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by okfn

mcp_iati_transaction_totals_by_year

Group IATI commitments and disbursements by year and currency, filterable by year range, to produce a chronological table of totals per transaction type.

Instructions

Group commitments and disbursements by year and currency.

    Only commitment and disbursement transactions are included. Amounts
    with different currencies are always reported separately.

    Args:
        year_from: Optional first year to include.
        year_to: Optional last year to include.

    Returns:
        A chronological table containing year, transaction type, currency
        and total amount.

    Relevant IATI terms:
    - Transaction: Financial operation associated with an IATI activity, identified by its type, date, value and currency.
  • Transaction type: Code indicating the nature of a financial operation: incoming funds, commitment, disbursement, expenditure, interest payment, loan repayment, reimbursement, purchase or sale of equity, credit guarantee, incoming commitment, or outgoing/incoming pledge.

  • Transaction value: Amount of an individual transaction, expressed in the currency stated on the value or, if unspecified, in the activity's default currency.

  • Commitment: Financial obligation undertaken to provide funds to an activity; it does not necessarily represent a payment already made.

  • Disbursement: Transfer of funds from a provider organisation to a receiver organisation to finance an activity.

  • Default currency: Currency declared for an activity and used whenever a financial value does not explicitly specify another currency.

Input Schema

TableJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
year_toNo
year_fromNo

Output Schema

TableJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
forceNoPlain text message that bypasses LLM processing and should be printed exactly as provided in the user interface.
tableNoTwo-dimensional list (list of rows) representing tabular data, e.g., from CSV or TSV sources. Each row should be a list of cell values.
chartsNoList of dictionaries containing data and configuration for rendering a Chart.js chart in the chat interface.
sourcesYesURL(s) that users can nagivate to to download the data used for the analysis. E.g., landing page, feed, file endpoint, CKAN resource page, etc.
Behavior4/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

No annotations are provided, so the description carries the full disclosure burden. It reveals key behavioral details: only commitments and disbursements are included, different currencies are never merged, and the result is a chronological table. For a read-only aggregation tool this is solid, though it does not explicitly state behavior when year_from/year_to are omitted.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness3/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

The opening sentence is clear and the Args/Returns sections are well structured. However, there is redundancy between 'Group commitments and disbursements...' and 'Only commitment and disbursement transactions are included,' and the 'Relevant IATI terms' glossary is long, containing definitions that are not all essential for invoking this specific tool.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness4/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

For a tool with two optional parameters and an output schema, the description covers the core invocation contract: purpose, filter parameters, included transaction types, output columns, and the important currency-separation caveat. It lacks explicit guidance on preferring sibling transaction tools or on omitted-year behavior, but the essential context is present.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters4/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

Schema description coverage is 0%, and the description compensates by explaining both parameters: 'year_from: Optional first year to include' and 'year_to: Optional last year to include.' This adds meaning beyond the bare integer/null schema and default values. It stops short of a 5 because it does not clarify inclusivity or open-ended ranges.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose5/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description opens with a specific verb and resource: 'Group commitments and disbursements by year and currency.' It names the two transaction types included and the return format, which clearly differentiates it from sibling tools like mcp_iati_transaction_totals_by_organisation or by_sector.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines3/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

The description gives an explicit scope condition: 'Only commitment and disbursement transactions are included,' which tells an agent when not to use the tool. However, it does not explicitly name alternative tools or state a when-to-use/when-not-to-use rule relative to mcp_iati_activity_transactions or the other totals_by_* tools.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

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