Ethiopia is set to get another $468 million in crucial financing, after a successful staff-level accord with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). It also signals the wrapping up of the fifth review for the country’s continuing Extended Credit Facility (ECF) program, sort of like a checkpoint that matters.

The agreement, reported on Wednesday, points to a big milestone within Ethiopia’s wider economic transformation plan, which is largely driven by the Ministry of Finance. These rule changes and policy adjustments are meant to steady the overall economy, tackle macroeconomic distortions, and help the country stand up better against the more recent worldwide shocks that have been hitting hard.

To actually release the funds, the staff-level arrangement has to be formally cleared first by the IMF Executive Board. Only after that greenlight, the next payout will meaningfully strengthen the nation’s financial position and give needed support for its balance of payments, i.e., keeping external accounts more stable.

Once that money lands, the total disbursements under the four-year, $3.4 billion credit deal will rise to around $2.65 billion. In the end, this capital will be important for rebuilding foreign exchange reserves and for backing the longer-term stabilization work being coordinated by the National Bank of Ethiopia.