Debt Relief For The Poorest : An Evaluation Update Of The HIPC Initiative

Book Description:

The Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Debt Initiative was established by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund in 1996, in order to relieve the high external debt of some of the world's poorest nations. The initiative seeks to provide a permanent end to debt rescheduling, promote growth and release resources for social policies targeted at poverty reduction, as part of the overall development assistance framework. This publication updates progress made under the initiative since the evaluation undertaken in March 2003 ('Debt relief for the poorest: an OED review of the HIPC initiative") (ISBN 082135521X). It finds that the Enhanced HIPC initiative cut debt ratios in half for 18 countries, but in eight of these countries, the ratios have come to once again exceed HIPC thresholds. The study concludes that debt reduction alone is not a sufficient instrument to affect the multiple drivers of debt sustainability, as sustained improvements in export diversification, fiscal management, the terms of new financing and public debt management are also needed; measures that fall outside the ambit of the HIPC initiative.