1. Debt Relief Reporting Template: Pilot phase
Thor-Jürgen Greve Løberg
MDB Meeting on Debt Issues
Washington, DC - June 21 & 22, 2006

2. Presentation outline Revisit rationale, purpose and history
Progress report on Pilot Phase
Next steps

3. Rationale, purpose & history
The HIPC Initiative creates need for mechanism to collect comprehensive info on provision of MDB debt relief
Decision to develop this system was made in June 2003
Improved access to reliable MDB debt data
Facilitates effective and transparent monitoring of debt relief delivery
Captures the evolution of the debt situation in HIPCs
Serves as foundation for the analysis of debt sustainability
First version in 2004, updated in June 2005 and refined in November (‘trial run’) & December 2005 (for Pilot)

4. Basics of the debt reporting template
Captures external debt and debt relief data for HIPCs that have reached DP
Comprised of six worksheets:
Loan Data
Before HIPC
After Original HIPC
After Enhanced HIPC
After Topping Up
Repayment profiles

5. Pilot phase – Overview Decision to pilot taken in June 2005 meeting
Launched in November 2005
Preceded by a ‘trial run’ to prepare the ground
Covered 3 HIPCs (Ethiopia, Mali & Nicaragua0
Involved 14 MDBs
Submission date December 22
Focus: ensuring that the template is as ‘user-friendly’ as possible & captures the full range of delivery modalities

6. Pilot phase – Status Given long record of interest, hopes were high
…and the feedback from respondents has been positive
…but the result, in terms of response rate, is not quite what one would have expected
To date 9 of 14 MDBs have submitted (64%)
Of 26 country templates, 13 have been received (50%)
…despite numerous reminders/appeals and assurances of assistance

7. Pilot phase – Observations
Some MDBs exemplified what is required in this exercise in terms of collaboration – in particular AfDB, IFAD, EIB and the IsDB – all of whom delivered at or very near the deadline and followed up closely with PRMED
Although requiring large investment in time and effort, template itself has not been identified as a constraint
Indications that some MDBs lack the capacity or expertise to complete the template – or is it a question of priorities?

8. Next steps?
On basis of experience with pilot phase, any decision to ‘go live’ should consider
Success requires genuine commitment by MDBs (resources)
Not realistic to expect full participation at early stage
Critical to ensure reporting by IDA, IMF, AfDB and IaDB, which account for ca. 85% of HIPC debt relief
Aim for ‘critical mass’ – needs to be defined – and encourage gradual uptake of reporting mechanism over a set period >> identification of milestones
Must determine how to deal with capacity issue
If MDBs willing, ‘implementation plan’ could be prepared
‘go live’ with Sept/Oct as submission deadline

9. End We welcome your guidance on the way forward…
…over to you, Josselyne…