Specialised Agencies of the UN

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  headquartersare 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 andheadquarters 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.