Core Activities

The UIA is an independent research institute and serves as a repository for current and historical information on the work of international associations, including International Nongovernmental Organizations (INGOs) and Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs). Today, the UIA also focuses on promoting public awareness of the internationality of these organizations and in representing the collective views of international bodies.

UIA collects, hosts and provides up-to-date, reliable information on global civil society and maintains the most comprehensive source of information on international associations, their activities and concerns, and their meetings activities. This wealth of information is made available through the following resources and services.

An IGO is an organization composed primarily of sovereign states, or of other intergovernmental organizations. IGOs are established by treaty or other agreement that acts as a charter creating the group. Examples include the United Nations, the World Bank, or the European Union.

The United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) defines an INGO as "any organization which is not established by inter-governmental agreement" (Resolution 288 (X) the 27th February 1950), "including organizations which accept members designated by government authorities, provided that such membership does not interfere with the free expression of views of the organizations" (Resolution 1296 (XLV) of 25th June 1968).

Yearbook of International Organizations

The most comprehensive information resource on c. 73,000 international non-profit organizations and associations worldwide, in all fields of human endeavour, and throughout centuries of history

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International Congress Calendar

A vast resource of information covering c. 550,000 meetings, organized from 1851 until 2036, by international associations

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Associations Round Table

The UIA Round Table aims to promote and facilitate the work of international associations by providing training and networking opportunities

Encyclopedia of World Problems and Human Potential

The result of an ambitious effort to collect and present information on world problems and strategies, and to offer radically different perspectives to policy-makers, social researchers and those concerned with development strategy

Customized Data Extractions

The most efficient way of extracting specific and targeted information maintained in the UIA's databases

Data Extractions: fulfillment of once-off data extraction requests
Data Streaming: to your database, intranet or newsreader

UIA Academy

Offers enhanced cooperation and partnership to UIA Associate Members, to further industry entities – such as offices of tourism, convention bureaus, congress organizers, etc. – as well as to UIA Active Members and other facilitators of educational programmes for associations.