List of specialized agencies of the United Nations

Specialized agencies are autonomous organizations working with the United Nations and each other through the coordinating machinery of the United Nations Economic and Social Council at the intergovernmental level, and through the Chief Executives Board for coordination (CEB) at the inter-secretariat level.^[1] Specialized agencies may or may not have been originally created by the United Nations, but they are incorporated into the United Nations System by the United Nations Economic and Social Council acting under Articles 57 and 63 of the United Nations Charter. At present the UN has in total 17^[2] specialized agencies that carry out various functions on behalf of the UN. The specialized agencies are as follows:^[3]

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Serving both developed and developing countries, FAO acts as a neutral forum where all nations meet as equals to negotiate agreements and debate policy. FAO's mandate is to raise levels of nutrition, improve agricultural productivity, better the lives of rural populations and contribute to the growth of the world economy. FAO is the largest of UN agencies and its headquarters are in Rome, Italy.

International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) was founded in 1947. It codifies the principles and techniques of international air navigation and fosters the planning and development of international air transport to ensure safe and orderly growth. Its headquarters are located in the Quartier international de Montréal of Montreal, Canada.

The ICAO Council adopts standards and recommended practices concerning air navigation, prevention of unlawful interference, and facilitation of border-crossing procedures for international civil aviation. In addition, the ICAO defines the protocols for air accident investigation followed by transport safety authorities in countries signatory to the Convention on International Civil Aviation, commonly known as the Chicago Convention.

International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) was established as an international financial institution in 1977, as one of the major outcomes of the 1974 World Food Conference and a response to the situation in the Sahel. IFAD is dedicated to eradicating rural poverty in developing countries. Its headquarters are in Rome, Italy.

International Labour Organization (ILO)

The International Labour Organization (ILO) deals with labour issues. Its headquarters are in Geneva, Switzerland. Founded in 1919, it was formed through the negotiations of the Treaty of Versailles, and was initially an agency of the League of Nations. It became a member of the UN system after the demise of the League and the formation of the UN at the end of World War II. Its Constitution, as amended to date, includes the Declaration of Philadelphia on the aims and purposes of the Organization. Its secretariat is known as the International Labour Office.

International Maritime Organization (IMO)

The International Maritime Organization (IMO), formerly known as the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization (IMCO), was established in 1948 through the United Nations to coordinate international maritime safety and related practices. However the IMO did not enter into full force until 1958.

Headquartered in London, United Kingdom, the IMO promotes cooperation among governments and the shipping industry to improve maritime safety and to prevent marine pollution. IMO is governed by an Assembly of members and is financially administered by a Council of members elected from the Assembly. The work of IMO is conducted through five committees and these are supported by technical sub-committees. Member organizations of the UN organizational family may observe the proceedings of the IMO. Observer status may be granted to qualified non-governmental organizations.

The IMO is supported by a permanent secretariat of employees who are representative of its members. The secretariat is composed of a Secretary-General who is periodically elected by the Assembly, and various divisions including, inter alia, marine safety, environmental protection, and a conference section.

International Monetary Fund (IMF)

International Monetary Fund (IMF) provides monetary cooperation and financial stability and acts as a forum for advice, negotiation and assistance on financial issues. It is headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States.

International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

File:Flag of ITU.svg

ITU flag.

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) was established to standardize and regulate international radio and telecommunications. It was founded as the International Telegraph Union in Paris on 17 May 1865. Its main tasks include standardization, allocation of the radio spectrum, and organizing interconnection arrangements between different countries to allow international phone calls — in which regard it performs for telecommunications a similar function to what the UPU performs for postal services. It has its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, next to the main United Nations campus.

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations established in 1946 with its headquarters in Paris, France. Its stated purpose is to contribute to peace and security by promoting international collaboration through education, science, and culture in order to further universal respect for justice, the rule of law, and the human rights and fundamental freedoms proclaimed in the UN Charter.^{[citation needed]}

United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations system, headquartered in Vienna, Austria. The Organization's primary objective is the promotion and acceleration of industrial development in developing countries and countries with economies in transition and the promotion of international industrial cooperation.

UNIDO believes that competitive and environmentally sustainable industry has a crucial role to play in accelerating economic growth, reducing poverty and achieving the Millennium Development Goals. The Organization therefore works towards improving the quality of life of the world's poor by drawing on its combined global resources and expertise in the following three interrelated thematic areas:

Poverty reduction through productive activities;
Trade capacity-building; and
Energy and environment.

Universal Postal Union (UPU)

The Universal Postal Union (UPU), headquartered in Berne, Switzerland, coordinates postal policies between member nations, and hence the worldwide postal system. Each member country agrees to the same set of terms for conducting international postal duties.

