The Central African Republic authorities and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) staff have reached agreement on the economic policies that may underpin the forthcoming approval by the IMF Executive Board of the second review of the ECF-supported program. Despite an extremely challenging economic and social context, Central African Republic (CAR) continues to make headway in stabilizing its economy and in achieving fiscal consolidation, according to Albert Touna Mama, Resident Representative at IMF. Economic growth is estimated as being slightly up, reaching 0.7% in 2023, albeit reflecting the country’s fuel and electricity supply difficulties, while inflationary pressures are beginning to ease. Program implementation has been broadly satisfactory, notwithstanding certain obstacles. All the quantitative performance criteria for end-December 2023—regarding tax revenue, the primary deficit, and domestic financing—have been met. Furthermore, the reforms anticipated for end-April—regarding administrative fees, taxes, fines, and levies, the interconnection between taxes and customs, the institutional strengthening of the Financial Intelligence Unit (ANIF), and the review of the organic law governing the state audit office—are on track. Despite these notable achievements in fiscal consolidation, a number of economic and social challenges have still to be addressed in the short to medium terms.   Against this backdrop, the CAR government has adopted a series of undertakings and emergency measures under the ECF program. The government is pursuing key reforms in the digitalization and modernization of government finance, through the ongoing deployment of new IT systems and modern applications within the tax administration, Customs, and the Treasury, among other initiatives, with the support of technical and financial partners. In terms of outlook, we anticipate a gradual acceleration of economic activity to around 1.3% in 2024. However, these growth prospects will be crucially dependent on the success of the campaign for importing fuels via the Oubangui river, as well as on the extent to which electricity supply difficulties can be overcome.