The IMF approved the disbursement of US$109.4 million to be drawn under the Rapid Credit Facility; The economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is rapidly unfolding, with the near-term outlook deteriorating quickly; The authorities have acted fast by putting in place measures to help contain and mitigate the spread of the disease.

The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved the disbursement of SDR80.1 million (about US$109.4 million) to be drawn under the Rapid Credit Facility (RCF). This will serve to meet Rwanda’s urgent balance of payment needs stemming from the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is rapidly unfolding, with the near-term outlook deteriorating quickly. This has given a rise to significant fiscal and external financing needs. The authorities have acted fast by putting in place measures to help contain and mitigate the spread of the disease.

The RCF funds will support the authorities’ efforts by backstopping the decline in international reserves and providing financing to the budget for increased spending aimed at containing the epidemic and mitigating its economic impact. This additional IMF financing also ought to help catalyze further assistance from the international community, preferably in the form of grants.

The IMF continues to monitor Rwanda’s situation closely and stands ready to provide policy advice and further support as needed.

Following the Executive Board’s discussion of Rwanda, Mr. Tao Zhang, Deputy Managing Director and Acting Chair, issued the following statement:

“The COVID-19 Pandemic has ground Rwanda’s economy to a halt, creating an urgent balance of payments need. To contain and mitigate the spread of the virus, the government swiftly implemented measures that have affected all sectors of the economy. With uncertainties surrounding the duration and spread of the pandemic, the economic fallout could intensify further.

“The IMF emergency support under the Rapid Credit Facility will help with COVID19-related pressures on trade, tourism and foreign exchange reserves, and will provide much-needed resources for health expenditure and for households and firms affected by the crisis. It should also help to catalyze donor support.

“A temporary widening of the budget deficit is appropriate to mitigate the health and economic impact of the pandemic. Spending should be well-targeted and cost-effective to not crowd-out other priority areas. Once the crisis abates, the fiscal adjustment path should be adjusted to preserve debt sustainability in the medium-term. Contingency plans should be prepared given the uncertain outlook.

“Monetary policy needs to be data-driven and the central bank should stand ready to provide additional liquidity support if warranted. A flexible exchange rate should be maintained as a shock absorber. The National Bank of Rwanda has taken various measures to help maintain the health of the financial sector and should continue to show flexibility, while encouraging prudent loan restructuring and stepping up reporting requirements.

“Additional donor support is critical to close the remaining financing gap, ease the adjustment burden, and preserve Rwanda’s development gains over the last two decades.”

Table 1. Rwanda: Selected Economic Indicators, 2018?22

2018 2019 2020 2021 2022     Prel. Proj. Proj. Proj. Proj.       (Annual percentage change, unless otherwise indicated)   Output and prices       Real GDP 8.6 10.1 5.1 6.7 8.0   GDP deflator -0.8 1.2 6.5 5.4 5.0   CPI (period average) 1.4 2.4 6.9 5.4 5.0   CPI (end period) 1.1 6.7 5.0 5.0 5.0   Terms of trade (deterioration, -) -0.7 -1.8 0.9 -0.6 0.0   Money and credit         Broad money (M3) 15.6 15.4 11.0 18.6 13.4   Reserve money 16.1 17.2 10.9 18.6 17.6   Credit to non-government sector 10.8 12.6 8.2 12.3 13.7   M3/GDP (percent) 25.3 26.2 26.0 27.4 27.4   NPLs (percent of total gross loans) 6.4 … … … …   Budgetary central government   (Percent of GDP, unless otherwise indicated)   Total revenue and grants 24.1 23.6 21.5 23.3 23.0   of which : tax revenue 16.2 16.7 14.9 16.8 17.0   of which : grants 4.9 4.2 4.4 4.3 4.1   Expenditure 28.8 31.7 31.8 29.7 27.9   Current 15.3 15.6 16.1 14.9 13.4   Capital 11.5 13.2 12.9 12.9 12.7   Primary balance -3.5 -6.8 -8.6 -5.0 -3.3   Overall balance -4.7 -8.1 -10.3 -6.5 -4.9   excluding grants -9.6 -12.3 -14.7 -10.8 -9.0   Debt-creating overall bal. (exc. PKO)1/   -6.6 -10.1 -6.5 -5.4   Net domestic borrowing 0.0 0.8 4.5 2.0 -0.7   Public debt     Total public debt incl. guarantees 53.1 58.4 46.2 64.3 66.2 65.5   of which : external public debt 41.6 48.0 48.7 49.1   PV of total public debt incl. guarantees 40.9 42.6 47.3 48.1 47.2   Investment and savings                 Investment 24.4 28.9 23.5 25.0 27.7   Government 11.5 13.2 12.9 12.9 12.7   Nongovernment 12.9 15.7 10.6 12.1 15.1   Savings 12.8 17.1 5.6 12.2 15.1   Government 4.0 3.8 0.9 4.0 5.5   Nongovernment 8.8 13.3 4.6 8.2 9.6   External sector     Exports (goods and services) 21.5 21.3 13.6 22.9 24.6   Imports (goods and services) 33.1 33.1 29.4 35.1 36.5   Current account balance (incl grants) -8.0 -9.2 -16.0 -10.2 -9.8   Current account balance (excl grants) -11.6 -11.7 -18.0 -12.8 -12.6   Current account balance (excl. large projects) -7.6 -9.0 -15.0 -9.4 -7.7   Gross international reserves               In millions of US$ 1,319 1440 1,001 1,161 1,322   In months of next year's imports 4.7 5.4 2.9 3.0 3.3   Memorandum items:     GDP at current market prices               Rwanda francs (billion) 8,189 9,121 10,210 11,476 13,012   Population (million) 12.1 12.4 12.7 13.0 13.3   Sources: Rwandan authorities and IMF staff estimates. 1/ Overall deficit excl. spending on materialized contingent liabilities and other items already included in the DSA.