IMF Consultations

The IMF has worked with countries for more than 50 years to strengthen their economic policies and modernize their institutions. This capacity development (CD) work, covering technical assistance and training, is one of the three core pillars of the IMF’s work.

To strengthen the impact and effectiveness of its CD activities, the IMF will review its CD strategy in 2018. The review will focus on identifying options to further integrate CD with Fund surveillance and policy advice, while strengthening the CD framework through improved targeting of CD activities to country needs. This effort will be supported by seeking innovative delivery (including through leveraging technology), sharing the IMF’s CD knowledge with the membership, and entrenching the results-oriented approach.

The IMF is seeking your views as valuable input to inform the 2018 CD Strategy Review (see below more details about the IMF CD strategy and the upcoming review).

Note: The online consultation process will be open until January 17, 2018. We would welcome input by e-mail to IMFCONSULTATION@imf.org.

Questions for the consultation

While we welcome feedback on any aspect of the IMF’s work on Capacity Development, we are specifically interested in receiving feedback on the following:

• What are your views on IMF CD in general?


• What do you think are the main strengths and weaknesses of IMF CD?


• What can be done to improve the impact and effectiveness of Fund CD in the period ahead?


• Do you agree with the goals, scope, and framework of the 2018 CD strategy review? (see below)

How to participate

Interested stakeholders are encouraged to email their responses to the questions above and/or any other comments to IMFCONSULTATION@imf.org.

Please include the following information when responding via email so that the comments can be registered. Senders may request that their responses and comments remain private.

• Name of the sender
• Organization you represent (if any)
• Country
• Phone number
• E-mail address

Comments should be submitted no later than January 17, 2018.

Responses received will be posted on this website by the IMF’s Communications Department (COM).

Background

Capacity development (CD) is one of the three core pillars of the IMF’s work, representing more than one-quarter of the IMF budget. Its main objective is to help member countries strengthen government institutions and capacity necessary to formulate and implement sound economic and financial policies. IMF CD activities are focused on: macroeconomics, fiscal policy and management, monetary policy and financial systems, related legislative frameworks, and macroeconomic and financial statistics.

The IMF’s CD strategy was last discussed by the IMF Executive Board in June 2013. The 2013 CD strategy paper presented the first integrated strategy for CD and concluded with several recommendations to update the CD governance structure, enhance prioritization, clarify the funding model, and strengthen monitoring and evaluation. Subsequently, the IMF Board endorsed the 2014 statement on IMF Policies and Practices on Capacity Development. Since 2013, significant progress has been achieved across all areas, particularly with respect to strengthening the CD governance and prioritization frameworks.

Goals, focus, and framework of the 2018 CD strategy Review

Under the overarching objective of strengthening the effectiveness and impact of IMF CD while building on its strength, the 2018 CD strategy review will include backward-and forward-looking components:

• The backward-looking component will systematically review progress achieved since 2013 to strengthen the governance, prioritization, funding, monitoring and evaluation, and delivery of CD as set out in the 2014 statement.


• The forward-looking component will provide the opportunity to outline reforms to increase the impact of CD. Emphasis will be on making CD more effective and efficient while building on its existing strengths.


• The review will focus on key topics identified in the Concept Note discussed by the Board in February 2017, including further integrating CD with surveillance and IMF policy advice; strengthening the CD framework by improving the targeting of CD to country needs—supported by innovative delivery approaches (including through leveraging technology); sharing CD knowledge with the membership; and entrenching the results-oriented approach.


• Like other major IMF reviews, the 2018 CD strategy review will base its findings and recommendations on a wide range of tools, research, and feedback. These include background studies prepared by IMF staff and others prepared by external experts, stakeholders’ surveys, interviews, outreach, and Fund-wide consultations. Findings and recommendations will be assessed by an independent External Advisory Group.


• The CD strategy review is planned to be discussed by the Board in September 2018. Conclusions from the review will be reflected in a revised statement on IMF Policies and Practices on CD.

We look forward to hearing from you.