The center is named after the late Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme.

As of 2018[update], the Palme Center has 27 member organizations within the Swedish labour movement.

The Palme Center works with international development co-operation in the Balkans, Eastern Europe, MENA, Southeast Asia and southern Africa.

Most projects are carried out directly by the member organisations, and are partly financed by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) through a framework agreement.

[2] The board of the Palme Center is chaired by former Swedish Deputy Prime Minister Member of European Parliament Margot Wallström.