IMF Topical Work
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Overview
- The International Monetary Fund (IMF) works to achieve sustainable growth and prosperity for all of its 191 member countries by supporting economic policies that promote financial stability and monetary cooperation, which are essential to increase productivity, job creation, and economic well-being.
- The IMF is governed by and accountable to its member countries.
- 16 results available as topical entries under the IMF’s topical work collection.
Browse by Topic — Listed Topics
- 2026 Review of Low-Income Countries Debt Sustainability Framework
- 2026 Review of Program Design and Conditionality
- Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT)
- Artificial Intelligence
- Climate Change
- Comprehensive Surveillance Review
- COVID-19
- Digital Payments and Finance
- Fragile and Conflict-Affected States (FCS)
- Gender
- Income Inequality
- Integrated Policy Framework
- Low-Income Countries
- Special Drawing Rights
- Sustainable Development Goals
- Trade
Featured and Priority Workstreams
- Artificial Intelligence
- The IMF is investigating AI's broader impact on economies and societies through surveillance activities and by convening key actors to share successful policy responses, foster international consensus, and harmonize regulations.
- 2026 Review of Program Design and Conditionality (ROC)
- Examines how IMF-supported programs performed amid significant shocks and heightened global uncertainty.
- Identifies what worked well, where challenges remained, and how IMF-supported programs can be strengthened to better support countries navigating future challenges.
- 2026 Joint IMF-World Bank Low-Income Countries Debt Sustainability Framework (LIC-DSF) Review
- Aims to future-proof the framework to ensure it remains fit for purpose as debt risks, financing patterns, and analytical tools evolve.
- Fragile States Strategy
- Aims to provide robust, well-tailored, and longer-term support to help vulnerable countries achieve macroeconomic stability, strengthen resilience, promote sustainable and inclusive growth, and exit fragility.
- Trade
- Emphasizes open, stable, and transparent trade policies as key for economic growth and resilience, and for addressing global challenges including climate change, food security, and underdevelopment.
- Trade work is delivered through analysis and policy advice, complemented by trade-related lending and capacity development.
Thematic Analyses, Findings, and Policy Emphases
- Financial Technology (Fintech) and Digital Finance
- Fintech opens opportunities to boost economic growth, especially for financial inclusion, while policymakers must address associated risks.
- IMF research covers issues including the future of digital currencies.
- Climate Change
- IMF work addresses economic and financial aspects of climate change and provides policy advice to help member countries manage risks and capture opportunities for low-carbon, resilient growth.
- Income Inequality
- Excessive inequality can erode social cohesion, lead to political polarization, lower economic growth, and be detrimental for macroeconomic stability.
- IMF policies can be designed to tackle inequality without negative repercussions for growth.
- Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- The IMF is committed to the SDGs and supports members in implementation in areas relevant to the IMF’s mandate of financial stability and sustainable and inclusive economic growth.
- IMF engagement on the SDGs is aligned with the five SDG pillars of people, prosperity, planet, peace.
- Gender
- Gender equality is recognized both as an important development goal and as integral to growth and stability through women's economic participation.
- Special Drawing Rights (SDR)
- The SDR is an international reserve asset created by the IMF to supplement the official reserves of its member countries.
- Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT)
- Effective AML/CFT policies and measures are key to the integrity and stability of the international financial system and member countries’ economies.
- COVID-19 and Crisis Response
- The IMF has acted with unprecedented speed and scale to support low-income countries during crises, coordinating closely with partner institutions.
- Surveillance and Analytical Modernization
- The IMF is adapting and strengthening its economic analysis of countries (surveillance) to keep up with global changes and to help policymakers better prepare for a transforming economic landscape.
- Capital Flows
- IMF research on a new approach aims to help countries respond to fluctuations in international capital flows.
Operational and Policy Priorities
- Strengthen program design and conditionality based on lessons from the 2026 ROC to better support countries amid shocks and global uncertainty.
- Future-proof LIC-DSF to reflect evolving debt risks, financing patterns, and analytical tools.
- Provide longer-term, tailored support for fragile and conflict-affected states to achieve macroeconomic stability and exit fragility.
- Promote regulatory harmonization and international consensus on AI, while integrating AI considerations into surveillance and policy advice.
- Balance fintech-enabled inclusion with measures to mitigate financial stability, consumer protection, and AML/CFT risks.
- Advise on climate-related economic and financial policies to support low-carbon resilient growth.
- Design fiscal and structural policies that address income inequality without compromising growth and macroeconomic stability.
- Support member countries’ implementation of SDGs in areas aligned with IMF mandate.
References