International Organisations are formed to set global priorities, build political cooperation, and support the effective execution of development programmes. Most of these bodies come into existence through multilateral agreements aimed at establishing global objectives, international laws, and policies. They offer member countries a common platform to discuss, negotiate, and resolve cross-border issues.

Generally, international Organisations fall into three categories:

• Intergovernmental Organisations,

• International Non-Governmental Organisations, and

• Multinational Enterprises.

These entities bring together multiple nations to pursue shared goals such as maintaining peace, strengthening security, promoting economic growth, delivering humanitarian assistance, and protecting the environment. By fostering collaboration, they help countries address global challenges and develop international standards and agreements. Notable examples include the United Nations (UN), the World Health Organisation (WHO), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the World Trade Organisation (WTO). Many of these Organisations operate from permanent headquarters located in specific cities to manage global coordination and administrative functions.

This article will help to improve your knowledge about the international Organisations and their headquarters, including their types and tricks. A PDF format is also attached to this article, with a download option for any queries. Check the FAQ section given below.

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What is an Organisation?

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

• An Organisation 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 Organisations 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 Organisations take care of a wide range of world issues that transcend global boundaries and local laws.

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International Organisations

International Organisations comprising member nations from more than one country are known as International Organisations. It is interesting to note that many International Organisations 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 Organisations

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

• Intergovernmental Organisations (IGOs), 

• International Non-Governmental Organisations (INGOs). 

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

Intergovernmental Organisations (IGOs)

The term Intergovernmental Organisation (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 globalisation and interdependence of nations, IGOs have come to play a very significant role in international political systems and global governance.

International Non-Governmental Organisations (INGOs)

International Non-Governmental Organisations (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 Organisations 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 centralised head office where they coordinate global management.

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

• 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 across 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 Organisations and Their Headquarters And Establishment Year

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

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Trick of Headquarters

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

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

[ W_O]

• World Intellectual Property Organisation [ WIPO ]

• World Health Organisation [ WHO ]

• World Meteorological Organisation [ WMO ]

• World Trade Organisation [ WTO ]

[I_O] - [ Except IMO]

• International Labour Organisation [ ILO ]

• International Committee for the Red Cross Organisation [ ICRCO ]

• International Standardisation  Organisation [ ISO ]

• United Nations Conference on Trade And Development [UNCTAD]

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

Remember the term I AM A COMMON MAN in LONDON

• I stand for the International Maritime Organisation [ 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 Organisations, the IMF & WB

• International Monetary Fund [ IMF ]

• World Bank [ WB ]

Remember term INDUSTRIES like ATOMIC & PETROLEUM - VIENNA AUSTRIA

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

• United Nations INDUSTRIAL Development Organisation [ UNIDO ]

• International ATOMIC Energy Agency [ IAEA ]

• Organisation of the PETROLEUM Exporting Countries [ OPEC ]

Remember the term UN CHILD EMERGENCY in NEWYORK

• UNITED NATION Organisation [ UNO ]

• UNITED NATIONS International  CHILDREN EMERGENCY Fund [ UNICEF ]

Remember the term ECONOMIC & EDUCATIONAL in PARIS

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

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

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

Single Headquarters Organisation

• 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 Organisations?

A. There are two types of international Organisations: international governmental Organisations (IGOs) and international nongovernmental Organisations (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 Organisations?