This study addresses issues central to the mandate of the Global Donor Platform, drawing on experiences from across the developing world and from a variety of donors in attempting to harmonize their efforts through providing programmatic support to the agriculture and rural development sector. The “TCI Issues Note” launches the study that will be conducted on behalf of the Platform by the FAO Investment Centre in collaboration with the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) at the University of Sussex. In addition to laying out the approach to the study and the issues to be addressed, the Note solicits ideas and experiences that might contribute to the study.