Week 9

Question 1

What are UN Specialized Agencies?

Answer 1

Independent international organizations linked to the UN under Articles 57 & 63 of the UN Charter. They focus on specific global issues (health, labor, finance, education, etc.) and coordinate with the UN mainly through ECOSOC.

Question 2

How are UN Specialized Agencies established?

Answer 2

By independent intergovernmental treaties/agreements. Many existed before the UN and were later linked to it.

Question 3

What is the autonomy of UN Specialized Agencies?

Answer 3

They are legally independent, with their own constitutions, rules, and governing bodies.

Question 4

How are UN Specialized Agencies funded?

Answer 4

Through a mix of assessed (mandatory) contributions from members and voluntary donations.

They are called “assessed” because the UN assesses (calculates) how much each country must pay using a scale of assessments, mainly based on:
• The country’s economic capacity (e.g. GDP, national income)
• Adjustments for level of development
• A higher rate for the five permanent members of the Security Council

Question 5

Give examples of UN Specialized Agencies.

Answer 5

World Health Organization (WHO), International Labour Organization (ILO), International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

Question 6

What are UN Programmes?

Answer 6

Subsidiary bodies created directly by the UN General Assembly to tackle global challenges such as development, environment, refugees, or population issues.

Question 7

How are UN Programmes established?

Answer 7

By the UN General Assembly, not by treaties.

Question 8

What is the autonomy of UN Programmes?

Answer 8

Integrated into the UN system, accountable to UNGA/ECOSOC, with heads appointed by the UN Secretary‑General.

Question 9

How are UN Programmes funded?

Answer 9

Mainly by voluntary contributions from member states, donors, and partners.

Question 10

What is the focus of UN Programmes?

Answer 10

Practical, on‑the‑ground activities like aid delivery, humanitarian response, and development projects.

Question 11

What does UNDP stand for and what is its role?

Answer 11

United Nations Development Programme. Works to eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities, and build resilience for sustainable development. HQ: New York City, USA.

Question 12

What does UNEP stand for and what is its role?

Answer 12

United Nations Environment Programme. Promotes sustainable environmental practices and acts as the UN’s voice on environmental issues. HQ: Nairobi, Kenya.

Question 13

What does UNFPA stand for and what is its role?

Answer 13

United Nations Population Fund. Ensures reproductive health, safe pregnancies, and supports young people’s potential. HQ: New York City, USA.

Question 14

Summarize the key UN programmes, specialized agencies, and case studies

Answer 14

• UN Specialized Agencies: 15 autonomous organizations linked to the UN under Articles 57 & 63 of the Charter. Independent, legally separate, set global standards, provide technical expertise (e.g., WHO, ILO, IMF). Funded by assessed + voluntary contributions.
• UN Programmes (Funds): Created by UNGA, fully integrated into UN system, operational focus (field projects, humanitarian response). Heads appointed by UN Secretary-General. Funded mainly by voluntary contributions. Examples:• UNDP – poverty eradication, resilience, sustainable development. HQ: New York.
• UNEP – environment, sustainability. HQ: Nairobi.
• UNFPA – reproductive health, safe pregnancies, youth potential. HQ: New York.
• UN-Habitat – sustainable urban development, shelter. HQ: Nairobi.
• UNICEF – children’s rights, survival, development. HQ: New York.
• WFP – food security, nutrition, hunger relief. HQ: Rome.

• Differences (Programmes vs Specialized Agencies):• Establishment: Programmes by UNGA; Agencies by treaties.
• Autonomy: Programmes integrated, Agencies independent.
• Funding: Programmes voluntary; Agencies assessed + voluntary.
• Membership: Programmes tied to UN; Agencies can include non‑UN states.
• Focus: Programmes operational aid; Agencies set standards/technical expertise.

• UNHCR (Refugees): Established 1950. Mandate expanded to refugees, IDPs, stateless persons. Case study: Syrian refugee crisis (2011–present).• 6.8m refugees abroad, 6.9m displaced internally.
• Protection/legal support, humanitarian aid (food, water, cash, winterization), education (1.1m children enrolled), resettlement (22,300 in 2024).
• Challenges: funding shortfalls (only 44% met in 2024), strained host communities, limited resettlement opportunities.

• UNDP (Haiti Earthquake 2010):• 220,000 deaths, 1.5m displaced.
• Cash‑for‑work (300,000 employed), debris removal (10m cubic metres), restoring government capacity, livelihood recovery (micro‑enterprise, women’s businesses).
• Challenges: weak institutions, scale of destruction, poor coordination, persistent poverty.

• WFP (Horn of Africa Drought 2023):• Multi‑country emergency response (Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya).
• Food assistance, nutrition treatment, cash transfers, pastoralist support.
• Challenges: severe funding shortfalls, rising caseloads, livestock losses, fragmented humanitarian response.

