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 and transition countries from each region of the world, bilateral donors, and the partnership's founding institutions: the OECD, World Bank, United Nations, International Monetary Fund, and the European Commission.

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).

Steering Committee governance arrangements for the period 2004-2006 were approved at the June 2004 Steering Committee meeting then revised at the November 2006 meeting. The current arrangements are available here.