Update on the Financing of the Fund's Concessional Assistance and Debt Relief to Low-Income Member Countries
Author: International Monetary Fund
Publication Date:
13 Sep 2011
eISBN:
9781498338493
ISBN:
9781498338493
Language:
English
Keywords:
PP; SDR; PRGT; loan; lending; resources of SDR; SDR amount; loan resource; coverage ratio; HIPC debt relief of SDR; LIC financing package
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Lower-than-expected demand over the recent past has raised the lending capacity of the PRGT for the years 2012–14. Staff’s latest projections suggest PRGT demand in 2011 could be about SDR 1.4 billion, up from SDR 1.2 billion in 2010. Assuming the 2009 LIC financing package is completed, these projections would be consistent with lending capacity of about SDR 2.1 billion per year from 2012–14, or SDR 1.5 billion per year through 2015. Most of the targeted loan resources under the 2009 package have now been secured, but additional pledges of about SDR 1 billion in loans are still needed. Fourteen members have pledged SDR 9.8 billion in new loan resources for the PRGT, compared to the target of SDR 10.8 billion. New borrowing agreements totaling SDR 9.5 billion have been signed with thirteen lenders. Eight of these agreements provide loan resources in SDRs, and seven creditors also participate in the voluntary encashment regime.

Abstract

Lower-than-expected demand over the recent past has raised the lending capacity of the PRGT for the years 2012–14. Staff’s latest projections suggest PRGT demand in 2011 could be about SDR 1.4 billion, up from SDR 1.2 billion in 2010. Assuming the 2009 LIC financing package is completed, these projections would be consistent with lending capacity of about SDR 2.1 billion per year from 2012–14, or SDR 1.5 billion per year through 2015. Most of the targeted loan resources under the 2009 package have now been secured, but additional pledges of about SDR 1 billion in loans are still needed. Fourteen members have pledged SDR 9.8 billion in new loan resources for the PRGT, compared to the target of SDR 10.8 billion. New borrowing agreements totaling SDR 9.5 billion have been signed with thirteen lenders. Eight of these agreements provide loan resources in SDRs, and seven creditors also participate in the voluntary encashment regime.

Executive Summary

Lower-than-expected demand over the recent past has raised the lending capacity of the PRGT for the years 2012-14. Staffs latest projections suggest PRGT demand in 2011 could be about SDR 1.4 billion, up from SDR 1.2 billion in 2010. Assuming the 2009 LIC financing package is completed, these projections would be consistent with lending capacity of about SDR 2.1 billion per year from 2012-14, or SDR 1.5 billion per year through 2015.

Most of the targeted loan resources under the 2009 package have now been secured, but additional pledges of about SDR 1 billion in loans are still needed. Fourteen members have pledged SDR 9.8 billion in new loan resources for the PRGT, compared to the target of SDR 10.8 billion. New borrowing agreements totaling SDR 9.5 billion have been signed with thirteen lenders. Eight of these agreements provide loan resources in SDRs, and seven creditors also participate in the voluntary encashment regime.

Pledges of additional bilateral subsidy resources remain necessary to complete the overall agreed financing package. So far, twenty-three members have committed SDR 155 million in additional subsidies, compared to the agreed target for bilateral subsidy contributions of SDR 200-400 million (in end 2008 NPV terms). A number of large traditional donors have not yet made pledges.

The Board has affirmed its support for a strategy to use part of the profits from recent gold sales to generate SDR 0.5-0.6 billion (end-2008 NPV terms) to subsidize PRGT lending to LICs. This strategy will require a distribution of part of the profits to members with a prior agreement to return them as donor contributions to the PRGT. It will be important to ensure that the initiation of the distribution process does not undermine the current bilateral fund-raising process.

Available resources in the HIPC/MDRI accounts are projected to be sufficient to cover debt relief to the few remaining eligible countries (except Somalia and Sudan). Substantial additional resources will be needed when Somalia and Sudan are ready to embark on the HIPC Initiative. The approach developed for Liberia’s debt relief, including financing modalities, could provide a useful framework for these two countries at an appropriate time.

