The World Bank (WB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have issued a joint statement to the G-20 concerning debt relief for the poorest countries.

A Joint Statement from the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund Regarding A Call to Action on the Debt of IDA Countries was issued on March 25. 

The statement, in particular, notes that the coronavirus outbreak is likely to have severe economic and social consequences for IDA countries, home to a quarter of the world’s population and two-thirds of the world’s population living in extreme poverty.

“With immediate effect—and consistent with national laws of the creditor countries—the World Bank Group (WBG) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) call on all official bilateral creditors to suspend debt payments from IDA countries that request forbearance. This will help with IDA countries’ immediate liquidity needs to tackle challenges posed by the coronavirus outbreak and allow time for an assessment of the crisis impact and financing needs for each country,” reads the statement.

The World Bank Group (WBG) and the IMF invite G20 leaders to task the WBG and the IMF “to make these assessments, including identifying the countries with unsustainable debt situations, and to prepare a proposal for comprehensive action by official bilateral creditors to address both the financing and debt relief needs of IDA countries.”

They say they will seek endorsement for the proposal at the Development Committee during the Spring Meetings (April 16/17).

The World Bank Group and the IMF note that they believe it is imperative at this moment to provide a global sense of relief for developing countries as well as a strong signal to financial markets.  “The international community would welcome G20 support for this Call to Action,” the statement notes.