Technical assistance projects financed by the recipient countries themselves from their own national resources or from loans, credits and grants made by International Financing Institutions, are called Unilateral Trust Funds (UTF).

Many countries, particularly the more advanced developing countries, can afford to finance technical assistance projects in their own countries but have a specific need for additional technical expertise to formulate and implement development projects. Enlisting FAO's support and drawing on the Organization's experience, they can design and launch major programmes aimed at creating the conditions for sustainable food production through diversification and intensification of agricultural practices. Saudi Arabia, for example, uses UTFs to finance several million dollars worth of projects within its own borders every year. Countries as diverse as Iran, Nigeria, Venezuela, Brazil, Mexico and Gabon have also used this type of FAO Trust Fund.

The World Bank, regional development banks and IFAD have increasingly contributed to UTFs in recent years.

In 2004 approximately US$60 million was approved for UTF projects all over the world.