The Global Plan for Recovery and Reform

2 April 2009

1. We, the Leaders of the Group of Twenty, met in London on 2 April 2009. 

2. We face the greatest challenge to the world economy in modern times; a crisis 

which has deepened since we last met, which affects the lives of women, men, 

and children in every country, and which all countries must join together to 

resolve. A global crisis requires a global solution. 

3. We start from the belief that prosperity is indivisible; that growth, to be sustained, 

has to be shared; and that our global plan for recovery must have at its heart the 

needs and jobs of hard-working families, not just in developed countries but in 

emerging markets and the poorest countries of the world too; and must reflect the 

interests, not just of today’s population, but of future generations too. We believe 

that the only sure foundation for sustainable globalisation and rising prosperity 

for all is an open world economy based on market principles, effective regulation, 

and strong global institutions.

4. We have today therefore pledged to do whatever is necessary to:

 restore confidence, growth, and jobs;

 repair the financial system to restore lending;

 strengthen financial regulation to rebuild trust;

 fund and reform our international financial institutions to overcome this 

crisis and prevent future ones;

 promote global trade and investment and reject protectionism, to underpin 

prosperity; and

 build an inclusive, green, and sustainable recovery.

By acting together to fulfil these pledges we will bring the world economy out of 

recession and prevent a crisis like this from recurring in the future.

5. The agreements we have reached today, to treble resources available to the IMF 

to $750 billion, to support a new SDR allocation of $250 billion, to support at 

least $100 billion of additional lending by the MDBs, to ensure $250 billion of 

support for trade finance, and to use the additional resources from agreed IMF 

gold sales for concessional finance for the poorest countries, constitute an 

additional $1.1 trillion programme of support to restore credit, growth and jobs in 

the world economy. Together with the measures we have each taken nationally, 

this constitutes a global plan for recovery on an unprecedented scale.
Restoring growth and jobs

6. We are undertaking an unprecedented and concerted fiscal expansion, which will 

save or create millions of jobs which would otherwise have been destroyed, and 

that will, by the end of next year, amount to $5 trillion, raise output by 4 per cent, 

and accelerate the transition to a green economy. We are committed to deliver 

the scale of sustained fiscal effort necessary to restore growth.

7. Our central banks have also taken exceptional action. Interest rates have been cut 

aggressively in most countries, and our central banks have pledged to maintain 

expansionary policies for as long as needed and to use the full range of monetary 

policy instruments, including unconventional instruments, consistent with price 

stability. 

8. Our actions to restore growth cannot be effective until we restore domestic 

lending and international capital flows. We have provided significant and 

comprehensive support to our banking systems to provide liquidity, recapitalise 

financial institutions, and address decisively the problem of impaired assets. We 

are committed to take all necessary actions to restore the normal flow of credit 

through the financial system and ensure the soundness of systemically important 

institutions, implementing our policies in line with the agreed G20 framework for 

restoring lending and repairing the financial sector. 

9. Taken together, these actions will constitute the largest fiscal and monetary 

stimulus and the most comprehensive support programme for the financial sector 

in modern times. Acting together strengthens the impact and the exceptional 

policy actions announced so far must be implemented without delay. Today, we 

have further agreed over $1 trillion of additional resources for the world economy 

through our international financial institutions and trade finance. 

10. Last month the IMF estimated that world growth in real terms would resume and 

rise to over 2 percent by the end of 2010. We are confident that the actions we 

have agreed today, and our unshakeable commitment to work together to restore 

growth and jobs, while preserving long-term fiscal sustainability, will accelerate 

the return to trend growth. We commit today to taking whatever action is 

necessary to secure that outcome, and we call on the IMF to assess regularly the 

actions taken and the global actions required. 

11. We are resolved to ensure long-term fiscal sustainability and price stability and 

will put in place credible exit strategies from the measures that need to be taken 

now to support the financial sector and restore global demand. We are convinced 

that by implementing our agreed policies we will limit the longer-term costs to 
our economies, thereby reducing the scale of the fiscal consolidation necessary 

over the longer term.

