Peace, dignity and equality

on a healthy planet ()

UN System

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A family in Syria pick up their monthly World Food Programme food allowance. Almost 100 million people
in around 88 countries receive assistance from WFP every year through food or cash distributions, nutrition
support programmes and other activities. The World Food Programme was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize
in 2020. Photo: WFP/Ali Habib

The United Nations is part of the UN system, which, in addition to the UN itself, comprises many funds,
programmes and specialized agencies, each of which have their own area of work, leadership and
budget. The programmes and funds are financed through voluntary rather than assessed contributions.
The Specialized Agencies are independent international organizations funded by both voluntary and
assessed contributions. The UN coordinates its work with these separate UN system entities, which
cooperate with the Organization to help it achieve its goals.
Funds and Programmes

UNDP

Headquarters: New York City, USA

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The United Nations Development Programme
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(http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home.html) (UNDP) works in nearly 170 countries
and territories, helping to eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities and build resilience so
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countries can sustain progress. As the UN’s development agency, UNDP plays a critical
role in helping countries achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
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UNEP

Headquarters: Nairobi, Kenya

The United Nations Environment Programme (http://www.unep.org/) (UNEP) established

in 1972, is the voice for the environment within the United Nations system. UNEP acts as a
catalyst, advocate, educator and facilitator to promote the wise use and sustainable
development of the global environment.

UNFPA

Headquarters: New York City, USA

The United Nations Population Fund (http://www.unfpa.org/) (UNFPA) is the lead UN

agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every birth is safe, and
every young person's potential is fulfilled.
 UN-HABITAT

Headquarters: Nairobi, Kenya

The mission of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme

(http://unhabitat.org/) (UN-HABITAT) is to promote socially and environmentally
sustainable human settlements development and the achievement of adequate shelter for
all.

UNICEF

Headquarters: New York City, USA

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) (http://www.unicef.org/) works in 190

countries and territories to save children’s lives, to defend their rights, and to help them
fulfil their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

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WFP
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Headquarters: Rome, Italy
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The World Food Programme (http://www.wfp.org/) aims to eradicate hunger and

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malnutrition. The world’s largest humanitarian agency, WFP helps almost 100 million
people in approximately 88 countries with assistance every year through food or cash
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distributions and more. The World Food Programme was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize
in 2020.

UN Specialized Agencies

The UN specialized agencies are autonomous international organizations working with the United
Nations. All were brought into relationship with the UN through negotiated agreements. Some existed
before the First World War. Some were associated with the League of Nations. Others were created
almost simultaneously with the UN. Others were created by the UN to meet emerging needs.
FAO

Headquarters: Rome, Italy

The Food and Agriculture Organization (http://www.fao.org/) leads international efforts to

fight hunger. It is both a forum for negotiating agreements between developing and
developed countries and a source of technical knowledge and information to aid
development.

ICAO

Headquarters: Montreal, Canada

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The International Civil Aviation Organization (https://www.icao.int/) develops standards
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for global air transport and assists its 192 Member States in sharing the world’s skies to
their socio-economic benefit.
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IFAD
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Headquarters: Rome, Italy

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (http://www.ifad.org/), since it was

created in 1977, has focused exclusively on rural poverty reduction, working with poor
rural populations in developing countries to eliminate poverty, hunger and malnutrition;
raise their productivity and incomes; and improve the quality of their lives.

ILO

Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland

The International Labor Organization (http://www.ilo.org/) promotes international labor

rights by formulating international standards on the freedom to associate, collective
bargaining, the abolition of forced labor, and equality of opportunity and treatment.
IMF

Headquarters: Washington, DC, USA

The International Monetary Fund (http://www.imf.org/) fosters economic growth and

employment by providing temporary financial assistance to countries to help ease
balance of payments adjustment and technical assistance. The IMF currently has $28
billion in outstanding loans to 74 nations.

IMO

Headquarters: London, United Kingdom

The International Maritime Organization (http://www.imo.org/) has created a

comprehensive shipping regulatory framework, addressing safety and environmental
concerns, legal matters, technical cooperation, security, and efficiency.