Following Liberia’s HIPC completion point, a number of countries have yet to finalize their contributions to Liberia’s debt relief. These members should disburse their pledged contributions as soon as possible.

The PRGT is projected to have the capacity for sustainable lending of about SDR 0.7-0.8 billion annually beyond 2014. Based on staffs longer term projections, however, additional subsidy resources would eventually be needed to ensure the PRGT has sufficient capacity to meet expected demand.

I. Introduction1

1. This paper reviews the status of financing for the Fund’s concessional lending and debt relief for low-income countries (LICs).2 It is based on the latest available data and projections, and it takes into account the pledges made so far in response to the Managing Director’s fund-raising request of August 2009.

2. The paper is organized as follows. Section II describes progress in the implementation of the July 2009 reform of the Fund’s concessional lending instruments and the associated financing framework. Section III reviews PRGT operations and discusses developments in the PRGT Reserve Account. Section IV provides updates on the subsidization of emergency assistance, while Section V presents the developments on the financing of debt relief under the HIPC, MDRI, and the Post-Catastrophe Debt Relief (PCDR) Trust.

II. LIC Facilities and Financing Framework

3. Since the effectiveness of the LIC reforms in January 2010, the PRGT has been fully operational. Lending commitments to LICs have been approved under all three PRGT facilities—the Extended Credit Facility (ECF), the Standby Credit Facility (SCF), and the Rapid Credit Facility (RCF).3 Since the effectiveness of the LIC reforms, total commitments under the ECF amounted to SDR 1.5 billion (including augmentations under existing ECF programs), and commitments under the SCF and the RCF amounted to SDR 0.1 billion each. Loan and subsidy resources have been made available for all the loan and subsidy accounts of the PRGT (Figure 1). In light of the closure of the ESF Subsidy Account in May 2010 after resources in that account were depleted, the resources in the ECF Subsidy Account are available to meet the subsidy needs of the existing ESF loans.

Figure 1.
Figure 1.

Concessional Financing Framework

Citation: Policy Papers 2011, 072; 10.5089/9781498338493.007.A001

1/ Transfers may be made from the General Subsidy Account for subsidizing ENDA/EPCA credit on an “as needed” basis.

4. A new structure of PRGT lending interest rates has also applied. The 2009 LIC facility reform provided increased concessionality of the Fund’s financial support to LICs through a new interest rate structure. The interest rate structure is subject to periodic reviews to take account of the developments in world interest rates—the first review is expected to be completed by December 31, 2011.4 In addition, a temporary waiver of interest payments remains in effect on all outstanding PRGT loans through December 2011 and subsidization of the rate of charge to zero percent for subsidized EPCA/ENDA through January 2012.

5. The LIC financing package, approved in July 2009 as part of the LIC reforms, remains appropriate. The financing package aimed to boost the Fund’s concessional lending capacity to SDR 11.3 billion for 2009-14, and requires the mobilization of new loan resources of SDR 10.8 billion to meet the projected demand (including a liquidity buffer to enable a voluntary encashment regime). The package also includes new subsidy resources of SDR 1.5 billion (end-2008 NPV terms). Most of the additional subsidies are being financed from the Fund’s internal resources—including transfers from the PRGT Reserve Account, delaying reimbursement of the GRA for PRGT administrative costs, and use of resources linked to gold sales. New bilateral subsidy contributions of SDR 200-400 million (end-2008 NPV terms) are also an important element to complete the financing package.5 A wide spectrum of the membership has been approached to mobilize the necessary loan and bilateral subsidy resources, and staff has been following up on these requests.

III. Financing of PROT Operations

A. Projected Financing Needs

6. New PRGT commitments in the first eight months of 2011 amounted to SDR 0.5 billion (Table 1 and Figure 2). They included: (i) SDR 392.3 million for two new ECF arrangements; (ii) augmentations totaling SDR 39.1 million under three existing ECF arrangements; and (iii) RCF financing of SDR 88.4 million for three members. There has been no SCF commitment during this period.

Table 1.

New PRGT Commitments to LICs in 2011

(In millions of SDRs, as of end-August 2011)

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Figure 2.
Figure 2.