World Bank Group

The World Bank Group comprises a group of five legally separate but affiliated institutions: the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the International Development Association (IDA), the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), and the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). It is a vital source of financial and technical assistance to developing countries around the world. It’s mission is to fight poverty with passion and professionalism for lasting results and to help people help themselves and their environment by providing resources, sharing knowledge, building capacity and forging partnerships in the public and private sectors. Three of the five World Bank Group organizations, namely the IBRD, the IFC, and the IDA, are specialized agencies of the United Nations.^[4]

International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)

The IBRD makes loans to developing countries for development programmes with the stated goal of reducing poverty. It is part of the World Bank Group (WBG).

International Finance Corporation (IFC)

The IFC is the largest multilateral source of loan and equity financing for private sector projects in the developing world. It is part of the World Bank Group (WBG).

International Development Association (IDA)

The IDA's mandate is close to that of IBRD, with the focus on the poorest countries. It is part of the World Bank Group (WBG).

World Health Organization (WHO)

The World Health Organization (WHO) acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. Established on 7 April 1948, and headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor, the Health Organization, which had been an agency of the League of Nations.

World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)

The World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations created in 1967 and headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. Its purpose is to encourage creative activity and to promote the protection of intellectual property throughout the world. The organisation administers several treaties concerning the protection of intellectual property rights.

World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) originated from the International Meteorological Organization (IMO), which was founded in 1873. Established in 1950, WMO became the specialized agency of the United Nations for meteorology (weather and climate), operational hydrology and related geophysical sciences. It has its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.

World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) was established in 1946 in London, United Kingdom, to replace the International Union of Official Tourist Propaganda Organization (IUOTPO). UNWTO has 160 member states and 350 affiliated members representing private organizations, educational institutions and others. It is headquartered in Madrid, Spain. The World Tourism Organization serves as a forum for tourism policies and acts as a practical source for tourism know-how.

United Nations Development Programme(UNDP)

Former specialized agencies

The only UN specialized agency to go out of existence is the International Refugee Organization, which existed from 1946 to 1952. In 1952, it was replaced by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, which is a subsidiary organ of the United Nations General Assembly.

Related Organizations

There are many other intergovernmental organizations that have concluded cooperation agreements with the United Nations. In terms of cooperation structures, some agreements come very close to the relationship agreements concluded under articles 57 and 63 of the UN Charter, but due to lack of formalities required by the Charter the organizations with such agreements are not specialized agencies of the United Nations.^[5] Nevertheless they are taken for and considered akin to the specialized agencies.^[6]^[5]^[7]^[8]

Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization Preparatory Commission

The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization Preparatory Commission preparatory commission is tasked with preparing the activities of the nuclear non-proliferation organization.^{[note 1]}

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is an intergovernmental organization for scientific and technical cooperation in the field of nuclear technology. It seeks to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy and to inhibit its use for military purposes. The IAEA was set up as an autonomous organization in 29 July 1957. Prior to this, in 1953, U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower envisioned the creation of this international body to control and develop the use of atomic energy, in his "Atoms for Peace" speech before the UN General Assembly.^[10] The organization and its former Director General, Mohamed ElBaradei, were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize announced on 7 October 2005. Its current membership is 144 countries.^[11]

Due to historical reasons and the political nature of its work, the IAEA is not a specialized agency. Instead, its relationship to the United Nations is governed by a special agreement as well as by its statute that commits the IAEA to report annually to the General Assembly and, when appropriate, to the Security Council.^[12]

Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) is an intergovernmental organization, located in The Hague, Netherlands. The organization promotes and verifies the adherence to the Chemical Weapons Convention which prohibits of the use of chemical weapons and requires their destruction. The verification consists both of evaluation of declarations by members states and on-site inspections.^{[note 1]}

World Trade Organization (WTO)

The WTO was established instead of the failed proposal for a specialized agency dealing with trade issues, the International Trade Organization. WTO headquarters are in Geneva, Switzerland.

