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How we work with the UN

The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) has General Consultative Status with the United Nation’s Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). This consultative status allows WAGGGS to work with the various UN programmes and funds and its related specialised agencies and functional commissions. 

WAGGGS has established partnerships and award schemes with various UN bodies and signed several Memos of Understanding with UN agencies including UNICEF and FAO

The AIDS Badge curriculum for example was created by WAGGGS together with UNAIDS (joint UN programme on HIV/AIDS) and ICASO (International Council of AIDS Service Organizations). 

In another project the
World Health Organization gave support to the WAGGGS’ Initiative on the prevention of adolescent pregnancy.

WAGGGS also created award schemes in partnership with various UN bodies; the WAGGGS-FAO Nutrition Medal is one example of this. 

Interaction with these bodies is generally through WAGGGS’ UN teams in New York, Geneva, Vienna, Nairobi, Rome and Paris. Find out more about the meetings and activities of the WAGGGS’ UN teams.



WAGGGS works with the following organizations within the UN System:

UN Programmes and Funds:
  • UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
  • The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS(UNAIDS)
  • UN Environment Programme (UNEP)
  • UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat)
  • UN Development Programme (UNDP)
  • UN Population Fund (UNFPA)
  • United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
  • The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
  • United Nations International Drug Control Programme (UNDCP)
  • United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM)

UN Specialized Agencies:

  • Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO)
  • United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
  • World Health Organization (WHO)
  • World Bank Group