PRGT Commitments to LICs, 1988-2011

(as of end-August 2011)

Citation: Policy Papers 2011, 072; 10.5089/9781498338493.007.A001

7. Lower-than-expected demand over the recent past has raised the lending capacity of the PRGT for the years 2012-14. New lending commitments to LICs in 2009, at SDR 2.5 billion, were broadly in line with projections, but LIC demand has since fallen back more rapidly than was assumed, reflecting in part the rapid recovery of many LICs after the global financial crisis.6

8. Staff’s latest projections suggest PRGT demand in 2011 could be about SDR 1.4 billion. While the timing of potential requests from some members with larger quotas is uncertain, information provided by area departments suggest that total demand in 2011 could be higher than the SDR 1.2 billion in 2010 and broadly in line with the projections made at the time of the LIC reforms.

  • These projections for 2011 would be consistent with a lending capacity of about SDR 2.1 billion per year for 2012-14 (Table 2-middle panel).7 As such, the existing financing package would provide scope for commitments to rise significantly to meet possible needs arising from the slow pace of global recovery. Under this high demand scenario, the self-sustained subsidization of the PRGT would commence in 2015 at an annual capacity of about SDR 0.7 billion.

  • However, if demand in the medium term was to remain in the range of SDR 1.4-1.6 billion, as was previously assumed, the completion of the 2009 LIC financing package would imply available resources that could support commitments at this level for an additional year, through end-2015 (Table 2-lower panel). Alternatively, these uncommitted subsidy resources could be used to raise the projected sustainable lending capacity of the PRGT starting from 2015 by about SDR 0.1 billion to SDR 0.8 billion.8

Table 2.

Scenarios of Medium Term Concessional Lending to LICs

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Source: Finance Department.
1/

Excluding the relatively high level of lending committed to Pakistan in the aftermath of 9/11, and to Liberia in 2008 following arrears clearance.

2/

May not add up due to rounding.

3/

Assuming exchange rate of US$1.5 per SDR.

B. Loan Resources

9. Most of the targeted loan resources under the 2009 financing package have now been secured. Fourteen members have pledged SDR 9.8 billion in new loan resources for the PRGT, compared to the target of SDR 10.8 billion. New borrowing agreements totaling SDR 9.5 billion have been signed with thirteen lenders (Table 3). The bulk of the secured resources are available to the GLA and the ECF Loan Account—SDR 7.0 billion and SDR 2.1 billion, respectively, while the SCF and RCF Loan Accounts have each received SDR 0.2 billion. Since the last update, SDR 1.8 billion has been secured for the General Loan Account (GLA) through borrowing agreements with the Bank of Italy, the Swiss National Bank, and the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency. However, additional pledges of about SDR 1 billion are still needed to reach the agreed target.

Table 3.

New Commitments of Loan Resources to the PRGT 1/

(In millions of SDRs; as of end-August 2011)

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1/

Germany (KfW) made a pledge of SDR 1.53 billion. As mutually acceptable lending terms could not be agreed, it is excluded from the total.

10. Some of the new PRGT borrowing agreements have made use of elements of the new framework for mobilizing bilateral loan resources.9 Of the loan resources secured so far, SDR 5.6 billion are through traditional Loan Agreements, and SDR 3.9 billion through Note Purchase Agreements (NPAs). Seven members—China, France, Italy, Korea, Japan, the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia—have included in their borrowing agreements participation in the encashment regime of the PRGT, which will enable their claims to be readily repayable in case of balance of payments need. Five of these borrowing agreements have shorter maturities than under traditional loan agreements. In all these cases, the Fund, at its sole discretion, can extend the maturities for additional periods up to the maturity dates for the corresponding loan disbursements under the facility of the Trust.

11. Borrowing agreements in SDRs have also supported PRGT lending. Eight of the new borrowing agreements provide SDR 7.5 billion loan resources in SDRs and all these contributors have voluntary SDR trading arrangements in place. 10 As of end-June 2011, drawings of SDR 59.9 million have been made under these new SDR borrowing agreements, and sales of SDRs related to these drawings amounted to SDR 49 million. These sales were conducted through the voluntary SDR trading arrangements.