12. We will conduct all our economic policies cooperatively and responsibly with 

regard to the impact on other countries and will refrain from competitive 

devaluation of our currencies and promote a stable and well-functioning 

international monetary system. We will support, now and in the future, to candid, 

even-handed, and independent IMF surveillance of our economies and financial 

sectors, of the impact of our policies on others, and of risks facing the global 

economy.

Strengthening financial supervision and regulation

13. Major failures in the financial sector and in financial regulation and supervision 

were fundamental causes of the crisis. Confidence will not be restored until we 

rebuild trust in our financial system. We will take action to build a stronger, more

globally consistent, supervisory and regulatory framework for the future financial 

sector, which will support sustainable global growth and serve the needs of 

business and citizens.

14. We each agree to ensure our domestic regulatory systems are strong. But we also

agree to establish the much greater consistency and systematic cooperation 

between countries, and the framework of internationally agreed high standards,

that a global financial system requires. Strengthened regulation and supervision 

must promote propriety, integrity and transparency; guard against risk across the 

financial system; dampen rather than amplify the financial and economic cycle; 

reduce reliance on inappropriately risky sources of financing; and discourage 

excessive risk-taking. Regulators and supervisors must protect consumers and 

investors, support market discipline, avoid adverse impacts on other countries, 

reduce the scope for regulatory arbitrage, support competition and dynamism, and 

keep pace with innovation in the marketplace.

15. To this end we are implementing the Action Plan agreed at our last meeting, as set 

out in the attached progress report. We have today also issued a Declaration, 

Strengthening the Financial System. In particular we agree:

 to establish a new Financial Stability Board (FSB) with a strengthened 

mandate, as a successor to the Financial Stability Forum (FSF), including 

all G20 countries, FSF members, Spain, and the European Commission; 

 that the FSB should collaborate with the IMF to provide early warning of

macroeconomic and financial risks and the actions needed to address them;
 to reshape our regulatory systems so that our authorities are able to 

identify and take account of macro-prudential risks; 

 to extend regulation and oversight to all systemically important financial 

institutions, instruments and markets. This will include, for the first time, 

systemically important hedge funds; 

 to endorse and implement the FSF’s tough new principles on pay and 

compensation and to support sustainable compensation schemes and the 

corporate social responsibility of all firms; 

 to take action, once recovery is assured, to improve the quality, quantity, 

and international consistency of capital in the banking system. In future, 

regulation must prevent excessive leverage and require buffers of 

resources to be built up in good times; 

 to take action against non-cooperative jurisdictions, including tax havens. 

We stand ready to deploy sanctions to protect our public finances and 

financial systems. The era of banking secrecy is over. We note that the 

OECD has today published a list of countries assessed by the Global 

Forum against the international standard for exchange of tax information; 

 to call on the accounting standard setters to work urgently with supervisors 

and regulators to improve standards on valuation and provisioning and

achieve a single set of high-quality global accounting standards; and

 to extend regulatory oversight and registration to Credit Rating Agencies 

to ensure they meet the international code of good practice, particularly to 

prevent unacceptable conflicts of interest.

16. We instruct our Finance Ministers to complete the implementation of these 

decisions in line with the timetable set out in the Action Plan. We have asked the 

FSB and the IMF to monitor progress, working with the Financial Action 

Taskforce and other relevant bodies, and to provide a report to the next meeting 

of our Finance Ministers in Scotland in November.

