Central Banking Excellence Award

Evaluation

100% automatic, from the data and evidence you submit

Minimum score to win

70 / 100

Measurement period

The central bank’s financial year 2025, with adherence to the monetary objective counted month by month over the twelve months

Who can apply

• A central bank or monetary authority established by law in an Arab country
• Annual report for 2025 published or formally submitted before the evidence deadline
• The nomination is for the institution as a whole, not a single department or project

Indicators and weights

1. Months meeting the monetary objective

   Number of months in 2025 in which the announced primary monetary objective stayed within range: annual inflation inside the announced target range, or for pegged regimes the official exchange rate inside the announced peg band; where the bank announces neither a numeric inflation target nor a peg, a month counts when annual headline inflation was at or below 5%

   25%
   Show points and evidenceHide

   Points

   • 11 – < 12 months 100
   • 9 – < 11 months 80
   • 6 – < 9 months 50
   • 0 – < 6 months 20

   Evidence

   Official monthly inflation or exchange-rate series from the statistics office or central bank, with the text of the announced objective

2. Strategic plan KPI achievement

   Share of the 2025 key performance indicators in the strategic plan that met or exceeded their target, where the indicators and targets were board-approved before 1 January 2025; an indicator added, or whose target was revised, during the year counts as not met

   10%
   Show points and evidenceHide

   Points

   • 90 – < 100 % 100
   • 75 – < 90 % 80
   • 60 – < 75 % 50
   • 0 – < 60 % 20

   Evidence

   The strategic or 2025 plan approved before the year began, and the board-approved monitoring report listing each indicator, its target and its result

3. Monetary policy transparency practices

   Number of the following seven practices in place: pre-announced policy meeting calendar, statement published after every decision, periodic monetary policy or inflation report, financial stability report, published minutes or summary of deliberations, press conference or briefing after decisions, published audited financial statements of the central bank (full marks only for all seven)

   20%
   Show points and evidenceHide

   Points

   • 6.5 – < 7 items 100
   • 5 – < 6.5 items 80
   • 3 – < 5 items 50
   • 0 – < 3 items 20

   Evidence

   Links to the official page for each practice on the central bank’s website during 2025

4. International assessment recommendations implemented

   Share of the recommendations addressed to the central bank in the latest IMF or World Bank assessment (Article IV, FSAP or safeguards assessment) that were fully implemented by the end of 2025

   15%
   Show points and evidenceHide

   Points

   • 75 – < 100 % 100
   • 50 – < 75 % 80
   • 30 – < 50 % 50
   • 0 – < 30 % 20

   Evidence

   The international report with the central bank’s implementation tracking table or the follow-up report of the international body

5. Statistical data dissemination standard

   The country’s level under the IMF data dissemination standards, with the central bank responsible for the monetary and financial data published

   10%
   Show points and evidenceHide

   Points

   • Special Data Dissemination Standard Plus (SDDS Plus)100
   • Special Data Dissemination Standard (SDDS)85
   • Enhanced General Data Dissemination System with a published National Summary Data Page60
   • Enhanced General Data Dissemination System without a National Summary Data Page35
   • Not a participant0

   Evidence

   The country’s page on the IMF Dissemination Standards Bulletin Board

6. Official reserves import cover

   Months of imports of goods and services covered by usable official reserves at the end of 2025

   10%
   Show points and evidenceHide

   Points

   • ≥ 6 months 100
   • 4 – < 6 months 80
   • 3 – < 4 months 50
   • 0 – < 3 months 20

   Evidence

   Published official reserves and balance-of-payments data from the central bank or the IMF database

7. Timeliness and outcome of the central bank audit

   When the central bank’s audited 2025 financial statements were published and the type of external audit opinion

   10%
   Show points and evidenceHide

   Points

   • Published within four months of year end with an unqualified opinion100
   • Published within six months with an unqualified opinion70
   • Published after six months or with a qualified opinion30
   • Not published0

   Evidence

   Published audited financial statements with the auditor’s report and publication date

Each indicator gives 0 to 100 points; its share of the total is its weight. Ties are decided by the indicators listed first in the scorecard; payment or package never affects the score.

1. Done

   Nominations open

   26 October 2026 · 13:10

2. Upcoming

   Nominations close

   27 November 2026 · 01:10

3. Upcoming

   Judging starts

   27 November 2026 · 01:11

4. Upcoming

   Judging ends

   4 December 2026 · 13:00

5. Upcoming

   Results announced

   4 December 2026 · 13:10

Times are in Asia/Riyadh (UTC+03:00).