One of the principal objectives of the UN is to solve economic, social, cultural and humanitarian issues through international cooperation. Several specialized agencies have been set up to achieve these goals. These agencies are autonomous organizations working with the UN.

They may or may not have been originally created by the UN, but they are incorporated into the UN system by UN ECOSOC acting under Articles 57 and 63 of the UN Charter. At present the UN has in total 15 specialized agencies that carry out various functions on behalf of the UN.

International Labour Organisation (ILO)

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) is the only tripartite United Nations agency, bringing together governments, employers, and workers’ representatives from its 187 member states to devise international labour standards.

It was established in 1919 by the Treaty of Versailles as an affiliated agency of the League of Nations (LoN). It became the first specialized agency of the UN in 1946.

• Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
• Founding Mission: Social Justice is essential to universal and lasting peace.
• Promotes internationally recognized human and labour rights.
• Received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1969.

Structure of ILO

• International Labour Conference: it sets the international labour standards and the broad policies of the ILO. It meets annually in Geneva. It is often referred to as the International Parliament of Labour.
• Governing Body: it is the executive council of the ILO. It meets three times a year in Geneva.
• International Labour Office: it is the permanent secretariat of the International Labour Organization.
• Regional meetings of the ILO member States are held periodically to examine matters of special interest to the regions concerned.

Objective of ILO

• To promote and realize standards and fundamental principles and rights at work.
• To create greater opportunities for women and men to secure decent employment.
• To enhance the coverage and effectiveness of social protection for all.
• To strengthen tripartism and social dialogue.

Functions of ILO

• Creation of coordinated policies and programs, directed at solving social and labour issues.
• Adoption of international labour standards in the form of conventions and recommendations and control over their implementation.
• Assistance to member-states in solving social and labour problems.
• Human rights protection (the right to work, freedom of association, collective negotiations, protection against forced labour, protection against discrimination, etc.).
• Research and publication of works on social and labour issues.

Eight-core conventions of the ILO:

• Forced Labour Convention (No. 29)
• Abolition of Forced Labour Convention (No.105)
• Equal Remuneration Convention (No.100)
• Discrimination (Employment Occupation) Convention (No.111)
• Minimum Age Convention (No.138)
• Worst forms of Child Labour Convention (No.182)
• Freedom of Association and Protection of Right to Organised Convention (No.87)
• Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention (No.98)

ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work:

• Freedom of Association and The Right to collective bargaining (Conventions 87 and 98)
• Elimination of forced or compulsory labour (Conventions No. 29 and No. 105)
• Abolition of child labour (Conventions No. 138 and No. 182)
• Elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation (Conventions No. 100 and No. 111)

Contribution of ILO:

• Workers right: The ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.
• Reducing forced labour and providing a minimum wage scale: The organization has set uniform, universal standards for corporations to follow.
• Employment: From advice to government policies to direct training to poor communities.
• Migrants: Protection of Migrant workers.
• Reducing Child Labour: To eradicate child labour, the ILO launched the International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC) in 1992.
• HIV/AIDS: The ILO is the lead UN agency on HIV workplace policies and programs and private sector mobilization.

India and ILO

India is a founding member of the ILO, and it has been a permanent member of the ILO Governing Body since 1922.

In India, the first ILO Office was started in 1928. The decades of productive partnership between the ILO and its constituents have mutual trust and respect as underlying principles and are grounded in building sustained institutional capacities and strengthening the capacities of partners.

India has ratified six out of the eight core/fundamental ILO conventions. These conventions are:

• Forced Labour Convention (No. 29)
• Abolition of Forced Labour Convention (No.105)
• Equal Remuneration Convention (No.100)
• Discrimination (Employment Occupation) Convention (No.111)
• Minimum Age Convention (No.138)
• Worst forms of Child Labour Convention (No.182)
• India has not ratified the two core/fundamental conventions, namely Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87) and the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98).

Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO)

Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) was formed in 1945 to lead international efforts to defeat hunger. Membership of FAO includes 194 member states and the EU.