Strengthening our global financial institutions

17. Emerging markets and developing countries, which have been the engine of 

recent world growth, are also now facing challenges which are adding to the 

current downturn in the global economy. It is imperative for global confidence 

and economic recovery that capital continues to flow to them. This will require a 

substantial strengthening of the international financial institutions, particularly the 
IMF. We have therefore agreed today to make available an additional $850 billion

of resources through the global financial institutions to support growth in 

emerging market and developing countries by helping to finance counter-cyclical 

spending, bank recapitalisation, infrastructure, trade finance, balance of payments 

support, debt rollover, and social support. To this end:

 we have agreed to increase the resources available to the IMF through

immediate financing from members of $250 billion, subsequently 

incorporated into an expanded and more flexible New Arrangements to 

Borrow, increased by up to $500 billion, and to consider market 

borrowing if necessary; and

 we support a substantial increase in lending of at least $100 billion by 

the Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), including to low income 

countries, and ensure that all MDBs have the appropriate capital.

18. It is essential that these resources can be used effectively and flexibly to support 

growth. We welcome in this respect the progress made by the IMF with its new 

Flexible Credit Line (FCL) and its reformed lending and conditionality 

framework which will enable the IMF to ensure that its facilities address 

effectively the underlying causes of countries’ balance of payments financing 

needs, particularly the withdrawal of external capital flows to the banking and 

corporate sectors. We support Mexico’s decision to seek an FCL arrangement. 

19. We have agreed to support a general SDR allocation which will inject $250 

billion into the world economy and increase global liquidity, and urgent 

ratification of the Fourth Amendment.

20. In order for our financial institutions to help manage the crisis and prevent future 

crises we must strengthen their longer term relevance, effectiveness and 

legitimacy. So alongside the significant increase in resources agreed today we are 

determined to reform and modernise the international financial institutions to 

ensure they can assist members and shareholders effectively in the new 

challenges they face. We will reform their mandates, scope and governance to 

reflect changes in the world economy and the new challenges of globalisation, 

and that emerging and developing economies, including the poorest, must have 

greater voice and representation. This must be accompanied by action to increase 

the credibility and accountability of the institutions through better strategic 

oversight and decision making. To this end: 

 we commit to implementing the package of IMF quota and voice reforms 

agreed in April 2008 and call on the IMF to complete the next review of 

quotas by January 2011;
 we agree that, alongside this, consideration should be given to greater 

involvement of the Fund’s Governors in providing strategic direction to 

the IMF and increasing its accountability;

 we commit to implementing the World Bank reforms agreed in October 

2008. We look forward to further recommendations, at the next 

meetings, on voice and representation reforms on an accelerated 

timescale, to be agreed by the 2010 Spring Meetings; 

 

 we agree that the heads and senior leadership of the international 

financial institutions should be appointed through an open, transparent,

and merit-based selection process; and

 building on the current reviews of the IMF and World Bank we asked the 

Chairman, working with the G20 Finance Ministers, to consult widely in 

an inclusive process and report back to the next meeting with proposals 

for further reforms to improve the responsiveness and adaptability of the 

IFIs.

21. In addition to reforming our international financial institutions for the new 

challenges of globalisation we agreed on the desirability of a new global 

consensus on the key values and principles that will promote sustainable 

economic activity. We support discussion on such a charter for sustainable 

economic activity with a view to further discussion at our next meeting. We take 

note of the work started in other fora in this regard and look forward to further 

discussion of this charter for sustainable economic activity. 

Resisting protectionism and promoting global trade and investment

22. World trade growth has underpinned rising prosperity for half a century. But it is 

now falling for the first time in 25 years. Falling demand is exacerbated by 

growing protectionist pressures and a withdrawal of trade credit. Reinvigorating 

world trade and investment is essential for restoring global growth. We will not 

repeat the historic mistakes of protectionism of previous eras. To this end: 

 we reaffirm the commitment made in Washington: to refrain from raising 

new barriers to investment or to trade in goods and services, imposing new 

export restrictions, or implementing World Trade Organisation (WTO) 

inconsistent measures to stimulate exports. In addition we will rectify 

promptly any such measures. We extend this pledge to the end of 2010;
 we will minimise any negative impact on trade and investment of our 

