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World Bank President Jim Yong Kim pledged to increase funding for poor people living in states in or close to conflict as part of a new lending strategy for the global development bank and warned of the impact of U.S. fiscal uncertainty on developing nations.

In a speech in Washington, where a partial government shutdown began on Tuesday after a standoff between President Barack Obama and congressional Republicans over healthcare reforms, Kim said the implications could be far-reaching.

Emerging markets can better resist capital flow volatility by taking measures to encourage their residents to invest abroad in good times and repatriate the funds when needed, according to a study by the International Monetary Fund.

Latin America's growth outlook is shaky and a delay in pulling back economic stimulus in the United States shows the Federal Reserve is mindful of the impact its actions can have on other countries, an International Monetary Fund official said on Wednesday.

Investors and policymakers in Latin America and other emerging markets were relieved when the U.S. Federal Reserve decided against scaling back its bond-buying program last week, for now at least.

The International Monetary Fund can play a role in protecting the planet from environmental damage, IMF head Christine Lagarde said on Tuesday, as she highlighted how an analysis of the harmful effects of energy subsidies could act as a catalyst for action.

Lagarde's speech at the United Nations on Tuesday was the most direct example yet of the IMF's foray into focusing on climate change, after it published a research paper on energy subsidies in March.

Progress toward achieving gender equality around the globe has stalled in recent years, with women still holding fewer salaried jobs than men and receiving lower wages for their work, the IMF said in a study on Monday.

Under its first female chief, Christine Lagarde, the International Monetary Fund has renewed its push to strengthen the role of women in the economy, arguing it can raise growth prospects and improve development.

Romania sold a minority stake in nuclear power generator Nuclearelectrica SA, its first initial public offering in five years, to meet one of the terms of its International Monetary Fund loan.

Financially-stricken Cyprus is on track with reforms to shore up its economy, the IMF said on Wednesday, but said downside risks lurked from the yet-unclear impact of a banking sector overhaul.

Cyprus, one of the smallest countries in the euro zone, teetered on the brink of financial meltdown in March after a chaotic bid to hammer out a bailout with international lenders. It was eventually forced to shut down a major bank and seize savings in a second to qualify for 10 billion euros in aid, shattering confidence and forcing the imposition of capital controls to prevent a bank run.

Countries should observe “speed limits” and avoid narrowing fiscal deficits too quickly, even when they face pressure from investors justifying a large debt reduction, according to International Monetary Fund staff.

“As we have seen for some euro-area members, countries in a weak fiscal position that are facing market pressure or have lost market access have undertaken large and front-loaded adjustments,” according to a report by IMF economists released today. The research compiles lessons from the global financial crisis and the debt turmoil that followed in Europe.

Countries should observe “speed limits” and avoid narrowing fiscal deficits too quickly, even when they face pressure from investors justifying a large debt reduction, according to International Monetary Fund staff.

“As we have seen for some euro-area members, countries in a weak fiscal position that are facing market pressure or have lost market access have undertaken large and front-loaded adjustments,” according to a report by IMF economists released today. The research compiles lessons from the global financial crisis and the debt turmoil that followed in Europe.

The World Bank, faced with a tight budget and greater competition for development funds, aims to become more selective in its lending, focusing on fragile states, sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and other areas where it can have the greatest impact, according to a draft strategy paper obtained by Reuters.

The 42-page paper, presented to the bank's executive board last week, is the first major strategic review under World Bank President Jim Yong Kim.