Allocation Of Special Drawing Rights For The First Basic Period Proposal By The Managing Director

The adequacy of international liquidity became a problem of increasing concern to the international community during the 1960's. In response, the IMF proposed a new facility, based on Special Drawing Rights, which took effect on October 3, 1969. This new facility, referred to in this publication, was established within the Fund as its Special Drawing Account, through which the new supplement to reserve assets, in the form of special drawing rights, could be allocated.

Against the backdrop of the global financial crisis, the IMF has decided to implement a US$250 billion general allocation of special drawing rights (SDRs). In addition, the Fourth Amendment of the Fund’s Articles of Agreement has recently become effective, and will make available to SDR Department participants a special allocation of up to an additional SDR 21.5 billion (US$33 billion). Nearly US$115 billion of these combined allocations will go to emerging market and developing countries, including about US$20 billion to low-income countries (LICs), thereby providing an important boost to the reserves of countries with the greatest needs.

A recovery is underway, but the economic fallout from the global pandemic could be with us for years to come. With the crisis exacerbating prepandemic vulnerabilities, country prospects are diverging. Nearly half of emerging market and developing economies and some middle-income countries are now at risk of falling further behind, undoing much of the progress made toward achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals.