The activities of Instituto DESARROLLO are organized on three principal axes: (a) training, including both graduate studies and executive training, (b) research, and (c) technical assistance.

In the area of research, the Institute has worked with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Paraguay to prepare the National Human Development Report 2003. The Institute was responsible for the preparation of the Atlas of Human Development in Paraguay, and for a statistical analysis of the factors determining local development. The Institute is also responsible for the Paraguayan case in the UNDP-ECLAC (Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean) Research Network regarding Export-Based Growth Strategies. For this project the Institute has developed a computable general equilibrium model based on a social accounting matrix, which allows the analysis of the effects of macroeconomic policies on diverse sectors of the economy, classes of households, and regions of Paraguay.

The Institute is currently working on an evaluation of a National Health Program to reduce infant and maternal mortality rates according to the Millennium Development Goals, funded by the World Bank. It is also working on a project on Social Capital, Civil Society Organizations and Governance, funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

In the area of training and education the Institute is currently organizing with Universidad de San Andrés (Argentina) two Masters programs in Economics and Finance in Paraguay. It is also organizing an executive graduated program in International Business with The George Washington University (USA) trough its Center for Latin American Issues. It has also organized an executive graduated program in finance with Universidad de San Andrés (Argentina). Also, the Institute has organized executive training courses on Development Management for local entrepreneurs with social responsability, and on Project Design and Monitoring for the social sectors.

In the area of technical assistance, Instituto DESARROLLO is currently advising and training leaders of the community of Carapeguá in the design of a strategy for integral municipal development. This strategy attempts to design and implement, with the active participation of the community, a program that will accomplish the Millennium Development Goals. This project is funded by the Canadian Fund for Local Initiatives and by UNDP. This project has been identified by the UNDP as an innovative experience and it was worldwide disseminated through UNDP´s bulletin Newsfront in two languages (English and Spanish).

Due to this technical assistance, Carapeguá is the first Municipality in the world to adopt legislation by consensus to establish the following: a) The MDGs as the principal basis for the strategy of the municipal government (expectative and legislative), b) The Municipal plan must reflect adequately the MDGs as they are prioritized through a participatory method; and c) Institutionalize the permanent participation of civil society in monitoring and advising this process through the restoration of a Board of Community Development Advisors made up of representatives of the municipal government and organized civil society.