12. Uncommitted PRGT loan resources, including the recently secured resources, stood at about SDR 8.1 billion as of end-August 2011. Specifically, available uncommitted resources of the GLA and the Special Loan Accounts (SLA) for the ECF, RCF, and SCF amounted to SDR 6.2 billion, SDR 1.8 billion, SDR 0.04 billion, and SDR 0.08 billion, respectively. These loan resources will be sufficient to cover projected demand beyond 2013.11

13. Additional pledges of about SDR 1 billion are still needed to complete the loan package. The target at SDR 10.8 billion of new loan contributions would support the projected concessional lending capacity of SDR 11.3 billion through 2014/2015 and provide a liquidity buffer for loan contributions under the voluntary encashment regime. It is therefore important that further pledges of about SDR 1 billion be mobilized, and the remaining pledged resources be secured to complete the package (Table 4).

Table 4.

PRGT Loan Resources Mobilization

(In billions of SDRs; as of end-August 2011)

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1/

Secured through Loan Agreements with Canada, Denmark, France, Italy, Korea, the Netherlands, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Spain, and Switzerland and through Note Purchase Agreements with China, Japan, and the United Kingdom.

C. Subsidy Resources

14. At end-June 2011, available PRGT subsidy resources amounted to SDR 1.4 billion, excluding contributions received or committed in the context of the current fund-raising effort.12 This amount includes all contributions pledged during the 2005 ESF fund-raising exercise, including SDR 57 million that are expected to be received (Table 5). However, it excludes SDR 25.9 million pledged during earlier fund-raising that donors have not yet provided (Table 6).13 On this basis, since it is estimated that about SDR 1 billion will be needed to subsidize existing PRGT commitments, SDR 0.4 billion is currently available to subsidize new lending.

Table 5.

ESF Subsidy Contributions

(In millions of currency units; end-June 2011)

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1/

To be generated from the concessional loan as an implicit subsidy.

2/

Reflecting net investment income (in end-2005 NPV terms) to be generated from deposit/investment agreements.

Table 6.

PRG-HIPC Trust - Pending Contributions

(In millions of SDRs “as needed”; end-June 2011)

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1/

Remaining balances.

15. The financing package approved in July 2009 remains adequate to ensure the availability of resources to subsidize projected new lending of up to SDR 11.3 billion through 2014. As was envisaged, this package would secure additional subsidy resources of SDR 1.5 billion (end-2008 NPV terms), needed to raise lending capacity to SDR 11.3 billion through at least 2014. Subsidy resources would remain adequate to support PRGT lending through 2014 with a higher lending capacity of about SDR 2.1 billion per year for 2012—14, or through 2015 if medium-term demand was in the range SDR 1.4—1.6 billion.

16. It is important that additional pledges of bilateral subsidy resources be secured to complete the agreed financing package. Progress has been made in securing bilateral subsidy resources. In response to the Managing Director’s request, twenty-three members have so far agreed to contribute a total of SDR 155 million in subsidy resources (Table 7). They include nontraditional donors, of which several are emerging market countries. Nevertheless, a number of large traditional donors have not yet made pledges and further subsidy contributions remain necessary to reach the bilateral contributions target of SDR 200—400 million.

Table 7.

New Subsidy Commitments to the PRGT

(In millions of currency units; as of end-August 2011)

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1/

Reflecting net investment income (in end-2008 NPV terms) to be generated from investment agreements.

2/

Calculated using the exchange rates as of August 31, 2011.

17. On April 6, the Board affirmed its support for a strategy to use part of the profits from the limited gold sales to generate SDR 0.5-0.6 billion (end-2008 NPV terms) to subsidize PRGT lending, as part of the 2009 LIC financing package.14 This strategy will require a distribution of the profits to members, in proportion to their quota shares, and a return of broadly equivalent amounts by the members to the PRGT as subsidy contributions. It would be important to have strong ex-ante assurances from the membership of a high return rate to ensure that LICs benefit from the distribution as intended. In order to raise the agreed amount of SDR 0.5-0.6 billion (end-2008 NPV terms), a distribution of SDR 0.6-0.7 billion has been considered reasonable, based on an assumed 10 percent “leakage” rate. A Board decision has not yet been taken to distribute part of the gold profits but it will be important to ensure that initiation of the distribution process does not undermine the current bilateral fundraising efforts.15

