The HDI was originally designed as a set of ten projects, each providing assistance to grassroots communities in one of the thematic sectors specified in the UNDP Executive Board decisions, (or related sub-sector, as in the case of water and sanitation, a sub-sector of health, and micro-finance in the area of food security). An exception was the 'community development in remote townships project,' which provided assistance to communities in Northern and Eastern Rakhine, Chin and Kachin States in all the sectors in an integrated manner.

Experiences and lessons of previous phases of the HDI have indicated that greater efficiencies can be achieved through a more integrated approach towards addressing the various issues facing poor communities. More important, an integrated approach also supports a more holistic understanding of issues by communities and how to maximize the results of their various activities by considering them in light of their interrelationships with other issues.

Based on such lessons, the sectoral projects have been merged into one integrated community development project operating in HDI townships in Shan State, the Dry Zone, and the Ayeyarwaddy Delta. The community development in remote townships, which has already been addressing community needs in an integrated manner in previous phases, will continue to implement its activities in border area townships.

Two sectoral projects, the HIV/AIDS and micro-finance projects, continue as separate projects. In addition to their specific focus, they collaborate with the integrated community development projects where there is convergence, in terms of geographical locations or thematic activies.

The HDI-IV projects will thus consist of the following projects:

- Integrated Community Development Project (ICDP)

- Community Development in Remote Townships Project (CDRT)

- HIV/AIDS Prevention and Care Project

- Micro-finance for the Poor Project

- Integrated Household Living Conditions Assessment Project

- Agricultural Sector Review