The speaker for the talk was Mr. Debaraj Behera, associated with The World Bank as an Agriculture and Livelihood Expert under Global Agriculture and Food Security Programme (GAFSP), Social Sustainability and Inclusion (SSI) Global Practice, Environment, Natural Resources, and Blue Economy (ENB) Global Practice. He had earlier worked in Fungicides India Limited, Ogilvy & Mather, Centre for Youth and Social Development (CYSD), Action for Social Advancement (ASA) Bihar Rural Livelihoods Promotion Society (BRLPS)/JEEViKA and National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM). Mr. Debaraj holds a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) and Post Graduate Diploma in Rural Management from the Institute of Rural Management, Anand (IRMA).

In his talk on designing, managing, implementing, and monitoring climate resilience projects, Mr. Debaraj emphasized the importance of drought mitigation strategies like millet cultivation, goat rearing, and large livestock management in semi-arid areas. To build resilience, he recommended diversifying livelihoods to provide communities with alternative income sources, enhancing their adaptive capacity. Mr. Debaraj highlighted key preventive and curative measures such as implementing vaccination programs, and constructing resilient housing for animals to withstand climate extremes. Additionally, he stressed training communities on improved agricultural practices, introducing climate-resilient seeds, and integrating technology.

Mr. Debaraj also engaged with students’ village study experiences, encouraging them to design real-world projects with a focus on budgeting, implementation, and monitoring. He also recommended books like The One Minute Manager to foster leadership and efficiency. His session emphasized holistic planning and sustainable rural development.