: Outputs, Outcomes, Activities
- Selected outputs and activities listed:
  - "3 TA missions"
  - "2 SDMX workshops"
  - "Web-scraping tool"
  - "M4 Enhance data management"

### Prioritization of Work Streams in the Crisis
- Prioritized areas:
  - Real sector: "High Frequency Indicators and Residential Property Price Indices critical to monitor impact of crisis."
  - External sector: "BOP funding needs are the backbone of every IMF lending program, crucial to assess external stability and measure remittances, which are heavily affected by the crisis."
  - Real and external sectors: "use of alternative data sources to maintain business continuity (Big Data, web scraping)."
  - Government finance and debt sector: "remains a workplan priority."
- Work streams that are back-loaded:
  - "Rebasing GDP is a resource-intense medium-term project which requires strong absorptive capacity over the medium-term."
  - "External sector: phasing is impacted by pandemic as some bilateral projects were extended."
- Composition note: "38% TA missions in this work plan."
- Geographic focus: "Focus on fragile and conflict-affected states"

### Addressing Data Needs and Quality Concerns (M1)
- Demand drivers: "GFS/PSDS CD essential to assess debt sustainability and fiscal space for counter-cyclical fiscal policy; new fiscal instruments developed as part of fiscal stimulus packages raise methodological questions."
- CD responses for GFS/PSDS:
  - "Traditional, project-based CD remains part of the work plan but back-loaded, assuming a gradual recovery of absorptive capacity during FY21."
  - "Eight regional webinars planned for July/August (in English, Russian, Portuguese, Arabic, and Spanish) to offer training on fiscal/debt issues, building on guidance notes that STA disseminated; follow-up one-on-one sessions for countries."
  - "To identify scope for remote TA, liaising with Regional Technical Assistance Centers that have close contacts to country authorities due to continuous engagement."
  - "Using alternative means of diagnostics until face to face workshops resume."
  - "Large number of ad hoc requests, including assisting countries with reporting of fiscal stimulus measures or dealing with business continuity challenges."

### Financial Access Survey (FAS) and Mobile Money Policy Tracker (M2)
- FAS objectives and activities:
  - "Conduct 2020 FAS round has the objective to further expand coverage and quality."
  - "Regional workshops to integrate CD in data collection."
  - "New indicators and data sources."
  - "New validation tools to further enhance data quality."
  - "2 sub-regional SDMX workshops in Africa."
  - "5 TA missions on National Summary Data Pages and/or SDMX."
- Mobile money and SME financing policy observations:
  - "12 LLMICs implemented reduced MM transaction fees and/or increased MM balance/transaction limits."
  - "SME policies, such as loan guarantees or tax relief, less frequent in LLMICs so far."
  - "Tracker will be published on imf.org later this month."

### Online Learning (M3)
- Course development and uptake:
  - "Launch GFSx, BOP-IIPx, NASx."
  - "Start developing two additional courses (TBD)."
  - Translation and accessibility:
    - "Will be translated into French and third language."
    - "YouTube microlearning channel improves access (over 2,600 playlists views since mid-April)."
  - Noted "Increased interest in PSDSx since onset of crisis"
  - Calendar note: "Pre-vs. Post-COVID-19 PSDSx Registered Participants"

### Statistical Information Management and Data Tools (M4)
- Data collection and dissemination focus:
  - "Innovative web-scraping toolkit developed to open up alternative sources of source data collection."
  - "Based on experience with this workstream, most demand for CD activities is on data collection and dissemination, which will be the focus of the work plan:"
  - "Data dissemination enhanced through standardized, machine-readable (in coordination with other CD providers)"
- Delivered, ongoing and planned activities occur "in the context of the statistical business process"

### Making the D4D Fund More Agile: Operational Adjustments
- Operational and budgeting adjustments:
  - "Cover brief ad hoc assistance with 10 percent of Module 1 budget ($0.29M)"
  - "Reduce circulation time in operational guidelines from 15 to 5 business days."
  - "Shorten LOT approval of changes to work plan"
  - "Include on-demand operational activities as remote CD in Module 1"
  - "Support urgent on-demand/ad hoc CD requests"
- Planned activities count: "22 activities planned."
- Oversight and eligibility:
  - "D4D Fund country eligibility criteria apply."
  - "Quarterly reporting to SC on use of funds."

### Temporary Expansion of Country Eligibility
- Suggested expansion rationale and criteria:
  - "GNI per capita less than 10 percent above LLMIC threshold."
  - "Graduation to UMIC status less than three years ago"
  - "Receiving or requested IMF emergency lending assistance."
- Suggested list of 7 UMICs with 2018 GNI per capita and IMF lending status:
  - "Samoa $4,020 FY 2018 Approved"
  - "Azerbaijan $4,050"
  - "Sri Lanka $4,060 FY 2020 Under consideration"
  - "Jordan $4,200 FY 2019 Under consideration"
  - "Kosovo $4,220 FY 2020 Approved"
  - "Armenia $4,230 FY 2019 Under consideration"
  - "Tonga $4,300 FY 2018"
- Notes:
  - "Lag in reclassification. Number of LLMICs may grow"

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_Source: https://www.imf.org/-/media/files/capacity-developement/d4d/3rd-meeting/d4d-fund-delivers-proposed-program-for-the-next-18-months.pdf_