FAO is composed of six departments i.e.:

1. Agriculture and Consumer Protection,
2. Economic and Social Development,
3. Fisheries and Aquaculture,
4. Forestry,
5. Corporate Services and
6. Technical Cooperation and Programme Management.

Functions of FAO

The functions of FAO are signified by its motto, fiat panis(Latin): “Let there be bread”.

1. It is a neutral forum where all nations meet as equals to negotiate agreements & debate policy.
2. It helps developing countries and countries in transition modernize and improve agriculture, forestry and fisheries practices, ensuring good nutrition and food security for all.

Governing Body of FAO

The Governing Body of the FAO is the Conference of Member Nations, which meets every two years.

The Conference elects a council of 49 member states (serve three-year rotating terms) that acts as an interim governing body, and the Director-General, that heads the agency.

Major initiatives were taken under FAO

The following initiatives were taken by the FAO:

• Codex Alimentarius Commission, 1963, a joint intergovernmental body of the FAO and WHO with 186 Member States and one Member Organization (EU). It has worked to create harmonized international food standards to protect the health of consumers and ensure fair trade practices.
• Global Forum on Agricultural Research and Innovation (GFAR), 1996, Rome: an inclusive global mechanism enabling all those concerned with the future of agriculture and its role in development around the world to come together and address key global needs.

Some of the Publication include:

• State of Food and Agriculture: it is a flagship publication of FAO related to food, agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and natural resources.
• State of the World’s Forests report: biennially by FAO, on the status of forests, recent major policy and institutional developments, and key issues concerning the forest sector.

International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture

The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) was adopted by the 31st Session of the Conference of the FAO of the United Nations on 3 November 2001. It also is known as the Seed Treaty. It has the following aims:  Ensures food security through the conservation, exchange, and sustainable use of the world’s plant genetic resources for food and agriculture (PGRFA), It envisages fair and equitable benefit sharing arising from the use of genetic resources. It also recognizes farmers’ rights, subject to national laws.

International Fund for Agriculture & Development (IFAD)

IFAD is an international financial institution working as a specialised agency of the UN in the field of poverty eradication in the rural areas of developing countries providing grants and loans with low interest for allied projects.

It was created in 1977, which is the outcome of the World Food Conference of 1974

• Headquarters: Rome, Italy
• Members: It has 177 member countries. India is also a member country.
• Reports: It brings out the Rural Development Report every year.

Objectives of IFAD

• To increase the productive capacity of poor people.
• To increase benefits for them from market participation.
• To strengthen the environmental sustainability & climate resilience of their economic activities.

Functions of IFAD

It works with marginalized and vulnerable groups such as farmers with small holdings, foresters, Pastoralists, fishermen, and small-scale entrepreneurs by giving them disaster preparedness, access to weather information, technology transfer, and social learning.

IFAD provides low-interest loans and grants to developing countries to finance innovative agricultural and rural development programmes and projects.  176 countries are members of the IFAD, and these are grouped into three lists:

1. List – A: Developed Countries;
2. List – B: Oil-Producing Countries; and
3. List— C: Developing Countries. India is in List – C

Since 1979, IFAD has provided financial support to India through projects in the realm of agriculture, rural development, tribal development, etc.

The Governing Council is the highest decision-making body of IFAD. The Governing Council meets annually. The Executive Board of IFAD, headed by the President, is responsible for oversight of the several operations of IFAD. The members and alternate members are elected for a three-year team.

UNESCO:

It aims to promote world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences, and culture. It has 194 member states and 12 associate members, as well as partners in the non-governmental, intergovernmental, and private sectors. Headquartered in Paris, France, UNESCO has 53 regional field offices and 199 national commissions.

Various initiatives that were taken by UNESCO include:

1. Man and Biosphere (MAB) Programme, 1970 for the protection of the biosphere.
2. List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of humanity to increase awareness about intangible heritage also offers financial or technical support to countries struggling to protect them.

