Working in partnership with other development actors, UN DESA delivers its capacity development support at the global, regional, and national levels, in a variety of ways depending on the type of capacity development support required, level of operation, and partnership opportunities.

As a global entity with no country-level presence, UN DESA works in close collaboration with the UN Resident Coordinators and the UN Country Teams, in accordance with the General Assembly resolution on the Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review and the UN Development Group’s common approaches.

The multi-dimensional nature of the 2030 Agenda has encouraged a re-examination of programme and service delivery models developed prior to its adoption, with a view to delivering more coherent and integrated support. The continuing drive for cost-effectiveness, timeliness and quality of service delivery places a strong emphasis on efficiency as well.

UN DESA delivers its capacity development support in a variety of ways through a variety of funding and delivery mechanisms, adapting its services to different circumstances and requirements.

Seven steps have been identified for the service delivery process:
•    Communicating the service offerings and products
•    Identifying and prioritizing demand for capacity development services
•    Determining the appropriate level and methodology for service delivery
•    Identifying potential partnership opportunities
•    Resourcing capacity development initiatives
•    Delivering the services
•    Following up on results

With a pool of more than 200 experts, including dedicated inter-regional advisers, UN DESA focuses most of its capacity development efforts on developing well- tested methodologies, tools and approaches that can assist national policy makers build the necessary capacities to translate the new sustainable development framework into concrete policies and plans. As appropriate, these tools, models, and innovative approaches are tested in pilot countries, in collaboration with national authorities, through a combination of global, regional, and national interventions conducted in collaboration with strategic partners.

National beneficiaries and relevant partners are also trained as “trainers” in the context of longer-term and larger scale interventions. Partners, especially in the case of UN agencies with large country presence, facilitate the continued follow-up and sustainability of these capacity development interventions at the country level, since UN DESA is a non-resident entity. They also help bring these interventions to scale by training national stakeholders in other countries and continuing to disseminate these tools globally and regionally.

UN DESA also operates three strategic project offices that pursue long-term capacity development objectives at all levels of operation.

The United Nations Project Office on Governance (UNPOG) was established in 2006 as a project office of UN DESA with the principal mission of strengthening the capacities of public administration in developing countries in Asia and the Pacific. Since its inception, UNPOG has conducted innovative research and capacity building activities and disseminated global and local best practices on participatory, transparent and effective governance.

The United Nations Office for Sustainable Development (UNOSD) was established in 2011 by the United Nations and the Government of Republic of Korea.
The purpose of UNOSD is to support governments in implementing international agreements on sustainable development, including Agenda 21, the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, and the 2030 Agenda.

The United Nations Centre for Regional Development (UNCRD), which was established in 1971 based on an agreement between the Government of Japan and the United Nations, strives to promote sustainable regional development in developing countries with a focus on development planning and management in the context of globalization and decentralization trends, and the growing concern towards global environmental issues and their impacts.