The Group of 77 (G-77) was founded on June 15, 1964, at the conclusion of the first session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in Geneva. On this occasion, seventy-seven developing countries came together and endorsed the "Joint Declaration of the Seventy-Seven Developing Countries".  

In October 1967, representatives of developing countries convened the first Ministerial Meeting of the Group of 77, in Algiers. Countries, ‘united by common aspirations and the identity of their economic interests and determined to pursue their joint efforts towards economic and social development, peace and prosperity’, adopted the Charter of Algiers. 

The Chapters of the Group of 77 were subsequently formed, consolidating a permanent institutional structure. Currently, liaison offices are set up in key international locations, including Geneva (UNCTAD), Nairobi (UNEP), Paris (UNESCO), Vienna (UNIDO), and New York. The Rome Chapter is hosted by FAO, in collaboration with IFAD and WFP. 

Membership today accounts for 134 countries. Honoring its historical significance, however, the original name was kept.  The Group of 77 is the largest intergovernmental organization of developing countries in the UN. It aims to provide the means for countries to express, articulate and promote collective economic interests, enhance their negotiating capacity on major international issues, and foster South-South cooperation for development.  

The procedures and operational methods of the different G77 Chapters share some fundamental characteristics, such as membership, decision-making, and certain operating methods. Each chapter is led by a Chairperson, who serves as its spokesperson and coordinates the Group’s activities. The Chairmanship represents the highest political authority within the organizational structure of the Group of 77. It rotates on a regional basis (among Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America and the Caribbean). In all the Chapters, Chairmanship is held for one year turn. 

 (Adapted from The Group of 77 at the United Nations)