The recently published Disaster Response Public Financial Management Review Toolkit explains how to undertake a rapid assessment of PFM systems to determine their ability to respond effectively to natural disasters whilst maintaining accountability. 

The Toolkit has been tested in the Caribbean. It is quick to apply and leads logically into the preparation of an action plan.  Applications of the toolkit have shown that countries that are regularly affected by extreme weather events are woefully ill-prepared to respond. PFM systems are bureaucratic and inflexible hindering disaster response, rules are broken, accountability and transparency undermined and trust lost.  This need not be the case.  The authors of the review toolkit – Richard Sutherland and Leah April - are available to provide more information on the tool and how to apply it. Please feel free to contact them directly.