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Discover the Most Powerful Organizations in the World in the World

Team Leverage Edu · Updated on Nov 17, 2023

 7 minute read 

One of the most common subjects covered in various competitive exams is international
organizations and students generally get one or two questions related to the field. There are
over 300 intergovernmental organizations in the world, out of these are some international
organizations that have helped in facilitating cooperation and coordination between states over
an array of topics like climate change, world peace, human rights, terrorism, international trade,
and economy. Here is a list of some of the most powerful organizations in the world and their
contact information to help you ace your competitive exam!

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THIS BLOG INCLUDES:

1 Top 15 International Organizations

1. United Nations Organization (UN)

2. United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)

3. World Health Organization (WHO)

4. World Economic Forum

5. International Monetary Fund (IMF)

6. World Bank

7. World Trade Organization

8. United Nations Education Scientific & Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

9. South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)

10. Association of South East Nations (ASEAN)

11. Organization for Economic Cooperation & Development (OECD)

12. Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)

13. New Development Bank (BRICS Development Bank)

14. Asian Development Bank (ADB)

15. World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)

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Also, Read List of International and National Days!

Top 15 International Organizations

Here is a list of the most powerful organizations in the world and their functions, headquarters,
and head of state.

1. United Nations Organization (UN)

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As the first on our list of international organizations, the UN is the most popular
intergovernmental institute responsible for the prevention of war and conflict in the world. The
United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose mission is to ensure
international peace and security, promote cordial relations between nations, promote
international cooperation, and serve as a central focus for coordinating national efforts. It is the
world’s largest, most well-known, most widely represented, and most powerful
intergovernmental organization. The United Nations is headquartered in New York City, on
international territory, with main offices in Geneva, Nairobi, Vienna, and The Hague.

Headquarter New York, US

Established on 24th October 1945

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres

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Video Credit: TLDR News Global

2. United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)

Second, on our list of international organizations is UNICEF. UNICEF, or the United Nations
Children’s Fund, is a United Nations organization that provides humanitarian and developmental
aid to children around the world. With a presence in 192 countries and territories, the agency is
one of the most well-known and well-known social welfare organizations in the world.
Immunization and disease prevention are among UNICEF’s initiatives, as are HIV treatment for
children and women, improving childhood and maternal nutrition, increasing sanitation,
promoting education, and providing emergency relief in disasters.

Headquarter New York, US

Established on 11th December 1946

Current Head Henrietta H. Fore

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3. World Health Organization (WHO)

Next on our list of international organizations is WHO. The World Health Organization (WHO) is
a United Nations specialized organization in charge of international public health. “The
attainment by all peoples of the highest attainable degree of health,” declares the WHO
Constitution, which sets the agency’s governance structure and ideals. It has six semi-
autonomous regional offices and 150 field offices worldwide, with its headquarters in Geneva,
Switzerland.

Headquarter Geneva, Switzerland

Established on 7 April 1948

Current Head Director-General – Tedros Adhanom

4. World Economic Forum

The World Economic Forum (WEF), based in Cologny, Canton of Geneva, Switzerland, is an
international non-governmental organization (NGO) created on January 24, 1971. “Committed to
improving the status of the world by engaging commercial, governmental, intellectual, and other
leaders of society to influence global, regional, and industry agendas,” reads the WEF’s mission
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statement.
 Headquarter Cologny, Switzerland

Established on January 1971

Current Head Klaus Schwab

5. International Monetary Fund (IMF)

SOURCE: Business Standard

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is one of the most prominent international organization
and thus on our list. It is a 190-country international financial institution headquartered in
Washington, D.C. that works to promote global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability,
facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and
reduce poverty around the world while relying on the World Bank for resources on a periodic
basis.

Headquarter Washington, D.C., United States

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 Established on 27 December 1945

Current Head Chief Economist – Gita Gopinath

6. World Bank

Next on our list of international organizations is the World Bank. The World Bank is an
international financial agency that lends and gives money to governments in low- and middle-
income nations to fund capital projects. The International Bank for Reconstruction and
Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA) are the two
institutions that make up the organization (IDA). The World Bank Group consists of the World
Bank and its subsidiaries.

