The Development Account is an integral part of the technical cooperation activities of the economic and social entities of the United Nations under the umbrella of Executive Committee for Economic and Social Affairs (EC-ESA).

Development Account projects aim at capacity-building through sub-regional, regional and interregional economic and technical cooperation among developing countries, implemented as individual projects aimed at achieving distinct development impact.

The projects serve as a natural extension to the normative and policy activities of the implementing agencies in their follow-up the United Nations conferences and summits in economic and social affairs. Projects are executed by member entities of EC-ESA.

The Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs acts as Programme Manager of the Account.

To date, one hundred twenty-seven projects have been approved by the General Assembly out of regular budget funds for a total amount of $81 million.