International Organisations Lecture 6 – United Nations – UPSC Exam

Table of Contents

What is UNDP?

UNDP

UNDP was formed in 1965 to help countries eliminate poverty and achieve sustainable human development.
The status of UNDP is that of an executive board within the United Nations General Assembly.
UNDP is working to strengthen new frameworks for development, disaster risk reduction and climate change.
- Headquarters: New York
- Predecessors: UN Expanded Programme of Technical Assistance & UN Special Fund

UNDP

UNDP Facts:
- UNDP is funded entirely by voluntary contributions from member nations.
- UNDP does not provide financial assistance to individuals or companies or private groups. UNDP works in collaboration with governments on development programmes & projects.
- UNDP Executive Board is made up of representatives from 36 countries nominated by UNGA regionwise for 2 years.

UNDP

Publications:
- Human Development Report & HDI
- State of climate ambition report
- Global Parliamentary Report in collaboration with Inter-parliamentary union

UNSDG

UNDP is central to the United Nations Sustainable Development Group (UNSDG).
UNSG is a network of more than 162 countries and different UN funds, programmes, specialized agencies and other bodies working to advance the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
UNSDG serves as a high-level forum for joint policy formation and decision-making. It guides, supports, tracks and oversees the coordination of development operations in 162 countries and territories.
The UNSDG meets twice a year under the chairmanship of Deputy Secretary-General.

UNSDG

UNSDG is composed of executive heads of UNSDG member entities. It also involves the core group comprising of UNDESA, FAO, ILO, IOM, OHCHR, UNDP, UNEP, UNESCO, UNFPA, UNHCR, UNICEF, UN Women, WFP, WHO and the rotating chair of the Regional Economic Commissions.

UNEP

UN Environment programme is the leading global environmental authority created in 1972 that sets the global environmental agenda.
UNEP works closely with its 193 Member States and representatives from civil society, businesses, and other major groups and stakeholders to address environmental challenges through the UN Environment Assembly, the world’s highest-level decision-making body on the environment.
Headquarters: Nairobi, Kenya

History of UNEP

UNEP

UNEP works on 7 broad thematic areas
1. Climate Action
2. Chemicals and Pollutions Action
3. Nature Action
4. Science Policy
5. Environmental Governance
6. Finance and Economic Transformations
7. Digital Transformations

UNEP

UNEP honoured PM Narendra Modi with ‘Champions of the Earth’ award in 2021 in the leadership category for ‘his pioneering work in championing the International Solar Alliance and for his unprecedented pledge to eliminate all single-use plastic in India by 2022’.
Modi was awarded jointly along with Emmanuel Macron of France.

UNEP

Publications:
1. Global Environment Outlook (GEO)
2. Emission Gap Report
3. Actions on Air Quality
4. Environmental Crime Report in collaboration with with INTERPOL

UNEP

UNEP honoured PM Narendra Modi with ‘Champions of the Earth’ award in 2021 in the leadership category for ‘his pioneering work in championing the International Solar Alliance and for his unprecedented pledge to eliminate all single-use plastic in India by 2022’.
Modi was awarded jointly along with Emmanuel Macron of France.

UNEP

United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA)
1. United Nations Environment Assembly is hosted by United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) every two years.
2. It was created in 2012 to replace the Governing Council, the UNEA is the governing body of the UNEP.
3. It brings together representatives of the 193 Member States of the UN, businesses, civil society and other stakeholders to agree on policies to address the world’s most pressing environmental challenges.

UN WFP

UN World food programme is the food-assistance branch of the UN.
It was established in 1961 by the FAO and UNGA.
World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.
UNWFP is funded by voluntary donations from world governments, corporations and private donors.
Headquarters: Rome, Italy

UN WFP

UNWFP Role:
1. Fighting famine
2. Responding to life saving situations
3. Providing life changing solutions
4. Building pathways to peace & stability
5. Support governments
6. Innovation & digital transformation
Note: UNWFP has been awarded Nobel Peace Prize in 2020

UN WFP

UN HABITAT

United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is the United Nations agency for human settlements and sustainable urban development.
UN-Habitat was established in 1978 with a vision of “a better quality of life for all in an urbanizing world”. It reports to the United Nations General Assembly.
UN-Habitat works with partners to build inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable cities and communities. UN-Habitat works in over 90 countries to promote transformative change in cities and human settlements through knowledge, policy advice, technical assistance and collaborative action.
Headquarters: Nairobi, Kenya

UN HABITAT

UN Habitat 4 pronged Strategy:
- Think
- Do
- Share
- Partner
UN Habitat conference ie: UN Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development is held once in bi-decennial cycle (Once in 20 years).
Till now 3 such conferences have been held (1976, 1996 & 2016).
Habitat III took place in Quito, Ecuador in 2016. It ratified the “New Urban Agenda”, building on the Habitat Agenda of Istanbul in 1996. Habitat I took place in Vancouver in 1976 which led to formation of institution itself.

Publications:
- World Cities Report
- Urban regeneration report

UNICEF

UNICEF (UN International Children’s Emergency Fund) later renamed to United Nations Children’s Fund is a special program of the United Nations working to reach the most disadvantaged Children and adolescents and to protect the rights of every child, everywhere.
It was created in 1946 in the aftermath of WWII which affected millions of children.
UNICEF is guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1989.
Headquarters: New York
UNICEF work is funded entirely through the voluntary support of millions of people around the world and our partners in government, civil society and the private sector.
UNICEF works with the national governments aiding their efforts to improve the health, nutrition, education, and general welfare of children.
Scope of UNICEF:
- Child Development and Nutrition
- Child Protection
- Education
- Child Environment
- Child Health
- Emergency Preparedness and Response
UNICEF is governed by an Executive Board consisting of 36 members that are elected to terms of three years by the UNECOSOC.
UNICEF was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1965 for “promotion of brotherhood among the nations”.
Publications:
- State of the World’s Children report

UNFPA

UNFPA is the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency. UNFPA was set up as trust fund in 1967 with a mission “to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled”.
UNFPA is formally named the United Nations Population Fund. (Earlier UN fund for population activities). The organization was created in 1969, the same year the United Nations General Assembly declared “parents have the exclusive right to determine freely and responsibly the number and spacing of their children.”
The funds for UNFPA are completely supported by voluntary contributions. They include donor governments, various foundations and individuals, and intergovernmental organisations.
The mandate of UNFPA is established by the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). The executive board for UNDP, UNFPA & UNOPS (United Nations Office for Project Service) is same.
UNFPA works directly to tackle SDG3 on health, SDG4 on education and SDG5 on gender equality.