Most rural households lack access to reliable and affordable finance for agriculture and other livelihood activities. The recent financial crisis has made the provision of credit tighter and the need for innovative approaches to rural and agricultural finance more urgent. This set of 14 briefs points out the importance of business realities faced by small farmers, including low education levels, the dominance of subsistence farming, and the lack of access to modern financial instruments. New financing instruments, such as weather index-based insurance and micro-insurance have great potential for managing the risks faced by small farmers. Bundling financial services with nonfinancial services like marketing and extension services also offers new opportunities for small farmers to increase productivity and incomes. It is important to note that an enabling policy environment and legal framework, and a supportive rural infrastructure, are critical for making access to finance a reality.