Which of the following is a United Nations specialized agency and not simply a United Nations programme or fund?

Introduction / Context:
The United Nations family includes different types of bodies: main organs, specialised agencies, programmes and funds. Specialised agencies are independent international organisations linked to the UN through formal agreements, while programmes and funds are created directly by the UN to deal with specific issues like development, population or gender. Competitive exams frequently ask candidates to distinguish between these categories.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question asks which organisation is a UN specialised agency rather than a programme or fund.
• Options: International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
• Only one of these is a specialised agency that forms part of the World Bank Group.

Concept / Approach:
IBRD is a core institution of the World Bank Group and is recognised as a specialised agency of the United Nations that deals with reconstruction and development lending. In contrast, UNDP is a UN programme for development assistance, UNIFEM historically functioned as a fund for women's development and later merged into UN Women, and UNFPA is a UN fund focusing on population and reproductive health. Therefore, the correct choice is IBRD as the specialised agency.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that specialised agencies such as IBRD, FAO, WHO and UNESCO are distinct organisations linked to the UN through agreements. Step 2: Recognise that IBRD, commonly known as the World Bank (in a narrower sense), is one of these specialised agencies. Step 3: Identify UNDP as a programme directly under the UN General Assembly dealing with development projects. Step 4: Recall that UNIFEM and UNFPA are UN funds or programmes, not separate specialised agencies. Step 5: Conclude that IBRD is the only option that fits the category of a UN specialised agency.

Verification / Alternative check:
If you consult lists of UN specialised agencies, you will always find the World Bank Group (including IBRD) listed among them. Programmes and funds like UNDP, UNIFEM and UNFPA appear in separate categories under the UN umbrella but are not specialised agencies in the strict legal sense. This official classification confirms that IBRD is the correct answer for this question.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP): It is a UN programme created to coordinate development assistance; it is not a separate specialised agency.
United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM): This was a fund for women's development and later integrated into UN Women, again not a specialised agency.
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA): This is a UN fund dealing with population and reproductive health issues, not a specialised agency.

Common Pitfalls:
A common error is to assume that any body with "United Nations" in its name is automatically a specialised agency. Another pitfall is confusion due to the word "Bank" in World Bank or IBRD, which may seem separate from the UN system. In reality, IBRD has a formal agreement with the UN and is part of the specialised agency family. To avoid confusion, remember that programmes and funds usually have "Programme" or "Fund" in their names, while specialised agencies are often older international organisations that operate with greater legal and financial independence.

Final Answer:
The United Nations specialised agency among the options is the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD).