The United Nations is the parent organization that handles the proper functioning and administration of the IMF. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) promotes sustainable growth and prosperity across its 191 member countries by supporting policies that enhance financial stability, monetary cooperation, productivity, job creation, and economic development. Governed by its member nations, the IMF plays a vital role in shaping global financial systems.
Its three main missions are to strengthen international monetary cooperation, expand trade and economic growth, and prevent harmful economic policies. To achieve these goals, IMF members work together and collaborate with other global institutions to ensure economic stability and development worldwide.
The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are distinct institutions established at the Bretton Woods Conference in 1944, yet they share a close, complementary relationship. The IMF primarily focuses on ensuring global monetary stability, offering short-term financial assistance and policy advice to countries facing balance of payments problems. In contrast, the World Bank Group is dedicated to long-term development and poverty reduction by providing funding, technical assistance, and policy support for infrastructure projects and development programs. Both organizations are owned by their member countries, which govern them through respective Boards of Governors and regularly coordinate on global economic issues through joint meetings and committees, such as the Development Committee. Moreover, membership in the World Bank Group is contingent upon a country’s membership in the IMF, further highlighting the interdependent nature of their operations. This collaborative framework enables them to address a broad spectrum of economic challenges while contributing to a more stable and prosperous global economy.
Managing Director: Kristalina Georgieva
First Deputy Managing Director: Gita Gopinath
Deputy Managing Director: Bo Li
Deputy Managing Director: Kenji Okamura
Deputy Managing Director: Nigel Clarke
Economic Counsellor and Research Department Director: Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas
Financial Counsellor and Monetary and Capital Markets Department Director: Tobias Adrian
African Department Director: Abebe Aemro Selassie
Asia and Pacific Department Director: Krishna Srinivasan
European Department Director: Alfred Kammer
Communications Department Director: Julie Kozack
Corporate Services and Facilities Department Director: Brian Christensen
Finance Department Director: Bernard Lauwers
Fiscal Affairs Department Director: Vitor Gaspar
Human Resources Department Director: Catriona Purfield
Institute for Capacity Development Director: Dominique Desruelle
Head of Office of Internal Investigations: Patrice Sam
Legal Department General Counsel and Director: Yan Liu
Middle East and Central Asia Department Director: Jihad Azour
Secretary of the Fund and Secretary’s Department Director: Ceda Ogada
Chief Statistician and Data Officer and Statistics Department Director: Bert Kroese
Strategy, Policy, and Review Department Director: Ceyla Pazarbasioglu
Chief Information Officer and Information Technology Department Director: Shirin Hamid
Western Hemisphere Department Director: Rodrigo Valdes
Office of Budget and Planning Director: Michele Shannon
Office of Internal Audit Director: Ashlene van der Colff
Investment Office Director: Derek L. Bills
Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific Director: Akihiko Yoshida
Offices in Europe Director: James John
Special Representative to the UN: Robert Powell
Independent Evaluation Office Director: Pablo Moreno
Office of Risk Management Director: Romy Bowers
The document is the 67th issue of the International Monetary Fund’s By‑Laws, Rules, and Regulations, effective November 2022. It provides the comprehensive legal and operational framework by which the IMF is governed and functions. The by‑laws detail the organizational structure and powers of key bodies such as the Board of Governors, the Executive Board, and various committees, outlining procedures for meetings, including how they are convened, the notice required, quorum requirements, and voting protocols. In addition, the document sets forth rules governing membership applications, adjustments to quotas, and other structural elements, as well as the delegation of authority and procedures for amending the governing documents. Part II outlines the operational rules and regulations that supplement the foundational Articles of Agreement and by‑laws, covering topics such as the valuation of Special Drawing Rights (SDRs), currency exchange procedures, charges and remuneration for transactions, and the accounting and reporting requirements that ensure transparent financial operations. It also includes detailed staff regulations, establishing the standards for employee conduct, neutrality, and disclosure requirements, all aimed at maintaining the highest level of professionalism and integrity as international civil servants. Overall, these by‑laws and rules provide the legal backbone for the IMF’s activities and its interactions with member countries, ensuring that the Fund’s operations are efficiently managed, transparent, and in strict compliance with its governing principles.
The Articles of Agreement of the International Monetary Fund serve as the IMF's fundamental charter. Adopted at the Bretton Woods Conference in 1944 and subsequently amended, they establish the IMF’s core purposes: to promote international monetary cooperation, foster balanced growth in international trade, maintain exchange rate stability, and provide temporary financial assistance to member countries facing balance-of-payments difficulties. The document sets forth the criteria for membership—including the rights and obligations of both original and later members—and details the quota system, which determines each member’s financial contribution and voting power. It also lays out rules governing the Fund’s operations, including how transactions are conducted (such as the exchange of currencies for special drawing rights), the handling of capital transfers, and procedures for replenishing scarce currency reserves.
In addition, the Articles define the organizational structure of the IMF by detailing the roles and responsibilities of the Board of Governors, the Executive Board, and the Managing Director and staff. They also address legal matters such as the immunities and privileges granted to the Fund and its officials, ensuring that the organization can operate independently in the global financial system. Finally, provisions for dispute resolution, amendments, and interpretation of the Agreement allow the Fund to adapt to changing international economic conditions while upholding its mandate to promote global financial stability and economic growth.
Information sourced from IMF