IMF Financial Operations

The course begins with a background on why the SDR was created and then explains its role in the global economy and in the IMF's financial operations. It will then discuss the key characteristics of the SDR and how it is valued, covering the selection criteria for the currencies in the SDR basket and the methodology behind calculating the SDR's interest rate (SDRi). The course delves into the uses of SDRs, describes how they can be used in financial transactions between countries and how the SDR market functions. Through real-world case studies showcasing how different countries utilized their SDR allocations in 2021, participants will see the SDR's impact across various economies, making the theoretical knowledge gained from the course more tangible and applicable to practice.

• Explain what SDRs are, why they were created, and their uses.
• Describe the composition of the SDR basket and its valuation.
• Discuss how member country SDR allocations and holdings are determined.
• Explain the role of the SDR interest rate (SDRi) and how it is computed.
• Describe the various ways in which SDRs are used or could be used in transactions and operations.
• Relate the benefits of SDRs using real-life case studies.