International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO):

• ICAO was established by States to manage the administration and governance of the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention), in 1944.
• ICAO works with the Convention’s 191 Member States and industry groups to reach a consensus on international civil aviation Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) and policies in support of a safe, efficient, secure, economically sustainable, and environmentally responsible civil aviation sector.

WHO:

World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations specialized agency for Health was founded in 1948.

• The headquarters of WHO are situated in Geneva, Switzerland.
• There are 194 Member States, 150 country offices, and six regional offices.
• It is an inter-governmental organization and works in collaboration with its member states usually through the Ministries of Health.
• The WHO provides leadership on global health matters, shaping the health research agenda, setting norms and standards, articulating evidence-based policy options, providing technical support to countries, and monitoring and assessing health trends.
• It began functioning on April 7, 1948 – a date now being celebrated every year as World Health Day.

Objectives

1. To act as the directing and coordinating authority on international health work.
2. To establish and maintain effective collaboration with the United Nations, specialized agencies, governmental health administrations, professional groups, and such other organizations as may be deemed appropriate.
3. To provide assistance to the Governments, upon request, in strengthening health services.
4. To promote cooperation among scientific and professional groups which contribute to the advancement of health.

Role of WHO in global health governance

Key roles of the World Health Organization (WHO) in global health governance:

• Setting global health standards and guidelines
• Monitoring and assessing global health trends
• Coordinating international health responses
• Building health systems and focussing on the Digital health system
• Conducting research and development
• Advocating for better health policies and funding
• Providing technical assistance and capacity building to the developing countries.

Contribution of WHO in India

India and WHO have a cooperative partnership in several areas of public health. Some of these areas are Disease Control and Prevention, Maternal and Child Health, Non-Communicable Diseases, Health Research and Digital Health.

Funding of WHO

WHO gets its funding from three main sources:

• Assessed contributions are the dues countries pay in order to be a member of the Organization, and pay is calculated relative to the country’s wealth and population.
• Voluntary contributions come from Member States (in addition to their assessed contribution) or from other partners. They can range from flexible to highly earmarked.
• Core voluntary contributions allow less well-funded activities to benefit from a better flow of resources and ease implementation bottlenecks that arise when immediate financing is lacking.

Top Contributors

Issues and Challenges Faced by WHO

WHO faces so many difficulties and challenges in its organizational structure. Some of the points are: Limited funding. Emergence of new diseases. Limited access to healthcare. Climate Change and Health.

Criticisms faced by WHO: 

Inefficiency and bureaucracy: During the 2014-16 Ebola outbreak in West Africa, the WHO was criticized for the delayed response and underestimation of the outbreak. Political interference: The alleged China’s influence over WHO came to limelight during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lack of transparency: WHO’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and for not being forthcoming about the origins of the virus. Inadequate representation: WHO does not adequately represent the interests of all member states, particularly developing countries.

Way Forward

The WHO is a vital institution that plays a crucial role in addressing global health challenges. Some of the steps that can be taken to make WHO more effective are: Need to Increase funding Ensuring transparency of funding mechanism and accountability framework Strengthening leadership and governance Improved focus on prevention and preparedness

Creation of Global Framework for Management of Infectious Diseases & Pandemics

IMO:

The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for regulating shipping. The IMO was established following an agreement at a UN conference held in Geneva in 1948. It came into existence ten years later, meeting for the first time on 17 March 1958.

Mandate

IMO oversees the maritime sector which in turn underpins international trade, transport, and all maritime activities.

Functions of IMO

Maintaining adherence to the established treaties of safety and security, prevention of pollution and other avoidable human disasters. IMO also facilitates technical cooperation among member states, setting up an audition and monitoring scheme

Pillars of IMO

The four pillars of IMO are: International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS),International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW),International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) andMaritime Labour Convention (MLC).

Funding of the IMO

An assembly of members governs the IMO.It is also financially administered by a member council elected from the assembly.

• It has five committees and several technical sub-committees.

IAEA:

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is an intergovernmental organization that seeks to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy and to inhibit its use for any military purpose, including nuclear weapons.

It was established in 1957 as an autonomous organization within the United Nations system; though governed by its own founding treaty, the organization reports to both the General Assembly and the Security Council of the United Nations.

