Conditionality remains essential to protect the Fund's resources and to promote the needed adjustment processes . However, in the past, conditionality sometimes became too extensive and, in some structural areas, ventured into areas outside the expertise of the Fund . In this context, less can be more if it strengthens country ownership and contributes to a sustained implementation of needed reforms . In my experience, it is often not a lack of political will that hinders reform, but rather the lack of know-how . Therefore we must pay even more attention in future to providing efficient technical assistance and to building efficient administrative structures in the developing countries.
Globalization requires a policy concept for one world .
The demand by some that the IMF should withdraw from poor countries has not been thought through . Such a move would further a division of the world, whereas global partnership and cooperation is what is urgently needed. Those to whom I spoke in Africa confirmed in particular that the new concept of the World Bank and IMF cooperating to support comprehensive poverty reduction strategies developed by the countries themselves is beginning to bear fruit. This involves above all good governance, respect for the rule of law, an end to armed conflicts, and the fight against corruption. The second pillar consists of more decisive, faster, and more comprehensive support from the international community.