This Guidelines offer a holistic and structured approach to value chain selection. They combine four different dimensions of value chains/sustainable development: economic, environmental, social and institutional. Since the four dimensions are interconnected, overlooking any one of them during value chain selection will affect the next phase of value chain analysis and development. Because currently no comprehensive or systematic approach or methodology exists that combines these four dimensions, these guidelines have been developed to fill the gap. The guidelines include clear criteria and a set of tools to aid in the selection process. Potential users are development practitioners, governments and private sector initiatives, who wish to make well-informed decisions about which sectors and value chains to intervene in for market development.