D. PRGT Reserve Account

18. The PRGT Reserve Account will continue to provide adequate security to PRGT lenders and note purchasers. The Account has been financed by reflows of Trust Fund and Structural Adjustment Facility (SAF) repayments, and investment returns on the balances held in the Account. The Trust can tap these resources temporarily to meet its obligations in the event of a delayed payment by a borrower to any loan account of the Trust. The balance in the Reserve Account stood at SDR 3.93 billion at end-June 2011, representing a substantial multiple of the projected PRGT loan repayments falling due over the next 12 months and about 79.8 percent of total PRGT obligations (Appendix Table 4).16 It is expected that the Reserve Account will continue to provide a loan coverage ratio of about 40 percent in the medium term, in line with the historical average.

Appendix Table 4.

PRGT Reserve Account Coverage

(In millions of SDRs; end-period)

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1/

The decline in total PRGT credit outstanding by about 40 percent from 2005 reflects early repayments arising from the delivery of HIPC and MDRI debt relief.

19. It is envisaged that resources in the Reserve Account could support “self-sustained” subsidization of PRGT lending beyond 2014-15. As noted above, available subsidy resources as well as subsidy resources to be raised as part of the 2009 financing package would likely be fully committed by 2014 or 2015. Without additional financing, staff projections suggest that the Reserve Account could subsidize annual lending of at least SDR 0.7 billion in nominal terms on a sustained basis starting from 2015 or 2016. However, these projections are subject to significant uncertainties, including: PRGT demand in the medium term; the rate of investment return on the Reserve Account balance; interest rates paid to lenders; the resumption of the reimbursement of the GRA for PRGT administrative expenses; and the timing of potential repayment of overdue Trust Fund, SAF, and PRGT obligations by the protracted arrears cases.

20. Staff projections of longer term demand for the Fund’s concessional lending point to a range of between SDR 1.1-1.9 billion annual for the period 2015-34.17 On the basis of these projections, additional subsidy resources would eventually be needed to ensure that the PRGT has sufficient capacity to meet the expected demand. Thus, the framework for lending on a “self-sustained basis” will need to be revisited at an appropriate time to ensure that the lending capacity remains in line with expected demand.

IV. Subsidization of Emergency Assistance

21. The EPCA/ENDA Administered Subsidy Account is being maintained on an interim basis for the subsidization of EPCA/ENDA credits outstanding on January 7, 2010. Once these outstanding EPCA/ENDA credits are fully repaid (expected by April 2013), the EPCA/ENDA Administered Subsidy Account will be terminated. Contributors will be encouraged at that time to transfer any balances in the account to the PRGT General Subsidy Account (GSA) or one of the special subsidy accounts of the PRGT (Appendix Table 5).

Appendix Table 5.

Subsidy Contributions for Emergency Assistance

(In millions of currencies; as of end-June 2011)

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1/

For contributions which have been fully received, the SDR equivalent is the actual SDR amount received using the exchange rate on the value date. For contributions that are not yet disbursed, the SDR equivalent is calculated using the exchange rate at end-June 2011.

2/

Reflecting investment income to be generated on a deposit agreement, effective May 2006.

3/

To subsidize the rate of charge on purchases by Sri Lanka and Maldives under ENDA following the 2004 Tsunami.

4/

Existing contribution, previously earmarked for ENDA.

5/

Existing contribution, previously earmarked for EPCA.

22. Available subsidy resources in the EPCA/ENDA Administered Subsidy Account are estimated to be sufficient to subsidize the remaining EPCA/ENDA credits. As of end-June 2011, two PRGT-eligible members had outstanding ENDA credit (Bangladesh and Dominica) amounting to SDR 135 million. There were no PRGT-eligible members with outstanding EPCA credits. The rate of charge on EPCA/ENDA credits is subsidized to zero percent until end-January 2012, and thereafter to an annual rate of 0.25 percent. At end-June 2011, available subsidy resources amounted to about SDR 12.3 million. It is estimated that these resources are likely to be sufficient to subsidize the outstanding credits, including providing the additional interest relief through end-January 2012. In the unlikely event that subsidy resources in the EPCA/ENDA subsidy account were depleted, the PRGT Instrument would allow subsidization of any remaining EPCA/ENDA credits from the PRGT GSA.

