## Implementation of Governance Measures in Pandemic-Related Spending, May 2022 ## Source details **Canonical URL:** [Implementation of Governance Measures in Pandemic-Related Spending, May 2022](https://www.imf.org/en/topics/governance-and-anti-corruption/implementation-of-governance-measures-in-pandemic-related-spending-may-2022) ## Other formats - [Markdown version](/en/topics/governance-and-anti-corruption/implementation-of-governance-measures-in-pandemic-related-spending-may-2022/index.md) - [Structured JSON version](/en/topics/governance-and-anti-corruption/implementation-of-governance-measures-in-pandemic-related-spending-may-2022/index.json) - [Bundle manifest](/en/topics/governance-and-anti-corruption/implementation-of-governance-measures-in-pandemic-related-spending-may-2022/bundle-manifest.json) --- ### Purpose and scope - The document provides a country-by-country update on the implementation status of measures to promote good governance and transparency in pandemic-related spending that countries committed to take in the context of IMF financing during the pandemic. - Information is as of May 17, 2022. - The update covers commitments made in the context of IMF financing provided (i) by Rapid Credit Facilities or Rapid Financing Instruments for which the COVID pandemic was a primary basis for the urgent BOP need and/or (ii) under regular IMF-supported programs through April 2021. - The coverage spans 73 countries. ### Typical commitments and institutional context - Common measures committed to include: - (i) publishing information on pandemic-related procurement contracts, - (ii) publishing the beneficial owners of companies awarded these contracts, - (iii) publicly reporting on pandemic-related spending, and/or - (iv) undertaking and publishing ex-post audits of such spending. - All recipient countries commit to undertake a Safeguards Assessment of their central bank to ensure reliable information and transparent management of IMF funds. - IMF work is guided by the 2018 Framework for Enhanced Fund Engagement on Governance. ### Overall assessment and major progress points - Major progress has been made in implementing these measures, though further efforts are needed in some cases. - Factors affecting implementation across the 73 countries include: - Some measures were continuations of existing practices (e.g., reporting on spending). - Other measures were novel for many countries (e.g., publication of beneficial ownership information or emergency spending audits), requiring institution-building and legal changes. ### Broad trends across measure types - Publication of procurement contract information: - Commitments have been met in about two-thirds of the countries. - In some countries final steps are still ongoing (e.g., most contract information has been published, but some remains pending). - IMF staff have provided capacity development support to help authorities implement these measures. - Reporting on pandemic-related spending: - About two-thirds of countries have fully implemented their commitments to report pandemic-related spending. - IMF staff provided capacity development support on fiscal transparency and reporting. - Audits of pandemic-related spending: - Half of the commitments to audit pandemic-related spending and publish the results online have been implemented so far. - Another twenty percent of countries have made substantial progress on completing these audits but still need to finalize and publish them. - Examples of action: fragile states including Mali and South Sudan produced and published detailed audits of emergency spending; multiple audits were produced in Ecuador, Kenya, Jamaica, South Africa, and Uganda. - IMF staff are stepping up capacity development to help supreme audit institutions and to ensure audit information is easily accessible. - Beneficial ownership transparency in procurement: - So far, only about twenty percent of countries have fully implemented their commitments to provide beneficial ownership transparency in procurement. - Another fifty percent have taken important steps, such as drafting and/or adopting legal changes to allow this reform. - Implementation has been slowed in many cases by the need for legal changes and/or capacity constraints. - IMF staff are providing capacity development support to more than 20 countries. - Some countries, such as Ecuador and Moldova, adopted beneficial ownership transparency in procurement on a permanent basis beyond pandemic-related spending. - Safeguards Assessments: - Safeguard assessments are being undertaken rapidly, with the pace of these assessments doubling since the pandemic’s onset. - Some 45 assessments have been completed during the pandemic. - The pipeline associated with the pandemic is down to less than half a dozen to be completed. ### Policy implications and recommendations - Sustained implementation and institutional strengthening are needed to consolidate gains in transparency and accountability: - Continue to publish procurement contracts, beneficial ownership information, and timely audits as standard practice for all spending. - Strengthen supreme audit institutions, procurement systems, and legal frameworks (including for beneficial ownership) to enable sustained implementation. - Provide continued capacity