With the pilot phase of the SCF in Senegal set to finish in the first quarter of 2019, this report provides cross-cutting lessons from the pilot that can inform the design and implementation of similar schemes in other countries. While the host country responsibility is much greater for a scheme such as the SCF, so is the engagement of local stakeholders and the potential for country ownership. Greater use of domestic expertise, such as local auditors, can further reduce costs and build capacity for climate change mitigation. Perhaps most importantly, the experience of these early pilot activities can inform the negotiations on the rules for Article 6 from a practical, developing country-focused perspective.