Headquarter Washington, D.C., United States

Established in July 1944

Current Head President of WV: David Malpass

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Organization
SOURCE: WORLD TRADE ORGANISATION

The World Trade Organization (WTO) is a multilateral organization that regulates and supports
international trade. It began operations on January 1, 1995, as a result of the 1994 Marrakesh
Agreement, which replaced the 1948-established General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade
(GATT).

With 164 member states representing over 96 per cent of global trade and GDP, the World Trade
Organization (WTO) is the world’s largest international economic organization.

Headquarter Geneva, Switzerland

Established in 1 January 1995

Current Head Roberto Azevêdo

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8. United Nations Education Scientific & Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

SOURCE: UNESCO.org

The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO, French:
Organization des Nations Unies pour l’éducation, la Science, et la Culture) is a United Nations
(UN) specialized agency charged with the duty of promoting world peace and security through
international cooperation in education, science, and culture. It consists of 193 member states,
11 associate members, and nongovernmental, intergovernmental, and corporate sector
partners. UNESCO is headquartered in Paris, France, and has 53 regional field offices and 199
national commissions to help it carry out its global mandate.

Headquarter Paris, France

Established in 16 November 1945

Current Head Audrey Azoulay

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9. South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)

South Asia’s major intergovernmental organization and the geopolitical union are the South
Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India,
the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka are its members. As of 2019, the SAARC makes for
3% of the world’s land area, 21% of the world’s population, and 4.21 per cent (US$3.67 trillion) of
the global economy.

Headquarter Kathmandu, Nepal

Established in 8 December 1985, (in Dhaka, Bangladesh)

Current Head Secretary-General – Esala Weerakoon

10. Association of South East Nations (ASEAN)

ASEAN, or the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, is an economic union in Southeast Asia
made up of ten member states that promote intergovernmental cooperation and facilitate
economic, political, security, military, educational, and sociocultural integration among its
members and other Asian countries.

The primary goal of ASEAN was to speed economic growth and, as a result, social and cultural
development.

Headquarter Jakarta, Indonesia

Established in 8 August 1967

Current Head Lim Jock Hoi Mon

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11. Organization for Economic Cooperation & Development (OECD)

The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD; French: Organization de
Coopération et de Développement Économiques, OCDE) is a 38-member intergovernmental
economic organization formed in 1961 to promote economic advancement and global trade. As
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today.is responsible for
trade and economic activities. It is a forum of countries that identify themselves as committed
to democracy and the market economy. It serves as a forum for members to share policy
experiences, seek solutions to shared challenges, identify best practices, and coordinate their
domestic and international policies.

Headquarter Paris, France

Established in 30 September 1961

Current Head Angel Gurría

12. Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)

SOURCE: Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank

The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is an international development bank dedicated
to improving Asia’s economic and social conditions. Currently, the bank has 103 members and
21 prospective members from all around the world.

The bank began operations after the agreement went into effect on December 25, 2015, with
ratifications from ten member states accounting for 50 per cent of the Authorized Capital Stock
initial subscriptions.

Headquarter Beijing, China

Established in January 2016 (began operations)

Current Head Jin Liqun

13. New Development Bank (BRICS Development Bank)

The New Development Bank (NDB), originally known as the BRICS Development Bank, is a
global development bank founded by the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South
Africa). “The Bank shall support public or private initiatives through loans, guarantees, equity
participation, and other financial instruments,” according to the NDB Agreement.

Headquarter
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 Established in 15 July 2014

Current Head K. V. Kamath

14. Asian Development Bank (ADB)

Next on our list of international organizations is ADB. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is a
regional development bank headquartered in the Ortigas Center in Mandaluyong, Metro Manila,
Philippines. It was founded on December 19, 1966. In addition, the corporation operates 31 field
offices around the world to promote Asia’s social and economic development.

Headquarter Manila, Philippines

Established in 19 December 1966

Current Head Masatsugu Asakawa

15. World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)

SOURCE: WWF

Last on our list of international organizations is the WWF. The World Wide Fund for Nature
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preserve wilderness and