Lesson 2/55 min
Programmes: UNICEF, UNDP, UNHCR, UNEP and more
Main programmes and funds
| Body | Founded | Seat | Key facts |
|---|---|---|---|
| UNICEF (children's fund) | 11 December 1946 | New York | Nobel Peace Prize 1965; Executive Director Catherine Russell |
| UNDP (development programme) | 22 November 1965 | New York | Publishes the Human Development Index (HDI); top post is ‘Administrator’; current Administrator Alexander De Croo (2 December 2025–1 December 2029) |
| UNHCR (refugee agency) | 14 December 1950 | Geneva | Nobel Peace Prize 1954 and 1981; head is the ‘High Commissioner’; current High Commissioner Barham Salih (since 1 January 2026) |
| UNCTAD (trade and development) | 30 December 1964 | Geneva | Head is the ‘Secretary-General’; first one Raúl Prebisch (Argentina); publishes the annual World Investment Report |
| UNEP (environment programme) | 1972 | Nairobi, Kenya | Gives the ‘Champions of the Earth’ award; first Executive Director Maurice Strong (Canada); 5 June is World Environment Day |
| UNFPA (population fund) | 1969 | New York | Publishes the State of World Population report; first Executive Director Rafael Salas (Philippines) |
| UNU (UN University) | decided 1972 | Tokyo, Japan | The UN University for Peace is in Costa Rica (1980) |
| IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) | 1988 | Geneva | Set up jointly by UNEP and WMO; Nobel Peace Prize 2007 |
Watch out: Some books say ‘IPCC organises the COP conference’ — this is wrong. COP is run under the UNFCCC (Framework Convention on Climate Change). The IPCC only produces scientific assessments.
Did you know?: The book names Achim Steiner as UNDP Administrator; now it is Alexander De Croo. UNHCR was previously led by Filippo Grandi.
Check yourself
Which body was formed in 1988 by UNEP and WMO together?
At a glance
- 1
UNICEF 11 December 1946, Nobel 1965; UNDP 22 November 1965, publishes the HDI; its top post is Administrator.
- 2
UNHCR 14 December 1950, Geneva; Nobel Peace Prize 1954 and 1981; its head is the High Commissioner.
- 3
UNCTAD 30 December 1964, Geneva; publishes the annual World Investment Report.
- 4
UNEP is headquartered in Nairobi; 5 June is World Environment Day; UNFPA is in New York.
- 5
The IPCC was formed in 1988 by UNEP and WMO together; Nobel Peace Prize 2007.
- 6
The UN University is in Tokyo; the UN University for Peace is in Costa Rica.