International Organizations and Their Headquarters

International Organizations and Their Headquarters

International organisations are established with the purpose of influencing the global agenda, reinforcing political relations, and serving as a hub for development initiatives, among various other roles.

List of International Organizations and Headquarters

This article contains important information about different International Organizations and their respective headquarters. It will help individuals preparing for competitive examinations such as the IAS Exam.

UPSC often includes numerous factual queries in its exams, particularly on topics like international organizations, ecology, geography, and historical terminology. To tackle these challenges effectively, join us in preparing for the IAS Prelims.

List of International Organizations and their Headquarters

International organizations Headquarters
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Montreal, Canada
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) New York, USA
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Rome, Italy
International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Geneva, Switzerland
United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Madrid, Spain
United Nations University (UNU) Tokyo, Japan
International Court of Justice (ICJ) The Hague, Netherlands
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Geneva, Switzerland
UN-Habitat Nairobi, Kenya
World Food Programme (WFP) Rome, Italy
United Nations Office for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS) New York, USA
United Nations Human Rights Council  Geneva, Switzerland
United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) Geneva, Switzerland
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Gland, Switzerland
International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) Paris, France
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Nairobi, Kenya
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Vienna, Austria
United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute Turin, Italy
International Maritime Organization (IMO) London, United Kingdom
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Geneva, Switzerland
Commonwealth of Nations London, United Kingdom
Amnesty International London, United Kingdom
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Rome, Italy
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Brussels, Belgium
Universal Postal Union Berne, Switzerland
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Jakarta, Indonesia
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Singapore
Transparency International Berlin, Germany
International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) Abu Dhabi, UAE
South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Kathmandu, Nepal
Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IORA) Ebene, Mauritius
Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) Gland, Switzerland
International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) The Hague, Netherlands



Here are some MNEMONIC strategies to remember the locations of International Organizations’ headquarters:

For organizations with names that begin with “World” and end in “Organization,” you can count on them being based in Geneva. This includes:

When it comes to groups associated with finance, look to Washington DC as their base of operations. This includes:

  • International Monetary Fund (IMF)
  • World Bank

For organizations focused on industrial growth, energy, and nuclear research, Vienna is the city to remember. These organizations include:

  • United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
  • International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
  • Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)

Lastly, organizations that concentrate on education and economic matters make their home in Paris. Notable ones are:

  • International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS)
  • United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)
  • Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)

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