This brief is a part of "Technical briefs on rural and agricultural finance" and it discusses the different types of Credit Guarantee Systems (CGSs) and considers their application to and impacts on agricultural and rural enterprise development, emphasizing financial performance and sustainability. It also draws some lessons in the design and management of CGSs and concludes by making policy recommendations. The analysis is based on a study conducted by FAO on 16 case studies of guarantee funds in Africa, Latin America, Asia and Eastern Europe.