Scaling success: lessons from adaptation pilots in the rainfed regions of India  

This new research report from WRI calls for policymakers to think bigger about climate change adaptation by moving away from small, one-off projects to those that benefit more people and better inform policy. It presents case studies from 21 agriculture projects across India, but its lessons are applicable in many countries and to many stakeholders

The study “Scaling Success: Lessons from Adaptation Pilots in the Rainfed Regions of India” provides a synthesis of good practices and hands-on recommendations to practitioners, policy makers and funding agencies for identifying and scaling up effective adaptation interventions. As climate change threatens India’s food security, adaptation in the agriculture sector is becoming increasingly important. However, for too long, adaptation has been characterized by individual efforts and by small, time-bound pilot projects. Although these projects often have a strong grassroots focus, their capacity to benefit larger populations and to contribute to policy reform is limited.