Kenya is confronted with the need to chart a course that attends directly to the
recent public outcry. The widespread protests that started in June and resulted in tragic
loss of lives and injuries were triggered by the authorities’ efforts to correct a large tax
revenue shortfall in FY2023/24 through revenue raising proposals in the 2024 Finance
Bill, some of which were unpopular or seen as regressive. The protests forced the
President to withdraw the Bill, introduce significant spending cuts through a
Supplementary Budget in July, and reconstitute the Cabinet in August. Persistent
difficulties in mobilizing revenue coupled with spending rigidities have led to a further
accumulation of pending bills, and necessitated deep cuts in development spending,
with potential for knock-on effects on growth and debt sustainability. Against this
backdrop, preceded by large exogenous shocks (COVID-19, global developments
impacting import price and affordable access to market finance, and severe multi-season
droughts), the authorities face a complex and difficult balancing act: meeting critical
spending needs for priority areas (social programs, health, and education), servicing
large upcoming debt obligations, and boosting domestic revenues. Earlier in the year,
Kenya addressed the exceptional balance of payments (BoP) needs associated with
repayment of the June 2024 US$2 billion Eurobond, boosting market confidence that
helped strengthen the shilling and build reserves. Meanwhile, fiscal pressures continue,
including from uncertainty surrounding the constitutionality of the 2023 Finance Act on
which the Supreme Court’s decision is awaited.
The Government of Seychelles is committed to promoting environmental sustainability and climate resilience, as demonstrated by its decision to prioritize climate as one of the six key areas in the National Development Strategy for 2024-2028 and through the agreements made under the IMF's Resilience and Sustainability Facility, established in May 2023. A central component of these efforts is the identification of climate-related expenditures. This report outlines the development and phased implementation of a Climate Budget Tagging (CBT) framework in Seychelles. CBT is a tailored process that involves identifying, measuring, and monitoring climate-relevant spending across government, serving as a powerful tool to integrate climate change considerations into the budget cycle. By emphasizing the importance of climate change in resource allocation and execution, CBT enhances the government's ability to prioritize climate action, with the ultimate goal of ensuring alignment with Seychelles' climate commitments and Nationally Determined Contributions.
The Senegalese economy continues to face headwinds. Despite the difficult socioeconomic environment, the authorities remain committed to the program objectives. Some of the downside risks identified at the time of the program request have materialized, leading to a downward revision of near-term growth. Inflation is projected to decline more gradually than anticipated. While near-term risks remain titled to the downside, with appropriate policies and the start of hydrocarbon production, medium-term prospects are favorable.
This paper presents Senegal’s First Reviews under the Extended Fund Facility, The Extended Credit Facility, and the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF) Arrangements, Requests for Modification of the Quantitative Performance Criteria Rephasing of Access. The Senegalese economy continues to face headwinds as it recovers from the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. The Senegalese economy continues to face headwinds. Some of the downside risks identified at the time of the program request are materializing, leading to a downward revision of growth and higher inflation projected for 2023/24. Near-term risks remain titled to the downside, but medium-term prospects remain favorable with appropriate policies and the start of hydrocarbon production. Significant progress has been achieved in implementing structural reforms. The authorities are implementing the structural reforms agreed under the program, including steps to strengthen revenue administration and public financial management, enhance governance and improve the anti-corruption frameworks. Reforms agreed under the RSF are being implemented steadily.
This paper presents Republic of Kosovo’s First Reviews Under the Stand-By Arrangement (SBA) and the Arrangement under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF) and Request for Modification of Reform Measure. The authorities are making very good progress in implementing their policy agenda under the Fund-supported arrangements. The SBA continues to provide a key policy anchor, and the RSF continues to support Kosovo’s climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts including by catalyzing additional climate financing. Program ownership remains strong. All quantitative performance criteria and indicative targets have been met. Structural benchmarks under the SBA and reform measures under the RSF have been implemented. Actions required for subsequent reviews are progressing as expected or have been strengthened. The RSF is laying the foundations for greener and more efficient energy markets and supporting reforms in other areas. The RSF increased the policy space to strengthen the regulatory framework to attract private investment into renewable energy, improve energy market functioning, expand green electricity generation, reduce air pollution and emissions, strengthen energy security, improve the targeting of energy subsidies, and increase preparedness for the implementation of carbon pricing.