• It is headquartered at the UN Office in Vienna, Austria.
• The IAEA was created in response to growing international concern toward nuclear weapons, especially amid rising tensions between the foremost nuclear powers, the United States, and the Soviet Union.
• Mandate “to accelerate and enlarge the contribution of atomic energy to peace, health, and prosperity throughout the world”.

Membership

• Any member of the UN or of any of the specialized agencies that signed the statute within 90 days after 26 October 1956 thereby became a charter member of the IAEA upon ratification of the statute.
• Other countries, even if not members of the UN or any of the specialized agencies, may be admitted by the General Conference of the IAEA upon recommendation of the Board of Governors.

Functions

The main functions of the IAEA are to:

1. Encourage and assist research, development, and practical application of atomic energy for peaceful uses throughout the world
2. The Agency conducts its activities in accordance with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.

Verification

• Under Safeguards Agreements, IAEA inspectors regularly visit nuclear facilities to verify records maintained by State authorities on the whereabouts of nuclear material under their control.
• A formal safeguards agreement is required between the Agency and the State.

There are four types of inspections:

1. Ad Hoc (to verify a state’s initial nuclear report)
2. Routine (the most common inspections which are performed routinely)
3. Special (supplementary inspections executed in unusual circumstances)
4. Safeguard Visits (inspections to declared facilities to confirm the safeguards design information.

Issues and Challenges

• IAEA missions are growing, but its resources are still limited. Raising funds from the private sector or from public-private partnerships can lead to a conflict of interest.
• It has no authority to act on its own; it relies on the willingness of nations to cooperate, or on a UN mandate. Therefore, the agency enjoys only “uneven authority”.

India and IAEA

• India is a founding member of the IAEA. Presently, 26 Indian nuclear facilities are under this international nuclear energy watchdog.
• India is actively contributing to the work of the IAEA and assisting other countries in developing aspects of nuclear science.
• India signed the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement (CSA) and Additional Protocol (AP) with the IAEA in 2009 to send a strong signal to the international community that it is a “serious and responsible” nuclear weapons state amid its keenness to become a member of NSG.

ITU:

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is a specialized body operating under the United Nations. It is responsible for coordinating global telecommunications. 

• The International Telecommunication Union headquarters is in Geneva, Switzerland. The ITU has 193 member states.
• The ITU is the oldest international organization dedicated to the field of telecommunications.
• It was established in 1865 as the International Telegraph Union.
• Its primary aim is:
  • To coordinate and regulate international telecommunications.
  • To promote the development of ICTs worldwide.

Functions

The following are some of the major functions of the ITU:

• Standardization: ITU develops technical standards, to ensure that telecommunications equipment from different manufacturers can work together seamlessly.
• Spectrum Management: The ITU manages the radio-frequency spectrum and satellite orbits
• Development Programs: The ITU works to promote the development of telecommunications in developing countries.
• Policy and Regulation

The ITU assists member states in formulating policies and regulations.

Role

The following are some of the significant roles of the ITU:

• Global Cooperation: The ITU helps countries, and businesses work together in the field of telecommunications.
• Addressing Emerging Technologies: The ITU is important in dealing with new technologies like 5G, the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and cybersecurity.
• Bridging the Digital Divide: The ITU wants to make sure everyone can access ICT services.
• Policy Advocacy: The ITU supports policies that sustainably help the development of telecommunication.

ITU and India

India is a member of the ITU and has been since 1947. The ITU and India signed a Host Country Agreement in 2022. The agreement formalizes the presence of the ITU regional office in New Delhi. And as a hub for coordinating ITU’s activities in the Asia-Pacific region.

WIPO:

Origins & Functions

• WIPO is one of the oldest specialized agencies of the United Nations (UN).
• WIPO was created in 1967 “to encourage creative activity, to promote the protection of intellectual property throughout the world”.
• WIPO currently administers 26 international treaties.
• It is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.
• Every year “World Intellectual Property Day” is celebrated on 26th April.

