This training guide has been designed for use in introductory rural and microfinance training courses. While the fundamentals of development finance and approaches in microfinance apply to rural finance, there are particular issues and characteristics that must be understood and taken into account in order to address rural, and in particular agricultural, finance. The material is organized into 10 teaching modules each of which should take approximately one-half day to deliver. The first 5 modules are designed to give a broad understanding of the key issues and approaches. The last 5 modules are more advanced and generally build from the broad concepts of the first modules into a focus on the important operational issues of cash flow and risk assessment and on specific product innovations and approaches used in rural and agricultural finance. It is aimed primarily at people who work in rural financial institutions, government and non-government development agencies, MFIs, banks and donors who advise and work with rural populations and communities.