{"id":5315,"date":"2026-01-05T23:39:40","date_gmt":"2026-01-05T18:09:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/?p=5315"},"modified":"2026-01-07T16:14:48","modified_gmt":"2026-01-07T10:44:48","slug":"un-specialized-agencies-part-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/un-specialized-agencies-part-1\/","title":{"rendered":"UN Specialized Agencies &#8211; Part 1"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><strong>What are the specialised agencies of the United Nations?<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n<p>The organisational structure of the United Nations (UN) consists of principal organs, specialised agencies, funds and programmes, related organisations, and other entities and bodies.<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>The UN specialised agencies are\u00a0<strong>autonomous international organisations\u00a0<\/strong>working with the United Nations.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>All specialised agencies were\u00a0<strong>brought into a relationship with the UN<\/strong>\u00a0through negotiated agreements.\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>Some specialised agencies existed before the First World War, and some were associated with the League of Nations.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Others were created almost simultaneously with the UN. These specialised agencies were created by the UN to meet emerging needs.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>There are currently 15 specialised agencies of the UN.<\/strong><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<figure>\r\n<table>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td class=\"tb-color\">\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>Food and Agriculture Organization(FAO)<\/li>\r\n\t<li>United Nations Industrial Development Organization(UNIDO)<\/li>\r\n\t<li>International Civil Aviation Organization(ICAO)<\/li>\r\n\t<li>World Tourism Organization(UNWTO)<\/li>\r\n\t<li>International Fund for Agricultural Development(IFAD)<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Universal Postal Union(UPU)<\/li>\r\n\t<li>International Labour Organization(ILO)<\/li>\r\n\t<li>World Health Organization(WHO)<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td class=\"tb-color\">\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>International Monetary Fund(IMF)<\/li>\r\n\t<li>World Intellectual Property Organization(WIPO)<\/li>\r\n\t<li>International Maritime Organization(IMO)<\/li>\r\n\t<li>World Meteorological Organization(WMO)<\/li>\r\n\t<li>International Telecommunication Union(ITU)<\/li>\r\n\t<li>World Bank<\/li>\r\n\t<li>United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization(UNESCO)<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n<h2><strong>Food and Agriculture Organization<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n<p>Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) leads<strong>\u00a0international efforts to fight\u00a0<\/strong><strong>hunger<\/strong><strong>.<\/strong>\u00a0It is both a forum for negotiating agreements between developing and developed countries and a source of technical knowledge and information to aid development.<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li><strong>Composition:<\/strong>\u00a0The FAO comprises\u00a0<strong>195 members<\/strong>, including 194 countries and the European Union.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Priority work areas:<\/strong>\u00a0FAO has outlined the following priorities in its fight against hunger:\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>Help eliminate\u00a0<strong>hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition<\/strong>.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Make\u00a0<strong>agriculture, forestry, and fisheries\u00a0<\/strong>more productive and sustainable.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Reduce\u00a0<strong>rural\u00a0<\/strong><strong>poverty<\/strong>\u00a0by helping the rural poor gain access to the resources and services they need, including rural employment and social protection.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Enable\u00a0<strong>inclusive and efficient agricultural and food systems<\/strong>.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Increase the\u00a0<strong>resilience of livelihoods\u00a0<\/strong>to threats and crises.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Programmes and initiatives:<\/strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li><strong>For Food:\u00a0<\/strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li><strong>Codex Alimentarius Commission:\u00a0<\/strong>created by FAO and WHO in 1961 to develop food standards. It aims to protect consumer health, ensure fair trade, and promote coordination of all food standards work undertaken by intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).<\/li>\r\n\t<li>In 2004, the\u00a0<strong>Right to Food Guidelines<\/strong>\u00a0were adopted, which offer guidance to states on how to implement their obligations on the right to food.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>For Agriculture<\/strong>:\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>It created the\u00a0<strong>International Plant Protection Convention<\/strong>\u00a0in 1952 to prevent the international spread of pests and plant diseases in both cultivated and wild plants.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>During the 1990s, FAO took a leading role in the promotion of\u00a0<strong>integrated pest management\u00a0<\/strong>for rice production in Asia.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>For Forestry<\/strong>:\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>At the World Forum on Urban Forests in October 2018, the FAO and the Arbor Day Foundation jointly launched the\u00a0<strong>Tree Cities of the World programme<\/strong>.