Intellectual Property (IP)

The category of property includes intangible creations of the human intellect and primarily encompasses copyrights, patents, and trademarks. It also includes other types of rights, such as trade secrets, publicity rights, moral rights, and rights against unfair competition.

Membership of WIPO:

1. WIPO currently has 191 member states. All member states of the UN are entitled, though not obliged, to become members of specialized agencies like WIPO.
2. 188 UN member states as well as Cook Islands, Holy See, and Niue are members of WIPO. Palestine has permanent observer status.
3. Some 250 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) have official observer status at WIPO meetings. India joined WIPO in 1975.

Functions of WIPO:

• Policy forum to shape balanced international IP rules for a changing world.
• Global services to protect IP across borders and to resolve disputes.
• Technical infrastructure to connect IP systems and share knowledge.
• Cooperation and capacity-building programs enable all countries to use IP for economic, social, and cultural development.
• A world reference source for IP information.

Issues regarding Intellectual Property Rights in India

Since the inception of intellectual property rights, India has been committed to their preservation in domestic as well as international frameworks. However, India has often overleveraged these domains which has led to several issues in WIPO:

1. Evergreening: This indicates that the Indian Patent Act forbids the evergreening of patents. The Patent Act allows for pharmaceutical products to be exclusively produced by the IPR holder for 20 years from the date of filing the application. This has caused issues for foreign pharmaceutical companies, as the drugs researched by them can be produced for very cheap after 20 years of their application.
2. Compulsory licensing: It was a provision under the original Indian Patent Act, 1970, which allowed the government to force the production of a critical drug in India, regardless of its patent in a foreign company. For foreign investors who bring technology, compulsory licensing presents a challenge because Indian companies like CIPLA produce the same drugs at a fraction of the cost. The Indian government was forced to amend the Patent Act in 1970 to remove Compulsory Licencing (CL).

Did you Know?

India wants its citizens to claim rights over its intellectual property quicker than other nations. We can do this by creating awareness, such as through initiatives like KAPILA. KAPILA: A systematic, comprehensive effort called “KAPILA, Kalam Programme for IP Literacy and Awareness” addresses the current barriers in the innovation ecosystem, particularly in our HEIs.

UNODC:

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is the principal United Nations agency that provides both legal and technical help to combat terrorism. It is a world leader in the fight against illegal drugs and international crime.

The United Nations Drug Control Programme and the Centre for International Crime Prevention were combined to create the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), which was formed in 1997.  Around 500 people work with UNODC, which has its headquarters in Vienna. It runs 52 field offices that serve more than 150 nations.

Mandate and Objectives

Drug ControlCrime Prevention and Criminal JusticeCorruption and Economic CrimesTerrorism Prevention

Challenges and Future Directions:

Despite its significant achievements, the UNODC faces numerous challenges in its mission, including resource constraints, evolving criminal trends, and geopolitical complexities.

Related FAQs of Specialized Agencies of the UN

1. What are UN Specialized Agencies and why were they created?

UN Specialized Agencies are independent organizations linked to the UN through agreements with ECOSOC. They were created to tackle global challenges like health, education, labour, and agriculture through international cooperation.

2. How is the ILO different from other UN agencies?

The International Labour Organization (ILO) is unique because it’s the only tripartite UN agency—governments, employers, and workers all have an equal say. It sets global labour standards and supports decent work for all.

3. What is FAO’s role in fighting hunger and ensuring food security?

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) leads international efforts to defeat hunger. It works on improving agriculture, food systems, nutrition, and sustainable resource use, especially in developing countries.

4. Why is WHO important for global health, and what challenges does it face?

The WHO sets health standards, manages disease outbreaks, and supports health systems globally. However, it faces challenges like funding gaps, political interference, and criticism over crisis response efficiency.

5. What role does India play in UN agencies like WHO, ILO, and IAEA?

India is an active member of many UN agencies. It contributes peacekeepers to UN missions, partners with WHO on public health, and collaborates with IAEA on nuclear safety. India’s participation boosts global cooperation and domestic development.