development support where legal and technical constraints exist. - Addressing deeper governance and corruption vulnerabilities requires persistence and broader reform: - Continue governance and anti-corruption reforms under the IMF’s 2018 Framework for Enhanced Fund Engagement on Governance. - Pursue political ownership of reforms by country authorities. - Enhance international cooperation to make it harder to launder proceeds of corruption abroad. - Engage civil society, the private sector, and other stakeholders to promote accountability and transparency. - IMF engagement examples and support: - Recent governance and anti-corruption reforms in multi-year lending arrangements include fiscal governance reforms in Ecuador, The Gambia, Jordan, Liberia, Rwanda and Senegal; strengthening of anti-corruption, rule of law, and anti-money laundering frameworks in Angola, Ecuador, Republic of Congo, Moldova, Pakistan and Suriname; and financial sector oversight and central bank governance reforms in Liberia and Ukraine. - IMF staff have delivered governance diagnoses and supported countries in producing their own governance diagnostic reports that provide prioritized and sequenced blueprints to address corruption and governance vulnerabilities. --- ## Content in this bundle - **Suriname** - [Suriname (Markdown version)](/-/media/files/publications/cr/2021/english/1surea2021001.pdf.md){rel="alternate" type="text/markdown"} - [Suriname (PDF)](/-/media/files/publications/cr/2021/english/1surea2021001.pdf){rel="external" type="application/pdf"} - **May22matrix Implementation Status of Governance Commitments on Pandemic Related Spending** - [May22matrix Implementation Status of Governance Commitments on Pandemic Related Spending (Markdown version)](/-/media/files/topics/governance-and-anti-corruption/may22matrix-implementation-status-of-governance-commitments-on-pandemic-related-spending.pdf.md){rel="alternate" type="text/markdown"} - [May22matrix Implementation Status of Governance Commitments on Pandemic Related Spending (PDF)](/-/media/files/topics/governance-and-anti-corruption/may22matrix-implementation-status-of-governance-commitments-on-pandemic-related-spending.pdf){rel="external" type="application/pdf"} --- ## References - [Governance and Anti-Corruption](https://www.imf.org/en/topics/governance-and-anti-corruption) - [measures](https://www.imf.org/en/About/Factsheets/Sheets/2020/04/30/how-imf-covid19-financial-help-is-used) - [Safeguards Assessment](https://www.imf.org/en/About/Factsheets/Sheets/2016/08/02/21/43/Protecting-IMF-Resources-Safeguards) - [2018 Framework for Enhanced Fund Engagement on Governance.](https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/Policy-Papers/Issues/2018/04/20/pp030918-review-of-1997-guidance-note-on-governance) - [2018 Framework for Enhanced Fund Engagement on Governance.](https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/Policy-Papers/Issues/2020/07/15/Progress-In-Implementing-The-Framework-For-Enhanced-Fund-Engagement-On-Governance-49576) - [Ecuador,](https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/CR/Issues/2020/12/23/Ecuador-First-Review-Under-the-Extended-Arrangement-Under-the-Extended-Fund-Facility-and-49980) - [The Gambia,](https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2021/04/01/pr2196-gambia-imf-staff-completes-virtual-mission-for-the-second-review-of-the-ecf) - [Jordan,](https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2021/03/30/pr2193-jordan-imf-staff-and-jordan-reach-staff-level-agreement-on-the-second-review-under-eff) - [Liberia,](https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/CR/Issues/2021/01/07/Liberia-First-and-Second-Reviews-Under-the-Extended-Credit-Facility-Arrangement-Request-for-49995) - [Rwanda](https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/CR/Issues/2021/01/04/Rwanda-Third-Review-Under-the-Policy-Coordination-Instrument-Press-Release-Staff-Report-and-49984) - [Senegal](https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2021/04/29/pr21117-senegal-imf-staff-reach-agreement-on-3rd-review-pci-and-new-18-month-financing-arrangement) - [Angola,](https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/CR/Issues/2022/01/18/Angola-2021-Article-IV-Consultation-and-Six-Review-under-the-Extended-Arrangement-of-the-512004) - [Republic of Congo,](https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/CR/Issues/2022/02/17/Republic-of-Congo-Request-for-a-Three-Year-Arrangement-Under-the-Extended-Credit-Facility-513260) - [Moldova,](https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/CR/Issues/2022/01/04/Republic-of-Moldova-2021-Article-IV-Consultation-and-Requests-for-an-Arrangement-under-the-511622) - [Pakistan](https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/CR/Issues/2022/02/04/Pakistan-2021-Article-IV-Consultation-Sixth-Review-Under-the-Extended-Arrangement-Under-the-512715) - [Ukraine](https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WP/Issues/2021/04/23/Assessing-the-Macroeconomic-Impact-of-Structural-Reforms-in-Ukraine-50345) - [IMF’s Governance and Anti-corruption page.](https://www.imf.org/en/Topics/governance-and-anti-corruption) _Source: https://www.imf.org/en/topics/governance-and-anti-corruption/implementation-of-governance-measures-in-pandemic-related-spending-may-2022_