International organizations have been constituted to contribute to the formulation of the international agenda, enhance political relationships, and establish a framework for developmental initiatives, among other goals. The establishment of international organizations and their headquarters is a product of multilateral negotiations. These organizations play a crucial role in formulating global objectives, international laws, and policies. They offer member states a venue for dialogue and negotiation, which ultimately aids in resolving conflicts that may occur between different nations. There are three primary categories of international organizations:

• Intergovernmental organizations (IGOs),

• International Non-Governmental organizations (INGOs), and

• Multinational Corporations (MNCs).

This article will give the relevant details of how an international organisation forms and how it works, meaning, types, list of international organizations and their headquarters and year, tricks of headquarters. This topic is important for many government exams. For any queries, check the FAQ section.

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What is an Organization?

An organization is an entity that is a company, an institution, or an association comprising one or more people and having a particular purpose.

• An organization refers to a collection of people who are involved in pursuing defined objectives.

• It can also be referred to as the second most important managerial function, which coordinates the work of employees, procures resources, and combines the two in pursuance of the company's goals.

• While Amnesty International is concerned with global peacekeeping, OPEC maintains stability in the global demand and supply of oil.

• Therefore, these organizations take care of a wide range of issues that transcend global boundaries and local laws.

• In today’s world scenario, keeping peace and effective trade relations among countries is a prominent priority for most countries.

• These International organizations take care of a wide range of world issues that transcend global boundaries and local laws.

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International Organizations

International organizations comprising member nations from more than one country are known as International Organizations. It is interesting to note that many International Organizations are intergovernmental, such as the United Nations. These are created to foster international cooperation in areas such as security, law, economics, social matters, and diplomacy. 

Types Of International Organizations

There are three types of international organizations which comprise the members of different countries for the implementation of certain purposes. The types of international organizations are

• Intergovernmental organizations (IGOs), 

• International Non-Governmental organizations (INGOs). 

• Multinational Corporations (MNCs) have also had a significant impact on the international system.

Intergovernmental organizations (IGOs)

The term Intergovernmental Organization (IGO) refers to an entity created by a treaty, involving two or more nations, to work in good faith on issues of common interest.

• In the absence of a treaty, an IGO does not exist in the legal sense.

• IGOs are formed by treaties that are more advantageous than a mere grouping of nations because they are subject to international law and can enter into enforceable agreements among themselves or with states.

• The main purposes of IGOs were to create a mechanism for the world’s inhabitants to work more successfully together in the areas of peace and security and also to deal with economic and social questions.

• In this current era of increasing globalization and interdependence of nations, IGOs have come to play a very significant role in international political systems and global governance.

International Non-Governmental Organizations (INGOs)

International Non-Governmental Organizations (INGOs) are not-for-profit voluntary associations operating at the international, transnational, or global level, with members or participants from many countries.

• They bring together like-minded individuals or associations of individuals to conduct a wide variety of activities across virtually all social domains, from astronomy to football to plant biology to zoo management.

• Most INGOs are found in scientific, technical, business and industry, medical, and professional domains.

• Sizable numbers are also active in domains such as sports and recreation, development, education, women’s rights, and many others.

• As of 2006, more than 7,000 “conventional” INGOs were in operation, along with about 20,000 internationally oriented nongovernmental organizations of more limited scope (Union of International Associations 2006).

Multinational Corporations (MNCs)

A multinational corporation (MNC) has facilities and assets in at least one country other than its home country.

• These companies generally have their offices and/or factories in different countries and a centralized head office where they coordinate global management.

• Some of these companies are also known as international, stateless, or transnational corporate organizations.

• Multinational corporations participate in business in two or more countries. MNCs can have a positive economic effect on the country where the business is taking place.

• A multinational corporation, or multinational enterprise, is an international corporation whose business activities are spread among at least two countries.

• Some authorities consider any company with a foreign branch to be a multinational corporation; others limit the definition to only those companies that derive at least a quarter of their revenues outside of their home country.

• Many multinational enterprises are based in developed nations. Multinational advocates say they create high-paying jobs and technologically advanced goods in countries that otherwise would not have access to such opportunities or goods.

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List of International Organizations and Their Headquarters And Establishment Year

In the following table, we listed the names of the international organizations and their headquarters and establishment year, abbreviations, and heads of the organizations. This will give a clear idea about the basic details of international organizations.

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Trick of Headquarters

Remember terms "[ W_O & I_O ]"--- GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

If any organization starts with "WORLD / INTERNATIONAL & ends with ORGANIZATION their headquarters are in Geneva, Switzerland.

[ W_O]

• World Intellectual Property Organization [ WIPO ]

• World Health Organization [ WHO ]

• World Meteorological Organization [ WMO ]

• World Trade Organization [ WTO ]

[I_O] - [ Except IMO]

• International Labour Organization [ ILO ]

• International Committee for Red Cross Organization [ ICRCO ]

• International  Standardization Organization [ ISO ]

• United Nations Conference on Trade And Development [UNCTAD]

Name starts with International and ends with Organization except for IMO, with its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland The IMO(International Maritime Organization) 

Remember the term I AM COMMON man in LONDON

• I stand for the International Maritime Organization [ IMO ]

• AM for Amnesty International

• COMMONWEALTH of Nations

• COMMONWEALTH Telecommunication Organisation

Washington DC

If Any Organisation is related to the International Money Monetary Organisation their Headquarters is in WASHINGTON, DC. We have Two International Money and Monetary organizations, the IMF & WB

• International Monetary Fund [ IMF ]

• World Bank [ WB ]

Remember term INDUSTRIES like ATOMIC & PETROLEUM - VIENNA AUSTRIA

If any organization related to Industrial Development like Atomic & Petroleum their headquarter in Vienna, Austria They are

• United Nations INDUSTRIAL Development Organization [ UNIDO ]

• International ATOMIC Energy Agency [ IAEA ]

• Organization of the PETROLEUM Exporting Countries [ OPEC ]

Remember the term UN CHILD EMERGENCY in NEWYORK

• UNITED NATION Organization [ UNO ]

• UNITED NATIONS International  CHILDREN EMERGENCY Fund [ UNICEF ]

Remember the term ECONOMIC & EDUCATIONAL in PARIS

If any organization related to Economic & Educational their headquarters in PARIS

• The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development  [ OECD ]

• United Nations EDUCATIONAL, Scientific and Cultural Organization [ UNESCO ]

Single Headquarters Organization

• Asian Development Bank [ ADB ] - Manila, Philippines

• Association of South East Nations [ ASEAN ] -Jakarta, Indonesia [ ACE JACK ] - Remember playing cards

• FOOD Agriculture Organisation [ FAO ] - Rome, ITALY [ FOOD IDLY ]

• International COURT of JUSTICE -The HAGUE, Netherlands [ Remember COURT given JUSTICE HANGUE ]

• South Asian Association For Regional Cooperation [ SAARC ] - Kathmandu, Nepal

FAQs

Q. What are the different types of international organizations?

A. There are two types of international organizations: international governmental organizations (IGOs) and international nongovernmental organizations (INGOs or, more commonly, NGOs). In recent years, multinational corporations (MNCs) have also had a significant impact on the international system.

Q. What are 4 examples of international organizations?