IGOs = Intergovernmental organizations: Established by governments, have a formal document or treaty as a constitution, consists of Member States (i.e. countries), and usually has a headquarters and permanent staff. Examples: United Nations, NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization), APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperative).
NGOs = Non-governmental organizations: Also referred to as INGOs, international organizations that can be either for-profit (i.e. multinational companies, business organizations, etc.) or non-profit (i.e. promote a specific interest or core value, can be partisan or non-partisan). Examples: International Olympic Committee, Women’s Refugee Commission, Oxfam, Greenpeace, etc.)
Learn More:
Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in the United States, Fact Sheet, U.S. Department of State.
International Organizations, National Museum of American Diplomacy, U.S. Department of State.
The United Nations is an international organization (IGO) founded in 1945. It is currently made up of 193 Member States. The mission and work of the United Nations are guided by the purposes and principles contained in its founding Charter.
The UN has six main entities: (1) General Assembly, (2) Security Council, (3) Economic and Social Council, (4) Trusteeship Council, (5) International Court of Justice, and (6) Secretariat. See this UN Organizational Chart for more details. See the Other IGOs tab for more information about autonomous organizations linked to the UN through special agreements.
Learn more about the UN on their official website: un.org.
The World Bank is like a cooperative, made up of 189 member countries. These member countries, or shareholders, are represented by a Board of Governors, who are the ultimate policymakers at the World Bank. The mission of the World Bank Group centers on achieving two overarching goals, end extreme poverty and promote shared prosperity. Since 1947, the World Bank has funded over 12,000 development projects, via traditional loans, interest-free credits, and grants.
Note: You may see some embargoes in the OKR. Some books and journal publishers have embargo periods so the full text may not be freely accessible yet. ESU does not have a subscription to the World Bank eLibrary database. See this comparison chart for more information on content.
UNESCO "contributes to peace and security by promoting international cooperation in education, sciences, culture, communication and information" (from UNESCO in brief webpage).
Founded in 1948, WHO is a United Nations agency that "leads and champions global efforts to give everyone, everywhere an equal chance to live a healthy life" (from About WHO webpage). The World Health Assembly is the decision-making body of WHO and is attended by delegations from all 194 Member States.