This paper presents key findings of the Third Review for Uganda under the policy support instrument. Monetary policy has been tightened significantly to reduce core inflation, supported by a contractionary fiscal stance. All but one of the seven quantitative assessment criteria were met at end-June; most structural benchmarks were met, although several with delay. Tighter monetary and fiscal policies in the near term aim to reduce inflation rapidly, while medium-term policies strive to create fiscal space to support stepped-up public infrastructure investment.
On January 26, the East Africa Regional Technical Assistance Center (AFRITAC East) held its fourth semiannual steering committee meeting in Kigali, Rwanda, to review progress and agree on the center’s work plans for the year ahead. Priority aims for 2004 include raising the effectiveness of individual projects through close monitoring and follow-up, and building on the good relations with other technical assistance providers in the region to enhance coordination. Later this year, an independent evaluation of AFRITAC East and its counterpart center in West Africa will help to determine whether this regional approach to delivering technical assistance will be extended to other parts of sub-Saharan Africa.