1. International Labour
Organisation (ILO) : Established in 1919 and became the
first
specialised agency of the UN in
1946. It is composed of : (1) International Labour Conference;
(2) the Governing Body; and (3) the International Labour Office. It has 177
members. Headquarters-Geneva
Functions : (1) To adopt international conventions for the welfare of
the labour; (2) to watch the progress
of their implementation; (3) to undertake extensive
research work and advisory activities in the field of labour
welfare; and (4) to extend technical
assistance to governments.
2. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) : FAO was founded
at a conference in Quebec city on
October 16, 1945, a date observed
annually as World Food Day. Its
members are 187 countries. Headquarters-Rome
Functions :(1) To continuously
review food and agriculture position
of the world; (2) to undertake research with a view to devise new
techniques and methods to improve
the production of food; (3) to eradicate animal diseases and to control
pests.
3. International Civil Aviation
Organisation (ICAO) : Established
in 1947 and headquarters are at
Montreal. Its assembly composed of
delegates from 185 member
countries.
It assists international civil aviation by encouraging : (1) use of safety
measures; (2) uniform regulations for
operation; and (3) simpler procedures
at borders of two countries.
4. Universal Postal Union
(UPU) : Established in 1875, possesses 190 member countries and its
headquarters at Berne.
Functions : To ensure smooth organisation and perfection of the
various postal services and to promote the development of
international cooperation in the field of postal
communications.
5. International Monetary Fund (lMF)
: Established in 1945, possesses 184 member
countries and the headquarters are at Washington.
Functions :(1) To stabilise internal
exchange; (2) to remove artificial barriers hindering
international trade; (3) provide short-term foreign
exchange assistance to member-
States.
6. International Bank for
Construction and Development (IBRD)- The World
Bank : It began operations in June 1946. It has 184
members and headquarters at Washington.
Functions : Its purpose is to provide funds, policy
guidance and technical assistance to facilitate economic
development in its poorer member countries.
7. International Development
Association (IDA) : Established in 1960 and
administrated by the IBRD to provide assistance on
concessional terms to the poorest
developing countries, officers and staff of the lBRD serve
concurrently as officers and staff of the IDA at the World
Bank headquarters. It has 143 members.
8. International Finance
Corporation (lFC) : Established in July 1956. It
has 177 members and headquarters at Washington.
Functions : It helps to finance new ventures and
assist established enterprises to expand, improve or
diversify and provides a variety of advisory services to
public and private sector.
9. World Trade Organisation (WTO) :
It is the third pillar of the world's economic system along
with IMF and World Bank, with powers to
settle disputes between
nations and
widen the principle of free trade to
sectors such as Services and Agriculture. It has 150 members. It came into
existence on January 1, 1995.
10. United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) :
It came into existence in Nov., 1946, possesses 190 member
countries and the headquarters at Paris.
Functions : It encourages universal respect for justice, rule of law,
fundamental freedom and human
rights.
11. World Health Organisation (WHO)
: It came into existence in 7
April, 1948, possesses 192 members. Its headquarters at Geneva.
Function : Its purpose is to raise health standard, eradicate epidemical diseases.
12. The United Nations Children's
Emergency Fund (UNICEF) : Established in 1946, it originally sent postwar relief to children. Now it works for
the improvement of quality of life for
children and mothers in developing countries. Its
headquarters at New
York.
13. International Telecommunication Union (lTU) :
It became a specialised agency of UNO in
1947. It has 189 member countries and headquarters at Geneva.
Function : To improve the efficiency of
telecommunication service and their availability to the
public.
14. International Maritime
Consulting Organisation
(IMCO) : IMCO established in
1958. It provides the machinery to governments to cooperate
in formulating regulations and practices relating to
technical matters affecting international shipping. IMCO has
157 members countries and its headquarters are at London.
15. World Meterological Organisation (WMO) : It established
in 1947. It develops weather-forecasting services, including
seasonal forecasting, and through international
collaboration contributes to tracking of global
weather conditions. It has 181 members. Headquarters-Geneva.
16. International Atomic
Energy Agency (IAEA) : Established in 1957, IAEA accelerates the
peaceful uses of nuclear energy, and
as the international inspectorate for
the application of nuclear
safeguards and verification
measures covering civilian nuclear
programmers. It has 138 member
states and headquarters at Vienna.
17. United Nations Industrial
Development Organisation (UNIDO) : Established in 1966, it
help to the living conditions of
people and promote global
prosperity by offering tailor made solutions for the
sustainable industrial development. It has 171
member states and headquarters at
Vienna.
18. International Fund for
Agricultural Development
(lFAD) : Established in Nov. 1977,
it mobilizes resources for improved
food production and better nutrition
among the poor in developing
countries, focusing on the needs of
the poorest developing countries.
This body has 163 member
countries and the headquarters at
Rome.
19. World Intellectual Property
Organization (WIPO) : It became a UN specialized
agency in 1974. It has 182 member states and headquarters
at Geneva.
Functions : To promote the protection of intellectual
property throughout the world, and to ensure administrative
co-operation among the intellectual property.
