WASHINGTON: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) recently issued an RFP for a PR firm to assist its external relations department with various communications work, including providing early warning and strategic advice on issues that could affect the IMF's overall reputation.

An IMF spokesperson speaking on background declined to provide an estimated value for the communications work, though industry sources estimated the value of the contract as probably in the “seven figures.”

The selected agency would aid IMF's external relations team, which works ...