Its secretariat and coordinating personnel is hosted by the Third World Institute, whose international seat is based in Montevideo, Uruguay.

[1][2] Adopting a critical-liberal stance, Social Watch is focused on: On these fronts, Social Watch engages both United Nations-sponsored and related intergovernmental initiatives that address global governance issues, as well as simultaneously coordinating a vast network of grassroots activist—so-called ‘Watchers’ (over 80 in both North and South)--that monitor compliance with international covenants.

[4] The practice of ‘Watching’ involves documenting and reporting on events, or failures to act (a kind of alternative journalism).

News generated by Watchers in various countries is regularly updated on the Social Watch website.

In 2011, Social Watch released the Basic Capabilities Index, a report on global development and human well-being.