Lessons learned through the pilot phase interventions, as well as those of various NGOs dealing in rescue and reintegration, have shown many young victims knew of the risk of exploitation before leaving home, but felt the risk was the lesser of two evils. Although not always the case, poverty and/or abuse were often major factors in their decisions to migrate.

In order to lessen migration related vulnerability, TICW-Phase II continues to develop alternative livelihood options through carefully focused direct assistance projects in high-risk sending areas. Again, successful direct assistance interventions from Phase I are being replicated in Phase II, and involve participatory monitoring, evaluation and documentation and sharing of lessons learned for empowerment, replication and mainstreaming.

Through the support of the ILO’s SEED-WEDGE, and Japanese Government's funding of the UN Trust Fund for Human Security Fund, small enterprise development interventions range from micro-financing initiatives, empowering women through small business start-ups, village savings and cooperative ventures such as ‘cow banks’. In Yunnan, China, the Netherlands-funded Spring Bud initiative, provides training to girls from minority communities. The main objective of all of these interventions is to keep parents in decent work, building their confidence to support their families, while allowing children and young people to remain in school and complete their education. Direct financial assistance is due to be phased out in 2006 as the benefits of other interventions are expected to take effect.