Centre for Applied Diplomacy and Statecraft

Your Pathway to Understanding International Relations

International Organizations

Intergovernmental Organizations

Non-Governmental Organizations

List of prominent intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) from around the world, categorized by their focus areas:

Global Organizations

1. United Nations (UN)

- Focus: International peace, security, development, and human rights.

- Key agencies:

- UNICEF (Children's Fund)

- WHO (World Health Organization)

- UNESCO (Education, Science, and Culture)

- FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization)

- IMF (International Monetary Fund)

- World Bank

2. World Trade Organization (WTO)

- Focus: Regulating international trade and resolving trade disputes.

3. International Criminal Court (ICC)

- Focus: Prosecuting individuals for genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.

4. International Labour Organization (ILO)

- Focus: Labor rights and social protection.

5. International Maritime Organization (IMO)

- Focus: Safety and security of international shipping.

6. International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

- Focus: Global telecommunications and technology standards.

7. World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)

- Focus: Protecting intellectual property rights worldwide.

Regional Organizations

1. European Union (EU)

- Focus: Political and economic integration among European countries.

2. African Union (AU)

- Focus: Promoting unity and development in Africa.

3. Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

- Focus: Economic, political, and cultural cooperation in Southeast Asia.

4. /North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

- Focus: Collective defense and security among member states.

5. Organization of American States (OAS)

- Focus: Promoting solidarity and cooperation in the Americas.

6. Arab League

- Focus: Political, economic, and cultural cooperation among Arab states.

7. Pacific Islands Forum (PIF)

- Focus: Regional cooperation among Pacific Island nations.

8. Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)

- Focus: Security and economic cooperation in Eurasia.

9. Commonwealth of Nations

- Focus: Promoting democracy, human rights, and development among member states (mostly former British colonies).

10. South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)

- Focus: Promoting the welfare of the peoples of South Asia and to improve their quality of life...

Economic and Financial Organizations

1. Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)

- Focus: Promoting economic growth and global trade.

2. G20 (Group of Twenty)

- Focus: International economic cooperation among major economies.

3. OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries)

- Focus: Coordinating petroleum policies among oil-producing nations.

4. Asian Development Bank (ADB)

- Focus: Promoting economic development in Asia.

5. African Development Bank (AfDB)

- Focus: Financing development projects in Africa.

6. Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)

- Focus: Supporting development in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Security and Defense Organizations

1. Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO)

- Focus: Military alliance among former Soviet states.

2. Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)

- Focus: Conflict prevention and human rights in Europe.

3. Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)

- Focus: Political and economic cooperation among Gulf states.

Environmental and Scientific Organizations

1. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

- Focus: Assessing climate change science and impacts.

2. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

- Focus: Promoting peaceful use of nuclear energy and preventing nuclear proliferation.

3. Arctic Council

- Focus: Addressing issues faced by Arctic governments and indigenous peoples.

Cultural and Humanitarian Organizations

1. Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF)

- Focus: Promoting French language and cultural cooperation.

2. Commonwealth_of_Independent_StatesCommonwealth of Independent States (CIS)

- Focus: Cooperation among former Soviet republics.

3. International Organization for Migration (IOM)

- Focus: Addressing migration issues and assisting migrants.