***For public inquiries, speaking invitations, and interview requests, please contact the International Organization Affairs' Office of Public Affairs and Outreach at 202-647-6899 or fax your request to 202-647-9722***
Front Office (IO/FO)
Under the leadership of an Assistant Secretary, a Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, and three Deputy Assistant Secretaries, the Front Office guides IO’s work domestically, and through its seven missions, to develop and implement U.S. policy in the United Nations, its specialized and voluntary agencies, and other international organizations. The Front Office advances U.S. foreign policy strategic goals and U.S. interests through multilateral diplomacy, while ensuring that the international organizations through which the United States works remain viable and effective. IO Senior Officials
Telephone: (202) 647-9600
Office of International Conferences (IO/C)
IO/C has the statutory authority for accrediting, instructing, and managing some 4,000 U.S. delegates to almost 400 multilateral conferences each year, ensuring that U.S. Government representation consists of those whose presence and participation reflect the highest possible value to U.S. foreign policy. The dedicated staff provides preparatory and on-site logistical support for nearly two dozen large conferences annually, and is committed to conscientious stewardship of the resources funded by America’s taxpayers.
Telephone: (202) 647-8336
Office of Technical Specialized Agencies (IO/GS)
IO/GS develops, coordinates, and implements U.S. policy that promotes global systems to address transnational challenges and to manage global spaces. The office covers the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), International Maritime Organization (IMO), International Telecommunication Union (ITU), UN Environment Program (UNEP), UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Universal Postal Union (UPU), UN Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC), World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), World Meteorological Organization (WMO), and over twenty other specialized and technical agencies and programs of the United Nations system, as well as a number of multilateral environmental agreements and several non-UN multilateral organizations.
Telephone: (202) 647-2752
Office of Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs (IO/HRH)
IO/HRH advances U.S. policy relating to human rights, democracy promotion, humanitarian assistance, women’s issues, indigenous issues, and social affairs. IO/HRH works through and with a variety of UN bodies and entities, including the UN Human Rights Council, the UN General Assembly Third Committee, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), UN Women, the UN Democracy Fund (UNDEF), and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
Telephone: (202) 647-1155
Office of Human Security (IO/HS)
IO/HS supports implementation of U.S. policy initiatives on human security, with particular focus on economic growth and sustainable development, global food security, and global health issues. IO/HS manages U.S. participation in the UN General Assembly Second Committee, Economic and Social Council, and in bodies, funds and programs working in these priority areas, including the UN Development Program (UNDP), the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), the World Food Program (WFP), and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Telephone: (202) 647-1269
Office of Management Policy and Resources (IO/MPR)
IO/MPR is responsible for developing, coordinating, and implementing U.S. policies, both within the UN system and in a broad range of non-UN organizations, as they relate to financial, budgetary, administrative, and management issues, as well as promoting U.S. citizen employment in international organizations through public outreach and diplomatic engagement.
Telephone: (202) 647-6424
Office of Public Affairs and Outreach (IO/PAO)
IO/PAO advances U.S. interests by communicating the nation’s goals, priorities, and accomplishments in international organizations using a variety of public affairs and public diplomacy tools. In addition, the office coordinates the Bureau’s interaction with Congress and oversees its strategic and performance planning.
Telephone: (202) 647-6899
Office of Policy, Regional and Functional Organizations (IO/PRF)
IO/PRF provides strategic policy guidance on cross-cutting issues involving the UN and regional and functional organizations as well as ad hoc multilateral groupings (e.g., G-8, G-20). It is responsible for ensuring policy coherence and coordination in U.S. engagement in the multilateral system as a whole, including with regard to regional organizations (such as the African Union, the European Union, and the Organization of American States) and sub-regional organizations (such as the League of Arab States and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations), as well as multilateral organizations based on shared interests. IO/PRF works closely with regional bureaus, including overseeing IO officers deployed to U.S. posts as regional organization watchers, and engages in inter-agency policy discussions on the architecture of the multilateral system.
Telephone: (202) 647-6899
Office of Peace Support Operations, Sanctions, and Counterterrorism (IO/PSC)
IO/PSC advances the Department of State’s mission to shape and sustain a more peaceful world. IO/PSC guides U.S. policies on United Nations peace operations, working to maximize the effectiveness of UN peacekeeping missions that are helping countries move from conflict to stability. IO/PSC also structures and enforces UN sanctions so they are effective and humane, and builds support for peacekeeping and sanctions from Congress, private organizations, and the American people. In addition, IO/PSC manages Department of State coordination of counter-terrorism issues in the UN system to promote multilateral cooperation on key U.S. counter-terrorism goals.
Telephone: (202) 736-7732
Office of United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization Affairs (IO/UNESCO)
IO/UNESCO has the overall responsibility for the formulation and implementation of USG policy in UNESCO to contribute to the building of peace, the eradication of poverty, sustainable development, and intercultural dialogue. The office also serves as the headquarters of the executive secretariat of the U.S. National Commission to UNESCO. The National Commission is a federal advisory committee to the Department of State that supports worldwide humanitarian development by coordinating efforts and delivering expert advice on issues pertaining to UNESCO’s five focus areas of Education, Natural Science, Social Science, Culture, and Communication & Information.
Telephone: (202) 663-0026
Office of United Nations Political Affairs (IO/UNP)
IO/UNP develops, coordinates, and implements U.S. policy on political issues before the UN Security Council (UNSC) and UN General Assembly (UNGA). IO/UNP is also responsible for coordinating the Department of State’s participation in the UNGA General Debate each September. IO/UNP provides assistance to the U.S. Mission to the UN in New York on host country issues.
Telephone: (202) 647-2392
