The Support Unit assists the Chair-in-Office in the administrative preparations of the Forum, including the meetings of the Steering Group, the Friends of the Forum, thematic ad hoc Working Groups and the main Forum. It serves the Chair-in-Office by maintaining the GFMD archives, managing internationally contributed funds to the GFMD, performing administrative, financial and logistical functions, and operating the GFMD main web portal.

The GFMD Support Unit was established following discussions at the Manila GFMD 2008, where the Friends of the Forum agreed to have it hosted administratively by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Geneva. It started its operation in February 2009 after the respective administrative and staffing issues were approved.

The host agency of the Support Unit has no direct influence on the activities and responsibilities of the office.

The Support Unit is attached to and is supervised by the Chair-in-Office.