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ITU
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Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
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The International Telecommunication Union (http://www.itu.int/) is the United Nations

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specialized agency for information and communication technologies. It is committed to

connecting all the world's people – wherever they live and whatever their means. Through
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our work, we protect and support everyone's fundamental right to communicate

UNESCO

Headquarters: Paris, France

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

(http://en.unesco.org/) focuses on everything from teacher training to helping improve
education worldwide to protecting important historical and cultural sites around the
world.

UNIDO

Headquarters: Vienna, Austria

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (http://www.unido.org/) is the
specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes industrial development for
poverty reduction, inclusive globalization and environmental sustainability.

UNWTO

Headquarters: Madrid, Spain

The World Tourism Organization (https://www.unwto.org/) is the United Nations agency

responsible for the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible
tourism.

UPU

Headquarters: Bern, Switzerland

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The Universal Postal Union (http://www.upu.int/) is the primary forum for cooperation
between postal sector players. It helps to ensure a truly universal network of up-to-date
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products and services.
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WHO

Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland

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The World Health Organization (http://www.who.int/) is the directing and coordinating

authority on international health within the United Nations system. The objective of WHO
is the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health. Health, as defined
in the WHO Constitution, is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and
not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

WIPO

Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland

The World Intellectual Property Organization (http://www.wipo.int/) protects intellectual

property throughout the world through 23 international treaties.

WMO

Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland

 The World Meteorological Organization (https://public.wmo.int/en) facilitates the free
international exchange of meteorological data and information and the furtherance of its
use in aviation, shipping, security, and agriculture, among other things.

WORLD BANK

Headquarters: Washington, DC, USA

The World Bank (http://www.worldbank.org/) focuses on poverty reduction and the

improvement of living standards worldwide by providing low-interest loans, interest-free
credit, and grants to developing countries for education, health, infrastructure, and
communications, among other things. The World Bank works in over 100 countries.

International Bank for Reconstruction and Development

(https://www.worldbank.org/en/who-we-are/ibrd) (IBRD)
International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes
(https://icsid.worldbank.org/) (ICSID)*

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International Development Association (http://www.worldbank.org/ida) (IDA)
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International Finance Corporation (http://www.ifc.org/) (IFC)
Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (http://www.miga.org/) (MIGA)*
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* International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) and Multilateral
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Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) are not specialized agencies in accordance with
Articles 57 and 63 of the Charter, but are part of the World Bank Group.
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Other Entities and Bodies

UNAIDS

Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (http://www.unaids.org/en) (UNAIDS)
leads and inspires the world to achieve its shared vision of zero new HIV infections, zero
discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths. UNAIDS unites the efforts of 11 UN
organizations—UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, UNDP, UNFPA, UNODC, UN Women, ILO, UNESCO,
WHO and the World Bank—and works closely with global and national partners towards
ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals
(https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/).

UNHCR

Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (https://www.unhcr.org/) – UNHCR

protects refugees worldwide and facilitates their return home or resettlement.

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UNIDIR IA
Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland

The United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (http://www.unidir.org/) is a

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voluntarily funded autonomous institute within the United Nations. An impartial actor, the
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Institute generates ideas and promotes action on disarmament and security. UNIDIR
brings together states, international organizations, civil society, the private sector and
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academia to work together—internationally, regionally and locally—to build and implement

creative solutions that will benefit all states and peoples.

UNITAR

Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland

An autonomous UN body established in 1963, the United Nations Institute for Training and
Research (http://www.unitar.org/) is a training arm of the United Nations System, and has
the mandate to enhance the effectiveness of the UN through diplomatic training, and to
increase the impact of national actions through public awareness-raising, education and
training of public policy officials.

UNOPS

Headquarters: Copenhagen, Denmark

The mission of the United Nations Office for Project Services
(https://www.unops.org/english/Pages/Home.aspx) is to help people build better lives
and help countries achieve peace and sustainable development. UNOPS helps the UN,
governments and other partners to manage projects, and deliver sustainable
infrastructure and procurement in an efficient way.

