UN System | United Nations (2024)

UNDP

Headquarters: New York City, USA

TheUnited Nations Development Programme(UNDP) works in nearly 170 countries and territories, helping to eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities and build resilience so countries can sustain progress. As the UN’s development agency, UNDP plays a critical role in helping countries achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

UNEP

Headquarters: Nairobi, Kenya

TheUnited Nations Environment Programme(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

TheUnited Nations Population Fund(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 theUnited Nations Human Settlements Programme(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

TheUnited Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)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.

WFP

Headquarters: Rome, Italy

TheWorld Food Programmeaims to eradicate hunger and malnutrition. The world’s largest humanitarian agency, WFPhelps almost 100 million people in approximately 88 countries with assistance every year through food or cash distributions and more. The World Food Programmewas awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020.

FAO

Headquarters: Rome, Italy

TheFood and Agriculture Organizationleads 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

TheInternational Civil Aviation Organizationdevelops standards for global air transport and assists its 192 Member States in sharing the world’s skies to their socio-economic benefit.

IFAD

Headquarters: Rome, Italy

TheInternational Fund for Agricultural Development, 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

TheInternational Labor Organizationpromotes 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

TheInternational Monetary Fundfosters 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

TheInternational Maritime Organizationhas created a comprehensive shipping regulatory framework, addressing safety and environmental concerns, legal matters, technical cooperation, security, and efficiency.

ITU

Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland

TheInternational Telecommunication Unionis the United Nations 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 our work, we protect and support everyone's fundamental right to communicate

UNESCO

Headquarters: Paris, France

TheUnited Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organizationfocuses on everything from teacher training to helping improve education worldwide to protecting important historical and cultural sites around the world.

UNIDO

Headquarters: Vienna, Austria

TheUnited Nations Industrial Development Organizationis the specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes industrial development for poverty reduction, inclusive globalization and environmental sustainability.

UN Tourism

Headquarters: Madrid, Spain

TheWorld Tourism Organizationis the United Nations agency responsible for the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism.

UPU

Headquarters: Bern, Switzerland

TheUniversal Postal Unionis 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

Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland

TheWorld Health Organizationis 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

TheWorld Intellectual Property Organizationprotects intellectual property throughout the world through 23 international treaties.

WMO

Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland

The World Meteorological Organizationfacilitates 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 Bankfocuses 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(IBRD)
• International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes(ICSID)*
• International Development Association(IDA)
• International Finance Corporation(IFC)
• Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency(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

Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland

TheJoint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS(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 theSustainable Development Goals.

UNHCR

Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland

TheUnited Nations High Commissioner for Refugees– UNHCR protects refugees worldwide and facilitates their return home or resettlement.

UNIDIR

Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland

TheUnited Nations Institute for Disarmament Researchis 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

Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland

An autonomous UN body established in 1963, theUnited Nations Institute for Training and Researchis 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 theUnited Nations Office for Project Servicesis 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

TheUnited Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near Easthas contributed to the welfare and human development offour generations of Palestine refugees. 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

Headquarters: Turin, Italy

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

UNU

Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan

TheUnited Nations Universitywas 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 Womenmerges 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.

CTBTO

Headquarters: Vienna, Austria

ThePreparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organizationpromotes the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban 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

TheInternational Atomic Energy Agency, 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

TheInternational Criminal Court 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

TheInternational Organization for Migrationworks 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

Headquarters: The Hague, Netherlands

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

UNFCCC

Headquarters: Bonn, Germany

TheUNFCCC Secretariat(UN Climate Change) was established in 1992 when countries adopted the United Nations FrameworkConventionon Climate Change (UNFCCC). With the subsequent adoption of theKyoto Protocol in 1997 and theParis 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

TheWorld Trade Organizationis 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

TheInternational Trade Centre(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.