✅ This single flashcard now captures all programmes, agencies, differences, and case studies (UNHCR Syria, UNDP Haiti, WFP Horn of Africa) in one place — perfect for examiner‑style recall.

Would you like me to now turn this into a full exam paper (like we did for Week 8) so you can practice MCQs, short answers, and extended analysis on UN Programmes and Specialized Agencies?

Question 15

What does UNICEF stand for and what is its role?

Answer 15

United Nations Children’s Fund. Protects children’s rights, saves lives, and helps them reach their potential. HQ: New York City, USA.

Question 16

What does WFP stand for and what is its role?

Answer 16

World Food Programme. Provides food assistance, combats hunger and malnutrition, and supports nutrition worldwide. HQ: Rome, Italy.

Question 17

Establishment difference between Specialized Agencies and Programmes?

Answer 17

Agencies = created by treaties, some older than UN. Programmes = created directly by UNGA.

Question 18

Autonomy difference between Specialized Agencies and Programmes?

Answer 18

Agencies = legally independent, own rules. Programmes = integrated into UN system, accountable to UNGA/ECOSOC.

Question 19

Funding difference between Specialized Agencies and Programmes?

Answer 19

Agencies = mix of mandatory + voluntary contributions. Programmes = mainly voluntary contributions.

Question 20

Membership difference between Specialized Agencies and Programmes?

Answer 20

Agencies = can include non‑UN members. Programmes = tied to UN membership.

Question 21

Focus difference between Specialized Agencies and Programmes?

Answer 21

Agencies = set global standards, technical expertise. Programmes = practical field projects, humanitarian aid.

Question 22

Scale difference between Specialized Agencies and Programmes?

Answer 22

Agencies = larger network (15 agencies, long history). Programmes = smaller (10–15 entities).

Question 23

What is UNHCR and when was it established?

Answer 23

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, established in 1950. Mandated to protect refugees and find durable solutions.

Question 24

What was UNHCR’s role in the Syrian refugee crisis?

Answer 24

Coordinated protection and aid for millions displaced. Provided asylum access, documentation, humanitarian aid (food, water, medical help, cash, winter kits), education (1.1m children enrolled in 2024), and resettlement (22,300 refugees in 2024).

Question 25

What challenges did UNHCR face in Syria?

Answer 25

Funding shortfalls (~44% of needs met in 2024), strain on host communities (As resources become scarce, families may adopt harmful coping strategies, such as child labor or early marriage, to survive.), limited resettlement opportunities.

Question 26

What was UNDP’s role in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake?

Answer 26

Lead agency for early recovery. Actions: Cash‑for‑Work (300,000 Haitians employed), debris removal (10m cubic metres), restoring government capacity, livelihood recovery (micro‑enterprise, women’s entrepreneurship). • Re-establishing law and order (police, courts, prisons) • Rebuilding public administration (civil service, ministries) • Restoring basic services (healthcare, education, water) • Improving financial management (tax collection, budgeting) • Strengthening security forces so the state controls violence

Question 27

What challenges did UNDP face in Haiti’s recovery?

Answer 27

• Weak state institutions: The government was too weak to control the country, enforce laws, or provide basic services, so insecurity continued. • Large-scale destruction: Roads, hospitals, schools, and homes were destroyed, making everyday life and recovery very hard. • Poor coordination among NGOs: Many aid organizations worked at the same time but did not work well together, so help was slow, uneven, or wasted. • Persistent poverty and social vulnerability: People were still very poor, displaced, and unemployed, which created frustration and made conflict more likely to return.

Question 28

What was WFP’s response to the Horn of Africa drought?

Answer 28

Delivered emergency food aid & cash transfers, scaled up nutrition treatment for children/mothers, used cash/voucher systems to support local markets, supported agriculture livestock workers with livestock feed and livelihood recovery.

Question 29

What challenges did WFP face in the Horn of Africa drought?

Answer 29

Severe funding gaps, scale of crisis (tens of millions affected), massive livestock deaths reducing household income, uncoordinated,inconsistent and disorganised humanitarian response.

Question 30

• Agencies vs Programmes → know the differences (establishment, autonomy, funding, membership, focus, scale).

Answer 30

• Programme examples → UNDP, UNEP, UNFPA, UN-Habitat, UNICEF, WFP.

Question 31

• Case studies → UNHCR (Syria), UNDP (Haiti), WFP (Horn of Africa).

Answer 31

• Specialized Agencies → WHO, ILO, IMF, World Bank, FAO.

Question 32

What does UN-Habitat stand for and what is its role?

Answer 32

United Nations Human Settlements Programme. Focuses on sustainable urban development and adequate shelter for all. HQ: Nairobi, Kenya.