Types of Capacity Development Support

UN DESA leverages its knowledge resources and products to support governments, UN resident coordinators, and UN country teams to strengthen national institutions and public service delivery for the SDGs through various modalities.

Policy advice through advisory services. UN DESA makes its specialized advisory services and assistance available to all countries at their request and works with partners to achieve sustainable results. Government ministries and national entities can approach the Division directly or through their UN country team via the UN Resident Coordinator. Following a direct request or expression of interest, the Division assesses the feasibility and modalities for our intervention to ensure that we can achieve maximum results and efficiency. Advisory Services are provided in the following areas:

Governance and Public Institutions

UN DESA/DPIDG supports UN Member States of developing countries in strengthening governance capacities to advance the realization of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It does so by assisting countries in the design of inter-ministerial, multi-sectoral and cross-territorial/ multi-level institutional arrangements that promote evidence-based and integrated policy making in support of the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Transformational Leadership and Public Servants’ Capacities to Realize the SDGs

UN DESA/DPIDG supports member states of developing countries in strengthening capacity of leaders and public servants to implement the sustainable development goals by working with schools of public administration to design curricula, training materials and competency frameworks.

Accountability and Participation

UN DESA/DPIDG supports member states of developing countries in improving national capacities to promote accountability and prevent corruption. It does so by assisting countries in assessing the corruption risks related to SDG implementation, developing action plans and conducting training initiatives for civil servants aimed at strengthening accountable institutions, including auditing preparedness for implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Innovation and Delivery of Public Services for SDGs, including through Digital Government

UN DESA/DPIDG supports member states of developing countries in improving national and local capacities by assisting them in mapping services against the SDGs, designing and delivering innovative and inclusive services, including through the use of ICTs. Particular attention is given to key public service delivery dimensions, including access, responsiveness, and leaving no one behind.

Strategic support to the UN Resident Coordinator System through outreach and knowledge exchange, inputs for policy advice at the country level, analytical inputs as well as contributions to the Common Country Analysis and to the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) programming and operations.

Technical cooperation projects to support UN Member States in developing their capacities in the area of governance and public institutions at the national level. The Division implements a number of technical cooperation projects, including the UN Project Office on Governance (UNPOG) and the Internet Governance Forum. The UNPOG is based on a Trust Fund Agreement between UN DESA and the Government of the Republic of Korea whereas the IGF is based on a multi- donor trust fund. The projects are executed by UN DESA through DPIDG.