UN Specialized Agencies
Specialized agencies are autonomous bodies within the UN system. Each one runs its own secretariat, budget, and governing structure. Together, they turn UN goals into concrete action.
UN
What Makes an Agency “Specialized”?
A specialized agency forms through its own intergovernmental treaty. It then enters a formal relationship with the UN under the Charter. This legal link separates agencies from informal UN partners. Specialized agencies report to the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). They work across economic, social, scientific, and technical fields. Each one keeps full control over its own staff, finances, and policy.Fifteen Entries, Seventeen Agencies
The UN lists 17 specialized agencies in total. The count is sometimes given as 15, since the World Bank Group is treated as one organization, even though it is composed of three agencies: the IBRD, the IFC, and the IDA.
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
FAO leads global efforts against hunger. It supports sustainable agriculture, fisheries, and rural development.
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
ICAO sets global standards for air travel safety. It coordinates international civil aviation policy.
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
IFAD invests in rural development. It focuses on reducing poverty among smallholder farmers.
International Labour Organization (ILO)
ILO sets labour standards and promotes decent work worldwide. It brings governments, employers, and workers together.
International Monetary Fund (IMF)
The IMF maintains global financial stability. It lends to countries facing economic crises and balance-of-payment problems.
International Maritime Organization (IMO)
IMO regulates international shipping. It sets safety, security, and environmental standards at sea.
International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
ITU coordinates global telecom networks and radio spectrum use. It connects the world’s communication systems.
UNESCO
→ Explore UNESCO
UNESCO builds peace through education, science, and culture. It runs the Culture of Peace programme and the World Heritage list.
UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
UNIDO promotes industrial growth in developing countries. It supports sustainable and inclusive economic development.
UN Tourism (formerly UNWTO)
UN Tourism promotes responsible and sustainable tourism. It supports tourism’s role in economic development.
Universal Postal Union (UPU)
UPU coordinates postal policies between member states. It keeps a single global postal network running smoothly.
World Health Organization (WHO)
WHO leads global health policy. It coordinates outbreak response and sets international health standards.
World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
WIPO protects intellectual property rights worldwide. It supports innovation through global patent and copyright systems.
World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
WMO coordinates global weather, climate, and water data. It supports disaster preparedness and climate science.
World Bank Group
The World Bank funds development projects and reduces poverty worldwide. Its three institutions — the IBRD, IFC, and IDA — each play a distinct role.
RYB’s Place in This Picture
RYB tracks specialized agencies to map how global goals turn into local action. UNESCO comes first, since it anchors our Culture of Peace work. The rest will follow as this tree grows.
Looking Forward
Each agency above will get its own page over time. Every page will explain its mandate, history, and connection to RYB’s broader work on peace and development.
Sources
- UN System of Organizations, United Nations — un.org/en/about-us/un-system
- UNESCO, About Us — unesco.org/en/about-us
- Specialized Agencies, UN Dag Hammarskjöld Library Research Guide — https://research.un.org/en/docs/unsystem/sa