TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SCREENING AND MANAGEMENT UNIT

The Nucleus Agro-Enterprise Project is managed by a small Technical Assistance Screening and Management Unit (TASMU) . The TASMU is staffed by a full-team of five consultants with the following expertise: Project Design and Analysis, Agriculture, Engineering, Social Impact Assessment and Environmental Impact Assessment. The sixth member of the TASMU is a senior appointee nominated by the DNPRD who functions jointly as team leader for the unit in conjunction with the Project Analyst/Team Leader.

TASMU undertakes the necessary background assessment relating to the investment environment for the priority agro-industry areas. Each proposal put forward to the TASMU is screened to establish its prima facie viability. For proposals that appear viable after the preliminary Rapid Rural Appraisals (RRAs), Terms of Reference and cost estimates are prepared for Sub-Project Feasibility Studies (SFSs) which will lead to a full technical, financial, social and economic assessment of each proposal. These proposals are then assessed by a Technical Screening Committee (TSC) made up of representatives from Government, ADB and the private sector. Those proposals that pass this scrutiny are approved for SFS funding. Similarly, in the case of Pilot Project activities, for this initial proposals which have been positively assessed after the preliminary RRA, TASMU prepared micro-investment plans and related cost estimates.