domestic policy actions including fiscal policy and action in support of the 

financial sector. We will not retreat into financial protectionism, 

particularly measures that constrain worldwide capital flows, especially to 

developing countries;

 we will notify promptly the WTO of any such measures and we call on the 

WTO, together with other international bodies, within their respective 

mandates, to monitor and report publicly on our adherence to these 

undertakings on a quarterly basis;

 we will take, at the same time, whatever steps we can to promote and 

facilitate trade and investment; and

 we will ensure availability of at least $250 billion over the next two years 

to support trade finance through our export credit and investment agencies 

and through the MDBs. We also ask our regulators to make use of 

available flexibility in capital requirements for trade finance.

23. We remain committed to reaching an ambitious and balanced conclusion to the 

Doha Development Round, which is urgently needed. This could boost the global 

economy by at least $150 billion per annum. To achieve this we are committed to 

building on the progress already made, including with regard to modalities.

24. We will give renewed focus and political attention to this critical issue in the 

coming period and will use our continuing work and all international meetings 

that are relevant to drive progress.

Ensuring a fair and sustainable recovery for all

25. We are determined not only to restore growth but to lay the foundation for a fair 

and sustainable world economy. We recognise that the current crisis has a 

disproportionate impact on the vulnerable in the poorest countries and recognise 

our collective responsibility to mitigate the social impact of the crisis to minimise 

long-lasting damage to global potential. To this end:

 we reaffirm our historic commitment to meeting the Millennium 

Development Goals and to achieving our respective ODA pledges,

including commitments on Aid for Trade, debt relief, and the Gleneagles 

commitments, especially to sub-Saharan Africa;

 the actions and decisions we have taken today will provide $50 billion to 

support social protection, boost trade and safeguard development in low 
income countries, as part of the significant increase in crisis support for 

these and other developing countries and emerging markets;

 we are making available resources for social protection for the poorest 

countries, including through investing in long-term food security and 

through voluntary bilateral contributions to the World Bank’s 

Vulnerability Framework, including the Infrastructure Crisis Facility, and 

the Rapid Social Response Fund;

 we have committed, consistent with the new income model, that additional 

resources from agreed sales of IMF gold will be used, together with 

surplus income, to provide $6 billion additional concessional and flexible 

finance for the poorest countries over the next 2 to 3 years. We call on the 

IMF to come forward with concrete proposals at the Spring Meetings; 

 we have agreed to review the flexibility of the Debt Sustainability 

Framework and call on the IMF and World Bank to report to the IMFC 

and Development Committee at the Annual Meetings; and

 we call on the UN, working with other global institutions, to establish an 

effective mechanism to monitor the impact of the crisis on the poorest and 

most vulnerable.

26. We recognise the human dimension to the crisis. We commit to support those 

affected by the crisis by creating employment opportunities and through income 

support measures. We will build a fair and family-friendly labour market for 

both women and men. We therefore welcome the reports of the London Jobs 

Conference and the Rome Social Summit and the key principles they proposed. 

We will support employment by stimulating growth, investing in education and 

training, and through active labour market policies, focusing on the most 

vulnerable. We call upon the ILO, working with other relevant organisations, to 

assess the actions taken and those required for the future. 

27. We agreed to make the best possible use of investment funded by fiscal stimulus 

programmes towards the goal of building a resilient, sustainable, and green 

recovery. We will make the transition towards clean, innovative, resource 

efficient, low carbon technologies and infrastructure. We encourage the MDBs to 

contribute fully to the achievement of this objective. We will identify and work 

together on further measures to build sustainable economies.

28. We reaffirm our commitment to address the threat of irreversible climate change, 

based on the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, and to reach 
agreement at the UN Climate Change conference in Copenhagen in December

2009.

Delivering our commitments

29. We have committed ourselves to work together with urgency and determination 

to translate these words into action. We agreed to meet again before the end of 

this year to review progress on our commitments.