The Global Forum was first organized by the Government of the United States in 1999. Since then, it has emerged as one of the most significant global events to address government reinvention. Subsequent forums have been organized by the Governments of Brazil, Italy, Morocco, Mexico, and the Republic of Korea, respectively. During the 6th Global Forum held in Seoul in May 2005, the United Nations Under-Secretary- General invited participants to the 7th Global Forum to be held at the UN Headquarters. The participants endorsed the recommendation of the Government of the Republic of Korea to accept the invitation of the United Nations.

Through Resolution A/RES/57/277, the General Assembly asked the United Nations Secretariat to provide support to the Global Forum on Reinventing Government. In view of the significance of the Global Forum for ministers, senior government officials, civil society organizations, and the private sector, the Secretary-General of the United Nations endorsed continued support, if requested, for the Global Forum in his 2002 report to the General Assembly. The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) leads the UN entities and Programmes and external partners in providing support to organize the Forum.