Ecosystem-based approaches provide cost-effective co-benefits in terms of better fisheries yields and non-timber forest products for local communities. The project was designed to emphasize engineering approaches to climate adaptation. While the traditional engineering approaches are quite useful, ecosystem based approaches, such as using mangrove forests in coastal areas, should also be considered.
Community management of irrigation systems has enhanced project sustainability and reduced the burden on the government to use tax money for system maintenance. The project design did not consider alternative ways of managing irrigation systems. There were some attempts to form water user associations in Tamil Nadu, but there was no attempt to promote this concept.
Irrigation infrastructure development needs to be combined with modern agricultural approaches to enhance project effectiveness. These approaches may include climate-smart agriculture, conservation farming, on-farm water use efficiency, integrated water resource management, and crop diversification. effectiveness.
Focusing on existing social protection programs and systems and making in-depth policy discussions on reforming them contribute to avoiding the creation of ad hoc programs and arrangements or introducing reforms without having in place a solid institutional setup for its implementation. Alignment with the relevant national strategies ensures the government's strong ownership of prior actions and outcomes. Consideration of these two key lessons will strengthen the design and implementation of future similar programs.
Focusing projects on a few, contiguous areas can facilitate cross-learning thereby improving implementation and heightening impacts. The project was implemented in four aimag centers selected by the executing agency which are not geographically close. It could have been more beneficial if the project were implemented in neighboring aimags to allow the beneficiaries to learn from one another and observe spillover effects of project activities.
Ensuring the sustainability of skills development programs requires (i) continually upgrading training programs, modules, curricula, and trainers' skills; and (ii) maintaining and upgrading training equipment and facilities. All of these require considerable resources and can hardly be borne by the implementing institutions. Basic government support, along with resource mobilization, is important to sustain the quality and relevance of skills development programs.
The concerns of women and family members regarding their safety during travel and within the work environment—especially in jobs that involve migration, working on the shop floor, or extensive field visits—are barriers to hiring women. The challenges highlight the need for focused interventions, such as building women's confidence, providing self-defense training, and counseling family members.
Introducing new courses, updating existing ones based on market response, and strengthening quality assurance meant to increase workforce participation and improve employment prospects will enhance the relevance and effectiveness of the program.
Stakeholder expectations and reliance on concessional financing have a negative effect on the market upon completion of the project. Until the loan is fully used up, the market seldom finds innovative methods to improve viability without such concessional conditions. Therefore, by design, the project shall encourage the market to evolve and innovate to sustain without any concessional financing.
Despite the market already being available to cater to the project, the TA intervention resulted in a much smoother implementation that may have been difficult without a TA. Such TA components could improve project effectiveness and the good practices introduced would better the overall market. Thus, similar TA projects are encouraged for greenfield projects of this nature.