PHASE TWO: FIELD WORK
The PEFA assessment process itself can be organized so that counterparts and stakeholders build a common understanding both on the “as-is” situation and possible and desirable reform options.
Assessment teams will meet government officials across the PFM cycle and get a detailed understanding of regulatory frameworks, practices, individual actors, ongoing and stalled reform plans and challenges. Only a part of the information and ideas exchanged during the assessment process will typically be documented in the final PEFA report.
Phase two involves the field work to collect in-country evidence and information needed to score assessment dimensions and indicators (data collection having started in step 3) and undertake data analysis needed for writing the PEFA report and annexes. At the same time this phase will also prepare the ground for reform dialogue. The field work phase often commences with an initial workshop for government officials, including representatives of the legislature and supreme audit institutions, and oversight team members and development partners. The purpose of the workshop is to explain the PEFA 2016 framework and methodology and the scope of the assessment. Thereafter, this phase
involves extensive data collection and analysis by the assessment team, and meetings with oversight team members, senior government officials, development partners and other stakeholders. Field work typically requires up to four weeks in country depending on the size, scope, and coverage of the assessment and on other country circumstances.
STEP 4: ASSESSMENT LAUNCH
The assessment launch aims to broaden country-level support for the project. It also aims to strengthen awareness and understanding of the PEFA framework and assessment process, as well as the information needs of and expected benefits from the activity. An effective launch can help to cement cooperation among stakeholders and allay concerns about demands to be placed on government officials and about the use of information being requested. It is important to stress that the PEFA assessment is not evaluating the performance of individual officers. It will also help to manage expectations about the results and use of the PEFA assessment. The launch process usually includes briefings of high-level government officials and a separate training workshop for operational management, their staff and other people who will be involved in the assessment or expected to provide data
PEFA Handbook Volume 1: The PEFA Assessment Process – Planning, Managing and Using PEFA
