Agriculture is important in international development projects. For instance, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) recently acknowledged its priority toward agricultural-based initiatives that address food security issues in addition to improving production and marketing of livestock, fisheries, agronomic and horticultural crops, with the primary objective of increasing the capacity of poor individuals to raise household income. With greater frequency, Non Governmental Organizations (NGO's) are serving as contractors to international donors to implement these projects. Additionally, project managers not necessarily having backgrounds in agriculture increasingly may be tasked with planning and implementation of an agriculturally-based development project. Government and NGO's generally approach agricultural development through technical assistance (training and the introduction of new technology) but may also have micro-credit components for the purpose of business development. Though well intentioned, these projects may not realize their full potential, have limited impact, or fail entirely. Two case studies from East Africa are presented: one implemented by an NGO centered around Horticultural crop production and marketing, and the other implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations centered around fisheries production and marketing combined with an agroforestry component. We describe project design, coordination, communication, implementation, technology transfer, and follow-up approaches that have led to either diminished results or large-scale success. Examples include the importance of counterpart identification and time frame considerations in the project design. We wish to provide new professionals or volunteers interested in international development specific scenarios that may be encountered in order to avoid pitfalls and maximize success of an agriculturally-based project.