What is the EFF designed for?

The EFF was established in 1974 to provide assistance to countries experiencing serious relatively long-term payments imbalances because of structural impediments, including because such imbalances limit access to private capital, and where there is an appropriately strong structural reform program to address institutional or economic weaknesses. An EFF can also be useful for an economy characterized by low growth and an inherently weak balance of payments position.

Longer engagement and repayment period for adjustment to bear fruit

Given that structural reforms to correct deep-rooted weaknesses often take time to implement and bear fruit, the EFF is longer than most Fund arrangements—the Fund remains engaged with the member country during the design and implementation of adjustment policies.

Extended arrangements would normally be approved for periods not exceeding three years, with a maximum extension of up to one year where appropriate. However, a maximum duration of up to four years at approval is also allowed, predicated on, inter alia, the existence of a balance of payments need beyond the three-year period, the prolonged nature of the adjustment required to restore macroeconomic stability, and the presence of adequate assurances about the member’s ability and willingness to implement deep and sustained structural reforms. There is also a longer repayment period of between 4½–10 years, with repayments in twelve equal semiannual installments. In contrast, the Stand-by Arrangement (SBA) is of shorter duration, with a repayment period of 3¼–5 years.

Strong focus on structural adjustment

When a country borrows from the IMF, it commits to undertake policies to overcome the economic and structural problems. These commitments, including specific conditionality, are expected to have a strong focus on structural reforms, in addition to policies that maintain macroeconomic stability. Program performance is assessed regularly by the IMF's Executive Board which also allows the program to adapt to economic developments. The EFF has flexibility in the frequency of reviews based on the strength of the country's policies and the nature of its financing needs.

How much can a country borrow under the EFF and how expensive is it?

As with the SBA, the size of borrowing under the EFF is guided by a member country’s need for financing, capacity to repay, and track record with use of IMF resources.

• Normal access. Borrowing under the EFF is subject to the normal limit of up to 200 percent of a country’s IMF quota annually and a cumulative limit over the life of the program of 600 percent of quota, net of scheduled repayments.
• Exceptional access. The Fund may lend amounts above these limits on a case-by-case basis in exceptional circumstances provided that the country satisfies a predetermined set of exceptional access criteria.

In addition, EFFs generally are not formulated on a precautionary basis in anticipation of a future balance of payments problem.

Commitment fee.Resources committed under all EFFs are subject to a commitment fee levied at the beginning of each 12-month period on amounts that could be drawn in the period (15 basis points for committed amounts up to 200 percent of quota, 30 basis points on committed amounts above 200 percent and up to 1,000 percent of quota and 60 basis points on amounts exceeding 1,000 percent of quota). These fees are refunded if the amounts are drawn during the course of the relevant period. As a result, if the country borrows the entire amount committed under an EFF, the commitment fee is fully refunded.

Lending rate. The lending rate is tied to the IMF’s market-related interest rate, known as the basic rate of charge, which is itself linked to the Special Drawing Rights (SDR) interest rate. Large loans carry a surcharge of 200 basis points, paid on the amount of credit outstanding above 300 percent of quota. If credit remains above 300 percent of quota after three years, this surcharge rises to 300 basis points, and is designed to discourage large and prolonged use of IMF resources.

Service charge. A service charge of 50 basis points is applied on each amount drawn.