Professional Documents
Culture Documents
United Nations
United Nations
on a healthy planet ()
UN System
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.
UNEP
UNFPA
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
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
WFP
The World Food Programme (http://www.wfp.org/) aims to eradicate hunger and 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 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
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
IFAD
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
IMF
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
ITU
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
UN TOURISM
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
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 products and services.
WHO
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
WORLD BANK
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)*
International Development Association (http://www.worldbank.org/ida) (IDA)
International Finance Corporation (http://www.ifc.org/) (IFC)
Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (http://www.miga.org/) (MIGA)*
* International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) and Multilateral 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.
UNAIDS
UNHCR
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (https://www.unhcr.org/) – UNHCR protects
refugees worldwide and facilitates their return home or resettlement.
UNIDIR
The United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (http://www.unidir.org/) is a voluntarily funded
autonomous institute within the United Nations. An impartial actor, the Institute generates ideas and
promotes action on disarmament and security. UNIDIR brings together states, international
organizations, civil society, the private sector and academia to work together—internationally,
regionally and locally—to build and implement creative solutions that will benefit all states and
peoples.
UNITAR
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
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.
UNSSC
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 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
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
Related Organizations
CTBTO
IAEA
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
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
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.
OPCW
UNFCCC
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
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
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.
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KEY DOCUMENTS
UN Charter (https://www.un.org/en/about-us/un-charter)
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (https://www.un.org/en/about-us/universal-declaration-of-human-rights)
Convention on the Rights of the Child (http://www.unicef.org/crc/)
Statute of the International Court of Justice (https://www.un.org/en/about-us/un-charter/statute-of-the-
international-court-of-justice)
Annual Report of the Secretary-General on the Work of the Organization (https://www.un.org/annualreport/)
News (https://news.un.org/en/)
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The Essential UN (http://www.un.org/en/essential-un/)
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