## Guidance Note on the New Design for Article IV Consultation Reports

## Source details

**Canonical URL:** [Guidance Note on the New Design for Article IV Consultation Reports](https://www.imf.org/-/media/websites/imf/imported-full-text-pdf/external/np/pp/eng/2011/_100411.pdf)

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### Purpose and scope
- Provides guidance to staff on the new design for Article IV Consultation Reports, part of an initiative aimed at creating a more consistent structure that enhances the impact and usefulness of Article IV reports.
- Approved by Reza Moghadam on October 4, 2011.
- New design applies initially to stand-alone Article IV staff reports issued to the Board after September 1 and will be rolled out gradually over the course of the next fiscal year for other country reports and policy documents.
- The new design will initially cover only stand-alone Article IV staff reports as well as their supplements and corrections; background documents (Selected Issues Papers, statistical appendices, FSSAs, ROSCs) and bundle elements not part of the staff report (staff statements, statements by an Executive Director, Public Information Notices) are not required to be in the new format at this time.

### Main changes to report structure
- Article IV staff reports will consist of three main parts in the following order:
  - A “Key Issues” front box:
    - Should not be a summary or a repeat of the staff appraisal.
    - Should contain the main issues and messages of the consultation to allow the reader an overview of the issues included.
    - Should be kept within the first title page of the report.
  - The main body:
    - Contains staff’s analysis of developments and policies.
    - No change in how the main body should be structured; teams remain free to organize it to best present the substance of the consultation.
    - Views of the authorities and staff should be clearly identified, particularly when there are differences of views.
    - The main text format remains highly flexible; views of the authorities can be interwoven or identified in separate subsections.
  - A Staff Appraisal:
    - Continues current practice; contains staff’s assessment of the economic outlook.
    - Should be pointed and clearly reflect the views and recommendations of the staff.

### Placement of material previously in front box
- Material traditionally in the front box should be relocated:
  - Formally required material should be either:
    - Weaved into the main body when it is a priority issue for the consultation, or
    - Placed in the informational annexes when allowed.
  - Factual information about the mission (participants from the Fund and the member country, and the location of the mission) should be placed in the designated box on top of the table of contents page.

### Templates, production, and responsibilities
- Staff should use the Word template to prepare staff reports; templates will be available for the staff report and for corrections to the staff report.
- TGS will provide the template and information on downloading and using the template for tables and charts.
- Documents will be saved to PDF before submission to the Secretary’s Department for issuance to the Board.
- Area Departments remain responsible for the final contents of the published version of the staff report.

### Transparency and web publishing enhancements
- “All About a Country” sites are being expanded to include new Article IV pages to surface all documents from the last four consultation cycles.
  - Documents will be automatically posted on the sites as soon as they are included in the Institutional Repository by SEC.
  - Sites will display mission contacts, consultation cycle information, and comments from eReview (access limited to staff only).
  - Country teams may post data contained in staff report tables and charts on the Article IV country web pages; country teams will have flexibility in deciding the quantity, coverage, and format for data to be posted.
  - Pages will offer an optional discussion forum for technical questions between the Executive Directors and country teams to boost transparency of Article IV discussions with Executive Directors.

*International Monetary Fund — Guidance Note on the New Design for Article IV Consultation Reports, Prepared by the Strategy, Policy, and Review Department, In Consultation with other Departments, Approved by Reza Moghadam, October 4, 2011.*

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_Source: https://www.imf.org/-/media/websites/imf/imported-full-text-pdf/external/np/pp/eng/2011/_100411.pdf_