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Every two years, FAO publishes the\u00a0<strong>State of the World's Forests<\/strong>, a major report covering current and emerging issues facing the forestry sector.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Budget:\u00a0<\/strong>The budget is funded by its members through contributions set at the FAO Conference. It covers core technical work, cooperation and partnerships, including the Technical Cooperation Programme, knowledge exchange, policy and advocacy, direction and administration, governance and security.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Important Reports:\u00a0<\/strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>The State of Food and Agriculture<\/li>\r\n\t<li>The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Global Forest Resources Assessment<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Global Food Price Index<\/li>\r\n\t<li>State of Food Security and Nutrition Report<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Headquarters<\/strong>: Rome, Italy.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2><strong>United Nations Industrial Development Organization<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li><strong>Objectives<\/strong>: United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)\u00a0<strong>promotes industrial development<\/strong>\u00a0for poverty reduction, inclusive globalization and environmental sustainability.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Foundation<\/strong>: UNIDO was\u00a0<strong>established in 1966<\/strong>\u00a0by the UNGA to promote and accelerate the industrialization of developing countries, which were emerging from decolonization in record numbers and with little to no industrial base.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Member of UNDG:<\/strong>\u00a0UNIDO is a\u00a0<strong>member of the United Nations Development Group<\/strong>, a coalition of UN entities aimed at fulfilling the Sustainable Development Goals.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Membership<\/strong>: As of April 2019, UNIDO comprises 170 member states, which together set the organization's policies, programs, and principles through the biannual General Conference.\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>Members of the UN, or of UN specialized agencies, or of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) are eligible for membership with UNIDO.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>2013 Lima Declaration:\u00a0<\/strong>It expanded its mission to include promoting \"inclusive and sustainable industrial development\" (ISID), defined as benefiting greater numbers of people while safeguarding the environment.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Listing of members:<\/strong>\u00a0UNIDO is one of the two UN specialized agencies where members are separated into lists (4 lists), while the other is IFAD.\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>List A - African + Asian Groups of the UN + Israel (excluding Cyprus and Japan).<\/li>\r\n\t<li>List B - Western European and Other States + Cyprus, Japan.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>List C - Group of Latin America and Caribbean Countries of the UN.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>List D - Countries in the Eastern European group of the UN.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Role in Africa:\u00a0<\/strong>In 2016, UNIDO was called upon to lead the initiative\u00a0<strong>\u2018Third Industrial Development Decade for Africa\u2019\u00a0<\/strong>by the UNGA in collaboration with African Union Commission, the New Partnership for Africa\u2019s Development and the Economic Commission for Africa.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Four strategic priorities of UNIDO:<\/strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>Creating shared prosperity;<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Advancing economic competitiveness;<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Safeguarding the environment;<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Strengthening knowledge and institutions.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Important Reports:\u00a0<\/strong>Industrial Development Report<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Headquarters<\/strong>: Vienna, Austria<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2><strong>International Civil Aviation Organization<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li><strong>Objective:\u00a0<\/strong>International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)\u00a0<strong>develops standards for global air transport<\/strong>\u00a0and assists its 192 member states in sharing the world\u2019s skies to their socio-economic benefit.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Foundation:\u00a0<\/strong>Established in<strong>\u00a01947<\/strong>\u00a0by the\u00a0<strong>Convention on International Civil Aviation (1944)<\/strong>, the ICAO is dedicated to developing safe and efficient international air transport for peaceful purposes and ensuring a reasonable opportunity for every state to operate international airlines.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>The Air Navigation Commission (ANC):\u00a0<\/strong>It is the technical body within ICAO. International standards and recommended practices are developed under the direction of the ANC.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Aeronautical Message Handling System (AMHS):\u00a0<\/strong>ICAO also standardizes certain functions for use in the airline industry, such as the\u00a0<strong>Aeronautical Message Handling System (AMHS).