Agenda 21 recommends that as part of their participation in national and regional coordination mechanisms, UNDP, the World Bank and regional multilateral development banks should assist in facilitating capacity- and capability-building at the country level, drawing on the special expertise and operational capacity of UNEP in the environmental field and on that of the specialized agencies, organizations of the United Nations system and regional and subregional organizations in their respective areas of competence. For this purpose UNDP should mobilize funding for capacity- and capability-building, utilizing its network of field offices and its broad mandate and experience in the field of technical cooperation, including that related to transfer of technology and know-how. UNDP, together with these international organizations, should at the same time continue to develop consultative processes to enhance the mobilization and coordination of funds from the international community for capacity- and capability-building, including the establishment of an appropriate database. These responsibilities might need to be accompanied by strengthening of UNDP capacities.
This strategy features in the framework of Agenda 21 as formulated at UNCED (Rio de Janeiro, 1992), now coordinated by the UN Commission on Sustainable Development and implemented through national and local authorities.