Rural economy takes place in hamlets, villages, rural centres and towns. It encompasses production, exchange of goods and services and builds on assets, local know-how and potentials. It plays a vital role for people's livelihood and the development and well being of a country and its population.

Intercooperation aims at improving access of poor and disadvantaged people to services, knowledge and information. Through this, their capacities to create income and assets are increased. Building up of capital and distribution of risks helps to reduce vulnerability of the poor and creates a basis for growth.

For economic development to happen in rural areas, the availability of infrastructure and the existence and accessibility of basic social services are crucial. Intercooperation's emphasis is on giving impulses to production and the transformation of agricultural and forestry products, on identifying and creating linkages to markets and industries and in supporting the economy by building up and perfecting financial and non financial service providers that serve also the needs of the poor. Building of sustainable institutions is the key to success. Making the link to macro economic issues, helping to form private or public partnerships and assistance in lobbying for conducive legal, political and economic framework conditions round off Intercooperation's intervention in support of the rural economy.