Vulnerable countries in African, Caribbean and Pacific countries to benefit

The European Union on Friday (October 14) signed a €100-million (about US$97.2 million) grant agreement to help fund the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust (PRGT).

These funds will allow the IMF to make about €630-million worth of zero interest loans for PRGT-eligible countries, including African, Caribbean and Pacific countries (ACP), facing balance of payments difficulties. The EU’s contribution is part of Team Europe’s response to the crisis as it complements pledges by EU Member States to channel special drawing rights (SDR) to the IMF’s Trusts for on-lending and their grants to the IMF’s PRGT Subsidy Account.

Team Europe has so far pledged to channel SDRs contributions equivalent to about US$23 billion. Access to affordable finance is key to help these countries address the economic and food crisis situation worsened by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The package has three components that are complementary and mutually reinforcing, supporting: food production and resilience of food systems (€350 million), humanitarian assistance (€150 million) and macro-economic support through the IMF’s PRGT (€100 million). With the additional €600 million, the EU expects to allocate for food security and food systems programs in partner countries, €7.7 billion until 2024 worldwide.

Partners comment on the grant funding

“Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has made many African, Caribbean and Pacific countries more vulnerable at a time when they were still struggling with the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, and millions of people are pushed into poverty and hunger,” said Jutta Urpilainen, EU commissioner for international partnerships.

With the EU’s contribution to the IMF’s Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust, Urpilainen said:, “We want to help them address this crisis and avoid further deepening of inequalities. Today’s signature also marks our commitment as Team Europe to multilateral solutions to tackle today’s most pressing challenges. Our partnership with the IMF is of key relevance in this regard.”

Paolo Gentiloni, EU commissioner for economy, said: “These efforts bring us closer to the G20 global ambition of US$100 billion of voluntary contributions to vulnerable countries, a target we must strive collectively to achieve.”

For her part, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva is grateful to the EU and its member states for their continued support to low-income countries facing crisis after crisis.

According to her, the “grant contribution today of €100 million will help to subsidise PRGT loans and support our provision of zero-interest lending to our most vulnerable members”.

She added: “I urge other countries to also contribute to the PRGT so we can support our members during these difficult times.”

Access to concessional/zero-interest loans provide affordable finance that increases liquidity and available budgetary resources in countries facing balance of payments difficulties, helping them to achieve, maintain, or restore a stable and sustainable macroeconomic and fiscal position.

It also prevents depletion of international reserves, supports the import of essential goods and putting in place adequate social protection schemes for the most vulnerable. Concessional support through the PRGT is interest-free, with maturities up to 10 years.