• The IMF has approved $129 million for Mali under its Rapid Credit Facility.
• The money will help cover urgent balance of payments needs following recent floods.
• Mali has committed to fiscal reforms and stronger protections for vulnerable populations.

The International Monetary Fund has approved $129 million in emergency funding for Mali. In a statement issued yesterday, IMF said the financing is part of the Rapid Credit Facility, a program designed to provide quick support to countries facing urgent balance of payments problems. In Mali’s case, the funds are meant to help recover from flood-related damage and ease pressure on the economy.

“Emergency financing under the Rapid Credit Facility (RCF) will help address urgent balance-of-payments needs arising from the flooding. This exogenous shock has caused significant damage to public infrastructure and loss of livelihoods, exacerbating the already-elevated food insecurity and internal displacement,” said IMF Deputy Managing Director Kenji Okamura. The funding is tied to an 11-month reform program agreed between the IMF and Malian authorities. Under the agreement, the government has committed to improving public financial management, ensuring greater transparency in how funds are used, and strengthening budget oversight.

The program also includes measures to expand social protection and step up efforts to fight food insecurity, with a focus on supporting the most vulnerable groups.

Mali’s economy remains fragile. Repeated climate shocks, ongoing security risks, a deepening humanitarian crisis, and limited access to external financing have all weighed heavily on growth. In its statement, the IMF stressed the importance of pressing ahead with structural reforms to ensure that public resources are used efficiently, to rebuild trust with development partners, and to create a better environment for private investment.

Despite growing pressure on public finances, the IMF noted that Mali’s risk of debt distress remains moderate, although some debt indicators have worsened since the last debt sustainability analysis in 2023.