V. Financing of Debt Relief

23. As of end-June 2011, the Fund has provided SDR 5.2 billion of debt relief to eligible countries. This includes HIPC debt relief of SDR 2.5 billion to 36 countries. MDRI debt relief of SDR 2.3 billion to 30 countries, “beyond-HIPC” debt relief to Liberia, and PCDR debt relief to Haiti (Appendix Tables 6 and 7). No new countries reached the HIPC completion point since the last update, and the total number of completion point countries was 32. There remain 4 decision point countries which have so far received HIPC interim assistance of about SDR 29 million from the Fund. No debt relief has been provided through the PCDR Trust since the last update, and the balance in the PCDR Trust stood at SDR 0.1 billion at end-June 2011.

Appendix Table 6.

Implementation of the HIPC Initiative

(In millions of SDRs; end-June 2011)

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1/

Includes the commitment made in NPV terms plus interest earned on that commitment.

2/

At the time of its decision point, Afghanistan did not have any outstanding eligible debt.

3/

Includes commitment under the original HIPC Initiative.

4/

Amount committed to Côte d’Ivoire under the enhanced HIPC Initiative only.

5/

The Kyrgyz Republic decided not to avail itself of debt relief under the HIPC Initiative.

6/

Also includes SDR 17 million committed to Côte d’Ivoire under the original HIPC Initiative.

Appendix Table 7.

Debt Relief Following Implementation of the MDRI

(In millions of SDRs; end-June 2011)

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1/

Amount outstanding at the completion point (net of repayments between January 1, 2005 to the completion point date).

2/

Balances available at the time of MDRI debt relief.

3/

Afghanistan, Haiti, and Togo did not have MDRI-eligible credit and did not receive MDRI debt relief.

4/

Liberia received MDRI-type (beyond-HIPC) debt relief at end-June 2010, which was financed from the Liberia Administered Account. Its eligible credit outstanding corresponds to the amount of arrears clearance to the IMF in March 2008.

5/

Non-HIPCs but qualified for MDRI debt relief with a per capita income below the US$380 threshold.

A. Remaining HIPCs

24. The Fund’s cost of debt relief to the remaining HIPCs excluding the protracted arrears cases is estimated at SDR 0.05 billion (end-June 2011 NPV terms), in line with previous estimates (Table 8).18 This estimate excludes the arrears cases and is based on assumptions regarding the timing of HIPC decision and the future path of interest rates, all of which are subject to uncertainty. This estimate does not take into account potential needs for HIPC topping-up assistance.

Table 8.

Financing of Debt Relief to the Remaining HIPCs

(Billions of SDRs; end-June 2011 NPV terms)

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1/

Since the HIPC sub-account is depleted, resources of SDR 0.05 billion are expected to be drawn from the PRG-HIPC sub-account to meet the estimated cost of the remaining HIPCs.

25. Available resources in the PRG-HIPC and MDRI Trusts are estimated to be sufficient to cover debt relief to the remaining eligible countries (excluding the protracted arrears cases). Since the HIPC sub-account of the PRG-HIPC Trust is depleted, resources of about SDR 0.05 billion from the PRG-HIPC sub-account are expected to be used to cover the projected HIPC needs. The two MDRI Trusts are expected to have surpluses totaling about SDR 0.05 billion (Table 8).

B. Pending Contributions to Liberia’s Debt Relief

26. Following Liberia’s HIPC completion point, there remain a number of countries that have yet to finalize their pledged contributions to the Fund’s debt relief to Liberia. Since the last update, Argentina has delivered its contribution of about SDR 5.3 million, which was placed in the PRG-HIPC Trust. Pledged contributions totaling SDR 17.7 million (March 2008 NPV terms) from eight members have yet to be received (Table 9). It is important that these contributions be disbursed as soon as possible to replenish the PRG-HIPC Trust.

