Source: International Monetary Fund – IMF (video statements)
For decades, the International Monetary Fund has been providing capacity development support to its member countries, including institution-building in fragile and conflict-affected states. Though not always straightforward and sometimes affected by security considerations, this support is critical for countries that try to regain a grip of their economies, revive growth and create jobs, and strengthen public finances and public service delivery. One such country is Syria: following a 14-year hiatus, the Syrian authorities requested the IMF’s support to rebuild capacity at the Ministry of Finance and strengthen government finances. IMF staff from the Fiscal Affairs Department, supported by the IMF’s Global Public Finance Partnership, together with staff of the Middle East and Central Asia Department and the Middle East Technical Assistance Center (METAC), responded promptly, working closely with the authorities on the ground in Syria—also for the first time in over a decade. Initial support focused on two main pillars—revenues and spending—and included preparation of the 2026 budget, supporting cash management to address competing payment priorities, reviewing a new budget law and new tax laws, including tailored workshops on tax design, and evaluating policy options for the oil and gas sector. Complementing the other two key areas of the IMF’s support to our members—surveillance and lending—the capacity development work in Syria and other fragile and conflict-affected states aims at overcoming the challenges inherent to countries emerging from conflict and at enhancing their prosperity.