Eschewing the conventional perspectives adopted when looking at international organizations, which emphasize diplomatic relations or guiding philosophies, this research project attempted to analyze and evaluate the actual status of the management of these organizations by treating them as working entities. Ten international organizations were selected from among organizations specializing in the security, development, human rights and humanitarian fields -- the United Nations (UN), World Bank, United Nations Development Program (UNDP), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), International Telecommunication Union (ITU), World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Specific focal points of the examination of these organizations included goals, the resources (personnel and funds) utilized, the programs implemented and the results achieved. The status quo of the organizations was analyzed on the basis of concrete data with a focus on their structure and system of management. The organizations were also evaluated from the standpoints of international public interest and national interest.
The framework of evaluation utilized in this research project was composed of input (the various resources utilized in the organization: funds, personnel, political support, etc.), output (programs commenced and activities implemented by the organizations in order to achieve specific goals through the utilization of those resources) and outcome (the degree to which the organizations were able to achieve the goal being sought).
Based on the idea that the activities of international organizations and analysis of their interface with individual countries are practically and theoretically important, the project analyzed the present status of systems and policies in Swedish and American international organizations, enabling a comparison to be made with organizations in Japan.
Given the diversity of international organizations, in terms of the variety of problems with which they deal and the range of activities in which they are involved, it may not be possible to fully evaluate them on the basis of compiled data. To deal with this problem, this project made special efforts to supplement evaluation based on data with interviews with specialists, ex-employees of international organizations and individuals involved in administration. This twin focus enabled the project to remain in touch with the actuality of international organizations.
Although this research is no better than an assumptive-based analysis, we hope this report proves informative to researchers interested in the actual state of the practices of international organizations, journalists, individual political actors and governmental administrations and also to the representatives of international organizations who want a more objective perspective on their activities.
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March 2004
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