Summing Up by the Chairman—Enhanced Initiative for Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPCs) and Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs)—Progress Reports and Review of Implementation, Executive Board Meeting 00/90, September 5, 2000

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Directors agreed that an overall track record of three years of Bank- and Fund-supported programs prior to the decision point should in general be maintained, but that this should be interpreted flexibly on a case-by-case basis. Most Directors also agreed that the track record requirements immediately preceding a decision point may need to be applied flexibly, especially for countries that have experienced significant program interruptions. They emphasized, however, that countries need to demonstrate strong commitment to reform programs, particularly in the areas of governance and accountability, and that the link between debt relief and poverty reduction should be clearly maintained. In this regard, Directors stressed the importance of establishing a clear framework for the tracking of public expenditure on poverty reduction. A few Directors favored the maintenance of a track record requirement under Fund-supported programs immediately prior to the decision point, particularly for the most difficult cases, to ensure a prospect for a durable resolution of countries’ debt problems.

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BUFF/00/147

September 11, 2000