In 1977, IFAD signed an agreement with the Investment Centre and currently uses it to design approximately 30 percent of its projects.

The Investment Centre works with IFAD to develop and assist projects dealing with poverty alleviation, food security, rural development, microfinance, community-based development, natural resources management, grass-root organizations' capacity building, promotion of small-scale income-generating activities, women's education and decentralization. Projects notably finance irrigation development, land and other natural resources management while also stimulating the private sector and improving access to markets.

Since 1977 to 2008, IFAD has approved 252 such projects for a total value of more than USD7 billion, which were prepared with Investment Centre experience.

Projects recently approved and financed largely by IFAD include:

• Congo, Republic of - Rural Development Project for Likoula, Pool and Sangha Departments (PRODER 3)
• Guyana - Rural Enterprise and Agricultural Development Project
• Maldives - Fisheries and Agricultural Diversification Programme
• Sudan - Southern Sudan Livelihoods Development Project
• Tajikistan - Khatlon Livelihoods Support Project