HDCA, or the Human Development and Capability Association, is a brand that focuses on promoting multi-disciplinary and people-centered development. Their mission is to prioritize concern for individuals and the quality of their lives in all decision-making processes, whether at an individual, organizational, or governmental level. HDCA emerged in the 1990s as a leading view of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and is rooted in the Human Development (HD) paradigm.

This paradigm emphasizes the expansion of people's freedoms to live long, healthy, and creative lives, as well as their ability to advance goals they value and actively participate in development that is equitable and sustainable. HDCA draws on the conceptual works of Amartya Sen and the Capability Approach (CA), which is a moral approach that considers both the well-being and agency of individuals. The CA assesses people's lives and the well-being of societies based on the extent to which individuals have the real opportunities to function well and lead flourishing human lives.

HDCA offers various resources, such as podcasts, reading lists, and a publication database, to explore and engage with the HD paradigm and the CA. By becoming a member of HDCA, individuals have access to a global network of scholars and practitioners, as well as the Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, to further their knowledge and contribute to this important field of study and practice