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UN DESA provides capacity development assistance through the Regular Programme of Technical Cooperation (RPTC), the Development Account (DA) and voluntary contributions from Member States. Both the RPTC and the DA are funded by regular budget resources. UN DESA also relies on special voluntary contributions to fund targeted capacity development programmes.
These programmes are designed to help Member States build their capacity to implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They cover a wide range of topics, including statistical capacity building, environmental management, and disaster risk reduction. By investing in capacity development, UN DESA is helping Member States to build a better future for all.
Development Account
Background
The Development Account (DA) was established by the General Assembly in 1997 through its resolution 52/12 B as a mechanism to fund capacity development projects of the economic and social entities of the United Nations (DESA, ECLAC, ESCAP, ESCWA, ECE, ECA, UNCTAD, UNEP, UN-Habitat, UNODC). These 10 entities submit proposals through their focal points to the DA in New York. Should Member States be interested, they should contact the relevant thematic or regional entity.
The Development Account serves as a supportive vehicle for advancing the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the outcomes of United Nations conferences and summits by building capacity on three levels, namely: (i) the individual; (ii) the organizational; and (iii) the enabling environment.
Capacity Development Approach
- Medium-term
The Development Account adopts a medium-term approach to helping countries better integrate social, economic, and environmental policies and strategies to achieve inclusive and sustained economic growth, poverty eradication, and sustainable development.
- National, sub-regional, regional and inter-regional approach
Projects financed from the Development Account aim to achieve development impact by building the socio-economic capacity of developing countries through collaboration at the national, sub-regional, regional, and inter-regional levels. The Development Account also provides a mechanism for promoting the exchange and transfer of skills, knowledge, and good practices among target countries within and between different geographic regions.
- Partnerships
Projects include cooperation with a wide range of partners in the broader development assistance community, including between the Development Account’s 10 implementing entities, Resident Coordinator Offices, UN Country Teams, and other partners within and outside the United Nations system. Such partnerships are critical to the implementation of Development Account projects.
- Operationalizing the UN Secretariat’s normative and analytical expertise
The Development Account provides its 10 mostly non-resident implementing entities with the ability to operationalize their vast knowledge and expertise to deliver capacity development support to beneficiary countries. For target countries, the Development Account provides a vehicle to tap into the normative and analytical expertise of the United Nations Secretariat and receive ongoing policy support on economic and social issues, particularly in areas where such expertise does not reside in the capacities of the United Nations Country Teams.
- Demand-driven and ensuring national ownership
Development Account projects build on requests for assistance from beneficiary countries and demands channeled through intergovernmental processes, and they often focus on countries with special needs, including Small Island Developing States (SIDS), Least Developed Countries (LDCs), and Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs). The projects also emphasize the integration of national expertise to ensure that the outcomes are national-owned and sustainable.
Regular Programme of Technical Cooperation (RPTC)
Background and context
The Regular Programme of Technical Cooperation (RPTC) was established by the General Assembly in its resolution 58 (I) in 1946. It is one of the longest-running technical cooperation programmes of the UN, and it continues to play a vital role in supporting developing countries, least-developed countries, economies in transition, and countries emerging from conflict in their efforts toward sustainable development.
Currently, those efforts are geared towards the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including the Sustainable Development Goals and other internationally agreed development goals.
By leveraging the expertise and analytical skills of its 11 Implementing Entities, the Programme allows a fast and flexible response to requests of Member States for short-term assistance to meet small-scale capacity development-related challenges.
The RPTC supports these efforts through various means, including policy analysis, advisory services, technical assistance, and training.
Support under the programme complements capacity development assistance programmed under other funding mechanisms, such as the UN's regular budget, including the Development Account, or extra-budgetary resources, making it an essential part of the UN’s work in promoting sustainable development.
How does RPTC help countries build capacity for sustainable development?
The RPTC is unique in its flexibility and agility, focus on national capacity-building, and commitment to South-South and triangular cooperation. Through these key characteristics, the RPTC can provide vital support to countries as they emerge from conflict or natural disasters, develop their policies and institutions, strengthen their human resources, and manage their knowledge.
The RPTC has several key characteristics that make it unique, including:
- Flexible and Agile Response to Countries in Special Situations
The RPTC is a flexible and adaptable funding mechanism that allows Implementing Entities to quickly respond to the urgent needs of developing countries, the least developed countries (LDCs), landlocked developing countries (LLDCs), and small island developing states (SIDS). Due to its rapid-response capacity, the RPTC can provide resources for unanticipated situations. The Programme thus gives Implementing Entities the flexibility and agility necessary to deliver timely assistance in times of crisis.
- Complementarity of Action
As an incubator, the RPTC may serve as a steppingstone for longer-term projects that will receive funding from other sources, such as the Development Account (DA) and extrabudgetary funds. By either building on earlier projects to scale up work or by paving the way for new projects, RPTC has helped to foster sustainable capacity development efforts in numerous countries.
- Focus on National Capacity-Building
One of the RPTC's key objectives is to build national capacities so that countries can better meet the challenges they face. The Programme does this by supporting and advancing processes aimed at developing the capacity of governments, through both individuals and institutions, and assisting in the formulation of policies for sustainable development.
- Commitment to South-South and triangular cooperation as an effective way to build national capacities
Through partnerships and activities such as workshops, forums, and expert meetings, RPTC activities provide an opportunity for experts to learn from each other and build on their collective experiences. Thus, the RPTC represents an important mechanism for South-South cooperation and provides a unique opportunity for countries to work together towards shared goals.
RPTC’s global outreach and impact
In 2021, the Implementing Entities received 580 requests for assistance from 142 different countries. RPTC support was provided to 162 countries at the national level through 622 advisory services, 699 training events, 129 fellowships, and 171 field projects. Overall, more than 27,643 participants benefitted from national-level support.
RPTC Eight Progress Report
Click here to learn more about the use and impact of the RPTC in its Eight Progress Report (2022).
DESA's RPTC portfolio is managed by the Capacity Development Programme Management Office (CDPMO). For more information about how to avail of DESA’s services, please contact the Capacity Development Programme Management Office.
RPTC countries support across all Implementing Entities in 2022.