The purpose of this Topic Guide is to assemble a set of learning resources that will contribute to the development of the professional competence of DFID Advisers around the issue of ecosystem services and integrating this issue into project and programme design processes. The specific objectives are to:•Ensure that DFID Advisers fully understand the relationship between ecosystem services and the key sectors and policy areas in which DFID works; this will specifically involve understanding the value of these services, and their potential role in achieving sustainable poverty reduction; Identify where and how ecosystem services could be affected (positively and negatively) by, or could affect (positively and negatively), activities in DFID core sectors; Explore where and how an examination of ecosystem services can contribute to the development of stronger business cases and improved development outcomes; Enable DFID Advisers (1) to provide operational advice on ecosystem services across a wide range of sectors and (2) to clearly articulate the benefits of examining ecosystem services – in a manner easily understood by those in other technical disciplines (this will involve, for example, clearly articulating the economic and social benefits).