Major objective and activities of the UNCRD is to promote sustainable regional development and planning in developing countries. With partners/collaborators, UNCRD will support developing countries in achieving sustainable regional development:
-Sustainable regional development plans will be formulated in many developing countries;
Policies, plans, and strategies to promote sustainable regional development will be formulated and implemented;
-Forum of exchanging information will be developed;
-Awareness will be increased about main issues to be addressed for sustainable regional development, and cooperation attained among key stakeholders;
-Sustainable development will be achieved in many regions of developing countries;
-Local communities' resilience and empowerment promoted.

UNCRD and collaborating partners, international organizations, bilateral/multi-lateral donors, including development banks, provides substantive support for developing countries by:

Providing advisory support and promoting cooperation to develop and implement sustainable regional plans and territorial integration, strengthening intergovernmental relations;

Raising awareness among stakeholders and establishing regional networking;

Providing substantive capacity building and technical support to developing countries through results-based training courses, workshops, seminars on relevant subjects to achieve sustainable regional development;

Organizing policy forums and facilitating policy dialogues.

Assisting in assessing, planning, managing and monitoring regional development, designing public policy and formulating projects.

Promoting sustainable territories through the on-going activities of UNCRD in areas such as integrated regional development and human security, EST, 3Rs, waste management, Shanghai Manual (Better city, better life), community-based disaster management (CBDM).

Promoting South-South cooperation, and information exchange.

Preparing regional and metropolitan plans that identify the opportunities and challenges of sub-national levels and suggest policy prescription to achieve sustainable regional development.

Preparing relevant training material and textbooks to support capacity development programmes.

United Nations Centre for Regional Development (UNCRD)
Regions United (ORU-FOGAR)
The Latin American Organization of Intermediate Governments (OLAGI)
The Network of Regional Governments for Sustainable Development (nrg4SD)
The UNESCO Chair on Human Security and Regional Development
The International Urban Development Association of (INTA)
The Bogotá-Cundinamarca Region, Colombia
The Prefecture of Azuay, Ecuador