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Information on Selected
UN Specialized Agencies and Programmes
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Fourteen independent organizations known as "Specialized
Agencies" are linked to the UN through cooperative agreements.
These agencies are autonomous bodies created by intergovernmental
agreement. They have wide-ranging international responsibilities
in the economic, social, cultural, educational, health
and related fields. Some of them, like the International
Labour Organization and the Universal Postal Union, are
older than the UN itself. The World Health Organization,
the Food and Agriculture Organization, the International
Fund for Agricultural Development and the International
Maritime Organization are all Specialized Agencies mentioned
in the included lesson plans.
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World Health Organization (WHO)
WHO's objective is the attainment by all peoples of the
highest possible level of health, or "Health for All."
In order to accomplish this goal, it functions to give
worldwide guidance in the field of health, to cooperate
with Governments to strengthen the planning, management
and evaluation of national health programmes, and to develop
and transfer appropriate health technology, information
and standards. WHO also possesses the capacity to mobilize
and dispatch teams on site within 24 hours of notification
of an outbreak to initiate epidemic control measures.
One of WHO's historic achievements is the global eradication
of smallpox in 1980.
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Food and Agriculture Organization
(FAO)
FAO acts as the lead agency for rural development. It
works to alleviate poverty and hunger by promoting agricultural
development, improved nutrition and the pursuit of food
security (the access of all peoples at all times to the
food they need for an active and healthy life). Special
FAO programmes seek to increase food production and improve
conditions for farming families, assist countries in preparing
for emergency situations, and provide relief when necessary.
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International Fund for
Agricultural Development (IFAD)
The mandate of IFAD is to combat hunger and rural poverty
in the low-income, food-deficit regions of the world.
It works by mobilizing resources for improved food production
and better nutrition among the poor in developing countries.
To ensure that development aid actually reaches those
who need it most, IFAD involves the rural poor in their
own development. This means identifying their needs, building
on their own knowledge and skills, and promoting successful
traditional livelihoods and resource management.
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International Maritime
Organization (IMO)
Although the main objective of the IMO is to facilitate
cooperation among governments on technical matters affecting
international shipping, it also helps to protect the marine
environment through prevention of, and emergency response
to, oil, chemical and other pollution of the seas caused
by ships and other crafts.
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Other Specialized Agencies
International Labour Organization (ILO)
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO)
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
World Bank Group International Monetary Fund (IMF)
Universal Postal Union (UPU)
International Telecommunications Union (ITU)
World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
In addition to the Specialized Agencies,
a number of UN offices, programmes and funds work to
improve the economic and social conditions of people
around the world. Set up under the aegis of the Secretary-General,
these include the United Nations Development Programme,
the UN Centre for Human Settlements, the United Nations
Environment Programme, the World Food Programme and
the United Nations Children's Fund, all of which are
covered in the lesson plans in this package.
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United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP)
UNDP has three main goals: to help the UN become a powerful
and cohesive force for sustainable human development,
to focus on poverty elimination, environmental regeneration,
job creation and the advancement of women, and to strengthen
international cooperation for sustainable human development.
UNDP aims to help countries build their own capacity to
achieve development, giving priority to building equity
and eliminating poverty. UNDP also promotes sound government
and market development, and supports rebuilding societies
in the aftermath of war and humanitarian emergencies.
It works through its 166 country offices.
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United Nations Centre for Human Settlements
(Habitat)
Habitat is the lead agency for coordinating human settlements
development activities, focusing on shelter and social
services, urban management, environment and infrastructure,
and assessment, monitoring and information. Habitat fosters
the realization of the human right to housing through
the provision of adequate water, sanitation, drainage,
garbage collection and shelter policies.
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United Nations Environment Programme
(UNEP)
UNEP was created to be the environmental conscience of
the UN system. Its mission is to provide leadership and
encourage partnerships in caring for the environment by
enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality
of life without compromising that of future generations.
UNEP sets the global agenda and serves as an authoritative
advocate of the global environment. Its main functions
include analyzing the state of the global environment,
assessing environmental trends, providing policy advice
and early-warning information on environmental threats,
catalyzing and promoting international cooperation and
action, furthering the development of international environmental
law, promoting environmental awareness and cooperation
involving all sectors of society and serving as an effective
link between the scientific community and policymakers.
UNEP helps solve problems that cannot be handled by countries
acting alone.
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World Food Programme (WFP)
WFP is the food-aid arm of the UN system, responsible
for handling around 3 million tons of food aid. Its mandate
is to help poor people in developing countries by combating
world hunger and poverty. It uses food aid to promote
economic and social development. In emergencies, WFP provides
fast, life-sustaining relief to victims of natural and
man-made disasters, and wars. WFP buys good and services
from developing countries in an effort to reinforce their
economies, and provides "food-for-work" assistance to
help people become self-reliant.
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United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
UNICEF works for child protection, survival and development
within the framework of the Convention on the Rights of
the Child. UNICEF supports programmes aimed at improving
the lives of children everywhere, particularly those in
developing countries. This includes low-cost community-based
programmes in primary health care, nutrition, basic education,
water and environmental sanitation, and gender and development.
It advocates observance of human rights for all children,
and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964.
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| Other UN Programmes |
United Nations Relief and Works
Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)
United Nations University (UNU)
Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
(UNHCHR)
Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention (ODCCP)
United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM)
International Research and Training Institute for
the Advancement of Women (INSTRAW)
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
(UNCTAD)
United Nations Volunteers (UNV)
United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)
United Nations Population Fund
(UNPF)
United Nations Institute for Training and Research
(UNITAR)
United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research
(UNIDIR)
United Nations Research Institute for Social Development
(UNRISD)
United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research
Institute (UNICRI)
International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO (ITC)
United Nations Non-Governmental Liaison Service (UN/NGLS)
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In addition to the Specialized Agencies,
a number of UN offices, programmes and funds work to improve
the economic and social conditions of people around the
world. Set up under the aegis of the Secretary-General,
these include the United Nations Development Programme,
the UN Centre for Human Settlements, the United Nations
Environment Programme, the World Food Programme and the
United Nations Children's Fund, all of which are covered
in the lesson plans in this package. |
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