Book excerpt: Genetic improvement is an essential component of the management of animal genetic resources and can make important contributions to food security and rural development. Yet, the majority of developing countries have not been successful in sustaining breed development programmes. The objective of these guidelines is to help countries plan and develop effective genetic improvement programmes and to maximize the chances that such programmes will be sustained. These guidelines address Strategic Priority Area 2 of the Global Plan of Action for Animal Genetic resources adopted in 2007, and are intended for use by policy-makers and organizations involved in livestock development.