With its Secretariat co-hosted by the United Nations Programme of Human Settlements (UN-Habitat) and United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), UNACLA works in a representative manner, its members bringing the consensus positions previously adopted by the respective networks. The member organizations of UNACLA represent around 323,000 institutions at all scales, from small towns, to local authorities in small island states, to intermediate cities and big metropolis. The Global Taskforce works to ensure fluid communication between UNACLA and the broader local and regional government constituency.

The main purpose of UNACLA today is to contribute to the local implementation of the newly established global agendas, make local government voice and experience heard in the UN System, support the sharing of the recommendations of the local government constituency and facilitate structural dialogue between local and central governments.