The Staff Operational Guidance on Dissemination of Capacity Development Information sets forth procedures on the dissemination of capacity development information, based on the objectives of wider, more active, and timelier sharing of information while safeguarding the Fund’s candor and role as trusted advisor. The guidance draws from internal consultations and Executive Directors’ views on the Updated Framework on the Dissemination of Capacity Development Information.

The International Monetary Fund’s Statistics Department conducted a remote technical assistance mission for the Central Bank of San Marino on the compilation of financial soundness indicators (FSIs) and monetary and financial statistics (MFS) during March 28–April 15, 2022. The mission updated the compilation of FSIs for deposit takers, and MFS for the central bank and other depository corporations as set out in the 2019 FSIs Compilation Guide and 2016 Monetary and Financial Statistics Manual and Compilation Guide, respectively.

The International Monetary Fund’s (IMF’s) Statistics Department (STA) and Fiscal Affairs Department (FAD) provided technical assistance (TA) on government finance statistics (GFS) and public sector debt statistics (PSDS) to the Ministry of Finance (MOF) of the Arab Republic of Egypt during July 4–17, 2023. This was the first such mission since 2017 and the focus was on assisting the Egyptian MOF to identify the necessary processes and systems required to facilitate the production of high-quality fiscal statistics, compliant with the latest international statistical standards (as per the Government Finance Statistics Manual 2014) both with respect to coverage and presentation.

Following a surge in petroleum sector exploration, the Namibian authorities requested a review of their petroleum upstream fiscal regime. The petroleum fiscal regime balances investor and government interests and is fit for purpose although untested in practice. A number of recommended policy measures if implemented would provide clarity and simplicity for taxpayers while safeguarding government revenue collections. Fiscal transparency can be enhanced by publishing petroleum agreements while the costs and benefits of state participation should be considered.

South Africa has many elements of sound fiscal transparency practices. Based on an assessment of fiscal transparency practices against the IMF’s Fiscal Transparency Code, South Africa’s practices are strongest in fiscal reporting, followed by fiscal forecasting and budgeting, and weakest in fiscal risk analysis. South Africa’s Balance Sheet public sector net worth – including assumptions for the values of non-reported assets – is estimated to be 100 percent of GDP. There is room to improve South Africa’s fiscal reporting, budget transparency, and management of fiscal risks.

The assistance assessed how climate change impacts and mitigation and adaptation responses are addressed in the public investment cycle using the Climate Module of the Public Investment Management Assessment (C-PIMA). The assistance also evaluated the scope to advance Green Public Financial Management (PFM) practices, drawing on the IMF’s new Green PFM framework. Jordan was found to performs well in the climate-aware planning and coordination institutions of the C-PIMA, but some gaps were identified in implementation aspects of the framework, and there were several areas where climate could be better integrated in the PFM system.

Public financial management reforms in the Government of South Sudan are proceeding within a challenging environment as the post-civil war recovery remains fragile. As a result, the Ministry of Finance and Planning faces significant challenges in preparing realistic budgets and enforcing disciplined budget execution. To strengthen budget execution, the key areas requiring reform include strengthening processes for the management of expenditure and controlling commitments; improving fiscal reporting to ensure it is timely, accurate, and comprehensive; and improved cash management, particularly through implementing a Treasury Single Account. The Government has requested the assistance of a Fiscal Affairs Department Resident Public Financial Management Advisor who has been appointed and will support several reforms to budget execution, cash management, and fiscal reporting.