Drawing on experiences in four different agro-ecological zones in Ethiopia, these guidelines present advice on the design and implementation of community-based breeding programmes, with the aim of facilitating the scaling-up of the existing scheme in Ethiopia and the planning of similar projects elsewhere. They are intended for use by any stakeholders involved in planning and implementing sheep-breeding projects for resource-poor farmers in developing countries. Community-based breeding programmes are presented as an alternative to centralized government-run breeding schemes (which have generally failed to sustainably provide the desired genetic improvements or to engage end users) and to the practice of introducing exotic genetic resources without adequate pretesting of their suitability (which has also often failed to produce the desired results and, if it leads to indiscriminate cross-breeding, creates problems of genetic erosion in the original locally adapted population). The guidance presented is intended for use under conditions where a developed infrastructure for animal genetic improvement in smallholder production system is not in place, systematic processes for identifying and delivering genetically superior breeding stock from the local populations are lacking, and national research and development organizations have limited experience and a limited number of qualified staff. The main body of the guidelines consist of three sections: the first on the core activities involved in the implementation of a community-based programme; the second on the creation of an enabling environment for such programmes; and the third on their monitoring and evaluation. The description of the core activities begins by addressing the question of how to identify the site for the programme and the group or groups of livestock keepers to be targeted. This includes advice on the factors to consider and steps to follow when making these choices and on the characterization of breeds and their production environments. Step-by-step advice is then offered on the definition of breeding objectives (including descriptions of various “tools” that can be used in this process – individual interviews, focus groups, choice card experiments, ranking of animals, etc), the assessment of alternative breeding plans and the establishment of the structures needed for the implementation of the programme (animal identification, data recording and management, procedures for selecting and using breeding rams, and the provision of institutional backup for the programme during its initial phases – i.e. support from researchers, extension personnel, or NGO or project staff). Advice on the creation of an “enabling environment” includes guidance on how to establish and maintain a good relationship between the community and the “implementers” of the project, complementary interventions such as improving access to animal health services and market information, establishment of cooperatives or farmers' organizations, capacity development for the various different types of stakeholders involved in the programme, provision of appropriate government support in the form of ensuring sufficient access to credit land and other resources, and the establishment of links to other ongoing development projects and activities.