The IMF Executive Board’s decision makes approximately $832.8 million available, drawn from three facilities: the Extended Fund Facility, Extended Credit Facility, and the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF).
The Fund said the programmes, launched in May 2023, have helped stabilise the economy, reduce imbalances and strengthen resilience. Côte d’Ivoire met all performance targets under the latest review, including fiscal and structural benchmarks.
Over the course of the programme, the government achieved notable progress in fiscal consolidation, reducing the budget deficit to the West African Economic and Monetary Union ceiling of 3% of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2025. External balances also improved, while public debt declined relative to GDP for the first time in more than a decade. As a result, the country’s risk of debt distress has been lowered.
At the same time, reforms under the RSF have advanced climate resilience measures. These include agricultural insurance initiatives, the adoption of a carbon tax strategy, steps toward cleaner transport and progress on solar energy projects.
Despite these gains, the IMF warned that the economic outlook remains uncertain. Growth is expected to moderate slightly to 6% in 2026, down from 6.5% the previous year, partly due to weaker global demand linked to ongoing geopolitical tensions.
Inflation, which had fallen to near zero in 2025, is projected to rise to 3.3% in 2026, driven by higher food and energy prices. The current account deficit is also expected to widen modestly.
Authorities plan a temporary increase in the fiscal deficit to 3.8% of GDP in 2026 to cushion the impact of external shocks and protect key investments, while committing to return to the 3% target by 2028.
The IMF said continued reforms will be critical to sustaining progress, including efforts to broaden the tax base, strengthen public financial management and improve governance.
Overall, the Fund said Côte d’Ivoire’s performance reflects a strong commitment to reform, with continued momentum needed to support long-term growth and advance its goal of achieving upper-middle-income status.
–IMF/ChannelAfrica–
