High-Level Summary Technical Assistance Reports
The High-Level Summary Technical Assistance Report series provides high-level summaries of the assistance provided to IMF capacity development recipients, describing the high-level objectives, findings, and recommendations.
2024
August 9, 2024
Seychelles: Government Finance Statistics and Public Sector Debt Statistics Mission
Description: A diagnostic technical assistance mission from the IMF’s Statistics Department (STA) visited Seychelles during April 8-19, 2024, to support the authorities in improving the compilation and dissemination of government finance statistics (GFS) and public sector debt statistics (PSDS). The mission assisted the Ministry of Finance, National Planning and Trade, and the National Bureau of Statistics to broaden the institutional coverage of fiscal statistics through hands-on training and methodological guidance in deriving a draft public sector institutional table. The mission also supported the authorities in reviewing data sources, compilation, and dissemination practices for GFS and PSDS, as well as in streamlining working files for high frequency and annual fiscal statistics. This effort will help the authorities reduce statistical discrepancies and resume the submission of GFS data to STA.
August 2, 2024
Sierra Leone: Climate Module of the Public Investment Management Assessment
Description: The assistance assessed how climate change impacts and mitigation and adaptation responses are addressed in the public investment cycle using the Climate Module of the Public Investment Management Assessment (C-PIMA). Sierra Leone was found to perform moderately well in some areas of the Climate Module of the Public Investment Management Assessment (C-PIMA), but there are key gaps in other areas, often linked to weaknesses in the underlying public investment management framework. The assistance found that addressing these persisting core public investment management challenges is a prerequisite for effective climate-sensitive public investment management.
July 29, 2024
COLOMBIA: Autonomous Committee for the Fiscal Rule Macroeconomic Framework Technical Assistance: Scoping Mission Report
Description: This note summarizes the main findings and action plan of the IMF Technical Assistance (TA) Scoping Mission to support the Colombian Autonomous Committee for the Fiscal Rule (CARF) in building capacity on macroeconomic forecasting and analysis. The TA was requested by the CARF to develop a macroeconomic projections tool, integrate its current satellite fiscal forecasting models, institutionalize the use of the tool, and develop a methodology to independently assess macro-fiscal forecasts produced by the Ministry of Finance.
July 25, 2024
High-Level Summary Technical Assistance Report: Mauritania: Tax Policy Diagnostic
Description: The IMF’s Fiscal Affairs Department has been working with Mauritania on capacity building in tax policy. Mauritania has recently created a tax policy unit and adopted a new General Tax Code in 2019 with a corporate income tax and a semi-dual approach to personal income taxation. However, there is significant scope to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of income taxes, including due to the proliferation of wasteful tax exemptions. The fast urbanization also calls for a review of recurrent property taxation. The formalization of property rights requires a temporary suspension of the excessive registration fees. Consumption taxation can also be improved by broadening the tax base, for example, by abolishing regressive value-added tax exemptions or by imposing excise taxes on imported used vehicles. Finally, several recommendations aim to support the reform of the Mining Code, such as introducing some progressivity, prohibiting the negotiation of any tax parameters, and strengthening the principle of ring-fencing.
July 17, 2024
Government Finance Statistics Mission: Cambodia
Description: A technical assistance mission from the IMF's Statistics Department visited Cambodia during April 10-21, 2023, to support the authorities in continuing to improve the compilation and dissemination of government finance statistics (GFS) and public sector debt statistics (PSDS). The mission assisted the authorities to expand the coverage of fiscal statistics to the broader perimeter of Government, compiled experimental statistical balance sheet data for the budgetary central government and investigated ways to improve the consistency and quality of GFS data. The mission also provided training on how to compile functional expenditures of government and updated the country's action plan to improve fiscal data.
July 17, 2024
Public Sector Debt Statistics Mission: Lao People's Democratic Republic
Description: A technical assistance mission from the IMF's Statistics Department visited Lao People's Democratic Republic during May 11-12, 2023, to support the authorities in continuing to improve the compilation and dissemination of public sector debt statistics (PSDS). The mission assisted the authorities to compile annual PSDS and also discussed the correct recording of Lao PDR's "arrears clearance bonds."
June 21, 2024
High-Level Summary Technical Assistance Report: Namibia –Petroleum Fiscal Regime Review
Description: Following a surge in petroleum sector exploration, the Namibian authorities requested a review of their petroleum upstream fiscal regime. The petroleum fiscal regime balances investor and government interests and is fit for purpose although untested in practice. A number of recommended policy measures if implemented would provide clarity and simplicity for taxpayers while safeguarding government revenue collections. Fiscal transparency can be enhanced by publishing petroleum agreements while the costs and benefits of state participation should be considered.
June 14, 2024
Jordan: Climate Policy Diagnostic
Description: This technical assistance conducts a climate policy diagnostic for Jordan, covering climate adaptation and mitigation policy, as well as enabling institutions. Jordan faces acute challenges of climate-food-water nexus—innovative climate policy approaches are key, given limited fiscal space. While Jordan needs to strengthen the investment climate for climate investment through streamlining existing policies and alleviating critical barriers, making social policy more shock-responsive and strengthening risk management can go a long way in building resilience. As climate-related risks globally intensify, the government is encouraged to move toward a risk-informed policy and financing strategy.
May 31, 2024
Islamic Republic of Mauritania: Climate Mitigation Policy Diagnostic
Description: Mauritania requested capacity development from the Fiscal Affairs Department on carbon taxation, fossil fuel pricing and fiscal aspects of hydrogen development. This is a high-level summary of the technical assistant and the recommendations provided to the authorities. The report assesses options to gradually introduce a carbon tax to bring the country in line with its Nationally Determined Contribution for 2030 and net-zero pledge for 2050, including targeted support for vulnerable households. It then reviews approach to price fossil fuel products and proposes a revised methodology better aligned with international petroleum markets, along with a fiscally neutral smoothing mechanism to mitigate the impact of abrupt price changes on Mauritanian consumers. Finally, the report evaluates fiscal aspects related to the development of the low and zero-emissions hydrogen to ensure the country continues to position itself as an attractive investment destination without foregoing future revenue streams.
May 22, 2024
Papua New Guinea: Government Finance and Public Sector Debt Statistics Mission (August 2 – 15, 2023)
Description: The International Monetary Fund’s mission to Papua New Guinea sought to revitalize the development of fiscal and debt statistics following a period of disruption caused by a ransomware attack, Covid-19, and high staff turnover. To that end, the mission provided a combination of formal training and technical assistance on the priority development areas, notably on the resolution of the general data quality issues, the expansion of the statistical coverage to the provincial tier of government, and the compilation of debt statistics for the state-owned enterprises.