In order to avoid the worst impacts of climate change, offshore wind will need to make an increasing contribution to the global effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with the Paris agreement. At the same time, it is imperative that offshore wind development is undertaken responsibly, considering both coastal communities and biodiversity. Especially in emerging market countries, coastal communities often rely heavily on the sea for their livelihoods, and the marine environment can be a vital part of their cultural norms and beliefs. Given the need to accelerate the deployment of offshore wind, governments in emerging markets are eager to progress quickly and some have already awarded seabed rights for projects, sometimes without adequate consideration of environmental and social (E&S) sensitivities. Poorly sited projects in areas where offshore wind could have significant impacts on communities and biodiversity will encounter difficulties throughout the permitting process, leading to delays and cost increases, and potentially resulting in projects failing to proceed. This guidance document is designed to support government planners in emerging market countries to identify potential areas for offshore wind development with the lowest E&S sensitivity.