\u00a0<\/strong>This makes it a standards organization.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>International Standard Atmosphere:\u00a0<\/strong>ICAO defines an\u00a0<strong>International Standard Atmosphere\u00a0<\/strong>(also known as ICAO Standard Atmosphere), a model of the standard variation of pressure, temperature, density, and viscosity with altitude in the Earth's atmosphere.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Important Reports:\u00a0<\/strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>The World Civil Aviation Report<\/li>\r\n\t<li>ICAO Safety Report<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Headquarters<\/strong>: Montreal, Canada<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2><strong>World Tourism Organization<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li><strong>Objective<\/strong>: World Tourism Organization is a UN agency responsible for the promotion of responsible, sustainable and\u00a0<strong>universally accessible tourism.\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Global Code of Ethics for Tourism:\u00a0<\/strong>It encourages the\u00a0<strong>implementation of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism<\/strong>, Competitiveness, Innovation &amp; Digital Transformation, Ethics, Culture &amp; Social Responsibility, Technical Cooperation, UNWTO Academy, and Statistics.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Official languages:\u00a0<\/strong>The official languages of UNWTO are\u00a0<strong>Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.<\/strong><\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Important Reports:\u00a0<\/strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>Sustainable Tourism Programme\u2019s Progress Report<\/li>\r\n\t<li>UNWTO World Tourism Barometer<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Headquarters<\/strong>: Madrid, Spain<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2><strong>International Fund for Agricultural Development<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li><strong>Objectives<\/strong>: International Fund for Agricultural Development(IFAD) was created in<strong>\u00a01977<\/strong>\u00a0and focused exclusively on rural poverty reduction, working with poor rural populations in developing countries to eliminate poverty, hunger and malnutrition, etc.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Only international body to focus on rural economy:<\/strong>\u00a0It is the\u00a0<strong>only multilateral development organization<\/strong>\u00a0that focuses solely on rural economies and food security.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Funds and sponsorships:\u00a0<\/strong>It funds and sponsors initiatives that improve land and water management, develop rural infrastructure, train and educate farmers in more efficient technologies, build up resilience against climate change, enhance market accessibility, etc.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Important Reports:\u00a0<\/strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>State of Food Security and Nutrition Report<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Headquarters<\/strong>: Rome, Italy<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2><strong>Universal Postal Union<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li><strong>Objectives<\/strong>: Universal Postal Union is the\u00a0<strong>primary forum for cooperation between postal sector players<\/strong>. It helps to ensure a truly universal network of up-to-date products and services.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Foundation:\u00a0<\/strong>Established by the<strong>\u00a0Treaty of Bern of 1874,<\/strong>\u00a0It is a specialized agency of the UN that coordinates postal policies among member nations, in addition to the worldwide postal system.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>The UPU contains\u00a0<strong>four bodies:<\/strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>Congress<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Council of Administration (CA)<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Postal Operations Council (POC)<\/li>\r\n\t<li>International Bureau (IB)<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Telematics and Express Mail Service:\u00a0<\/strong>It also oversees the\u00a0<strong>Telematics and Express Mail Service<\/strong>\u00a0(EMS) cooperatives.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Important Reports:\u00a0<\/strong>Integrated Index for Postal Development<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Headquarters<\/strong>: Bern, Switzerland.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Specialised agencies of the United Nations explained briefly with their purpose structure and key functions including FAO UNIDO ICAO UNWTO IFAD UPU and other major agencies.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":8349,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[173],"tags":[40,301],"class_list":{"0":"post-5315","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-quest-level-3","8":"tag-quest","9":"tag-un-specialized-agencies-part-1"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5315","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5315"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5315\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22919,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5315\/revisions\/22919"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8349"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5315"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5315"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5315"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}