Table 9.

Pending Disbursements to Finance Debt Relief to Liberia as of end-August 2011

(In millions of SDRs; in March 14, 2008 NPV terms)

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27. The SCA-1/Deferred Charges Administered Account now holds a balance from one member. The Executive Board has approved a decision to delay the termination date of the account to March 13, 2012, to allow completion of the procedures that would allow the disbursement of the pledged contributions for financing Liberia’s debt relief.19

C. Protracted Arrears Cases

28. Providing debt relief to Somalia and Sudan would require substantial additional resources. As of end-August 2011, the total stock of arrears of the two countries to the Fund amounted to SDR 1.2 billion.20 As the costs for providing debt relief to these countries were not included in the original costing estimates for the HIPC Initiative,21 additional financing would need to be secured when these members are ready to clear their arrears and embark on the HIPC Initiative and possible beyond-HIPC debt relief.22 The approach developed for Liberia’s debt relief, including the financing modalities, could provide a useful framework for Sudan and Somalia at an appropriate time.

29. Additional resources could potentially also be needed to provide debt relief to Zimbabwe, if it were assessed to be eligible. Zimbabwe is currently neither PRGT-eligible nor is it included in the list of “ring-fenced” countries that could benefit from the HIPC Initiative. However, when Zimbabwe’s PRGT-eligibility is restored following the arrears clearance to the PRGT (SDR 87.4 million at end-August 2011), an assessment of Zimbabwe’s eligibility for the HIPC Initiative would need to be made based on the relevant criteria, including whether the NPV of its debt at end-2004 exceeded the HIPC thresholds. Additional resources may be needed to cover any such HIPC and “beyond-HIPC” debt relief for Zimbabwe.

Appendix Table 1.

Summary of Bilateral Commitments to the PRGF-ESF and PRG-HIPC Trusts

(In millions of SDRs; as of June 30, 2011)

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*

Less than SDR 5,000.

1/

These are contributions originally pledged for the PRGF-ESF Trust which are now available for the PRGT. Excludes the G-8 commitment of SDR 100 million in end-2005 NPV terms, new ESF subsidy contributions, and any subsidy contribution made in the context of the LIC reform of 2009.

2/

Estimated values of total contributions include forthcoming contributions that are not yet received. The term “as needed” refers to the nominal sum of concessional assistance taking into account the profile of subsidy needs associated with PRGF lending and the provision of HIPC assistance, respectively.

3/

Including new borrowing agreement in support of 2009 reform of LIC facilities.

4/

Including a borrowing agreement in support of the establishment of the ESF.

Appendix Table 2.

PRGT—Borrowing Agreements

(In millions of SDRs; as of end-June, 2011)

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1/

Including additional loan commitments for interim PRGF operations.

2/

Committed to the General Loan Account of the PRGT.

3/

Committed to the ECF Loan Account of the PRGT.

4/

Before April 17,1998, known as Caisse Française de Développement.

5/

The loan commitment, which became effective on August 20, 2009, was made in the context of establishment of the ESF.

6/

In late1999, the Bank of Italy replaced the Ufficio Italiano dei Cambi as lender to the PRGF Trust.

7/

On October 1, 1999,the Export-Im port Bank of Japan merged with the Overseas Economic Cooperation Fund and became theJapan Bank for International Cooperation.

8/

Committed to the SCF Loan Account and RCF Loan Account of the PRGT in equal proportion.

9/

The loan commitment is for the SDR equivalent of US$50 million.

10/

The original loan commitment of the Bank of Spain was SDR 220 million; however, only SDR 216.4 million was drawn and disbursed by the expiration date for drawings.

11/

The full loan commitment of SDR 200 million was drawn in January 1989; this amount was fully disbursed to borrowers by March 1994.

12/

On August 26, 1998, the SFD indicated that it did not intend to make further loans in association with the PRGF.

13/

Any mismatch of outstanding resources between the amount owed by PRGF borrowers and the amount owed to PRGF lenders arises because of mismatches in timing between drawdowns from lenders to the Trustand disbursements of PRGF loans to borrowers.