About
About PFRC
The Public Finance Resource Centre (PFRC) is part of the UK Centre of Expertise for Public Finance. It is designed to help partner countries access technical expertise as part of the UK Government’s broader expertise offer. The PFRC rapidly mobilises technical assistance, responding to demand from partner countries.
As of 31 March 2025, 52 suppliers have registered with PFRC. The registered supplier base comprises organisations from 18 countries ranging from small and medium-sized enterprises to large multinational firms.
Purpose
PFRC responds quickly and flexibly to demand for high quality demand-led technical expertise on both tax and broader public financial management, as well as providing macro-fiscal and debt management support.
PFRC supports more effective and equitable revenue systems in developing countries through advice on both tax policy and administration.
On the expenditure-side of public financial management we support:
- Improved transparency and accountability in public expenditure
- Equitable and sustainable public spending, that considers inclusion and accessibility, and does not create or exacerbate barriers to inclusion
- Open and transparent procurement processes
- Effective management of public investments
- Equitable and sustainable public spending, that considers inclusion and accessibility, and does not create or exacerbate barriers to inclusion
Beneficiaries
PFRC can work in any Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) eligible country. Recipients of PFRC support in partner countries are:
- Partner country governments, at both the national and sub-national level
- FCDO Embassies and High Commissions (i.e. Posts), primarily through analytical and scoping studies
- Regional organisations working on tax and public financial management issues
ASI’s role
ASI has been contracted by the FCDO as the PFRC Managing Supplier (MS). In this capacity ASI is responsible for the day-to-day management of the PFRC including: the delivery of short-term interventions; sourcing, contracting and managing delivery partners for medium and long-term interventions; and ensuring effective monitoring, evaluation and learning for all interventions.
PFRC’s procurement and contract management processes are differentiated based on the duration of the intervention:
- ASI delivers short term interventions directly, drawing on its roster of technical experts and its in-house programme management expertise, enabling PFRC to respond rapidly as windows of opportunity open in partner countries.
- Medium and long-term interventions are delivered by suppliers selected through competitive private sector procurements. ASI can participate in these competitions, subject to strict conflict of interest safeguards.
ASI leads a consortium that includes The Policy Practice and MetricsLed. The Policy Practice provides expert advice to the Managing Supplier on political economy analysis related issues. MetricsLed provides a secure management platform called MetricsLed Project, which supports the efficient management of the PFRC programme.
Conflict of Interest Safeguards
PFRC implements rigorous conflict of interest safeguards in order to ensure a level playing field for all procurements, including: (i) separate PFRC-specific communication channel and requirement for all ASI staff and associates to sign conflict of interest and confidentiality declaration before being granted access, (ii) in advance of every procurement, development of COI Management Plan, which is submitted to FCDO for their approval (iii) during each procurement, it is possible that there will be participation of FCDO as one panel member in technical bid evaluation, and (iv) once preferred bidder is selected, requirement to submit report to FCDO on any conflict of interest related issues that occurred during the commercial process and how these were managed by ASI, providing an opportunity for the FCDO to intervene if they have any concerns around COI issues.
The total value of medium- and long-term interventions that can be implemented by ASI under the PFRC (including when ASI is a sub-contractor to another firm) is capped at 20% of the total value of live medium- and long-term interventions at any one time.
Further details can be found in the FAQ section.