§ Sir Alastair GoodladTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations she has made to the International Monetary Fund in connection with the recent external review of the external structural adjustment facility; and if she will make a statement. [41745]
§ Clare ShortThe International Monetary Fund (IMF) has an important role to play in helping to eradicate poverty in developing countries, and I have taken a close personal interest in the external evaluation of the IMF's Enhanced Structural Adjustment Facility (ESAF). I have discussed the report with the Managing Director of the IMF, and other senior Staff on a number of occasions, and pressed them to ensure that key recommendations are adopted. The recommendations include the development of a closer working relationship with the World Bank in the design of ESAF programmes, encouragement of stronger local ownership of such programmes through national consensus building and by offering different policy options, and better monitoring of the impact of ESAF programmes on the poor. We have already taken a leading role in promoting greater collaboration between the World Bank and the IMF. The IMF will shortly be setting out how it plans to operationalise these recommendations.