PARIS21 is serviced by a small Secretariat hosted by the Development Co-operation Directorate in the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development in Paris, France. The work of the PARIS21 Consortium is guided by a Steering Committee with representatives of developing countries from each region of the world, bilateral donors, and the partnership's founding institutions: the United Nations, the European Commission, the OECD, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Bank. The Steering Committee has a Bureau subgroup that provides guidance and support to the Secretariat and its work programme.

The Steering Committee is responsible for the oversight of the PARIS21 Secretariat work programme and for ensuring that the aims and strategy of the wider PARIS21 Consortium are effectively articulated and disseminated. The Steering Committee normally meets in full session twice per year (usually in June/July and October/November). The Committee has two chairs: the chair of the OECD's Development Assistance Committee (DAC) and a developing country member of the Bureau of the United Nations Statistical Commission (either the chair where applicable or his/her nominee from within the Bureau).

PARIS21 has undergone three evaluations: the first in 2003, the second in 2006, and the third in 2009 (results to be published soon).