The IMF is "adapting its framework for providing support to low-income countries (LICs) amid rising vulnerabilities", the fund said yesterday. "Despite a global economic upswing, many LICs continue to face difficult fiscal and external positions, aggravated by increasing debt levels and natural disasters in many countries," it said. In May last year the IMF approved higher annual access limits under the Rapid Credit Facility (RCF) for balance of payment needs arising from large natural disasters. It also left the list of Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust (PRGT)-eligible countries unchanged despite rising per capita income levels. Now it says a "comprehensive review of PRGT facilities is underway to consider adaptations of methods and access policies."PRGT demand in 2017 was above the historical average for the third year in a row, the IMF said, and totalled SDR 1.7 billion, the highest level since the global financial crisis. It expected demand to moderate somewhat in 2018. The PRGT self-sustained capacity remains intact, the IMF said. "Loan resources have been successfully replenished, while subsidy contributions remain somewhat below pledged amounts," it reported, with the 2015 fundraising round mobilising "slightly more than the initial target of SDR 11 billion in new loan resources from 15 PRGT lenders, which should provide adequate loan resources into the next decade". But it said progress had been limited in collecting the remaining pledged resources for subsidising the interest on PRGT credit.The Catastrophe Containment and Relief Trust (CCR Trust) remains underfunded, and the IMF called on countries with outstanding pledges to fulfil their commitments and for additional countries to come forward. It said additional financing would be required to provide debt relief to members with protracted arrears.Debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Counties (HIPC) Initiative is winding up, with only two potentially eligible countries (Somalia and Sudan) left with outstanding fund credit.