TAC's assessment of Centre proposals for 1999 and 2001 started from the formal endorsement of the Committee's recommendations on the 1998-2000 MTP process at MTM97. The Committee subsequently followed three steps. The first step was to review the Centre proposals for 1999, in particular whether new projects or activities - as compared to the 1998-2000 proposals endorsed at MTM - had been put forward. If Centre proposals were simply an implementation of what had been agreed in last year's MTP, TAC did not proceed with further analysis. On the other hand, if the proposals included new activities or projects then the Committee screened them against the criteria for support by the CGIAR. Particular importance was given to whether: the outputs of the proposed new work would consist of international public goods, outputs could directly contribute to the CGIAR goals of poverty alleviation and protection of natural resources, no satisfactory alternative sources of supply were available, that there was adequate probability of success, and comprised research or research-related activities. In addition, attention was given to shifts among Centre activities; where these were relatively large, TAC sought justification in terms of the criteria described above. Thereafter, TAC reviewed the initial proposals for the year 2001 and screened these against the criteria for CGIAR support as already specified.
The focus of TAC's work was on programmatic, rather than financial, analysis. The Committee was particularly interested in the extent to which Centre proposals could be incorporated into the CGIAR Research Agenda.
Subsequently, in order to guide bilateral negotiations between members and centres, the Committee examined the implications of Centre proposals for CGIAR resource allocation with respect to priorities as agreed by the Group at MTM97. Consideration was given to the implications of Centre proposals when aggregated for recommendations on priorities by undertaking, production sector and commodity. In doing so, TAC gave emphasis to the extent to which there was conformity to the MTM97-endorsed trend rather than to the actual number. In line with the schedule for the CGIAR's new financing arrangements, at TAC 75 in September 1998, the Committee will consider the implications of individual Centre financing plans for CGIAR priorities.