UNRWA

Headquarters: Amman, Jordan

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East
(http://www.unrwa.org/) has contributed to the welfare and human development of four
generations of Palestine refugees (https://www.unrwa.org/who-we-are). It’s services
encompass education, health care, relief and social services, camp infrastructure and
improvement, microfinance and emergency assistance, including in times of armed
conflict. It reports only to the UN General Assembly.

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UNSSC
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Headquarters: Turin, Italy
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The United Nations System Staff College (https://www.unssc.org/) is the learning

organization of the United Nations system. It designs and delivers learning programmes
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for staff of the UN system and its partners. It helps the United Nations become more
effective by fostering a common leadership and management culture across the system.

UNU

Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan

The United Nations University (https://unu.edu/) was established by the UN General

Assembly with the mandate to conduct “research into the pressing global problems of
human survival, development and welfare.” Today, the University comprises 14 research
and training institutes in 12 countries. As the think tank of the UN system, UNU provides
policymakers with high-quality, evidence-based research and pragmatic advice.

UN WOMEN

Headquarters: New York City, USA

 UN Women (http://www.unwomen.org/en) merges and builds on the important work of
four previously distinct parts of the UN system, which focus exclusively on gender equality
and women’s empowerment.

Related Organizations

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CTBTO
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Headquarters: Vienna, Austria
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The Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty

Organization (http://www.ctbto.org/) promotes the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban
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Treaty (which is not yet in force) and the build-up of the verification regime so that it is
operational when the Treaty enters into force.

IAEA

Headquarters: Vienna, Austria

The International Atomic Energy Agency (https://www.iaea.org/), is the world's centre for
cooperation in the nuclear field. The Agency works with its Member States and multiple
partners worldwide to promote the safe, secure and peaceful use of nuclear technologies.

ICC

Headquarters: The Hague, Netherlands

The International Criminal Court (https://www.icc-cpi.int/) investigates and, where
warranted, tries individuals charged with the gravest crimes of concern to the international
community: genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and the crime of aggression.
As a court of last resort, it seeks to complement, not replace, national courts.

IOM

Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland

The International Organization for Migration (http://www.iom.int/) works to help ensure

the orderly and humane management of migration, to promote international cooperation
on migration issues, to assist in the search for practical solutions to migration problems
and to provide humanitarian assistance to migrants in need, including refugees and
internally displaced people.

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OPCW IA
Headquarters: The Hague, Netherlands

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (http://www.opcw.org/) is the

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implementing body of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), which entered into force
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in 1997. OPCW Member States work together to achieve a world free of chemical
weapons.
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UNFCCC

Headquarters: Bonn, Germany

The UNFCCC Secretariat (https://unfccc.int/) (UN Climate Change) was established in

1992 when countries adopted the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change (UNFCCC). With the subsequent adoption of the Kyoto Protocol in 1997 and
the Paris Agreement in 2015, Parties to these three agreements have progressively
reaffirmed the Secretariat’s role as the United Nations entity tasked with supporting the
global response to the threat of climate change.

WTO

Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland

 The World Trade Organization (https://www.wto.org/) is a forum for governments to
negotiate trade agreements, and a place where member governments try to sort out the
trade problems they face with each other.

ITC

Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland

The International Trade Centre (https://www.intracen.org/) (ITC) is the only development

agency that is fully dedicated to supporting the internationalization of small and medium-
sized enterprises (SMEs). Established in 1964, the ITC is the joint agency of the World
Trade Organization and the United Nations.

See also UN System chart

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(https://www.un.org/sites/un2.un.org/files/un_system_chart.pdf)
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(https://www.addtoany.com/share)

MAIN BODIES

 General Assembly (http://www.un.org/en/ga/)

 Security Council (https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/)

 Economic and Social Council (http://www.un.org/en/ecosoc/)

 Trusteeship Council (https://www.un.org/en/about-us/trusteeship-council)