This Technical Assistance report on Pakistan presents public investment management assessment (PIMA) and Climate PIMA. This report finds that while Pakistan scores slightly above average compared to the emerging market economies that have undertaken the PIMA to date there are still significant gaps in key areas the impede the delivery of critical infrastructure services in Pakistan. Pakistan has taken some important steps to improve public investment management, including through reforms incorporated in the Public Financial Management Act 2019 and the 2021 Manual for Development Projects. With Pakistan’s highly constrained budgetary resources, selecting the right projects for funding becomes even more critical. Government has some skilled staff that can move reforms to address these challenges forward, though it will be difficult. While some staff have a good understanding of strong practices, achieving implementation through changed approaches and culture across the public sector requires focused and sustained effort. Building knowledge of climate change aspects at all stages of the project cycle is also a priority.
This paper presents Senegal’s Requests for an Extended Arrangement under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF), an Arrangement under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF), and an Arrangement under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF). The Senegalese economy has been severely impacted by different shocks including the rising food and energy prices, tightening financial conditions, weaker external demand, and the US dollar appreciation. The EFF/ECF-supported program will help meet Senegal’s protracted balance of payment needs and address macroeconomic imbalances. Policy priorities under the EFF/ECF program include reducing debt vulnerabilities by embarking on a growth-friendly fiscal consolidation, strengthening governance, and delivering a more inclusive and job-rich growth. The RSF aims to tackle longer-term structural challenges related to climate change and the implementation of climate policies. The RSF will support Senegal's climate change mitigation objectives, accelerate the country’s climate change adaptation, and support work to mainstream climate change considerations into the budget process.
This paper presents Senegal’s Requests for an Extended Arrangement under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF), an Arrangement under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF), and an Arrangement under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF). The Senegalese economy has been severely impacted by different shocks including the rising food and energy prices, tightening financial conditions, weaker external demand, and the US dollar appreciation. The EFF/ECF-supported program will help meet Senegal’s protracted balance of payment needs and address macroeconomic imbalances. Policy priorities under the EFF/ECF program include reducing debt vulnerabilities by embarking on a growth-friendly fiscal consolidation, strengthening governance, and delivering a more inclusive and job-rich growth. The RSF aims to tackle longer-term structural challenges related to climate change and the implementation of climate policies. The RSF will support Senegal's climate change mitigation objectives, accelerate the country’s climate change adaptation, and support work to mainstream climate change considerations into the budget process.
This paper presents Republic of Kosovo’s Request for Stand-By Arrangement (SBA) and an Arrangement under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF). The SBA is expected to be precautionary and will provide liquidity in case downside risks materialize, including from Russia’s war in Ukraine. The RSF will provide affordable financing to support Kosovo’s climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts, including through greener electricity production and more efficient energy use, and is expected to catalyze other climate financing. Kosovo is the first European country to access the RSF. The authorities’ prudent fiscal policies and broadly targeted support framework helped rebuild fiscal space while mitigating the impact of the cost-of-living crisis. A strong policy mix is now needed to sustain the recovery and achieve reform objectives. Abiding by the fiscal rule deficit ceiling will provide a moderate impulse to activity in 2023, helping the economy soft land, while contributing to the anchoring of public debt in the medium term. Increasing medium-term growth prospects and reducing the country’s dependence on diaspora flows will require advancing the structural reform agenda and closing infrastructure and governance gaps.
Ozlem Aydin Sakrak, Bryn Battersby, Mr. Fabien Gonguet, Mr. Claude P Wendling, Jacques Charaoui, Murray Petrie, and Suphachol Suphachalasai
This How to Note develops the “green public financial management (PFM)” framework briefly outlined in an earlier Staff Climate Note (2021/002, published in August 2021). It illustrates, how climate change and environmental concerns can be mainstreamed into government’s institutional arrangements in place to facilitate the implementation of fiscal policies. It provides numerous country examples covering possible entry points for green PFM – phases in the budget cycle (strategic planning and fiscal framework, budget preparation, budget execution and accounting, control, and audit), legal framework or issues that cut across the budget cycle, such as fiscal transparency or coordination with State Owned Enterprises or with subnational governments. This How to Note also summarizes practical guidance for implementation of a green PFM strategy, underscoring the need for a tailored approach adapted to country specificities and for a strong stewardship role of the Ministry of Finance.