Summary

Logo	Official name	Abbreviation	Location	Established	Precursor established	Members states	Other participants	Map and reference
	Food and Agriculture Organization	FAO	Italy, Rome	1945	—	the UN members without Brunei, Liechtenstein, Singapore Cook Islands, Niue	associate members: Faroe Islands organization members: European Union	[1]
	International Civil Aviation Organization	ICAO	Canada, Montreal	1947	—	the UN members without Dominica, Liechtenstein, Tuvalu Cook Islands	—	[2]
File:IFAD Logo.svg	International Fund for Agricultural Development	IFAD	Italy, Rome	1977	—	the UN members without Australia, Andorra, Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino, Slovenia, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Bulgaria, Serbia, Montenegro, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Belarus, Ukraine, Russia, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Bahrain, Nauru, Palau, Tuvalu, Federated States of Micronesia, Vanuatu, Bahamas, Marshall Islands, Yemen Cook Islands, Niue	—	[3]
	International Labour Organization	ILO	Switzerland, Geneva	1919	—	the UN members without Andorra, Monaco, Liechtenstein, Bhutan, North Korea, Palau, Micronesia, Nauru, Tonga	—	[4]
	International Maritime Organization	IMO	UK, London	1959	—	the UN members without Andorra, Liechtenstein, Rwanda, Burundi, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad, Central African Republic, South Sudan, Zambia, Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland, Bhutan, Belarus, Armenia, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Laos, Palau, Micronesia, Nauru Cook Islands	associate members: Faroe Islands, Hong Kong, Macao	File:International Maritime Organization.png [5]
	International Monetary Fund	IMF	USA, Washington D.C.	1945	—	the UN members without Cuba, North Korea, Andorra, Monaco, Liechtenstein, Nauru; Kosovo	—	[6]
File:Flag of ITU.svg	International Telecommunication Union	ITU	Switzerland, Geneva	1865	—	the UN members without Palau Vatican City	observers: Palestine	File:ITU.png [7]
	United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization	UNESCO	France, Paris	1945	1922	the UN members without Liechtenstein Cook Islands, Niue, Palestine	associate members: Aruba, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Macau, Netherlands Antilles, Tokelau, Faroe Islands observers:Vatican City NOC only: Liechtenstein, Hong Kong, Bermuda, Guam, American Samoa, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands	[8]
File:Logo UNIDO.svg	United Nations Industrial Development Organization	UNIDO	Austria, Vienna	1985	1966	the UN members without Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Canada, United States, United Kingdom, Andorra, Brunei, Estonia, Iceland, South Sudan, Kiribati, Latvia, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Tuvalu, San Marino, Singapore, Solomon Islands	observers: Vatican City, Order of Malta	[9]
	Universal Postal Union	UPU	Switzerland, Bern	1874	—	the UN members without Andorra, Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Palau Vatican City	member countries: Netherlands Antilles, Aruba, British Overseas Territories special observers: Palestine represented by UPU member: Cook Islands, Niue	[10]
	World Bank Group	WBG	USA, Washington D.C.	1945	—	the UN members without Cuba, North Korea, Andorra, Monaco, Liechtenstein, Nauru Kosovo	—	[11]
	World Health Organization	WHO	Switzerland, Geneva	1948	1907	the UN members without Liechtenstein Cook Islands, Niue	associate members: Puerto Rico, Tokelau observers: Palestine, Vatican City, Order of Malta invited delegations: Taiwan	File:World Health Organization.png [12]
	World Intellectual Property Organization	WIPO	Switzerland, Geneva	1967	—	the UN members without Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, South Sudan Vatican City	observers: Palestine	[13]
	World Meteorological Organization	WMO	Switzerland, Geneva	1950	1873	the UN members without Andorra, Grenada, Equatorial Guinea, Liechtenstein, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Tuvalu, South Sudan Cook Islands, Niue	member territories: British Caribbean Territories, French Polynesia, Hong Kong, Macau, Netherlands Antilles, Aruba, New Caledonia	[14]
	World Tourism Organization	UNWTO	Spain, Madrid	1974	1925	the UN members without Suriname, Guyana, Canada, United States, Belize, Trinidad and Tobago, Dominica, Grenada, Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Liberia, Somalia, Comoros, Ireland, Iceland, United Kingdom, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, Estonia, United Arab Emirates, Myanmar, Singapore, New Zealand, Palau, Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, Nauru, Kiribati, Solomon Islands, Samoa, Tonga	associate members: Flemish Community, Puerto Rico, Aruba, Hong Kong, Macau, Madeira, Netherlands Antilles observers: Vatican City, Palestine	[15]
	International Atomic Energy Agency	IAEA	Austria, Vienna	1957	—	the UN members without Cape Verde, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Togo, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Bhutan, Comoros, Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Fiji, Gambia, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Kiribati, Laos, Maldives, Micronesia, Nauru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, São Tomé and Príncipe, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Suriname, Swaziland, South Sudan, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Vanuatu Vatican City	—	[16]
	United Nations Organization	UN	USA, New York	1945	1919	the UN members	observer states: Vatican City, Palestine observer entities: Order of Malta observer regional organizations^[13]: European Union other observer entities and organizations^[14]	[17]
	World Trade Organization	WTO	Switzerland, Geneva	1995	1948	the UN members without Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Belarus, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Comoros, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Laos, Lebanon, Libya, São Tomé and Príncipe, Serbia, Seychelles, Sudan, South Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Yemen, East Timor, Eritrea, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Monaco, Nauru, North Korea, Palau, San Marino, Somalia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu	customs territory members: Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, European Union observers: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Belarus, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Comoros, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Laos, Lebanon, Libya, São Tomé and Príncipe, Serbia, Seychelles, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Yemen, Vatican City	[18]

