The Cluster is intended to coordinate the joint operations of a number of international organizations in the area of trade and capacity building, enhancing efforts to help developing countries improve their abilities in governance and various economic activities that can lead to growth, jobs, and rising living standards.  "Productive capacity" refers to the ability to produce a variety of products for sale and export, including industrial goods and services of increasing sophistication.

Along with UNCTAD, the Cluster's members are the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization, the International Trade Centre, the World Trade Organization, the United Nations Development Programme, and the five regional United Nations Commissions.  The Cluster functions within the UN Chief Executive Board.

As part of the UN's "Delivering as One" initiative, the Cluster will seek to ensure that activities to boost economic capacity, especially in eight selected pilot countries, are designed so that programmes under different agencies mesh efficiently and have the greatest positive impact.