United Nations

The United Nations is an international organisation founded in 1945 to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations and promote social progress, better living standards and human rights. It has 193 member states and is headquartered in New York City, with additional main offices in Geneva, Vienna and Nairobi. The organisation comprises six principal organs: the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, the Trusteeship Council, the International Court of Justice and the Secretariat, headed by the Secretary-General. The Security Council has primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security, with five permanent members (China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States) holding veto power, and ten non-permanent members elected for two-year terms. The UN system includes numerous specialised agencies, funds and programmes covering areas such as health, labour, agriculture, education, finance and development. African nations constitute the largest regional bloc within the General Assembly and play an active role in debates on development, peacekeeping and reform of the Security Council. The organisation's work in Africa includes peacekeeping missions, humanitarian assistance, development programmes and support for regional integration initiatives. The UN collaborates closely with the African Union on peace and security matters, particularly in conflict zones such as the Great Lakes region and the Sahel. Funding comes from assessed contributions from member states and voluntary donations for specific programmes.