Notes

^ ^a ^b The IAEA established a cooperation agreement with the UN in 1957, and the OPCW and the CTBTO used this model for agreements of their own with the UN.^[9]

References

^ "The United Nations System" (PDF).
^ Eckart Klein: United Nations, Specialized Agencies, para.9. In: Max Planck Encyclopedia of Public International Law.
^ UN structure and organization, Specialized Agencies
^ Maurizio Ragazzi: World Bank Group, para.7. In: Max Planck Encyclopedia of Public International Law.
^ ^a ^b "The UN System, Chief Executives Board for Coordination". Unsceb.org. Retrieved 22 January 2013.: "The Executive Heads of IAEA and WTO are invited to meetings of the CEB like any other specialized agency head."
^ List of Agreements between Specialized Agencies and the United Nations
^ The United Nations System chart, Published by the United Nations Department of Public Information, December 2007
^ Organizational Chart of the UN System and the CEB
^ "International Affairs". 53 ("4-6"). Znanye Publishing House. 2007: 63. Retrieved 30 January 2013. IIAEA, for example, is not a UN specialized agency. It submits annual reports to the UN General Assembly and to the Security Council, when necessary. If any questions arise that fall within the purview of the Security Council, the IAEA notifies the SC accordingly. The IAEA's special relationship with the UN and UN SC is also specified in an agreement between the IAEA and the UN in 1957. Under this agreement the IAEA cooperates with the Security Council by furnishing it, at its request, with such information and assistance as may be required in the exercise of its responsibility for maintenence or restoration of international peace and security. This agreement has since served as a model for UN agreements with nonproliferation organizations such as the OPCW and the CTBTO {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
^ About IAEA: History
^ About IAEA: By the Numbers
^ Johan Rautenbach: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), para.2. In: Max Planck Encyclopedia of Public International Law.
^ Regional organizations allowed by their member states to speak on their behalf.
^ Listed in the table are only these UN observers that participate in the 15 specialized agencies, IAEA, ICJ and WTO.

External links

[nonproliferation-10] The IAEA established a cooperation agreement with the UN in 1957, and the OPCW and the CTBTO used this model for agreements of their own with the UN.^[9]

[1] "The United Nations System" (PDF).

[2] Eckart Klein: United Nations, Specialized Agencies, para.9. In: Max Planck Encyclopedia of Public International Law.

[3] UN structure and organization, Specialized Agencies

[4] Maurizio Ragazzi: World Bank Group, para.7. In: Max Planck Encyclopedia of Public International Law.

[CEB-5] "The UN System, Chief Executives Board for Coordination". Unsceb.org. Retrieved 22 January 2013.: "The Executive Heads of IAEA and WTO are invited to meetings of the CEB like any other specialized agency head."

[6] List of Agreements between Specialized Agencies and the United Nations

[7] The United Nations System chart, Published by the United Nations Department of Public Information, December 2007

[Dynamic-8] Organizational Chart of the UN System and the CEB

[9] "International Affairs". 53 ("4-6"). Znanye Publishing House. 2007: 63. Retrieved 30 January 2013. IIAEA, for example, is not a UN specialized agency. It submits annual reports to the UN General Assembly and to the Security Council, when necessary. If any questions arise that fall within the purview of the Security Council, the IAEA notifies the SC accordingly. The IAEA's special relationship with the UN and UN SC is also specified in an agreement between the IAEA and the UN in 1957. Under this agreement the IAEA cooperates with the Security Council by furnishing it, at its request, with such information and assistance as may be required in the exercise of its responsibility for maintenence or restoration of international peace and security. This agreement has since served as a model for UN agreements with nonproliferation organizations such as the OPCW and the CTBTO {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)

[11] About IAEA: History

[12] About IAEA: By the Numbers

[13] Johan Rautenbach: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), para.2. In: Max Planck Encyclopedia of Public International Law.

[14] Regional organizations allowed by their member states to speak on their behalf.

[15] Listed in the table are only these UN observers that participate in the 15 specialized agencies, IAEA, ICJ and WTO.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[note 1]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[9]